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.

It Was a Very Good Year

Traditional after-work New Year's Eve pizza
This year instead of our local pizza joint, Not Ray's, we doctored up frozen Amy's pizza with a Squirt drink.  This was an accurate meal representation of the year.  Nothing to write home about but it was without major issues and you couldn't complain.  It could always be worse (no extra toppings) and we did our best to add to the basic foundation of life each day to make it fun.  All in all, a good year.   Great would be an overstatement, but it didn't suck. 

You Say You a Got Real Solution, Well, You Know, We'd All Love to See the Plan

We try not to order whole pizzas anymore so we order slices and then cut them in two.  Sometimes I tell Patrick to pick them knowing he'll bring home much healthier choices than I would.  And almost every time he brings back at least one oddity wedge that I have to sit and ponder.  Usually I end up loving it. Still when craving pizza, automatically I think of pepperoni, big NY drippy slices, too much cheese and lots of tangy sauce. There's nothing nutritious in my equation.  Vegetables and pizza are contradictions. Veggie slices are not quite the dream I imagine but this one was amazing.  Perfectly grilled bell peppers, broccoli steamed to the brightest perfection and then as a 'this can't work' surprise, sweet potato sliced very thin.  That tiny bit of roasted sweetness just hit that cheese in it's G-spot!  Amazingly right. No sauce but a nice thin layer of cheese and good olive oil.  The crust is more of a cracker consistency, which I love. I admit, a better choice.

And afterwards, even though a bit indulgent, the gut doesn't revolt. 

Speaking of revolting, someone that I love dearly got their pick this election.  Trump was thier choice.  One they made consciously and clearly.  It was not a matter of the lesser of two evils but instead for them, the only way to break the cycle of bigger government and perceived or real corruption within the Clinton administration.  In the early stages I defended them by saying they are just reading between the lines when Trump so eloquently states his positions.  They heard much needed action around controlling borders instead of Mexican immigrants being rapists.  Their fears of terrorism were soothed when he talked about not allowing in more refugees.  I assume they squirmed many times listening to him though.  I hope they did.  I heard nothing from them after all the female comments and scandals.  Calling women pigs and rating them by numbers.  Nothing after mocking a disabled person or picking a fight with the parents of a dead soldier. This was someone running for our highest position!  What were they thinking then? I know I just felt sick to my stomach.  I was so self assured that no christian conservative would EVER have any of this. I can't speak for them and I'm not yet ready to speak to them but I imagine their priorities were far away from all those social issues.  They must have been so very focused on the end result.  A 'by any means necessary' approach against Clinton. I do believe, I have to believe if I ever want to sleep again, that for them, it was all about blocking Clinton.

I was not a Clinton supporter, nor was I a'gin her.  I really wanted to feel the woman power but you have to be honest, she did not speak to me and I did not find her especially sincere or bring female traits that I admire.  However, I didn't need her to be my bestie, just to keep us safe, make sound decisions, be trustworthy and not take away my social security.  I tried to fall in line, gathering a case for my own eventual support. But being a woman in the work force, I could see big blunders in her campaign as well.  I thought she was smarter than this?  She seemed so out of touch with today.  Her old school line of thought that just working really hard is key and listing past accomplishments was so outdated.  We needed to hear what she was going to do 'differently', how she stood out and why.  Even how being a woman mattered. How she would really represent change for more people, and for God's sake not give us speeches that could have come out of a handbook. Instead she pointed to a chart of a straight line.  I didn't want to hear one elite tone come from her lips but I did, I heard a few.  Bernie won my heart and confidence.  There was conviction in his voice and I felt such a burst of fresh air.  He was speaking to us, not at us.  He was with us.  He was one of us. And he pointed out huge issues that needed to be changed and in fact the whole game had to, a revolution was needed. After that, nothing felt right about Hilary for me.  As a matter of fact, I felt semi-bullied to vote for her, truth be told.  Even up to her ending speech I had so many doubts.  Was she trustworthy? One of my basic requirements.  I read dozens of articles and then their debunk counterparts.  I am not someone who's paid a whole lot of attention to these things in the past.  I was off getting laid and having fun.  Something I want to get back to doing again and quickly.  Was she going to keep us safe?  Folks that seem to live and breathe this information were sure that she would not.  Did I get a sour taste in my mouth when she spoke of her connection to the black community?  Yes. Did I squirm a little when she played the woman card at inappropriate times?  Yes.  What choice did I have when my media stream screamed for me to pull the trigger on hate and intolerance.  I panicked.

