There is a scene from one of my favorite movies, "The Way We Were" that captures my own feelings toward New York City. Hubbell (Robert Redford) has moved to glitzy Hollywood with his wife, Katie (Barbra Streisand), where he is a successful writer. When his former lover states she is moving back to New York, Redford closes his eyes and painfully says, "New York"...as if the very thought of the city brings unbelievable longing. Thank you, Redford, for perfectly portraying how I feel when I'm away from the Island of Manhattan for too long!
New York has a kinetic energy that, to me, compares to no other city. During work hours, you must skillfully blend in with the walls of people bolting ahead of the "Do Not Walk" signs! You better know what you're ordering from those gourmet deli's, or you may lose your spot in line. And be quick about clicking in your seat belt, cause you'll get the ride of your life from the taxi driver with the exotic accent!
This summer, I once again catapulted myself from sunny Florida, to the gritty streets of midtown Manhattan, to soak up some of that Hudson River Edge! Although the trip was a hit, I do have some unusual mishaps to share!
First off, how could New York be hotter than Florida? Temps in Central Park hit 101 degrees in the shade! The humidity peaked midday, and continued to steam off the streets by the late night news!
Having arrived in the evening, I ventured off to one of my favorite bars in the Novotel Hotel. It's a favorite because the walls are all glass, and you could gaze at the soft lights of the city while sipping the martini of your taste!
As I was walking, I spotted the most unusual sight. There was a part human, part creature "thing" standing on the corner, with a chalk white complexion, glaring red eyes, and pure black lips. Make no mistake, this was no Edward! But it was a Twilight Creature!
I usually don't stare, but I couldn't help sizing this creature up! Unexpectedly, our eyes locked. I tried to quickly and casually look away, but its gaze continued. Twilight Creature turned toward me slowly. I felt the cast from those red eyes burning through the moist hairs on my neck, and my insides panicked. In all the years I had been to New York, I had never been attacked! I hastened my step, and crossed the street through the stream of traffic. Having made it to the other side, I glanced back, and saw Twilight Creature watching me, as I continued to venture into a safe distance!
Sitting in the bar in Novotel, I bit into my blue cheese olive, and sucked down my Dirty Martini. I might have enjoyed my encounter with the Twilight Creature, if it resembled Edward. Instead, I was left feeling a bit uneasy, and later walked, New York City style, back to my hotel. In other words, I moved my ass so fast, I made it home in record time!
The following day, I decided to go to the TKTS booth to obtain half price Broadway tickets! Preparing to stand at least an hour in the sun, I gathered my umbrella, and a big, bottled water, and off I went!
At 2:00 sharp, the ticket line thankfully began to move. We actually made our way close to the ticket window very quickly. With only four people ahead of me, I had high hopes of buying tickets for La Cage Aux Folles! Oddly, however, the line came to an abrupt halt. The surrounding lines continued to move. It was then that I heard the raucous sounds coming from the front. The woman at the head was demanding an apology from the ticket person, because he laughed at her! Then she demanded to see his supervisor, who she wanted an apology from, too! The chaos continued for ten minutes until they SHUT DOWN THE WINDOW!
I looked ahead in disbelief, as the sweat beaded on my face! This could not be happening. As the shock dissolved, all of us in line started rumbling, until the thoughtless lady at the front finally began walking away.
Whether it was the heat of the day...or the heat of the moment...I couldn't hold my tongue. I asked the disgruntled woman, as she passed by, if she had obtained her tickets. She stopped, looked me up and down, and blurted that she had. I responded, "Well I'm glad you got your tickets!" She then proceeded to demand an apology from me! I refused to acknowledge her, and she quickly called all of us a bunch of jerks, before she dissolved onto the streets!
Miraculously, the ticket window opened, and I obtained great seats to La Cage Aux Folles! The show was truly a wild and gaudy, mad extravaganza, with every minute delivering pure entertainment! As I left the theatre, one of the drag queens looked me in the eyes, shifted her eyebrows and whispered, "Come again!"
Having encountered the heat wave, Twilight Creature, and chaos at the TKTS Booth, this year's vacation was a little unusual. But I still close my eyes and breathe, "New York", and know that I will always welcome more adventures in the Gritty City!
