peonies and pierogies

The Mexican Pizza Hut ain't bad

2010-10-14T12:28:00.000-04:00

A hankering for tacos and a short list of places with decent tacos led me to my old stomping ground, the Pizza Hut in Westlake, Ohio. It is now Si Senor and after months of laughing at the silliness of it, I tried it, and I liked it. I ordered the carnitas and after a whole year of terrible soggy poorly seasoned pork I got what I wanted. This was fatty, delicious, crispy on the outside and melty in the middle carnitas. How come the guys with the Mexican restaurant in the old Pizza Hut can get this right and all the other yahoos can't?

Dresses, dresses, dresses

2010-01-06T20:05:00.000-05:00

so it's cold out. so what? I can't get enough. I think this needs to be mine. I haven't bought anything for ME in a long time so I think it's about time. Courtesy of Anthropologie. I adore the silhouette and think I've got the rack, waist and ass to pull this off. Throw a cardigan on and boom! I'm work appropriate. Throw some tights on and boom! I am winter ready. You can't stop me from getting this little number. She's mine!

Wow. I'm back?

2010-01-06T19:59:00.000-05:00

Totally haven't been here for over a month. Sooorrrry!

It's winter in Cleveland now and I LOVE it. Snow is my friend... for now. Went sledding last week, killed two sleds and have an ass full of bruising. Slid all over the roads in my not-quite-winter-ready tires. Found my box of winter gear and loving all my hats and scarves and gloves. Lost two gloves so far as a result of always taking the right one off to use the iPhone and then putting on lap and then getting out of car and losing to the slush. Adding hot chocolate to my routine on the real cold ones. Working the office space heater overtime. Took down Christmas last night. Drinking lots of Jim Beam. Wintertime. I promise I'll do some cool stuff now.

not awesome

2009-11-22T13:49:00.000-05:00

I don't get it and it makes me angry to see someone ruining their face like this. This is almost as gross as face tats I think. Almost. Please let this not become a trend. I'm not sure I could handle a bunch of hipsters with their beards all beaded up.

ABC Tavern is my new favorite

2009-11-22T13:42:00.000-05:00

Cleveland I am LOVING you. People are cool, food is better than expected, beers are practically free and there are some super cool places that are new to me. ABC Tavern is totally making me happy. I've only been there twice but had fun both times and expect to show my face there more often. The menu looks superb, with light dishes like scallops in a fresh sauce to an overly indulgent bacon wrapped hotdog with gasp, jalepenos inside. I can't wait to taste the full spectrum. I wasn't hungry either time so just stuffed my face with tall cans of PBR and slim bottles of Miller High Life, happy as can be.

I want to go back tomorrow, or Tuesday. But I'm also trying to add at least one new thing a week so can't get too comfortable there.

'Tis the season

2009-11-15T19:23:00.001-05:00

for wish lists! Love this guy from velocity art and design and the rest of his friends. Would be pleasant in a bathroom I'm thinking.

The Raccoon Portrait Print by Berkley Illustration

This raccoon spends his days in a science lab experimenting with ways to convert garbage into an alternative fuel source. Occasionally he will indulge in a snack from his test pile.

Scratch two off the list of Best of Cleveland

2009-11-10T11:55:00.001-05:00

1. Melt. What more can I say other than it was everything I hoped it would be and more (and about twice as big as I needed, next time I splitting and spending the extra money on more beers).

2. Velvet Tango Room. Yes the drinks are $15 and yes that is pretty insane by Cleveland standards. However! it was the most delicious cocktail I have ever had and well worth it. I went with the Ramos Gin Fizz. It had everything I could ever want in one drink: gin, lemon juice, lime juice, cream and egg whites. I felt ten times classier than I looked while sipping this delicacy.

Martha Martha Martha!

