Cupcakes & Caviar

What to do this week? 9/29 Edition

2014-09-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

"We know there's no use in getting miserable, so we go out on the town instead" - Lee Ryan

In case you wondering what to do this week either to let off steam from work, try a new restaurant, meet up with friends for happy hour or have a great date, here is a list of my recommendations for the week :-)

Farmers Market Fridays
Every Friday from now until November 22nd, Queens Botanical Garden will be hosting their Farmers market Fridays. Be prepared to get lost in the option of fresh, local and seasonal food. If you're constantly thinking of your next best recipe, this is probably a great place for some inspiration!

43-50 Main Street
Queens, NY 11355

Happy Hour - O'Nieals Soho
No I didn't misspell it, its O'Nieals! My co-worker brought me here one day for a much needed happy hour and I was hooked. The ambiance is super chill with a touch of fancy (just what I like) and once 10pm hits, the music will keep you out of your seat! Happy hour runs Mon - Fri from 4 - 7pm. $2 off draft beers and $5 house mixed cocktails, which were definitely potent! The food isn't too bad either, so be sure to grab a bite as well.

174 Grand St
New York, NY 10013

Chelsea Brewing Company
Looking for something different to do on your Saturday afternoon? Head over to Manhattans largest microbrewery for a FREE tour of its site and witness the magical brewing process. You will also receive a few free samples (cause why else would a tour be worth it?) along with tickets for discounted pints to enjoy at their bar afterwards. Tours run every Saturday from 2pm and continue every hour through 6pm.

Pier 59
Manhattan, NY

Date Day - Smorgasburg
Do you and your significant other share a similar love for food? Then spend your Saturday or Sunday in Brooklyn enjoying a multitude of food vendors all at your fingertips! The event takes place at 11am on Saturdays at East River park and Sundays at Brooklyn Bridge park.

http://www.smorgasburg.com/

Maya Modern Mexican Kitchen & Tequileria
Looking for somewhere new to dine? Tired of the same brunch locations where you can only choose one entree? Then bring your self and a friend to Maya! For $39 you get unlimited Mexican small plates and unlimited margaritas, mimosas or bloody mary's for 2 hours. The food is delightful, the drinks are strong and the waiters are excellent at making sure you get your monies worth of free flowing drinks and food! I can only imagine how great their dinner is. Other highlights of Maya: $2 Taco Tuesdays and $6 Margarita Wednesdays

Here's a little pic of what to expect when brunching at Maya:

Enjoy your week :-)

Football Sunday Wings

2014-09-27T11:35:00.000-04:00

"Football Is an honest game. It's true to life . It's a game about sharing. Football is a team game. So is life." - Joe Namath

Football Sundays however, are about WINGS!

SRIRACHA HONEY WINGS

Although technically September 21st marks the beginning of fall, everyone knows it really starts once Sunday football begins! Its a time to get the family together, to get friends together, for couples to argue about whose team is better, a time for camaraderie at the local bars. More importantly however, its a time to EAT! A time to eat good!

As you prepare your menu for Sunday football festivities, wings must be an important component. They should be a staple in every home. Now, your local bar/pub may claim to serve up the best wings in town, however nothing is better than homemade wings cooked fresh and hot!

Now let me introduce to you these yummy, sticky, slightly spicy, yet slightly sweet oven baked wings. Its a super easy recipe that is sure to please every wing fan in your home! I hate spicy but my fiance loves it, and these were perfect for the both of us.

I got this recipe from Damn Delicious. The recipe can be found here Most Awesome Wings!

Enjoy!

Recipe Wednesday - Sausage and Peppers: The Remix

2014-09-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

"All food is comfort food. Maybe I just like to chew." -Lewis Black
I have finally mastered my sausage and pepper recipe! Thick, saucy, and full of flavor. It is the perfect comfort food for those chilly nights when you just want to cuddle on the couch and binge watch Netflix. It is also incredibly easy and uses simple ingredients. For a remix on the classic, I decided to use Spinach and Feta chicken sausage for some added flavor, instead of the usual Italian sausage. POW!

I'm not always the best with remembering to measure my ingredients but here we go: (Note: I prepped this meal for 2, so please adjust measurements as you see fit)

1 pack sausage (this can be sweet or spicy Italian sausage, chicken sausage, etc., or any kind you fancy)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 green pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow onion
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder (i love garlic, so i actually probably put a little more than that)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup tomato sauce (or your favorite tomato sauce, if bottle is your thing. No judgement here)
1/2 cup red wine ( I used a Bordeaux)

What I've learned is that prepping ingredients beforehand will make your life so much easier. So the first step is slicing the peppers and onions.

