TV Diet

In July, I am not watching TV. I can watch Netflix movies and I can go on the Internets, which is where I a waste most of my time. I have about a dozen books that I am halfway through, so I plan on finishing them. Right now I am reading Mr.'s book- 1776 by David McCullough. I gotta say, I think I am a little enamored with McCullough. I caught a short documentary about him on HBO and have listened to one of his speeches on American Public Media and he is such an affable guy besides being brilliant and passionate.
1776 is a pleasant read about the Revolutionary War. One of the things that he is able to do which makes this non-fiction history book a page-turner; is to make the the major players like characters in a novel.

New York Phil in Central Park

I have started saying things like, this is such a New York moment. But the concerts in the park are: tons of city folk jammed in the park eating takeout and drinking wine. Stomping on each other and shushing as if we are in Avery Fisher...


Every other year I have gone to the concerts in the park- it has been painfully humid and hot. Or we can't find our friends- "See the helicopter? We are sitting right under that helicopter". Or it rains. But this was the most perfect weather and I had a very easy time finding my crew (did not even have to call and ask them to describe where they were!). Another thing about this concert is the fireworks that go off on the south end of the lawn afterwards

These are golden beets from the Greenmarket- sooo yummy.

Central Park

My favorite place in NYC is Central Park. This is the waterfall that cascades down from the pond at 105th.
Beyond this bridge is the North Woods. There is a really cool Revolutionary War Block house hidden in there.
Mr. cut his hair, if you are wondering why he looks...different. This lake was renovated a few years ago and it is beautiful, especially in early spring. And the raccoons live here...
We are taking up another sport. The West Side Y has a pool and we are going to join. I think it will be good for Mr.'s joints. Plus it is sooo hot- we long to swim. The Y is like a labyrinth and has pretty much everything at a fraction of the price of other gyms. Coming up on our 10th year of city living, it makes me feel like a real New Yorker.

OK, I am a major dork

Here is my Nicoise salad. Yum, yum, yum.

Ok, look at these eggs. Can you see a difference?
They are both from the Greenmarket- different farmers. I had read about the eggs in the top photo in the NYMag and we had a egg vs. egg taste test.

The winning eggs are the top photo from the Flying Pigs Farm. I have bought lots of pork from them and a stew chicken that was incredible. The first time I met this farmer was over stew chicken- I had never had one. She said, it will make the best soup you have ever had. If you don't agree I will give you your money back. They are really good people and their pigs look happy. www.flyingpigsfarm.com.

Things we do, places we go..

We took a walk in Riverside- here is the garden at 91st that was featured in You Got Mail. This is a sort of bad pic of Mr. and Sparks. I cannot get them to make pleasant expressions at the same time....


Hydrangeas near the Warsaw Ghetto memorial.

There, aren't they cute.
Being the primary picture taker- there are few pics of me with Sparks. So here we are, and we look like we are having a conversation...it was really an argument.
In NYC you are always stumbling onto something interesting. This is at 83rd and Riverside.

More Food

Mr. woke me up this morning at 8am and insisted we go to the green market. I was kind of in shock. It was lovely, cooler, and less crowded. I went yesterday, so had less to get, but still managed to totally fill our bags. Got the first beautiful heirloom tomatoes and cherries.

This was our dinner- all from the market! Spinach pasta with peas and pesto. Beets and honey chevre. The tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. It was perfect after our hot mid-day run-walk with Sparks.
I also got sick of watching some veggies shrivel up when I cannot stuff myself with enough salad. I know that most pickling is a rather intensive process- but this is quick pickles. So easy!
I already tasted them and they are really good...
Also broke in my new baby casserole pan with a strawberry cherry crisp. The pan is so little and cute.
I know, I know- enough food already....

Greenmarket!!!

The thing about eating from seasonally from the greenmarket is a sense of overload. When something is in, you want to eat it, cause it won't be around for another year. But, then you get a little tired of it and wonder what more can you do. So this is the latest incarnation of strawberries. It is just whipped cream with strawberry puree and pistachios. I have been meaning to make a little crisp- but it is too hot to bake.
The greenmarket is getting very exciting! This is my haul from the Friday morning 97th street market. So many veggies! So fresh!
I am the only one in the house who likes radishes- but i couldn't resist. I didn't get any meat today, cause I am trying to be more inventive with veggies and with cooking that takes very little heat. So we have been having elaborate salads and I am going to make some soup that can be served cold. Sparks loves the market too. Everyone there compliments him and the milk people always have treats.
ps. After I gave a little note to one of my students, she pointed out that her teacher at school told her that she could only use one exclamation point. What is that all about??? Do we really want to dampen children's enthusiasm? For punctuation, nonetheless??? Puuhlease!!!

Gauc-off

Despite our massive win last year...we decided to bring banana pudding as our offering. This is a disgustingly tasty sweet recipe that is really easy. Pudding mix, milk, cream cheese, condensed milk and whipped cream plus cookies and bananas. Ridiculous.

Everyone else assumed everyone else would be bringing gauc too- so there were only 7 entries.
Despite this- it was still challenging and these were the prizes.
And the winners. Yet again, the first place winner choose to make it fresh on the spot and that made all the difference.
Ps. If I am leading you astray- we only got second place last year.