2009-11-02T15:36:00.002-05:00

Presenting: Martha Stewart's Macaroni and Cheese

This was just great I mean juuuusssstt great. I will only be doing this recipe and slight modifications of it whenever I am craving real mac and cheese. I wouldn't want to keep this all to myself so I will share (and keep it here as a resource so I don't have to go looking for it next time I am craving some serious cheesy goodness)

*You can easily divide this recipe in half; use a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish if you do.

Serves 12
6 slices good-quality white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish
5 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 1/2 cups (about 18 ounces) grated sharp white cheddar
2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Gruyere or 1 1/4 cups (about 5 ounces) grated pecorino Romano
1 pound elbow macaroni

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside. Place bread pieces in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour butter into the bowl with bread, and toss. Set the breadcrumbs aside. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat milk. Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.

2. Slowly pour hot milk into flour-butter mixture while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.
3. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyere or 1 cup pecorino Romano. Set cheese sauce aside.

4. Fill a large saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 fewer minutes than manufacturer's directions, until outside of pasta is cooked and inside is underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to read the instructions.) Transfer the macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.

5. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup Gruyere or 1/4 cup pecorino Romano; scatter breadcrumbs over the top. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes; serve.

Enjoys! I know I did.

Boo Bitches!

2009-11-01T15:52:00.000-05:00

New game! Hit all Best of Cleveland as chosen by SCENE

2009-10-29T09:40:00.001-04:00

I'm new to the town after living away from here for the last 8 years and never really experiencing Cleveland as an adult and what better way to tackle the city than with a list! (I love lists) Using Cleveland SCENE as my guide I will tackle the best of food, nightlife, shopping, entertainment, people and sports. Game on!

I'm most looking forward to tackling their Food and Drink category. This means trips to Fire, L'Albatros, the Greenhouse tavern (which was a runner up but what's one more great night of food?), a cookie and a cupcake for well, a cupcake no doubt, Crostata's for some pizza and wow, the list really goes on here. I'll start with these and report back often.

Clever, wish I had thought of this

2009-10-29T09:22:00.000-04:00

A scarf with pockets. Now, why on earth would you require a scarf with pockets you ask? Well m'dears, lots of reasons. Maybe you are heading out on the town and can't be bothered to bring a bag with you- boom! room for keys, phone, wallet and proper lip color right there in your own scarf. Face it, you aren't taking your scarf off anyway, even if it does reach 80 degrees inside, so why fight it. OR perhaps you are a dude and wearing oh so tight pants and can't fit all of your mancessories in them, well... scarf with pockets ought to do the trick. Either way, I think it's kinda fun and smart and I might need one. Available here, cheap too wintercheck factory

Fantastic Soap! Haven't even used it yet, just based on aroma and packaging alone

2009-10-26T21:20:00.000-04:00

Saipua! Am in love. The 'whale soap' as I call it. It is made with sea salt, kelp, rosemary and patchouli and somehow smells like a deep sea dream. Spoiler alert! Everyone I know will be getting this in their stocking this year. You can order your own dreamsoap here: SAIPUA

Under the weather and b o r e d

2009-10-21T09:53:00.001-04:00

so I am doing a paint by numbers. What of it?

Yeah, I made this too. Best. Meatballs. Ever.

2009-10-21T09:52:00.000-04:00

From the January 2009 Gourmet, it's the cover meal and it's delicious. I followed it almost exactly but left out the veal, homie don't play that. I did of course include lemon zest, oregano from the garden, cream soaked pieces of stale bread and a whole cup of parmesan cheese. Mmmm mmm good.

Hot Toddy! Cure all and delicious

2009-10-17T18:12:00.000-04:00

I have been fighting off this cold for a couple of days now but still wanted a late afternoon cocktail so I looked no further than the hot toddy! I never really knew of a real recipe, just that is was hot water, honey, lemon and of course BOURBON! This recipe worked quite well and I will add it to my repertoire:

2.5 cups boiling water
1 Tbsp honey
juice of one lemon
2 shots of bourbon or whiskey (I used Jim Beam)

pour some boiling water into a large mug to heat it up then pour out and add the honey and lemon then some water to dissolve the honey. add in the bourbon and then top off with more water. I served mine in a glass mug because it was big and the drink is a nice color which is nice.