So Pretty!

Next, cook sausage with olive oil in a skillet and brown each side. Once sausages are beautifully browned, remove them from the skillet. In the same skillet, add the onions, peppers, and salt and cook until onions are slightly brown and translucent. Then add tomato sauce, wine, oregano and garlic powder. Let simmer for about 2 minutes.

In the meantime, cut each sausage into pieces (about 4 - 6 each). Then add the cut sausage back into the skillet and stir to combine. Cover the skillet and let simmer until sauce thickens.

Voila!* That is all. Meal complete. This can be served over rice, pasta, or on a sandwich roll. I served mine over quinoa and topped it with Parmesan cheese and avocado (I'm addicted to avocado).

Bon Appetit!

Breakfast - The Most Important Meal of the Day

2014-09-14T17:16:00.000-04:00

"What nicer thing can you do for somebody than

make them breakfast?" - Anthony Bourdain

Banana Pancakes

With fall right around the corner, what better way to enjoy a crisp Sunday morning than warm, sweet homemade banana pancakes? This easy recipe will give you a warm and fuzzy feeling that will help kick start your day!

It took two tries to master this recipe and combine just the right ingredients. After getting my fiance's seal of approval, I thought it would be the perfect recipe to jump start my blog again. You will never have to buy pre-made pancake mix again!

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 tablespoon coconut sugar (Trader Joe's Organic Coconut Sugar is divine)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup vanilla soy milk (regular whole milk can be used instead)

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 1/2 medium ripe bananas

Directions

If using an electric griddle, heat to 375 degrees or heat a skillet over medium heat.

Combine flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl combine milk, oil, vanilla and egg and whisk together.

Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture and whisk until moistened. Lumps are good!! Once mixed, slice bananas and add to mixture. As you mix the bananas into the mixture, carefully crush them slightly into the batter.

Grease the skillet or griddle with butter, oil or Pam (I used Pam) and spoon batter on nice and round. (mine were more abstract round) Cook until the tops have some bubbles, flip and allow the other side to brown.

Remove from the griddle or skillet and enjoy with your favorite topping! I added sliced bananas, honey and a sprinkle of coconut sugar to mine. Delicious!!!

Bon Appetit!

Oh How I Have Missed You!

2012-09-23T21:58:00.000-04:00

I have missed blogging oh so much! Especially recapping all the amazing meals, restaurants and drinks I have had the pleaure of eating, experiencing and drinking. The last year and a half has been very exciting though and has been keeping me busy. These past 9 months in particular have been amazing. A quick recap: 1. I started graduate school 2. I got engaged to the love of my life Don Pepe and 3. I lived and studied Psychology in Bali, Indonesia for one month! Pretty exciting stuff which will be detailed in future posts. The most memorable moment however, was our engagement =) "One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” - Virginia Woolf

It was quite the surprise and I am the happiest woman on earth! Our families were very happy as well and threw us a mini celebration the night after our engagement.

The cakes were as good as they looked. Strawberry shortcake yum my favorite. And here is a glimpse of the ring:

The start to a great year! More to come...

A Simple Obsession...

2011-05-01T23:08:00.000-04:00

"If I had to give up cheese or chocolate, I'd give up chocolate in a heartbeat." ~ Amanda Peet

AMEN SISTER!!

Diets are so difficult when A: you're a lover of all things food, B: You're friends and boyfriend support this fat habit, C: You write a food blog =)

I enjoyed this wonderful beautiful Sunday in NYC with mi amor Don Pepe. We enjoyed a nice brunch in the East Village at Hot Devil Grill (Will be spotlighted on Spotlight Friday) and took a little stroll to walk off the calories! Of course ;-)

But a trip to the village on a beautiful Sunday afternoon would not be complete without a stop at S'Mac! Our favorite Mac n Cheese place. You can read my review Here.

Don Pepe choose the Cajun Mac n Cheese. Cheddar & Pepper Jack cheeses, andouille sausage, green pepper, onions, celery, garlic and cajun seasoning, he obviously was still in New Orleans mode!

Yummmmmm Fest!!!!!!

I chose the 4 cheese Mac n Cheese. Cheddar, Muenster, Gruyere and Pecorino. CHEESE FEST!!! I'm a fatty so I ate if before I could take a pic. Oops!!

Perfect Sunday!