For your dining pleasure, we give you a recipe totally free of grit...Mama Melisi's Mussels and Clams! Follow it closely, and she'll show you how to clean out every speck of grit! Again, we offer it to you with love!
From Mama Melisi and Me
Mussels and Clams
Ingredients:
2 dozen little neck clams
2 lbs mussels
1 bottle clam juice
1 cup chopped parsley
Black pepper
1 cup white wine of your liking
6 cloves garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
Preparation:
Clams and mussels are gritty...do the following to remove all grit:
Fill the sink with cold water
Place both of the shell fish in the cold water
Add ice cubes
Throw out any clams or mussels which are open
(To ensure they are fresh, they must be tightly closed)
Use a scrub brush, and brush each outer shell clean
(Mussels sometimes have seaweed sticking out; pull out and scrub mussels extra good)
Change water a few times during the process to ensure no gritty sand
You can place some cornmeal in the water
(It is said that shell fish open and close; this is actually a cleaning process)
After all the fish is clean, it is ready to cook
Cooking Directions:
Get a large pan, and heat with olive oil
Add the cloves of garlic
Saute until golden brown
Add the clams and mussels, clam juice and pepper
Cover and bring to a boil until all the fish shells open
Add the wine and parsley, and bring to a quick boil
Serve with crusty Italian bread or over angel hair pasta
Truly delicious!
Please note: DO NOT USE ANY OF THE SHELL FISH WHICH DID NOT OPEN; JUST DISCARD!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
And Then We Were 18!
Whenever I ditch Florida heat to take a vacation, I usually feel terrific the second I soak in new scenery and a cooler climate. But, after a couple of weeks, I'm also anxious to get back to my home and my bed! This year was different, as I wasn't quite ready to come back to reality!
My most recent vacation was a whirlwind tour of the northeast, encompassing Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York City. During the fifteen days away, I literally bounced from one destination to the next, and caught up with family and friends along the way.
While in NJ at Mama Melisi's, I managed to coordinate a mini-reunion. A few of my longest, dearest friends came...the staples who are more like family. I also had a couple of friends who I hadn't seen in 10-20 years.
Curiosity was soon shed as we quickly shared our common threads of spouses, kids, aging parents, home, careers...a few aches and pains. Thirty years with several milestones...and a lot of responsibility.
The evening went on, and we drank more of that magical potion, Chianti! Suddenly, it was all about us! Laughter ignited as we reminisced about old flames, first kisses, prom dates, past teachers, and disco dancing! Our memory bank catapulted us right to the halls of our high school. The night didn't end until the clock struck twelve!
I've been back in Florida now for two weeks. I happened to be on the computer with one of my mini-reunion friends. During our instant message exchange, she said, "When I was at your mom's, I felt 18!" I smiled as I thought, "What could be wrong with that?" I think that night, we were all 18 again. And Mama Melisi, who was in the next room, was 48, shedding thirty years, too!
I'll always look back fondly on the mini-reunion...good friends, a nice bottle of magic potion, and a great meal! You, too should have a mini-reunion. If you would like to make what Mama Melisi served that night, here's her recipe for breaded chicken cutlets with roasted peppers and artichokes! Again, we share this to you with love!
From Mama Melisi and Me
Chicken Cutlets with Roasted Peppers and Artichokes:
Ingredients:
6 thinly sliced chicken cutlets (use a kitchen mallet to pound cutlets to tenderize them)
1 cup skim milk or milk of your choice
1 cup Italian flavored bread crumbs
2 tablespoons Italian grating cheese
Extra virgin olive oil
Pam cooking spray
1 onion
1 8 oz jar of red roasted peppers
1 small jar of marinated artichoke hearts
Cooking Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with pam
Add cheese to breadcrumbs
Take the cutlets which have been soaking in milk and dip in breadcrumb mixture
Place cutlets on cookie sheet and drizzle olive oil over each cutlet
Bake for 15 minutes; turn and bake for another 15 minutes or until crumbs are golden
While cutlets are baking, slice onion and saute in tablespoon of olive oil
Saute until onion is golden in color
Drain roasted red peppers and slice them
Drain artichoke hearts
Add red peppers and artichokes to cooked onions and saute a bit
Place cooked chicken cutlets in casserole dish and pour vegetable mixture over top
Heat in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes
* If you prefer, you can place cooked chicken cutlets on platter, and serve vegetable mixture on the side.