Kinda like this...

2009-10-16T10:56:00.000-04:00

This whole place is a little too bizarro for me NY Times but I do like this newspaper wallpaper idea for a bathroom... or perhaps a converted attic space. Not sure about the Soviet posters but maybe some music posters would be fun.

Taco Truck Tacos- Success!

2009-10-16T09:44:00.000-04:00

It totally worked! I would make a few little changes of course but the overall taste was all there.

Step one: get the pork butt ready for its long day in the slow cooker. Garlic, chili powder, onion, mexican oregano, salt, lemon juice and water.

Step two: make the cilantro/onion topping and salsa- tomatoes, garlic, onion, cilantro, vinegar, lime juice, serano chili, red chili flakes and salt.

Step three: assemble the taco and enjoy. mmmm. I like to top with avocado and serve some radish slices on the side. Next time I will change a few things but mainly I just need to double the recipe. There wasn't enough pork to go around!

Cooking every day!

2009-10-15T11:27:00.000-04:00

Tuesday it was provencal veggie pot pie! Wednesday was falafel with homemade tzatziki and naan! Tonight I am going to try to recreate one of my favorite foods from Seattle, taco truck tacos. I found a recipe and need to head to the store to get some pork and start the slow cooking process. I certainly don't expect them to taste as good as the ones that come from real Mexicans out of a converted schoolbus on Rainier. But! I am hoping they will reminiscent of them. Off to the store... photos later!

dress day dreaming

2009-10-13T16:12:00.000-04:00

all hypothetical, as I am not currently employed but still fun to look at in between job hunting and job inventing.

All from barneys.com

Seriously Silverfish, what is the point?

2009-10-13T10:56:00.000-04:00

I mean why even bother existing at all? You just beg people to kill you. Christ! you scared me out of my room last night and forced me to sleep elsewhere. Now I find out you are nocturnal and nearly impossible to catch by day! http://www.killsilverfish.net/ Now I have to stay up tonight and hunt you again, this time with better tools. I will find you and I will kill you, of that be sure. Keep it gross Silverfish, real gross.

noooooo!!!

2009-10-06T14:26:00.000-04:00

How could Conde Nast do this to me? To all food and/or photography lovers!? Say it aint so, it just isn't right. I understand that magazines are struggling and they have to cut something but couldn't it be Golf? or Golf Digest? How can you justify killing off a well loved food magazine while keeping two golf mags. Lame Conde Nast. Lame.

so sad now, I think I will go curl up with a pile of old Gourmet's and mourn. Then I will make some fabulous food in her honor.

Bad Football.... Good Shopping!

2009-10-04T14:07:00.000-04:00

Remember Lily Pulitzer? Those ubiquitous dresses of Palm Beach prepsters? Well, I thought I was over it but clearly, I am not. Look at these!

Alright, back to football, but these cheered me up!

Love this guy!

2009-10-04T13:42:00.000-04:00

Here we go brownies, here we go!

Now. let's see if we can do this please? I would be happy with a simple touchdown, I don't ask for much, just a glimmer of hope that this cold long drunk football season will be slightly less than totally depressing.

Cleveland! And... GO!

2009-10-04T10:49:00.000-04:00

Well, after over 40 hours spent in my car, lots of stops at McDonalds, several spats with my brother, some snow about a never ending rain storm I arrived back to my beloved Ohio. I slept for about 11 hours last night and almost feel caught up on sleep now.

this view sure does help. I think I just have to live near water, salt water, fresh water, do not care. Just give me a nice view and the possibility of a nice day spent outside, or on a boat and I am one happy Ohioan!