I'll just spend an extra hour at the gym and it will all be worth it =)

I'm A Sinner

2011-03-12T12:18:00.000-05:00

"Beware the hobby that eats" - Benjamin Franklin

I broke my weight loss commandments. I'm not going to spill all my bad eats this week, just the best one! When I ordered it, I felt guilty, but that feeling was soon suppressed once that first bite was taken.

FRIED MACARONI & CHEESE BALLS

Courtesy of Travelpod

Courtesy of The Worthy Shipmate

Yes, I blessed my mouth with these bad boys last night and I have no regrets. All it means is that I will have to add some extra hours at the gym, but that never hurt anyone!

I am currently on the look out for the perfect recipe for these delicious cheesy balls and will share soon! In the meantime, just continue to drool at your computer screen.

Salud!

"I was gone for a minute now Im back with the Jumpoff"

2011-03-03T22:20:00.001-05:00

"Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake." –Mrs. Anon.

Cupcakes & Caviar is back and hungrier than ever!! (Pun intended)

I've been on hiatus aka life had me by the throat and in result my poor blog was deprived. However, recent events, aka I joined a gym, have given me new inspiration to get back on my blogging.

Yes I wrote this. Yes it is hanging on my fridge. No, this is not a joke.

(special thanks to Ms. Be Bad for this inspiration)

If you have read past posts, you know I have been trying to stick to a diet for months. Obviously they failed :-(

The other day, I was looking at pictures that I was unfortunately tagged in on facebook (people are so mean) and I screamed. The next minute I joined Lucille Roberts. Summer is around the corner and I need to get my body "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Ready!"

So yes you can catch me at the gym. No you will not see me at Taco Bell. Yes, I will live by these 6 commandments for the next couple of months. And No, I will not give up!

Im back. Im hungry. I'm dieting. I will be grumpy. I will complain. But, ultimately I WILL be happy with the results.

So much to write about...stay tuned...

Family Time!!!!!!!

2010-10-25T11:34:00.000-04:00

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." -- Desmond Tutu

I've always wished I was a part of those families where every Sunday they get together and have a big meal, talk about memories, and recap each others weeks. I used to think only TV families did that. I promised myself when I had a family, I would start that tradition. One that would last even when they were older and living on their own.

As you get older, you start to value family more. I'm beginning to learn on a day to day basis that NO ONE is going to love me like they do, and because of that I'm making an effort to spend more time with my lovely familia!

Yesterday I visited my aunt, uncle and 3 younger cousins for some Sunday Funday excitement! My aunt is a bigggggg cooking motivation for me. There's rarely a time I visit that she's NOT cooking for her family, and everything is deeeeeeelicious. I love her ability to take ingredients that you would not think of making together, and turn it into an amazing meal! It's nothing extravagant either, just very simple but delectable dishes. Proving, sometimes simplicity is better!

She made shrimp scampi over Spanish rice, with string beans and platano maduros (sweet plantains). It was a Yumfest!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here she is preparing the shrimp. Reason #1 why I hate cooking shrimp - cleaning them!! Yuck! I'm glad she took this mission on :-)

Maduros ready to be cooked!!! Cook them in oil and sprinkle some brown sugar over them. Yum! Reason #456 why I love being Puerto Rican - Having these bad boys with a meal!

Yum! Spanish rice waiting to be eaten...BY ME!!

Shrimp Scampi! I believe she added a little chicken broth, butter, garlic and oregano. So simple, yet sooo delicious!

String beans! She cooked them in chicken broth with a ham hock and salt, pepper and garlic for taste.

TaDa!! The finished product right before I happily devoured it. :-) And of course no meal is complete for me without my glass of wine.
Do you have any family traditions? Or want to share any of your favorite family recipes/meals!? I would love to know :-)

The Lemonade Diet Day 1

2010-10-22T10:39:00.000-04:00

I can sum up this diet in one sentence:

It freaking sucks, don't be an A-hole like me and try it or you will be miserable!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was my first day on the diet and my last! Pure torture is an understatement. They claim you should not feel hungry after drinking the lemonade and they lied. I was hungry ALL day no matter how many glasses I had.

AND

The drink tastes like crap! Maybe I put too much cayenne pepper, but I don think so. I followed the directions to the T and put in as much as they said and it was HORRIBLE! By the end of the day I was feeling sick to my stomach. I really only wanted to lose like 5 - 10lbs but this was not worth it! So of course, I cheated. I just had a power bar though because I still, crazy me, wanted to follow through with The Lemonade Diet.

Until this morning, it hit me like a ton of bricks and I got sooooo sick! I wont go into detail of what happened, but it wasn't nice. I ended up pouring out the remainder of what I had left to drink today!