In the end, I did vote for her, albeit begrudgingly.  So today, given a week to mope and ponder, some time even spent consoling the wounded who truly believe the world around them has changed and behind every half smile could lurk a closet racist ready to take away every right they've fought so hard to acquire. I have to wonder if I myself committed the exact same wrong doing as my Trump supporter who was just trying to keep Clinton out. That special person who was deaf to the hate rhetoric and the belittling of women and soldiers and Muslims.  That person who somehow stepped over all the crushed spirits of gays and blacks and children who knew the adults would surely crush a bully.  That person who was fighting for what their eyes see each day, lack of jobs, people doing the right thing but not making ends meet, the democratic party blind to the middle and working class who's cities are falling, our infrastructure crumbling but our leaders are making millions off speeches to the corporations that are killing us.  The liberal elites who seem to care more about the rights of our guests then their own people who need attention and help too. Somewhere in the middle, a lot of people are earnestly desperate for change.  So I have to ask myself, was I so noble to appoint and accept who was only the better masked evil?  I am not in a position to pass judgement on a Trump supporter.  However I am in a position to judge Trump and every moves he makes while working for me....and you.

Whatever Gets You Through Your Life, It's Alright, It's Alright

When you're sick but still really crave pizza.

But I did make an herb salad with apples and avocado to make me feel less like a gross, useless, slimy pig.

And when you're feeling terrible about humanity, yourself and the future but you still HAVE to make that omelette.  A giant omelette for breakfast with spinach, tomato and feta. Served along with semi successful hash browns and bacon.

Feed your hole, starve your beaver....wait...how's it go?

See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me

Lately I've noticed a larger movement forming for people to stop looking at their phones during any spare moment.  There are snotty memes about nobody caring what you had for dinner so quit posting the pictures.  Other folks pleading to just stop and experience whatever it is you feel compelled to photograph or film. And share. Today I was eating lunch looking at my phone and overhead a conversation about how irritating it has become that every single person might be on their phone on the subway or in a bar or restaurant.  I was super late to this phone game but I do see the potential addictive behavior after only a year.  You feel a nervous urge to check updates and for what?  Little hearts on your instagram pics or thumbs up on a Facebook post?  That seems so silly and almost sad to me at times.

But it's so much more than that and I have to believe that some portion of this is positive evolution with value. At the very least, why this is happening began to make sense to me.  Certainly the younger kids but even someone of my age grew up communicating through media.  Television, film, music and photography have always been our medium.  We read about our beloved musicians in music magazines and poured over our album covers for insight into our favorite bands.  We were glued to the TV set to see our top shows but were bummed when we had to miss magic moments simply due to timing.  We combed through cookbooks to look for food ideas and to get inspiration. Clipping of the recipes or writing down the steps and ingredients on little index cards was cute for a minute but that was not going to be the best way for long.  We received important breaking information via the newspaper and the six o'clock news.  If you missed it at 6pm, then you'd need to wait until 11pm to get your update or drill your partner or friends for details.

Images aided our dreary lives.  Images sold promise.  So to me, it is a very natural progression for us to streamline all this data and put it on the fast track. Now that we have such an open line we're free to share all of this scoop with whomever we choose. And in turn broaden our net.   Speaking to one person at a time takes time.  No one has extra time.  Time is valuable.  You take that time, why not speak to hundreds?  Or at least 20.

Many of us have physically moved away from friends and family but refuse to live without those cherished VIPs in our lives.  With these new channels there is no need to break that alliance, even when you are home sick in bed.

And we stopped touching each other.  People barely hug anymore, real hugs. We have so little human contact in a real physical way.  This might serve to make up for that as well.  Monkey's groom each other in society.  Touching is big.  It serves a purpose. We lost that comradery. Now if a stranger touches me I want to punch their lights out.  But yet I have revealed close personal information to virtual strangers online and felt great about it.

Ultimately, I'd love to remain a touching, feeling monkey with a computer.

Atlantic Antic 2015

Regrets, I've Had a Few

Pizza shame. Hey, we're not above it. They make these deals that no man is strong enough to pass up. Even in New York where you have the best pizza. We have a pizza place that sells slices on the corner AND right next door now and its good pizza, thin slices, what we like.

How lazy can you get? I'll tell you. Even putting on your pants and going next door is a hassle you sometimes require to avoid. Domino's lets you go on-line. You order without talking to a soul. Magically a man appears at your door 20 minutes later with hot boxes of edible satisfaction. We tried the Artisan pizza with thin salami but also got the regular thin crust as a back up. Really tasty but on the back end...didn't sit well. There was some funny flavored oil almost mayonnaise taste that lingered in the gut and started setting fires.

The coupon deal allowed a chicken side, so....

Judge not, lest ye be judged!

'Cause I Got a Peaceful Easy Feelin'

Not Ray's Pizza is our neighborhood corner pizza joint. We tried to buy whole pies but it is the slice that is king here. It's not the best slice you've had, but you don't even want it to be. Its on your corner. That would be too dangerous. However, the stuffed slice is damn good. Damn good.


