SUNDAY BRUNCH

I think Sunday is the best day of the week, mostly because I really like brunch, but also because I get to catch up with friends over a relaxing meal with good drinks. Yesterday I was able to spend the earlier part of the afternoon with Alexa. She's a city girl now and I don't get to see as much of her as I'd like, so I took advantage of her free time yesterday and decided to meet at the City Beer Hall for brunch.

 

LUNCH AT MURRAY'S CHEESE BAR

By the time we finished the filming of The Chew both Caitlyn and I were absolutely starving. We made plans to meet up with Alexa for a relaxing and indulgent lunch at Murray's Cheese Bar.

THE CHEW: THANKSGIVING SURVIVAL GUIDE

I have the best twin sister ever. I received a phone call from her a few weeks back telling me to take off an upcoming date from work because we were going to the city to see "The Chew". If you've never heard of this daytime talk show, "The Chew" has been described as '"The View" for foodies and lifestyle enthusiasts. The panel of co-hosts on the show include famous chefs Mario Batali and Michael Symon, entertaining expert Clinton Kelly, "Top Chef"alumna Carla Hall and author Daphne Oz. 

(The episode I attended is airing TODAY (11/25/14) at 1 p.m.)

GIRLS NIGHT AT THE SHOP IN TROY

The ladies and I were overdue for a girls night. It felt like forever since I saw them all last, so we met up at The Shop on 4th Street in Troy to play catch up on what's going on in each others lives, enjoy some wine and cocktails, and eat some good food.

GUILT FREE PB&J PANCAKES

Today was just one of those days, where no matter what I tried this morning I could not for the life of me get out of bed. I woke up to the sound of raindrops outside and instantly knew my inner lazy girl would take over and the idea of going for a run in the park would quickly vanish. Feeling a little bit of guilt for not being as active as I'd hoped, yet the desire to treat myself to something tasty and comforting I whipped up a guilt free breakfast of low carb / gluten free peanut butter and jelly pancakes.

ITALIAN EGG ROLLS

A couple weeks back I had a girls night with my sister and we headed out to a new restaurant that opened up in Albany for some appetizers and cocktails. After going back and forth between what we wanted to order we saw the table of guys next to us had a plate of Sicilian egg rolls that looked absolutely delicious. So we put down our menus and ordered one portion to split. They were so fantastic that I had to try and recreate them at home.

BREAKFAST AT TESOROS CAFE

I love a good breakfast spot where any day of the week I can pop in and enjoy a relaxing meal to start my day off right. That being said, I recently stumbled upon Tesoros Cafe (go ahead and like them on the Facebook) on Union Street in Schenectady while dropping off some dry cleaning earlier this week. I didn't have time to sit down and enjoy a meal so I just grabbed an iced coffee to go and promised I'd be back.

GOAT CHEESE & TOMATO PIZZA

I have and always will have a deep love for pizza.  During high school I worked in a couple of pizza joints and although I didn't exactly make the pizza for customers I always payed close attention to the techniques used by those who did.
That being said, I've created a new pizza combination about a week or so ago and made it again the other night. Let's just say there were only crumbs left 15 minutes after it came out of the oven.  

BURGER 21

When you walk into Burger 21 you're greeted by smiling employees who are patiently waiting to hand you a menu so you can make a quick decision and order your food at the counter that lies straight ahead. 

LIFE HAPPENS

Lately things have been crazy, hectic, extremely stressful, and overwhelmingly heartbreaking. But I'm doing my best to not let this roller coaster of emotions that is currently my life get me down, because it can only go up from here...right? I've stumbled across a bunch of quotes on Pinterest and Tumblr that have shown me there's a light at the end of the tunnel and thought I'd share them with you.

PEACH PASTRY

I don't eat pastries or other baked goods that often, but after creating a mixed berry pastry recipe with my sister last week I knew I had to test out a peach recipe for myself, and I am happy to report they came out wonderful! 

ROSEMARY & LEMON THYME BUTTERED CHICKEN

I always say I don't like chicken because it's too dry. However, I think I've converted myself into an occasional chicken eater with a recipe I tried the other night for dinner.

BANGING BREAKFAST BURRITO

Breakfast burritos are the best. They have all my favorite breakfast items wrapped up in a perfect little bundle that you can either take on the go or sit down and enjoy with a big glass of OJ or an iced coffee.