So I lasted less then 24 hours on this diet and I'm not even ashamed! I listened to my body and it told me, "STOP DUMBASS!!!" And that's exactly what I did!

If you were thinking of doing this, don't! Don't be a retard like me!

My Last Meal 2...

2010-10-21T11:01:00.001-04:00

These past 2 days I have truly enjoyed my last meals! Cupcakes, sangria, pizza, a Wendy's frosty, McDonald's fries, Eggplant Parmesan, snickers, and of course last night as my VERY last meal, I chose Taco Bell! 2 Chalupas, a soft taco supreme and a mexi-melt. If you know me very well, then you are not surprised by this choice. If my body let me, I can eat Taco Bell everyday. Please don't judge me!

My most memorable last meal was definitely my hot date with Ms. B BAD herself from Style_Me_Bad.

Side note: Please check her blog out! If you are a (B)eautiful (A)uthentic (D)etermined woman, then you will truly enjoy her. She brings you fashion, relationship, work and everyday life advice! Truly a B.A.D girl!

We headed down to the West Village to Sweet Revenge. It's basically a cupcake bar! Obviously, I was in bliss!

Sweet Revenge is a tiny place, we actually kind of had a hard time finding it at first. I called it our "date" because it was so romantic in there. Dimly lit lights and rustic decor set the mood HA HA!

All day I couldn't stop thinking about what I could possibly order. I knew I definitely wanted some sangria so of course I ordered that right away. Along with a Raspberry Red Velvet cake with Cream Cheese frosting and a raspberry sauce drizzle on top!

I literally died and went to heaven after first bite!!

Not only can you order whatever you want as I did, but they also give pairing advice. Such as which kind of wine or beer you should have with which cupcake. My lovely friend opted for this selection and got their Signature Sweet Revenge cupcake and an Argentinian Malbec wine.

Doesn't it look so delicious??? It was a peanut butter cupcake with a chocolate ganache filling and peanut butter fudge frosting!!!!! I'm pretty sure she literally died and went to heaven too! There was a short moment of silence when we dug into our treats...It was THAT good!!

Overall the experience was great. It's definitely a great date spot for an after dinner dessert, or a before dinner dessert, or really for any time. I mean let's be serious, there's never a bad time for a cupcake and good company :-)

My Last Meal...

2010-10-19T12:53:00.000-04:00

So I have ANOTHER wedding in about 2 1/2 weeks!! Yes, another one! This time it is in Las Vegas!!!!! I'm super excited to be heading out of New York, I need a break! For real for real. Also, I am a bridesmaid, once again. However, this time, the dress actually fits me...HOORAY!! I do not look like a sausage in its casing nor do I need to spend a crazy amount of money getting it re-done to fit me. It's actually a little big.

BUT, I haven't seen my Vegas peeps in about 4 years. The last time they saw me I was about 20lbs lighter so I have this ridiculous idea that I should really lose the weight beforehand. Call me crazy, but I feel the need to impress. Whatever!

Therefore Thursday I will begin what is known as the lemonade diet. You basically drink 60ounces a day of this fresh squeezed lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper concoction, for 2 weeks and watch the pounds slip away! My aunt has done it and she lost like 20lbs, so she is my motivation right now.

If you read my blog regularly, I'm pretty sure you have figured out that I am a lover of everything FOOD! Which includes mostly fatty, sweet, buttery, "bad for you" dishes, with a few healthy ones in between. So you can only imagine how difficult these next 2 weeks are going to be! I will be documenting my 14 day journey everyday! How I'm feeling, how I'm coping, is it working?, how much weight I have lost, etc. etc.

But until then, I am making sure to indulge in anything I want for these next two days! Starting today, I am enjoying some eggplant parmesan for lunch, for dinner I will be having a BLT from Stokos at Columbus Circle and later tonight I will be in the Village at Sweet Revenge with my good friend Nikki, enjoying cupcakes and wine! I still have to plan tomorrow's last meal menu, but I'm sure it will be just as good! And of course I have to get Taco Bell in there somewhere =)

WISH ME LUCK!!!!!

Has anyone else tried the Lemonade Diet? Do you have any tips? Was it worth it?

Spotlight Friday's

2010-09-24T12:25:00.000-04:00

Hallelujah it's Friday!! What a week!

Today's special Spotlight Friday will feature 2 picks that my fellow New Yorkers could possibly enjoy this weekend.

"No sleep till Brooklyn!"