Before the hurricane was to come we rode out to look in on our friend J's cat, Fanny. She, like female cats tend to do, musta got upset and pee'd and poo'ed on J's bag. I like that about cats. They're not real emotional like dogs, but they sort of let you know what's up when you screw up. In this case, J left the house for an extended period of time. Fanny wasn't havin' that.



Fanny was all purrs when we visited but she'd said her piece already. She'd made her statement.


They had me spooked to the bejesus about this hurricane hitting directly over the city for the first time ever and what that might mean. The day before you think your life might change drastically, things look different. It's like the day before you finally decide to cut your hair. All the sudden, your hair looks not too shabby. Hey, its kinda flattering! I like my hair! You think, but you're wrong, your just scared. Brooklyn looked beautiful this day. It had started to rain and the gothic beauty of the buildings and architecture was very visible.





We rode back and stopped for that slice at Not Ray's. Just a plain cheese slice and Coke. It tasted like heaven. A quiet peaceful heaven before you die.

I get pie with a little help from my friends

Once in a blue moon P takes me to a public place. Actually I should say once in a blue moon we take a friend or relative out to brunch and I get to play like its a date. But hey, I'm not complaining at all because I enjoy getting to complain later that we never go anywhere. Just kidding. No I'm not. I'm just happy to be eating great pizza. Brick Oven Pizza from Savoia on Smith Street. I like this place a lot. Most times its really special. It feels vibrant in there and we always feel like we went somewhere. The atmosphere pulls you out of the norm. Seeing the big brick oven in back is very comforting and warming in the winter too.

I brought my camera but being a knucklehead that I am I took no pictures of the three great pizzas that we ordered. I was so excited to be out of the house and talking like a real human that I lost my mind. I did however get a pic of this coat on the ground off Atlantic Avenue as we walked home. This coat looked like it could tell an interesting story if it could talk. But it just laid there unable to say a thing.



We ordered the Paesana, the Quatro Stagioni and the Campagnola. Favorite was definitely the Paesana but if I weren't so hungry I would have definitely savored the wild mushroom on the Campagnola because there were some amazing subtle flavors there. Sausage is like the tall blond in the room as opposed to the sweet short brown haired girl, which would be the mushrooms and cheese, no red sauce. You really are drawn straight to the blond. The Quatro Stagioni was delicious too with ham, artichokes and black olives. I would say the red head with high heels. You end up grazing on the crust between pieces until its gone because its so amazing.

In order to ward off mid-morning hunger I made toasted wheat bagels with whipped cream cheese, onion and tomatoes. mmmm....

Thank goodness for P, Italians, pizza, friends, happenstance, blonds and the wisdom to know the difference. There's some kind of joke in there.

But take cash to Savoia unless you have American Express because they don't take Visa.

Pizza Pizza

My super cool 'brother-in-common-law if New York recognized common-law, which is doesn't' sent me some fresh pepper seeds from his garden! YES! So naturally I had to get busy making a pizza. Well, I guess its not exactly a natural progression but I think of those little pepper seeds just so happy to be all over my freshly baked pizza slice and I get all giddy!

I usually make the white flour crust but I heard Mark makes a super good whole wheat crust dough so I thought I'd try one in his honor and then the whole thing would be sorta spiritual. You see I often believe my food means much more than it probably does but its a harmless belief really. Why not believe? It's like my hope that there really are space aliens. Wouldn't it be cool???!

I forgot how many little steps it takes to make a pizza though so I had to make up time tonight when I finally came out of my on-line Scrabble coma. Lots of ways to screw up a pizza. Your dough, your sauce, your toppings. How you layer it. Cheese last or first? I end up getting all my toppings together while the dough is rising and my sauce going and I have to decide if I want to make separate topping pizzas or put it all on there and who minds that?! 'Everything' pizzas were a huge luxury growing up.

I think I'll do two separate pies to make it exciting. One will be pepperoni, green & black olives, & artichoke hearts - the other italian sausage, onions, spinach & ricotta. Yeah.

Of course there is always one thing to be stressed out about because you gotta have like 20 items on hand to make these things. I only had tomato sauce and diced canned tomatoes and I usually like to make my sauce with paste, so time will tell if this will make a runny sauce.

Then there is my oven. It gets too hot and its basically a piece of crap but you know you work with whatcha got and so I just gotta watch it closely. We like our crust thin and crispy so should I pre-bake the crust??? Now see, that's another freakin' thing you gotta decide. But I got the wild-card oven to think about, so ....better not chance the burnt bottom.

Lots of things can go wrong with pizza.

And then again, how bad does a pizza have to be to not get excited about it? When you see it all ready to eat and hot and cheesy - all is forgiven in the kitchen.

...and then the gift...the little morsels of magic, the red pepper flakes, fresh from the garden get to dance all over and make friends with the sausage and pepperoni. They like each other, no, they LOVE each other!