Monthly Archives: August 2013

Sautéed Peaches with Microgreens and Burrata cheese

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A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of dining with my family at Roberta’s restaurant in Bushwick. Maybe because it’s in Bushwick, an “up and coming” neighborhood in Brooklyn, or maybe because a large majority of its clientele wears skinny jeans and thick rimmed glasses, Roberta’s has a reputation of being sort of a “hipster-haven.”  If you’re not sure of what a hipster is, or have never come across one in the wild, then (1) I applaud you, and (2) feel free to read up on them here.  One of my mom’s favorite activities whenever she comes to Brooklyn is to play “Hipster Spotting.”  Let me tell you, she had a field day at Roberta’s.  If you’d also like to play, it’s pretty easy.  In short, if you spot someone that falls into any of the following categories, chances are you probably “spotted a hipster”.   And no, these hipsters don’t count. Continue reading →

Salted Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted in Cookies, Desserts by

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I absolutely love salt, and must admit I probably consume maybe a lot a little more than I should.  It can sometimes be difficult for me when I’m cooking for others – always feeling like I should be holding back on the sodium, knowing that others don’t love it quite as much as I do.  But seriously, nothing can ruin a dish more than if it’s under-seasoned, and in many dishes I cook that are simple with few ingredients, lack of salt can be a major mistake.  But of course too much salt can be a killer, so I’m always walking the fine line trying to keep a good balance.  After all, you can always add on, but you can’t take away in cooking and baking.   Continue reading →

Pistachio Petit-Four Cake

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This past weekend we threw my sister Sam a surprise birthday party, and oh boy was she surprised.  She had absolutely no idea that there were 30-40 of her closest friends waiting behind the door to her apartment.  Two of her friends did most of the work, setting up her apartment, bringing food and drink, decorating adorable mason jars with twine to serve a specialty cocktail, and adorning her entire apartment with beautiful flower arrangements that we asked each guest to bring. Continue reading →

Lavender and Toasted Walnut Scones

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I was recently invited to escape the city to spend a weekend in Montauk with very close friends of the family.  They have a beautiful home right on the Atlantic Ocean, and we spent the days lying on the soft white sand, and the nights laughing and reminiscing over dinner on the picturesque deck overlooking the water.  This place is heaven on earth, you can fall asleep listening to the waves crash on the beach, and wake up to the bright sunshine reflecting on the vast dark blue ocean.   It’s the kind of place where you can truly escape, no cell phone service, no TV, no need to pack anything but shorts, a t-shirt and a bathing suit.  It’s a place where you’re really able to let go, which is what I call the perfect getaway.   Continue reading →