As I mentioned in one of my posts this week, I spent one of the last days of my summer with Don Pepe visiting his friends in Brooklyn. We were supposed to go Salsa Dancing, however we let the night guide us and ended up staying in their new area. (They just moved there) I was actually so happy we did, because they took us to 2 places I pretty much fell in love with!

Apt 138

138 Smith St.

Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, NY,

Yelp.com

We went here for a late night dinner, about 11pm, after finishing off two bottles of wine in our friends apartment. Thank goodness this place was within walking distance.

As you step in, it resembles a typical small bar/restaurant. Very dim lighting, and small intimate tables. However, when you go you MUST request their garden seating. They take you down the stairs and past the kitchen and into the most adorable, spacious outside seating area. (pictured above) The wooden tables adorned with candlelight make it so romantic.

We ordered another 2 bottles of wine and then our feast was as follows:

Appetizer: Mozzarella & Tomato - Now I've eaten this dish about a million times in my life, and who knew anyone could make this simple dish actually stand out! It was either the best balsamic dressing I've ever had, or the delicious pesto sauce that lined the outskirts of the plate, that made me want to order, 2 or 3 more. AMAZING!

Entrees: Jess and I ordered breakfast for dinner. Yes I said it, breakfast for dinner! A bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a giant english muffin with potatoes and a salad. The sandwich was huge, the cheese was just dripping off of it and the bacon was nice and crunchy, just how I like it!! Gosh, writing this makes me want it right now! Jay went with the Goat Cheese frittata. It looked heavenly, but I'm not the biggest fan of goat cheese and he didn't really find it to be all that great. My bf Don Pepe, ordered the seafood paella. His favorite dish anywhere we go. It had mussels, shrimp, chicken, chorizo and peas all mixed in Spanish rice. He didn't talk much while eating it so I'm guessing it was excellent!

Sides: We all shared a side of Macaroni & Cheese. It was big enough to be someones entire meal. Now if you read my blog regularly, then I'm sure you have already realized what a HUGE fan of macaroni & cheese I am. I literally almost melted in my seat after one spoonful. It was soooo cheesy and had clumps of BACON in it! I swear I was in Macaroni and cheese heaven!!!

If you are ever in the Boerum Hill area of Brooklyn, this is a must stop! Actually even if you are not in that area, just take the trip and go!

Our next stop was for some after dinner dessert and drinks!

CAMP

179 Smith St

Brooklyn, NY 11201

The place actually really resembles a cabin in the woods somewhere, adorned with deer heads and all. They even have a Buck Shooting game, which I learned I am terrible at, but it was still so much fun. But you want to know what really made this place worth writing about? S'MORES!

You can actually make s'mores right at your table. They provide you with Hersheys chocolate, Graham Crackers and marshmallows, and you can actually roast the marshmallows at your table! It's genius!!!!

It was really such a great place to enjoy time with friends. And what's better than conversing with people you love over s'mores? Nothing.

So there you have it. A couple of "Brooklyn's finest" establishments.

Dang, I need to go back right now!!! =)

~Eat Up, Drink Up or Shut Up ~

2010-09-23T11:33:00.001-04:00

"Everything you see I owe to spaghetti." - Sophia Loren

How beautiful was Sophia Loren??

GORGEOUS! And you know what? She wouldn't be caught dead on a low carb diet. Such an awesome example of a woman who embraced her curves and knew how absolutely beautiful they were. Her confidence in her body is something we as women should all have. Don't stop eating what you love, like pasta. =) Eat what you want, when you want and enjoy it. Just watch your portions and and make sure not to over indulge!

Now to my recipe of the week!

I think I might have been Italian and Mexican in my past life. I could seriously eat pasta and enchiladas everyday if I could. Of course not together, that would be gross!

The other night I made a delicious Shrimp and Scallop Scampi over pasta and it was, as my friend Kristi likes to say, "amaze-balls!"

It was soooooo good that when my aunt, whom I was house sitting for, came home from Hawaii, I decided to make it for her too. This time, since I was out of shrimp, I added broccoli and chicken! Yum!

Scallop, Chicken & Broccoli Scampi over Pasta

Ingredients

Scallops

1 small head of Broccoli

Chicken (I used pre-cooked chicken from Trader Joes. Amazing!)

1 stick of butter (I didn't say this would be the most healthiest)

Garlic (I use the already chopped fresh garlic in olive oil. Its perfect for when you really dont have time to chop it yourself. You can find it at any supermarket)

Parsely

1 small chopped onion

Cayenne Pepper

Pasta (any kind will do)

Ok, so I apologize for not having exact measurements. I kind of just eye balled it with this one.

