I Heart New York!

I had the chance last week to hit up the big city, New York! It was my first trip back there in about 8 years and it was as fabulous as ever. My best friend Andrea lives there with her partner Crystal and a mutual friend-turned roommate- Jaime. It was so much fun getting to hang out with them. My sister Stephanie came up for the weekend and we had a mini family reunion with all my cousins I had not seen in a very long time, some more than a decade. It was a week filled with food, shopping, family, and fun. Here are the pictures to prove it <3


We all know Times Square and New Year's Eve are soul mates. Every year the world watches the ball drop (or rise) in Time Square at midnight and we all cheer and kiss, grateful we lived one more marvelous year. The ball is not the only thing that drops during the celebration, so does confetti. Turns out that the confetti has wishes written on them. Anyone can come in and write a wish on confetti paper that will fall from the sky during the celebration. Jaime and I made our wishes for the New Year. Here is to them coming true in 2013!

             We did a little sightseeing, ate lots of food, and saw an Israeli/Palestine Protest.

                            I also spent some time with family and friends just catching up

              

Victoria (What's Your) Secret?

I just watched a news story about how Victoria Secret's Super Model, Adriana Lima, hit the runway a couple of days ago, just two months after having a baby. While I am not sure this is newsworthy it is definitely maddening. Are you kidding me God? Um.. I mean congratulations Ms. Lima on being born with all the correct genetic disposition to make your career possible in the first place, and then all the hard work you must do to keep it up. I am going to take this on as an inspirational story- and it is now my goal to be able to hit the runway a mere two months after I give birth! Realistic, I know !      

Marinade This!

This week was kind of interesting. Jean- my friend's mom I am staying with in Vermont- badly sprained her ankle. While I have been here Jean has pampered me and cared for me and so now it was my turn to show some of the love back. It has given me the perfect excuse to make all kinds of delicious foods and I want to share one of the dishes with you.

APPLE BUTTER MARINADE FOR CHICKEN
4 chicken drumsticks or half breasts 1/2 cup Unsweetened Apple Butter 1/4 cup molasses 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper * I added fresh garlic and onions to my version on the recipe

I used some of the apple butter bought last week at the cider mill. I had never cooked with apple butter before but it seemed like a Vermont thing to do.

I let the chicken sit in the marinade for a couple of hours and decided to cook it over the stove instead of baking it. It was juicy and savory and so I just had to share so you can try it too!





I also made oatmeal raisin cookies from scratch all by myself. I religiously burn everything I bake and though I came close this time- I did not ruin these very delicious cookies. Jean had to take them to a meeting but I snuck a couple to make sure they were good enough to share and I am proud to say they were :)
   

             

Real winner is this little guy ---------------->

Vermont Is Where We Are At...

So far I have been on what feels like a bathroom tour of Vermont. I visited some of the must see places close by to the town of Barre where I am staying with a friend's mom, Jean. I have had the chance to see the inside of the bathroom at everyone of these places- I have to pee ALL of the time. When I am not in the bathroom, I am eating and exploring. 

The first place I got to explore was Cold Hallow Apple Mill. From the moment I walked through the door I knew this was the place where all good apples go after they die, it was apple heaven. I saw how apple cider is made and then got to taste the most delicious cider of my life. The mill was an adorable little space, filled with hand-made crafts, different jams and jellies and syrups and sauces. There was apple filled and flavored everything and the factory where the delicious cider is made and bottled and sold from was enclosed in all glass so the whole process could be watched. If the cider wasn't enough of a treat, next to the check out counter there were apple cider donuts.So delicious!

After visiting the cider mill we took a short drive up the road to the Von Trapp Lodge. " The hills are alive with the sound of....my teeth chattering" I love musicals and I have always loved the sound of music. After the singing traveling Von Trapp family was done singing and traveling they settled down in the mountains of Vermont and opened a lodge. As we pulled up to the lodge it started to snow and I found myself breathless. One because my body was shutting down and dying in the freezing cold, and two because this lodge was just absolutely gorgeous and massive. There were pictures of Georg and Maria VonTrapp and the children in the lobby and the gift shop. What started off as a small lodge is now a destination ski resort with hundreds of rooms. Still there was an air to the place and I couldn't help but picture the family working and singing at the lodge. "Do a deer, a female deer, Re a drop of golden suuuuun..."

All that exploring made us hungry so we hit up a local pizza shop. Afterwards we toured a local chocolate and cheese shop and picked up delicious treats to snack on later. Overall it was a delicious and fun filled day and I can't wait to check out the other places Vermont has to offer the rest of the time I am here.

           

On baby news, I believe he is having the time of his life. He kicks me all the time, makes me feed him every couple of hours and forces afternoon naps on me :) I'd say he is enjoying this vacation just fine!