It's Not Too Late!

With about 2 weeks to go before the unofficial end of summer, there's still time for this delicious pasta salad.

Pasta, Pesto, and Peas
(courtesy Ina Garten a/k/a The Barefoot Contessa)

Ingredients
3/4 pound fusilli pasta
3/4 pound bow-tie pasta
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups homemade (yeah, right) pesto*
1 10-oz package frozen spinach, defrosted & squeezed dry
3 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed if you've got it)

1 1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cups frozen peas, defrosted

1/3 cup pignolis, toasted (optional - but really good!)

3/4 tsp kosher salt

3/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Cook the fusilli and bow ties separately in a large pot of boiling salted water for 10 to 12 minutes, until each pasta is al dente (or, do as I do and just cook 1 1/2 pounds of whatever pasta you have in the house in one big pot).

Drain and toss in a bowl with the olive oil.

Cool to room temperature.

In a food processor, puree the pesto, spinach, and lemon juice.

Add the mayonnaise and continue to puree.

Add the pesto mixture to the cooled pasta, then add the Parmesan cheese, peas, pignolis, salt, and pepper.

Mix well, season to taste, and serve at room temperature.

* I must confess... I buy pesto that's already been made. (It's just so much easier!)

The Cooks Take Manhattan

My brother and niece came to visit last weekend!

It's hard to believe it was their first time in New York City! (inside joke)

Thursday, night, we took the subway...

to Times Square, saw Rock of Ages, then walked through Midtown.

Rockefeller Center

Friday, we shopped...

in SoHo,

walked through Washington Square Park,

had dinner at Pete's Tavern, then wandered through The Strand.

Saturday...

We ate grilled cheese sandwiches from the Milk Truck at the Brooklyn Flea,

and shopped for "Louis Vuitton" purses on Canal Street.

We walked through Chinatown,

and City Hall Park,

then went to a New York Red Bulls match.

We had Sunday brunch at Penelope.

It rained.

We didn't mind (much).

Eventually, we took refuge at McSorley's, for some light & dark and a cheese plate.

(another inside joke)

Monday, they were on their own, and went to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Century 21, before meeting up with me again for dinner at Cowgirl in the West Village.

The next day, it was time to go...

I think everyone (including me!) had a great time!

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

The bank I work for has a policy requiring all employees to take off 10 consecutive days.

The past two years, I've waited until November to take my time off. It was nice having something to look forward to.

But this year, I decided to take off the last two weeks in July instead.

August and September are particularly busy months in my department, so I was hoping to "detox" and have a better attitude this year.

I have my doubts, but either way, I had a great "summer vacation"...

• Saw the Old 97's at The Bell House in Brooklyn
• Went to Charleston
• Finished one book
• Started another
• Cleaned out a closet
• Had a root canal (that wasn't great)
• Refinanced my mortgage
• Went to Iowa
• Painted the bathroom

And then today I went back to work.

And reality.

If at First You Don't Succeed,

paint,

paint again.

When I first moved into my apartment, the bathroom was white.

Someone suggested that, if I was bold enough (which I was!), I should paint it chocolate brown.

I loved the chocolate brown.

But, a couple of years later came "the flood".

So, I repainted.

It was spring, and I thought I wanted something lighter.

I was wrong.

I said at the time that I didn't love it.

And, when in doubt...

You know.

But now, everything is back as is should be.

When in Doubt...

DON'T!

That's my (new) motto.

Here's why...

These bags are full (full!) of clothes, shoes, and accessories, all going to Goodwill.

The worst part?

And that's just the beginning...

Adding up only those items with price tags, it's over $1000 (not telling how much over...).

I wasn't in love with any of these things when I bought them - I was on vacation, and had to make a decision, or they were on sale, so (I thought) a good deal.

And they will be!

For someone shopping at Goodwill.

I Tried

I had hoped that going to Charleston in the middle of July would break the spell.

But, no.

First, the weather was unseasonably cool - highs in the 80's, rather than the usual oppressive 90's.

Second, Charleston is Charleston...

This time, I stayed at the Andrew Pinckney Inn, in the historic district.

Complementary Breakfast

Friday night, we walked along Waterfront Park,

then had dinner at Poogan's Porch.

Saturday, we shopped on King Street,

and stopped in the Unitarian Church Graveyard, allegedly one of the most haunted in Charleston.

Legend is, the inspiration for Edgar Allen Poe's poem Annabel Lee is based on a young woman from Charleston ("... a kingdom by the sea"), who is buried in this graveyard, and whose ghost can be seen searching for her lost love.

Later, after a quick seafood dinner, and a piece of the famous coconut cake at the Peninsula Grill, we ended up at the rooftop bar at the Market Pavilion Hotel for a couple of drinks and an impressive view of the city.

We spent the day Sunday at the beach on Sullivan's Island, before having some Carolina barbeque for dinner and meeting up with a friend for trivia at the Mellow Mushroom (we came in 2nd), then cocktails at the Belmont Lounge.

Since our flight wasn't until 7pm, we had time to do more shopping along Upper King Street the next day.

Blue Bicycle Books

At one point, my friend & I agreed that this should be an annual event. But, by the end of the trip, we were already discussing going back in the fall.

That's Charleston!

New Year's Resolution

It's that time again.

Every year, on my birthday, I make my own new year's resolutions.

This year, I'm really only making one: Stop being so lazy and do something!

It would've been really easy to just stay home today and read a book, but I decided to meet up with a friend at the Alliance Francaise Bastille Day celebration instead.

Wine, cheese, crepes...

Wine!

It was awful.

SO crowded!

And I remembered why I hate this town sometimes.

But, I would not be deterred!

We walked until we found a cute little restaurant serving brunch. We were seated right away, at a corner table by an open window.

It was perfect!

But...

We waited.

And waited.

Eventually, we left.

But, still, I refused to quit!

I realized we were "only" about a mile away from Penelope.

I love Penelope! It's really cute, and the food is delicious!

So, off we went!

After brunch, and a mimosa (ok, two), we started walking downtown towards our trains.

Suddenly, I realized we were right across the street from Gramercy Park - a small, private park on the east side of the city.

Since December 31, 1831, only people living across from the park have a key.

View from the outside

I've been walking by this park for years, saying "someday...".

Well, today was that day!

A friend recently moved into #4 Gramercy Park West .

And he was home!

I'm in!

It was worth the wait...

And I remembered why I love this town sometimes.