Directions:

Melt butter in a pan and add the chopped onion. Let onion cook for about 2-3 minutes. Then add all other ingredients. I would say about 1 1/2 tablespoons of chopped garlic, 1 tablespoon of parsely, and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper gives the sauce a nice little kick. Add about a handful and a half of scallops, the broccoli and the chicken and let it cook for about 5 - 8 minutes over medium heat, or enough to make it simmer. Stir the mixture often so the sauce doesn't thicken.

Cook pasta as you normally would then pour this deliciousness over it and EAT!!!!

Pair it with a Chardonnay and you are good to go. YUM!

Salud!

My Crack, I mean, My Smoothie Addiction

2010-09-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

I am seriously addicted. As a matter of fact, I need my fix right now. Not sure what McDonald's has put in these things, but I'm pretty sure they are sprinkled with some addictive substance!

Breakfast of Champions

2010-09-21T08:45:00.001-04:00

This is what happens when your up late studying and have to be at work at 8:30AM!!! Sugar overload!!!

Nothing like a RedBull and a Chocolate Chip Cookie to start your day! It's Grrrrrrrrrrrrreat!!!!!

My very first Blog Award =)

2010-09-20T15:05:00.000-04:00

Yay!!

The lovely Serena at "I Left My Heart In London" has so kindly passed on to me the "One Lovely Blog Award". Thank you!!! Who know someone out there actually reads this thing. LOL Please check her out! She's very funny and her stories are sure to entertain.

And here it is, my award: =)

Now I'm supposed to list 7 random facts about myself, and then pick 9 other bloggers that I believe deserve this award as well.

Let's begin:

Fact: I really want a pet monkey

Fact: I'm left - handed but play sports as a righty

Fact: I tried to separate frozen hamburgers with a steak knife and ended up cutting every nerve in my thumb and had to get the main one put back together. I still don't have any feeling in one spot =/

Fact: If the universe let me, I would eat Taco Bell everyday

Fact: I always wanted to be a ballroom dancer...actually, I still do!

Fact: I might be a nympho

Fact: I laugh at pretty much everything. So if you hurt yourself in front of me, don't expect me to come to the rescue right away, I have to stop laughing at you first!

And a Bonus Fact: I am Puerto Rican, but I can't speak a lick of Spanish! HAHA

9 Bloggers Who Deserve the "Lovely Blog Award" are:

Nikki at Style _Me_Bad

Kristi at Belle - La - La

Catie at Catie Bennett

Ernest at ErnestEstime

Lindsey at LindseyLove

Amy at Lifes Journey With a Smile

Gustavo at Gustavo Osmar Santos Fotografias

Natalie at Awkward Sex and the City

Anastasia at Living on a Ballroom Dancefloor

Please check out these fabulous people!!!

End of Summer Blues!

2010-09-20T10:22:00.000-04:00

It's the last day of summer =( I hope everyone enjoyed this great season, through heat waves, tornadoes and all!

How have you enjoyed your summer? I spent most of mine enjoying some new restaurants, NYC restaurant week, trips to the Dominican Republic and Washington DC. Watching my godson grow, Yankee Games, parties, weddings, BBQs, beach, sitting poolside, and lounging! It really was a great summer!

This last weekend of summer was great! Friday spent time with my aunt for our monthly wine and cheese night. Saturday hit up Harlem and Brooklyn with my love Don Pepe. I pretty much think Brooklyn is my new love! We had dinner with friends at Apartment 138 and then walked down the street for some drinks at Camp. They were both amazing!! I will do a double feature Spotlight Friday on these 2 Brooklyn spots. But for just a glimpse into my review, imagine breakfast for dinner and possibly the best mac and cheese you ever tasted, finishing it off with do it yourself S'mores and a game of Buck Hunter. It really doesn't get any better. On Sunday, it was a day full of relaxing! Spent some time with family and Don Pepe, then caught up with an old friend Nikki, over some rum & cokes and pool.

But now it's on to enjoying the many adventures and events that Fall and Winter brings. Time to put away the bikinis and bring out the Northface jackets and boots!

Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-03T16:45:00.000-04:00

And so it has finally arrived! My second favorite Holiday of the year! LABOR DAY!!! 3 day vacation, lots of food, beer, food, beer and food and beer ( :-) ), precious time with your family and friends, great weather, if you're single, perfect time to mingle, if you're taken perfect time to spend quality time with your loved one!! I mean really, what is there not to love about this weekend?

