I’m so excited that Summer is almost here, and all the beautiful berries and other Summer fruits are coming into season. I just wish this crazy NYC weather would sort itself out! One day it’s hot and sunny and the next (like today) it’s a lot cooler and raining. There is so much fog today…
delicious
New Healthy Bowls from Oxido
I was recently invited to try 4 new healthier bowls from Oxido, a modern Mexican eatery in Flatiron that focuses on high quality food made from scratch. Instead of the usual rice, these bowls have quinoa instead, which is higher in protein and dietary fiber, which in turn keeps you fuller for longer. Below are the 4 new bowls:
Mother’s Day Desserts at Little Pie Company
When I first moved to NYC 6 years ago, I remember stopping in at Little Pie Company to get a warm slice of three berry pie. Now, every Summer, I like to stop by for a slice of their cherry pie. So amazingly delicious! Little Pie Company has debuted a new pie flavour this May: Salted Caramel Apple Pie. Golden Delicious apples are tossed in cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar, encased in a rich butter crust. Crunchy steel cut oats make the perfect topping, along with a drizzle of fresh caramel sauce.
Deep Fried Melted Mozzarella Sandwich from Tramezzini NYC
You may be asking yourself ‘Why is that cheese pink?’ But rest assured, there’s no artificial colouring used here! The guys at Tramezzini had the novel idea of using beets to colour their cheese pink. Imported fresh from Italy, the mozzarella comes in 4 flavours: beet, pesto, tomato and regular.
Copenhagen Mermaid Milkshake from C Tea
Brand new to the NYC tea scene is C Tea in NoLita. They are having their soft opening this week with 10% off all drinks. The menu includes milkshakes, fruit tea, cheese cream tea, and lattes. I chose one of their signature shakes, the Copenhagen Mermaid, a vanilla milkshake with butterfly pea tea, whipped cream and a fondant mermaid tail. So pretty and whimsical! And let me tell you, if you’re not a fan of fondant, don’t let that put you off. I generally don’t like fondant either, but this mermaid tail was unlike fondant I’d had before, and actually tasted great. It also made a great scoop for the whipped cream. At C Tea you can choose your sugar level, which I really like. It was suggested to me to go with 50% sugar for this particular drink, so I did. It tasted very delicious, the perfect level of sweet, and the vanilla flavour tasted real, not artificial. I really loved the interior of the shop, spacious and inviting, with cute stools to sit on and personal touches like the macaron decorations, citrus plates and tropical cushions.
4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Crispy Bars
This has been one crazy week, to say the least! I left New Zealand on Tuesday to return to New York City and I was feeling a range of different emotions. Even though my Mum has made an amazing recovery in the past 7 months, I still worry about her a lot and it was very hard to leave her. For now, we will have to make do with phone calls and video chats. It eases my mind somewhat to know she has a great support system around her. We really made the most of our last few weeks together, including a trip down to Tauranga and Mount Maunganui. The beaches down there are among my favourites, and we took her dog Jessie with us, and she was loving all the bush and beach walks.
Raw Vegan Treats from Wise Cicada
Hidden away downstairs from the hustle and bustle of Broadway, Newmarket, you’ll find the cafe and whole foods super-store, Wise Cicada. The food is all organic and vegan, including a salad bar, juice bar and desserts. After a day of walking around the shops with my Mum, we needed a pick-me-up and Wise Cicada was the perfect spot.
We chose the Protein Bar, the Crème Caramel & Tiramisu. The protein bar looks pretty with raspberry on top, and is a powerhouse of nutrients including almonds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, buckwheat, protein powder & flaxseed. This one really keeps you satisfied.
Lemon Drizzle Cake
If you’re looking for the perfect, no-fuss cake to serve with tea or coffee to your houseguests, look no further! This lemon cake is packed full of flavor, isn’t too sweet, and has an irresistible lemon syrup poured over it instead of icing. It’s quick, easy to make and your guests will love it.
Preview Party at Krispy Kreme NZ
In case you didn’t know, Krispy Kreme is opening its first store in Auckland next Wednesday, February 28th. I was lucky to get to attend the preview VIP party yesterday, and I couldn’t have been more excited. I’ve been a fan of Krispy Kreme doughnuts for years now, ever since I had my first bite of one many years ago when I first visited the USA. I also ate them when I visited Melbourne & Sydney, and wondered why New Zealand didn’t have them but Australia did. Well it’s officially happening Aucklanders!
I spent a fun and informative two hours at the preview event, and got to do a range of things, including behind the scenes. Upon arrival we had the choice of a milkshake or coffee. Of course, I took the milkshake. (Well, ok, I ended up getting two). I started with a classic strawberry milkshake, which was divine, then I got one of the new Kreme Shakes, known as ‘The Doughnut you Can Drink’. I got the choc honeycomb, which was topped with Crunchie bar pieces and was absoultely delicious.
Dulce De Leche Brownies
In the brownie world there are two distinct types: the fudge kind and the cake kind. If you are like me, and fudge brownies are your thing, then you are going to need to make this recipe! Over the years I’ve tried all sorts of brownie recipes, and had issues such as the brownies being too flat, too dry, or not chocolatey enough. This recipe has none of these issues, and the addition of gooey dulche de leche really takes these brownies over the top, into new territory.
A traditional dessert that originated in South America, dulce de leche directly translates to ‘sweet of milk’ in English. It can be used as a filling, a topping or enjoyed straight from the jar. Because who doesn’t enjoy sneaking spoonfuls of caramel while nobody is looking?!