It's Wake Up Time

retail ridiculousness

My place of employment's answer to 'safety shoes' above, these medieval metal romper stompers. 20 minutes in these things brought back my sense of humor, reminded me of humility, but also was a literal example of how I tend to walk through life blindly at times.

I immediately researched and found that our company gives an allowance each year for safety shoes from Grainger that they kept under wraps but I was able to get these butch, bad ass steel toed boots I'd wanted for some time.

That day I planned a kitchen for a cool couple and in my questioning about the use of their kitchen, I found the husband was a pastry chef.  He was Italian and didn't participate much in the layout but supported his wife's decisions. But his smile told me he was likely great at what he did.  During their return visit, they handed me a gift bag that included a few varieties of cookies from his local company. I hadn't touched sweets since lent so I wasn't anxious to break the streak. Sugary treats at work can become like cocaine.  Very easy to get hooked to that quick high.

I'm telling you, I found packaged cookies were never great but one bite of these insanely good treats and your mouth and stomach wake up and start tugging at your sleeve saying, Dude! What is this wizardry you bring to us?!  It's a sensation like no other cookie experience.  The taste buds go into a DMT-like journey of flavors!  This guy holds magical powers! 

By the next time I saw them I had already sent a box to my father in law for Father's day and I had to restrain from kissing the man's shoes.  Every coworker that tasted the cookies fell instantly in love and took double and triple takes on the flavors, amazed at how much each one affected them.  I had to share them with as many people as I could find, even outside of my department where they were equally as astounded.  The couple was gracious enough to continue bringing several bags on each visit and it became hard to continue to share them because we wanted to keep them for ourselves.  I'm ashamed to say the last time, I snuck a whole back to my locker like a squirrel and hid it for myself to dip into each day.
 

You Better Get Hip to the Clean Up Woman

Just as teen girls currently dress like their moms, I cook as if I'm in my mom's depression era of the 1930's. I don't like to waste food and always try to use what I buy.  Chicken soups are great for this purpose because you can throw in the last of your jarred hot sauce, vegetable scraps, herbs that need used up and put in fillers, like rice or grains.  This is a great way to use up corn tortillas, to thicken and add a little corny flavor. 

Until You've Seen This Trash Can Dream Come True

A healthier go-to option that always tastes good but I often forget about is Chicken Scallopini.  Lemons, capers, butter and garlic give this thinly sliced chicken breast a gourmet feel and taste for the smallest amount of effort.  Smashed sweet potatoes dressed with only butter and s&p, steamed broccoli and brown sprouted rice.   

After eating a ton of pizza, jerk, Korean BBQ, these kinds of meals come in handy to get your gut back on track. A reminder to partake in moderation of all the fun, delicious fatty take-out food NYC has to offer in order to continue partaking.

You Want to Taste and Help Yourself

Amidst the tomfoolery of the local establishments trying to sell us on silly food themes or gimmicks instead of straight awesome eats, something exciting is taking place on the streets.  Brave cooks are popping up with their makeshift gear and setting up sans food trucks, just hot plates and tables, selling their smoked BBQ or tamales, jerk and assorted other offerings.  If you're not a social media partaker, you have to be lucky to catch them but when you do, it's a kismet!  Like these delicious fall off the bone ribs....

....and this smoked chicken with greens and the meatiest dirty rice we've ever tasted! It becomes more special because when it's a chance encounter, the treat is that much better.

Earlier, the morning provided treats from Alamo Draft house City Point here in Brooklyn in the form of the tenderest chicken tenders and dreamiest queso with chips.  The Accountant 2 matinee and the surprise wonderfulness of Jon Bernthal.