I have a really big family BBQ tomorrow in Queens. It's something we all look forward to every year. We all pitch in to make it better than the last and this year is going to be a fat fest!! Here's a sample of our menu:

Baked Ham
Spanish Rice
Collard Greens
Jerk Chicken
Grilled Chicken
Fried Chicken
Hot Dogs
Hamburgers
Fish fry
BBQ Pulled Pork
Ribs
Baked Mac & Cheese
Potato Salad
Hot Italian Sausage
Baked Ziti
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Apple Crisp

And much more! Hope I didn't make you hungry =)

What are your plans for this Labor Day weekend?? Vacations? BBQ? Beach? Please share!

Spotlight Friday's

2010-09-03T16:15:00.000-04:00

“Leave the gun. Take the cannolis.” - Clemenza, The Godfather

This quote really doesn't have much significance to today's post, except that it is one of my favorite lines from this Classic movie, and one of my coworkers said it today, I cracked up, and so I decided to share =)

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience." - James Beard

I swear, for some reason I have the most influential, engaging conversations, during a meal. Any meal! Theres something about gathering around food that gets people communicating, and I love it! Some of the most memorable conversations with Don Pepe have of course been over a meal or while sitting on the couch having a glass of wine.

Recently, during NYC Restaurant Week, we visited:

City Lobster & Steak

121 West 49th Street

New York, NY 10020

Courtesy of NYCGo.com

It was over our 3 course dinner here that I figured out the exact direction I wanted to take my career, and it was liberating. (I stress about that alot).

The food was delish! And for $35 it was even more delish!

Don Pepe enjoyed the calamari, 2Lb lobster and Red, White & Blue Shortcake for dessert and a couple of Pinot Grigio's. I tasted his lobster and who knows what seasoning they used but it was amazing! Kind of spicy and sweet, it was pretty much indescribable.

I got a Caesar salad (which by the way was THE best I have ever tasted thus far, i was tempted to lick my bowl =/ but we were in public ha ha), the Petit Filet Mignon with Crab meat, and Profiteroles Arabica for dessert which is basically coffee ice cream between two fluffy pastries drizzled in Chocolate Espresso sauce a.k.a the most delicious decadent dessert in the world.

Overall it was a great meal, not only because of the food, but for the company and the excellent conversation!

I do recommend City Lobster & Steak for a nice night out on the town and definitely during Restaurant week! It receives the Official Cupcakes & Caviar Stamp of Approval!!

I'm Back!!

2010-08-31T12:00:00.000-04:00

Phew! I have been on a serious hiatus! I have been so consumed with the final preparations for my uncles wedding this past Saturday that I have completely ignored my blog! But, the wedding was a success! He is so happy, and when I gave my speech and told him that he was one of the greatest men in my life, I cried like a baby and so did he lol My uncle is a great man and I'm so happy for him!

On another note, i would like to finally introduce my bf Done Pepe. I mention him in a lot of my posts, mainly because he is so supportive of my food addiction, and that's why i love him :-) ha ha

Me and Don Pepe

Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk, Long Island NY

2010-08-24T11:13:00.000-04:00

If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or Fight Like Hell. - Lance Armstrong

I have signed up to walk on October 17th at Jones Beach for the 2010 Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk. I am walking to help lessen the tragedies this disease has taken on families and help save more lives!

I have posted a banner on the right side of my blog anda link at the bottom of this post that will lead you to my personal participant page. I ask that you please join me in helping find a cure, raise awareness and fight back against breast cancer by making a donation. This can be easily done through the site and ANY amount you can donate would be much appreciated!

Also, if any of my readers are living in the Long Island/New York area, I would love for you to walk with me! You can sign up right on the site as well.

Together we can "Fight Like Hell" against breast cancer!

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/JNunez

Whopper What?!

2010-08-19T16:07:00.000-04:00

“I love that whole princess mentality, but I also like throwing my hair in a ponytail and just wearing jeans, going on a hike and then eating a big chili-cheeseburger.” ~ Jennifer Love Hewitt

YESSS!!

Ladies, don't be afraid to go all out with your food every now and then. Having a juicy succulent chili- cheeseburger every once in awhile is not going to hurt your waistline. Plus, men might not always admit it, but they love a woman who isn't afraid to eat! We work too hard, spend so much money and effort keeping ourselves looking good and continuing to be the "classy lady" society expects us to be, that sometimes its actually healthy and beneficial to our sanity to let our hair down, let loose, get messy and pig out!

Courtesy of Marie Claire

Speaking of pigging out and Cheeseburgers =)

Burger King now has a specialty restaurant called the Whopper Bar! With only 4 locations across the U.S. (Miami, NYC, Memphis and Orlando) they are serving up there signature whoppers, but this time, you can create them ANY way you like! Pick the sauce, pick the toppings, pick the cheese!

