Archive | August, 2010

La Masseria – Theater District

11 Aug

So after the miss at Scarmella’s, Mike’s family redeemed themselves in my foodie heart when they chose La Masseria.  I wasn’t expecting much as they are in the theater district (on 48th near 8th Ave), however, we walked in to a lovely setting and then it just kept getting better.

I can honestly say that I have NO idea what I ordered.  I know I enjoyed it and lopped up every last drop with the delicious bread… but I can’t for the life of me figure out what it was.  It must have been a special. 

(Side Note: I have remedied this recently by buying a little pad of paper that has a metal cover… to avoid breaking apart… and a pen that latches in… to avoid losing of the pen.  Thank you for the inspiration Lori!)

The tagliatelle alla bolognese was fantastic.  All the flavors were so fresh and the pasta was obviously JUST made.  Delish.

Mike ordered the prawn.  And it was the biggest freakin prawn I have EVER seen.  I did a terrible job at showing the size, however, consider that this is not a small dinner plate.  Oh no… that is an average sized dinner plate right there.  It was at least the length of a remote control.  Oh… and it tasted awesome!

I was so impressed with this place.  Everything just tasted so. damn. good.  A great little find in the middle of a typically sub-par food neighborhood.

Total Nom Points: 7.5 out of 10

Scaramellas – Dobbs Ferry, NY

9 Aug

So there are complications with writing a blog and people knowing about it.  Mainly, when a review isn’t so good and it’s your boyfriend’s family that chose the location.  So, in advance, I’m sorry Mike’s family!

For fathers day, we took the train to Dobbs Ferry to eat at Scaramella’s. They  have a nice menu and we ordered some items that sounded quite good.  First was a special.  I believe it was seafood and gnocchi in a pesto sauce.  The pesto was bland. How do you make pesto bland?

I chose the veal marsala.  All I remember was “chewy” and “bland.”

Which came with a side of ziti in (runny) tomato sauce (that tasted right out of a jar… or worse).  Now there is no excuse for bland tomato sauce.  You can always make a tomato sauce taste good (though making it taste great is an art).  This was blander than bland.  It gave me flashbacks of eating food in a hospital where they add no salt and no seasoning to be perfectly reasonable to a palate without taste buds.

They did do a nice job on the capucchino though…

Overall, just one word comes to mind for this place: Bland.  Don’t bother. (Sorry again Mike’s fam!)

Total Nom Points: 4 out of 10

Just Desserts

6 Aug

The one prized possession I received in what I inherited from my Grandmother (beyond the awesome furniture, jewelry, and art) is her recipe folder.  There are recipes in here torn out from newspapers from decades ago and scribbled notes from friends (and friends of friends).  Some of them are so stained by butter that they are nearly translucent and the ink is almost impossible to read. 

 I have only just begun to explore the treasures in this folder.  The first one I sought out, however, was the famous brownie recipe.  I made these first thing when the family was getting together to celebrate my Grandmother’s life.  I have made them about a dozen times since and introduced them to friends and coworkers.  They are ALWAYS a hit.  They have even been called “the best brownies I’ve ever tasted.”  Thanks Grandma.

The batter is “old style,” using Baker’s chocolate (and none of that new age, chip stuff!)  It’s actually quite hard to find sometimes… but I try to keep a stash for the days I want to make a treat for someone.

The cook up so perfectly.  Crispy on the outside and on the top, fudgey on the inside.  Every time. 

And I’m sure you’re all licking your lips for the recipe, however, I am a terrible tease and will not be sharing it.

Though since I’m not ENTIRELY mean, I’ve also included the easy rugelach recipe I made a few weeks ago.

The secret to this is Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations, which is the same as their crescent rolls but without the pre cut slits.  (I used them before on the delicious chicken tarts).  You can roll it out thinner to use as the basis for rugelach.

I mixed up the classic filling, fruit and nuts.  I went with two variations.  The first was blueberries and nuts.

The second was strawberries with mini chocolate chips and nuts.

You slice the dough into long triangles and fill it with a thin layer of fruit.

Then you roll them up from the big end to the little end.

I layed them all on a Silpat and then sprinkled them with cinnamon and sugar.

They baked up very nicely, though next time I would back them a little more so they get a little crispier.  They tasted DELICIOUS, however.  Great and easy treat to bring to a picnic.

And they are only 1 Weight Watcher point per cookie! Not bad!

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RECIPE
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Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Rugallach

Ingredients:

  • Cooking spray (or silpat mat)
  • 1 can of Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations
  • ~1/2 cup fresh fruit (your choice)
  • ~1/2 cup walnuts or pecans
  • 1 Tbl. granulated sugar
  • 1 Tbl. flour
  • 1 Tbl. powdered sugar
  • 1 Tbl. cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  2. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray or line with a Silpat
  3. Combine fruit, nuts, and granulated sugar in a separate bowl
  4. Roll out crescent rolls to 1/8” thickness on a lightly floured surface
  5. Cut into about 16 long triangles (a pizza slicer works best for this)
  6. Spoon about a teaspoon of filling into center of triangle, leaving ends free of filling
  7. Roll the dough from the wide edge to the point
  8. Place rolled cookies onto cookie sheet
  9. Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown
  10. Let sit for about 5 minutes
  11. Dust cookies with cinnamon and powdered sugar (if you push them all together, it makes this easier, but I never bother)