was in the oven:

Peach-Blueberry Crisp. I need to get out more often, but what a fantastic way to peel peaches!

in the oven now:

chocolate chip muffins (AllRecipes)

dinner tonight:

sweet potato fries (Paula Deen)

corn on the cob roasted in the oven

summer rolls with peanut dipping sauce

mac and cheese (SK)

cheese platter with 4 different cheese including Saint Angel and grapes

I started making my roue for the mac and cheese, which side note, I shall never make a recipe for the first time 30 minutes before guests are slated to arrive, and realize I had no idea what I was doing. I was only supposed to cook the flour for a minute, but I must have been stirring it for several minutes, lost in conversation with my friend Laura. But I spurred on, and added the milk (hot, how was I supposed to know if it was hot?!). Quickly I realized two things : shit, I had added the milk way too fast because there were clumps everywhere, and yup, when the recipe called for a high-sided skillet, there was a reason for that. So having wasted precious minutes, 5 and 1/2 cups of milk and made a huge mess on my stove, I threw the entire mixture into my sink, ran upstairs to change out of my pjs, grabbed 5 dollars and ran to the corner market. I usually don't buy regular milk, but I can't believe a gallon of milk is FOUR DOLLARS. Anyway, back to my kitchen I went, with a gallon of whole milk. And this time, I made it right, but not without having the entire milk/roue mixture bubble over and spill over AGAIN onto my stove. All I can say is thank goodness my roommate is out of town this weekend. The kitchen is as clean as it's going to be for now, but more importantly the mac and cheese was delicious--Panko is so good!

in the oven:

zucchini chocolate chip muffins (SK)

dinner tonight:

mix of arugula + mesclun

roasted beets in sesame oil

one avocado

goat cheese

Brianna's vinaigrette dressing

supplemented with red grapes

dessert: Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

lunch-Teriyaki wings, marinated overnight

Dinner menu last night:

Garlic Butter Mushrooms (Smitten Kitchen)

Chicken wings (Steamy Kitchen)

Watermelon granita (BonAppetit) with ginger sugar syrup

Chocolate chip cookies (AllRecipes)

Strawberry shortcake (Smitten Kitchen) with whipped cream (1/4 cup sugar)

Next in line:

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Bread Pudding

Pineapple Upside Cake

Meatballs

Spent the day in DC yesterday--studied and ate at Ben's Chili Bowl. Not sure if Georgia missed me or not getting her tuna fix last night...

It's 2:50 AM, and I am still awake. Why? Because I drank some Espresso on the way home from New York City tonight. I love NYC (I never thought I would say that, ever)! As I was waiting for the A train to take me downtown on Friday afternoon, I felt such a rush. Maybe I don't go out enough in Baltimore, but nothing as mundane as the subway has given me a rush in Baltimore. Here's hoping I can find a great job in NYC in the next 6 months!

Indulged at Cafeteria this evening for dinner. Yup, it's the same restaurant on Newbury Street.

A couple years back, I guess it had to be 2007, I went to Kimball Farm out near Acton, Mass. (I still remember the first time I went there with Jeff and Mike, ahh the days of college!). Extremely hungry, I ordered this huge brownie sundae and proceeded to feast on it all by myself. That night, I got very very sick. I convinced myself that I ate too much ice cream, but the truth is I probably had way too much whipped cream (although the real truth is probably the whole thing made a mess in my stomach). So, I stopped eating ice cream, and nowadays rarely eat ice cream. Tonight, I had some fresh whipped cream, which was amazing, but also made me sick. Not the same intensity of sick as 3 years ago, but definitely not something that a beer alone would inflict upon me. So, now I think I need to lay off the whipped cream, because it seems that is the real culprit. On the other hand, I am excited to attend another house party so I can make some fresh whipped cream--tastes so much better than the store bought version and so simple!

P.S. Hahaha.

This is true:

In Public Health today, we watched this video. Brings me back to middle school-yeah to Schoolhouse Rocks. I couldn't agree more with the title of this video!

and

I inhaled a whole bag of Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato Chips--absolutely delicious

and

I wanted to go swimming this evening, but I'm dreading the idea of plunging into chilly water--I might have to reconsider AGAIN

and

I'm enjoying these salted caramels before I hit the gym this evening--I definitely work out so I can eat in peace!

Last night I went to a little get together with lots of great food, especially this drink. I've never tasted white sangria before and I think I prefer it over the more traditional red sangria. Delicious! I didn't know what to bring and initially I was going to make spinach artichoke dip, which I love love love, but I didn't want to have left over sour cream and mayonnaise (but because it is ridiculously easy to make, I will make it sometime in the future). So instead, I opted to make a brownie/strawberry/cool whip trifle. It turned out alright, but I overcooked the brownie a little too much.

I've realized that the problem with living alone isn't the intermittent loneliness you feel at random times during the day, or the fact that you have to clean the bathroom every time, or that the garbage doesn't get thrown out miraculously. No, the real problem is that when you want to cook something, you have to think about how to make it for one person so you don't get stuck eating it 4 days in a row.

Right now, among my many cravings is some gingerbread pancakes and cinnamon buns. I had one cinnamon bun at Aquitaine for brunch prior to coming back to Boston. Suffice it to say it did not satiate me. And I guess I had one prior to that one at Francesca Cafe the last Monday of December. Maybe I just love cinnamon buns that much? Also, I've been so happy eating roasted chestnuts and persimmons this winter! Food never fails to make me smile in spite of what's going on around me. (P.S. The fruit serving resolution is going strong...even though it's only been the 3rd day)

After returning from Europe, I've been trying out new restaurants. I can't believe I only have about 2 weeks left in Boston before I move!

Sunday: Gourmet Dumpling House, in Chinatown
Monday: Izzy's Sandwich Shop, in Central Square
Wednesday: Arrow Street Crepes, in Harvard Square
Wednesday: Dolphin Seafood, in Harvard Square
Thursday: Berry Line, in Allston
Friday: McCormick and Schmicks, in Park Plaza Hotel
Friday: Bon Bon, on Mass Ave near Symphony
Saturday: Kebab Factory in Inman Square
Sunday: McKenna's Cafe in Savin Hill
Sunday: La Pupusa Guanaca in Jamaica Plain

Crazy enough, I tried all these places in one week. I love food.

food cravings of the moment:
tofu pudding
raw oysters
spanish food, specifically Orinico
sushi, specifically unagi
nutella
hot chocolate (amazing, considering how much I drank while in Paris, London and Prague)
crepes

On my last day in Paris, we stopped by Pierre Herme for some macaroons. Although, funny enough, I didn't pick any up. But inspired by the Rosewater Lychee macaroon there, I want to make this:Recipe can be found here.

{via Une Deux Senses}

cannelle

overwhelmed.

{via Tastespotting}

nouveau café

My coworker told me about a bakery in Jamaica Plain off Centre Street with European pastries and great coffee (not that I drink coffee)--Canto6. I love bakeries and cafes; anywhere I can park myself, knit, read and people watch. The ones I frequent are Darwin's Ltd in Harvard Square (best vegetarian sandwich--Hubbard Park) and Flour Bakery in the South End. Canto6 hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM-6:30 PM and weekends 8 AM to 5 PM. It is accessible from the Orange Line Green Street Station. Although my desire to eat sweets has dramatically decreased in the past several years, it is hard to give up a good chocolate croissant with hot chocolate. This weekend it is!

{via Canto6 website}