CHEESY ZUCCHINI FRITTERS WITH DILL AIOLI

I'm a big fan of zucchini, it's one of the most versatile veggies out there. You can add it to a salad, turn it into pasta, or whip up a low carb pizza with it! This time I decided to turn my zucchinis into an appetizer and create cheesy zucchini fritters.

FRIDAY FIVE

A few of my favorite moments recently....

 Enjoying some green tea in the back yard on a beautiful day.

AVOCADO HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

I absolutely love breakfast and brunch. I think it's mainly because I am obsessed with hollandaise sauce and order it out or make it at home whenever possible. However, if I'm being completely truthful, I always feel a little guilty for dousing my eggs and home fries in that buttery, lemony, cholesterol filled sauce from the Gods.

FRIDAY FIVE

I'm happy to say this week was a little bit better than last week. I have some great opportunities ahead of me and I'm looking forward to spending the weekend focusing on myself, spending time with family and friends, and embracing change that is inevitable. Here are a few highlights from this past week. Enjoy the weekend, everyone!

LIEBSTER AWARD

Have you ever heard of the Liebster Award? Well, to start, Liebster | ‘LEEB’-ster: is a German word which means beloved, dearest, kind, lovely, or sweetheart and The Leibster Award started as a way to help up and coming bloggers who have under 200 followers gain a larger following and network with other bloggers. I was recently nominated by the lovely blogger Rachel from Eat - Explore - Enjoy. Thank you Rachel!

SPICY BLOODY MARY RECIPE

Bloody Mary's are one of my favorite drinks; it doesn't matter the time of day, if I'm offered a Bloody Mary you can bet I'll take it. I was looking at the ingredients on the bottle of my favorite Bloody Mary mix a week ago and realized it was full of high fructose corn syrup and some other ingredients I didn't know much about. So,this past weekend I decided to create my own recipe and I'm so happy with how it turned out.

LUNCH AT CAFE LE PERCHE IN HUDSON

My mother's birthday is the first day of summer so I decided to meet up with her and my sister on Friday afternoon to take her out to lunch.

FRIDAY FIVE

This week has been a bit of a roller coaster for me to say the least. In hopes of trying to stay positive I've decided to share some of the highlights from my week to focus on the things that bring me joy. I hope you all enjoy your weekend!

STRAWBERRY & GREEN TEA SMOOTHIE

As much as I love my eggs and bacon for breakfast in the morning I'm trying to turn over a new leaf and incorporate more fruit and veggies into my morning routine. I am in no way a morning person and could probably sleep until noon every day if it didn't make me feel so guilty. That being said caffeine is my friend, however, I am also trying to cut back on my coffee intake. So, I decided to whip up this Strawberry & Green Tea Smoothie to start my Thursday off right.

SWEET & SAVORY SUMMER SALAD

When I was in college I lived close enough to the school that I could walk home and make lunch in between my classes. I maintained a pretty steady routine during that time and found myself preparing the same thing for lunch almost every day.

CRISPY GRILLED PIZZA

I love pizza. It's one of those foods I could eat once a week for the rest of my life and never tire of it. Last summer I tried grilling a pizza for the first time, but it was an absolute fail. So I made another attempt with a few alterations and I'm happy to say the results were wonderful!

 

GRILLED 'CAESAR' SALAD

I'm not trying to brag, but, um... I'm kind of turning into a grill master. I love the flavors that  appear when cooking over an open flame, so I've been putting anything and everything I can on the grill.

Last night was no different, I decided to take advantage of the perfect grilling weather and whip up a simple dish for dinner. Rather than making a large meal that takes 45 minutes to an hour to prepare I thought I'd keep things light and make a salad that was ready in less than ten minutes.

FOUR FAT FOWL ARTISAN CREAMERY

It's no secret I love cheese, so when I received an invite to the Four Fat Fowl private launch party at the Ginger Man on Friday night I was pretty excited and couldn't wait to see what this local business had to offer!

MOCHA FRAPPUCCINO

Remember the picture I posted on Instagram at the end of last week? I'll give you a hint: It was my attempt at The Londoner's Iceberg Lattes. 

SKINNY ROASTED GARLIC ALFREDO

Some nights I just want to sit down on the couch, turn my favorite TV show on, and indulge in some good old comfort food. Whether it's because I'm in a funk or simply because I'm craving something warm and cheesy. Is it just me or does cheese just scream comfort?

Last night was one of those nights and I was craving pasta, but I didn't want all the guilt that went along with it. So I boiled some whole wheat spaghetti and whipped up a skinny roasted garlic alfredo sauce to go along with it.