My most recent vacation was a whirlwind tour of the northeast, encompassing Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York City. During the fifteen days away, I literally bounced from one destination to the next, and caught up with family and friends along the way.
While in NJ at Mama Melisi's, I managed to coordinate a mini-reunion. A few of my longest, dearest friends came...the staples who are more like family. I also had a couple of friends who I hadn't seen in 10-20 years.
Curiosity was soon shed as we quickly shared our common threads of spouses, kids, aging parents, home, careers...a few aches and pains. Thirty years with several milestones...and a lot of responsibility.
The evening went on, and we drank more of that magical potion, Chianti! Suddenly, it was all about us! Laughter ignited as we reminisced about old flames, first kisses, prom dates, past teachers, and disco dancing! Our memory bank catapulted us right to the halls of our high school. The night didn't end until the clock struck twelve!
I've been back in Florida now for two weeks. I happened to be on the computer with one of my mini-reunion friends. During our instant message exchange, she said, "When I was at your mom's, I felt 18!" I smiled as I thought, "What could be wrong with that?" I think that night, we were all 18 again. And Mama Melisi, who was in the next room, was 48, shedding thirty years, too!
I'll always look back fondly on the mini-reunion...good friends, a nice bottle of magic potion, and a great meal! You, too should have a mini-reunion. If you would like to make what Mama Melisi served that night, here's her recipe for breaded chicken cutlets with roasted peppers and artichokes! Again, we share this to you with love!
From Mama Melisi and Me
Chicken Cutlets with Roasted Peppers and Artichokes:
Ingredients:
6 thinly sliced chicken cutlets (use a kitchen mallet to pound cutlets to tenderize them)
1 cup skim milk or milk of your choice
1 cup Italian flavored bread crumbs
2 tablespoons Italian grating cheese
Extra virgin olive oil
Pam cooking spray
1 onion
1 8 oz jar of red roasted peppers
1 small jar of marinated artichoke hearts
Cooking Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with pam
Add cheese to breadcrumbs
Take the cutlets which have been soaking in milk and dip in breadcrumb mixture
Place cutlets on cookie sheet and drizzle olive oil over each cutlet
Bake for 15 minutes; turn and bake for another 15 minutes or until crumbs are golden
While cutlets are baking, slice onion and saute in tablespoon of olive oil
Saute until onion is golden in color
Drain roasted red peppers and slice them
Drain artichoke hearts
Add red peppers and artichokes to cooked onions and saute a bit
Place cooked chicken cutlets in casserole dish and pour vegetable mixture over top
Heat in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes
* If you prefer, you can place cooked chicken cutlets on platter, and serve vegetable mixture on the side.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Bathroom Anxiety
As the Good Book says: No one is perfect. We all have our quirks! Mine is using a bathroom that is in close proximity to human life!
The root of the problem lies in my childhood. Mama Melisi's house had one bathroom that was directly attached to the social hot spot - the kitchen. This made me a little self-conscious while using the bathroom, when people were on the other side of the wall! Hence, bathroom strategies were a must!
We didn't have that wonderful, modern convenience of a fan, so I had to rely on much more creative strategies to block any embarrassing noise!
Running the faucet at full pressure worked splendidly! No doubt, the water bill was astronomical at holidays and family gatherings! But the sound of the cascade camouflaged all other unwanted sounds from the other side...even when your digestive system was full of fresh veges!
Another excellent method was the timed flush. This worked especially well for those horrible, unexpected explosions! The sound of Mama Melisi's flush lasted a full 40 seconds, and helped disguise those quick and tidy times at the commode!
Finally, if you really wanted to throw everyone off, there was always the blow dryer placed at its highest speed. Never realizing that it was total toilet time, everyone thought you went to the bathroom, took a shower and washed your hair in less than ten minutes!
