The Wednesday Tipple: Pink Cocktails for Valentines Day

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Kate

Valentines Cosmopolitan cocktail illustration for Valentines day

Valentines Day is one of the more depressing days of the year to be single in a Manhattan full of pink and cupids, set menus and single roses.

Mostly, being footloose and fancy free in the city can be a lot of fun, but then Christmas, or New Years, or your younger brother’s engagement party comes along and knocks some of the joir de vivre out of it.

Sara, who’s not been feeling the reveling-in-my-freedom-in-this-urban-paradise vibe for a while now, has felt each one of these dates keenly; even more so since she counted up the days in her diary since the last time she waxed for the benefit of company, and found the number to be unconscionably large. Continue reading →

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The Monday Treat – Easy Valentines ideas

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Kate

Brownie Heart Illustration for Valentines treat recipes

Valentines is a different ball park here in America. It’s really not such a big deal in the UK. You’ll see the odd woman with roses on the underground, and probably it’s the Biggest deal in the Whole World if you are 16 and have a crush on a guy in the year above you at school, but for everyone else, it’s more low key. The shops are full of it, of course, trying to persuade customers that a simple “I love you” will not suffice unless it is backed up by the testimony of a bear holding a heart (that he has no doubt ripped from the bleeding chest of some hiker in the woods), but on the whole, it’s business as usual.

Here in New York, things are different. Continue reading →

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This dinner will get you laid – roast duck and pancakes for Chinese New Year

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Kate

Chinese New Year Illustrations for Duck and Pancakes recipe

It’s the Chinese New Year of the rabbit, and I won’t lie to you; I was tempted to put bunny on the menu. But two things held me back; memories of my sisters’ pet rabbit who once, heroically, peed on an ex-boyfriend of mine, and my extreme love of duck and reluctance to pass up an opportunity to eat it.

I love duck and pancakes. They are one of my favorite foods. Possibly my favorite food. I don’t usually like to play ranking with my dinner, but they’d be a top contender. Continue reading →

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The Wednesday Tipple – Pomelo Sea Breezes with Spicy Beef Lettuce Wraps

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Kate

Sea breeze illustration and a pomelo for pomelo sea breeze

Chinese New Year is almost upon us, a fact that it is impossible to ignore if you happen to be walking down Elizabeth Street on your way to pick up cheap vegetables at the amazing Asian supermarket.

My apartment is now decorated with red hanging lanterns and a plastic tree adorned with what look like little plastic oranges (can this be right? And if so, does anyone know why?) – the result of a peek into a shop on a side street.

But the important order of the day is this; I bought a pomelo. Continue reading →

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The Monday Treat – Traditional Chili

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Kate

Chili illustration for easy chili recipe

While sipping a chai latte in Think Coffee and waiting for Jon to finish his meeting I overheard the following conversation between a guy (who, from the fact that he had an iPad and an NYU hoodie, I’m going to assume was a student) and his girlfriend:

“Baby, it’s cold outside.”

“I LOVE that song!”

“What song? I have no idea what you’re talking about. I was making a general observation” Continue reading →

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This Dinner Will Get You Laid – Mac n Cheese in preparation for Super Bowl

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Kate

Mac and Cheese illustration for recipe

Of all the dinners I’ve hosted for my close friends Sasha and Matt over the years the best one, the no-doubt-about-it favorite, was actually not cooked by me at all, but by my husband Jon. Continue reading →

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The Wednesday Tipple – Beer and Super Bowl Party Snacks

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Kate

Superbowl illustration for superbowl party recipes

Super Bowl is almost upon us. Which is cause for great joy and celebration in our household – it’s another of those fantastic eating holidays that we missed out on for years through ignorance and being British. Continue reading →

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The Monday Treat – Millionaire’s Shortbread in time for Burns Night

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Kate

Millionaire's Shortbread illustration for recipe

Millionaire’s shortbread is what my Mother in law, and most of the rest of Scotland call it. Toffee cake is what my Mother in law’s Mother in law called it (as you can see above). But by either name, for my husband, it’s the quintessential home treat. Continue reading →

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This Dinner Will Get You Laid – Penne with truffled mushroom sauce

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Kate

Mushrooms and maps illustration for date night truffled mushroom pasta recipe

On the way home from husband Jon’s fantastic gallery show opening (Mapping the Big Apple – an example of which you can see above) friends Ingyin and Yosi pointed to a small nondescript village park – in any other city, it would be a generous pavement – Father Demo square.

“Don’t be tempted to go in there at night,” warned Yosi in portentous tones. Continue reading →

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The Wednesday Tipple – Banana Rum Smoothies and Tropical Coconut Chocolate Cup Cakes

Posted on January 19, 2011 by jproberts00


Banana Rum illustration for a WednesdayWhat to wear on a very casual drink after work sort of date?

It’s been the subject of much debate, ever since Sara plucked up the courage to re-connect with Sean, the guy who slept on her sofa after a drunken office party after-party. Continue reading →

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