CREAMY SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH PROSCIUTTO, PARMESAN, & CHIVES

On mornings when I want a simple breakfast that satisfies all my hunger needs: salty, cheesey, & comforting, I go for creamy scrambled eggs with prosciutto and toast.

I know, I know, scrambled eggs... what's so special about them? Well, these are extremely quick and easy to whip up and within 5 minutes you'll be scarfing down a breakfast fit for a King or Queen!

FRIDAY FINDS

As sad as it sounds I'm on the computer for a majority of my day. I'm constantly interacting on  and perusing various social media platforms for work and again later on in the evening when I'm relaxing at home. Throughout the day I stumble upon a bunch of interesting finds that intrigue me, so I thought I'd share with you.
[ I discovered a majority of these 'finds' on my Bloglovin' account, so all my blogger friends make sure you follow me! ]

Random strawberry basil mojito I created.

ROSEMARY & GARLIC PARSNIP FRIES

Parsnips; they're those weird root vegetables that look like white carrots. I've only tried parsnips a couple times in the past and never thought much of them. After receiving a bunch of them in my subscription last week I did a little research and found a lot of recipes for parsnip fries. I loveeeee fries so whipping up a recipe of my own was a done deal.

If you didn't know, parsnips contain anti-oxidants, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, & anti-fungal properties and are also packed full of vitamins, minerals, and contain lots of potassium & fiber.

FIELD GOODS: LOCAL PRODUCE SUBSCRIPTION

I love when the warmer weather comes around, because I know that's when all the fresh fruits and veggies are available at local farms. Since it's rare that I find myself perusing farmers markets on the weekend I searched for a food subscription that delivers and discovered Field Goods.

[They pick random spots throughout the Capital Region as drop off locations. You can find a pick up location here.]

I wanted to make sure I really enjoyed and supported everything Field Goods has to offer, so I waited until I received my second delivery before blogging about them; I'm happy to say I love them! 

NOORMAN'S KIL WHISKEY & GRILLED CHEESE IN BROOKLYN

Over 400 whiskeys, 7 gourmet grilled cheese options, and a beautiful atmosphere. That is what 609 Grand Street in Brooklyn has to offer you. The girls and I made our way to Noorman's Kil after we dried off from the rain.

[Note: this is a long one, so grab your morning coffee or afternoon lunch and bring a napkin, cause you'll be drooling by the end of this] 

CIDER AND SLIDERS AT NINE PIN IN ALBANY

Mark you calendar, folks! This summer two local business, Nine Pin Cider Works and Slidin' Dirty Food Truck are teaming up to quench your thirst & appetite on select Thursdays. Last night was the first one (it was fantastic) and they will continue starting at 4 pm on May 29th, June 5th and 12th, and July 10th and 24th.

BROOKLYN'S SMORGASBURG

Have I told you how much I love the city? If I haven't, I'm telling you now. It has always been my dream to make the big move and become a city girl. But, my life and all the people I love are here in the Capital Region. So, I suppose random trips to visit Alexa will just have to suffice... for now.

I was in the city for most of last weekend because M had some business to attend to and I wanted to catch up on some much needed girl time with Alexa, since I can't remember the last time I saw her! Fortunately, I lucked out this trip as two of our girlfriends were down for a visit, too! We spent most of Friday night eating and drinking our way through Hells Kitchen, starting at Casellula for wine and cheese.

TROYSTER TUESDAY AT LUCAS CONFECTIONERY

We had some pretty fantastic weather in the Capital Region last week. Tuesday was my 3rd Anniversary with M, so we jumped at the opportunity to enjoy some of that sunshine. We spent a relaxing evening outside sipping on wine while slurping down oysters (and some other goodies) at Lucas Confectionery's Troyster Tuesday.

MUSHROOM, THYME, & PARMESAN BAKED EGGS

Weekend meals are my favorite and brunches always seem to feel so special. Is it just me or is there an ever relaxing feeling around the meal? I mean, you don't have to wake up early to prepare it, you get to combine two awesome meals into one, and you usually include some sort of yummy cocktail, too!

CINCO DE MAYO GUACAMOLE

Happy Cinco de Mayo!
In honor of holiday I thought I'd share my guacamole recipe with you. It's quite simple and incredibly delicious.

DECONSTRUCTED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Last weekend I was craving comfort food, but wanted to cook something that wouldn't make me feel extremely guilty for eating. So, I decided to whip up some eggplant parmesan. 