Oh Em Gee!!

Or, you can pick one of their creations including the NY Pizza Burger: Four Whopper patties, slices of pepperoni and mozzarella cheese with marinara and Tuscan sauce on a sesame seed bun.

The only question I have is, Why didn't they think of this sooner???

Check out their entire menu and find their locations HERE

~ Eat Up, Drink Up, or Shut Up ~

2010-08-18T10:41:00.000-04:00

So lately I've had so many situations that I've allowed to bring me down. So many things from the past that have scarred me and caused me to be afraid of living my life and following my own happiness! But I refuse to let outside influences control my happiness and the outcome of MY life! It is true what they say, you can't make someone else happy, unless you are happy with yourself.

So I've decided to take a completely different approach to my blog! I'm sure I am not the only person out there who falls into a low from time to time and we all need inspiration, positivity and joy in our lives! What brings me joy? Many things, but of course Food! So everything will still somehow incorporate this, but there will also be something inspirational to take from it! I would also like anyone who reads to share their thoughts as well to the questions or ideas I share! Let's draw inspiration from each other!!

Don't worry, I will still keep my normal ~Eat Up Drink Up or Shut up~ and **Spotlight Fridays** posts!

This quote has inspired me so much today:

"When I get lonely these days, I think: So BE lonely! Learn your way around loneliness. Make a map of it. Sit with it, for once in your life. Welcome to the human experience. But never again use another person's body or emotions as a scratching post for your own unfulfilled yearnings." - Elizabeth Gilbert

I find that I am slowly but surely accepting the idea of loneliness! It doesn't have to be a bad thing! As a young woman, living on her own, working FT, going to school and trying to keep up with the day to day life, I need that time to unwind and bask in my own essence! Sipping on a good wine and eating some great comfort food are some ways I "Sit With" my loneliness.

Penne A La Vodka

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup vodka
1 pound penne pasta
1 pint heavy cream
Directions

1.In a large skillet over medium heat, cook garlic in olive oil until tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, breaking up a bit with fork. Stir in basil, salt and pepper and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in vodka and cook 15 minutes more.
2.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
3.Stir cream into sauce and cook 10 minutes more. Toss with hot pasta.

I had this for dinner last night and it is one of my favorite comfort foods and so easy to make!!

Pair this with one of my favorite wines YellowTail Shiraz - Grenache!! A not too dry not too sweet Red.

What do you do when you're looking for some quality alone time? Please share!

More simple recipes can be found at Allrecipes.com

Spotlight Friday's

2010-08-13T14:28:00.000-04:00

S'Mac

345 East 12th Street

New York, NY 10003-7238

Courtesy of MentalFloss

Remember my last post when I gave a recipe for Baked Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese? Well I was lucky enough to discover this amazing spot in the East Village of NYC that strictly serves nothing but Baked Macaroni & Cheese!!!!!

Oh Em Gee!!

And you know what they had on their menu??? Buffalo Chicken Macaroni & Cheese!

It was just as amazing as it sounded!

The place is really small but super cute with yellow and orange accents. Prices are definitely reasonable considering the area as well. I got a "Mega Munch" size for $10 and I couldn't even finish it! Of course i took it home though and had it for lunch the next day =) Anytime you can get 2 meals out of one, it's money well spent.

Don't go here expecting anything fancy or exceptional waiter/waitress service. Go here to simply indulge in one of their 12 cheesy masterpieces!! Mmmmmm I can't wait to go back!!

More info can be found on their website here.

Cupcakes & Caviar

What to do this week? 9/29 Edition

Football Sunday Wings

Recipe Wednesday - Sausage and Peppers: The Remix

Breakfast - The Most Important Meal of the Day

Oh How I Have Missed You!

A Simple Obsession...

I'm A Sinner

"I was gone for a minute now Im back with the Jumpoff"

Family Time!!!!!!!

The Lemonade Diet Day 1

My Last Meal 2...

My Last Meal...

**Spotlight Friday's**

~Eat Up, Drink Up or Shut Up ~

My Crack, I mean, My Smoothie Addiction

Breakfast of Champions

My very first Blog Award =)

End of Summer Blues!

Labor Day Weekend

**Spotlight Friday's**

I'm Back!!

Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk, Long Island NY

Whopper What?!

~ Eat Up, Drink Up, or Shut Up ~

**Spotlight Friday's**

Spotlight Friday's

Spotlight Friday's

Spotlight Friday's