Once in a while, unfamiliar bathrooms will throw off even the most well developed strategies. Recently, I was visiting a cousin at the Jersey Shore. I was completely intrigued at how the air conditioning vent was located directly parallel to the toilet. Being distracted by this, I let out a gaseous emission that suddenly combined with the cool flow of air from the vent. This created such a wind tunnel, that my cold little butt was knocked completely off of the john!
Luckily, I come from a long line of considerate relatives. I sheepishly made my way to the first floor, and was spared, as no one mentioned the loud thump from above!
To give you a true bathroom challenge, the recipe this week is Pasta Fagiole. This is pronounced pasta fa zul...and stands for pasta and beans! If you see this on a menu, it is served as a soup. You can also serve this as a main course, with a side of salad and garlic bread. Again we offer this to you with love!
From Mama Melisi and Me
Pasta Fagiole
Ingredients:
1 onion finely chopped
3 cloves of garlic chopped
1 carrot shredded
2 stalks of celery finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup of fresh parsley chopped
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 can of low sodium chicken broth
1 large can of crushed tomatoes
1 can of white cannellini beans
1 lb of ditilini, elbow, or any small pasta
Cooking Directions:
Saute the onions, celery and carrot in olive oil
After 10 minutes, add chopped garlic
Saute another 5-8 minutes
Add the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, half cup of water, black pepper and parsley
Simmer for about 15 minutes
Add the white cannellini beans
Simmer for another 20 minutes
While this is simmering, cook pasta
Combine bean mixture with drained pasta
If sauce is too thick, you can add a little water
The root of the problem lies in my childhood. Mama Melisi's house had one bathroom that was directly attached to the social hot spot - the kitchen. This made me a little self-conscious while using the bathroom, when people were on the other side of the wall! Hence, bathroom strategies were a must!
We didn't have that wonderful, modern convenience of a fan, so I had to rely on much more creative strategies to block any embarrassing noise!
Running the faucet at full pressure worked splendidly! No doubt, the water bill was astronomical at holidays and family gatherings! But the sound of the cascade camouflaged all other unwanted sounds from the other side...even when your digestive system was full of fresh veges!
Another excellent method was the timed flush. This worked especially well for those horrible, unexpected explosions! The sound of Mama Melisi's flush lasted a full 40 seconds, and helped disguise those quick and tidy times at the commode!
Finally, if you really wanted to throw everyone off, there was always the blow dryer placed at its highest speed. Never realizing that it was total toilet time, everyone thought you went to the bathroom, took a shower and washed your hair in less than ten minutes!
Once in a while, unfamiliar bathrooms will throw off even the most well developed strategies. Recently, I was visiting a cousin at the Jersey Shore. I was completely intrigued at how the air conditioning vent was located directly parallel to the toilet. Being distracted by this, I let out a gaseous emission that suddenly combined with the cool flow of air from the vent. This created such a wind tunnel, that my cold little butt was knocked completely off of the john!
Luckily, I come from a long line of considerate relatives. I sheepishly made my way to the first floor, and was spared, as no one mentioned the loud thump from above!
To give you a true bathroom challenge, the recipe this week is Pasta Fagiole. This is pronounced pasta fa zul...and stands for pasta and beans! If you see this on a menu, it is served as a soup. You can also serve this as a main course, with a side of salad and garlic bread. Again we offer this to you with love!
From Mama Melisi and Me
Pasta Fagiole
Ingredients:
1 onion finely chopped
3 cloves of garlic chopped
1 carrot shredded
2 stalks of celery finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup of fresh parsley chopped
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 can of low sodium chicken broth
1 large can of crushed tomatoes
1 can of white cannellini beans
1 lb of ditilini, elbow, or any small pasta
Cooking Directions:
Saute the onions, celery and carrot in olive oil
After 10 minutes, add chopped garlic
Saute another 5-8 minutes
Add the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, half cup of water, black pepper and parsley
Simmer for about 15 minutes
Add the white cannellini beans
Simmer for another 20 minutes
While this is simmering, cook pasta
Combine bean mixture with drained pasta
If sauce is too thick, you can add a little water
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