GIRLS NIGHT AT THE POINT

There is nothing I enjoy more than a chilled bottle of wine, a great assortment of cheeses, a crispy thin pizza & some fabulous company to share it with. This past Saturday my sister from another mister, Alexa, came up for a visit! We headed out to The Point for dinner to indulge in some much needed girl time and to catch up on each others lives. 

ALBANY RESTAURANT WEEK AT THE MERRY MONK

Oh how I love Downtown Albany's Restaurant Week! Last Thursday some of the girls and I met up at The Merry Monk to enjoy a couple drinks, gossip about life, vent about work, and eat some food...some realllllly great food.

ALBANY RESTAURANT WEEK AT CAFE CAPRICCIO

Downtown Albany Restaurant Week was April 2nd through the April 11th and boy did I take advantage of it. My first restaurant week experience was at Cafe Capriccio, which is located on Grand Street. I've never been to cafe Capriccio before so I was pretty excited to see what they are all about. It's a very cute restaurant with great food and a homey appearance that created a relaxed atmosphere.

THYME INFUSED SALT

I love savory food. Almost every time I'm asked I choose something savory over something sweet. As excited I was about my Vanilla Infused Sugar I am even more excited about this Thyme Infused Salt recipe I'm about to share with you!

DIY VANILLA INFUSED RAW SUGAR

As much as I enjoy savory food items, there's still a part of me that enjoys a little something sweet every now and then. Over the weekend I decided to test out a recipe and since it came out so well I decided to share it on the blog: Vanilla Infused Raw Sugar.

CHEESY BAGEL BLT-EA

I have a little secret....

I LOVE my weekends. I mean really, who doesn't? It's two out of the seven days a week where I get to do what I want, when I want. Sleep in until 11 a.m.? Sure! Binge watch a new television show? Why Not?!

I also get pretty excited about preparing a scrumptious breakfast and lunch for myself. It's silly to think food can sometimes be the highlight of my weekend, but during the week I usually just throw something quick together before running out of the house for work and call it a day. I look forward to this time because it's when I get to extinguish all my crazy food cravings and if I'm feeling up to it, I'll get a little bit creative, too. 

This past weekend I decided to treat myself to a Cheesy Bagel BLTea for lunch. Okay, so it's not incredibly creative...but it's pretty darn tasty if you ask me!

SIMPLE BURGER RECIPE

When I get a craving for food it usually doesn't stop until I quench it. Yesterday, that craving was a cheeseburger, yet again. 

Rather going out to eat I decided to pick up some ingredients from the market and make the burgers myself.

 

BURGERS, BEER, & BONE MARROW AT CAPITAL CITY GASTROPUB

Since M is away at a distillery conference in Denver this week I've found myself a bit lonely. I mean...a girl can only have so many conversations with her pug before she starts to question her sanity. Luckily for me, Cait came to the rescue and popped over for a visit last night! 

Rather than staying in for dinner and creating a mess in my kitchen we decided to go out and treat ourselves to something yummy. 

I don't know what it is, but I have had an insatiable craving for burgers lately, so we headed out to the Capital City Gastropub to curb my craving and enjoy some drinks.

I ordered myself one of the hoppy IPA's off their beer menu...

GOOD NIGHT NOODLE BLOGGER TASTING

Last night I headed up to Ballston Spa for the blogger tasting of Good Night Noodle; a new venture for Nancy Holdman, the owner of Good Morning Cafe and her business partner, Chef Linh Sullins.  The women are opening Good Night Noodle in April where they will transform the aesthetic of the breakfast café to accommodate that of a Vietnamese Noodle Café. Their main focus will be pho. If you're like me and have somehow never tried Vietnamese food before, pho is a noodle soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, meats. 

REFRESHING TOMATO & AVOCADO CHEESE SALAD

The sun is shining, birds are chirping overhead, and all of the icicles and snow mounds are melting, which means spring is almost here! Doing my very best to get into the springtime spirit I decided to whip up a salad that reminds me of the warmer months.
 I've had this salad for the past two days, it's the perfect lunch for one or a snack for two.
The fact that it's ridiculously simple to makes it even better!

MY 24TH BIRTHDAY DINNER

I had a wonderful 24th birthday! It was full of  family, friends, some of my all time favorite foods, and wine. Lots and lots of wine. I wanted to keep it as simple and relaxing as possible, so Cait and I decided to go to our favorite sushi place in Albany, Ruby Asian Bistro.