My Thirteen Favorite Things I did in New York

1. Avenue Q - This is a very funny show that is best described as Sesame Street for adults or Muppets Gone Wrong. We bought tickets that day and ended up in row E, center- woohoo. Warning - there is full muppet nudity and the next day you will find yourself humming entirely inappropriate songs.





2. Equus - Quite possibly the exact opposite of Avenue Q, this play was a serious look at a young man's (Daniel Radcliffe) time in a mental ward following a horrible crime. Minimally staged and also with nudity and no puppets but men dressed as horses, oh, I think you just have to go see it.



3. My First Time - An off Broadway play about, you guessed it, the first time. There is a website you can visit to read of others experiences or post your own. Many of these narratives have been selected and performed (well read, not performed if you no what I mean, I mean this play actually had no nudity, puppet or otherwise.) The results are both funny and poignant. Before the play the audience is given cards to fill out as to their first time experiences. There were three virgins in the audience that night and the average age for the first time was just over 18 (higher than the national average in the US of just over 15).



4. Purchasing the tickets - even buying our tickets was an adventure. I bought the tickets to Equus and My First Time before we left for New York, but I had to visit the famous TKTS half price ticket stand. We got in line about an hour before the line opened. This gave us lots and lots of time to gawk at the lights in Time Square and meet our fellow line waiters. We met two girls visiting their friend (an au pair) from Germany, a family from the UK and a woman from Brazil. We discussed the Euro dollar exchange rate and found that ipods can be cheap if you are coming from the right country.

Landmarks finally visited (after seeing them all my life on television and in movies.)



5. Statue of Liberty - We saw this from the Circle Line tour. Here is a picture of us before we wimped out from the cold and went inside.









6. Empire State Building










7. Washington Square












8. The Tree at Rockefeller Center




9. Bryant Park - I looked for Tim Gunn, he did not show.



10. Macy's - Santa unfortunately was gone. We did ride all the way up on the escalators and back down again. Can you say tourists?












11. Museum of Natural History and Central Park

12. Grand Central Station - I desperately wanted to make a phone call from there so that the person on the other end of the call could say, "Where are you, it sounds like Grand Central Station?"

13. Union Square - This was extra special because on the day we went there was a farmer's market. We were able to watch a live band. I bought this fantastic scarf from a girl who was sitting there knitting them.

And a block away we ate at our second favorite restaurant - Dogmatic. You see they toast the inside of the bread on these special toasting rods (see them in the background) then they put one of five different homemade sausages into the bun with your choice of sauce.

Yes we made all the appropriate sophomoric jokes and then we went back for seconds. I still have the frequent buyer card harboring the illusion that I might really make it back there.

Thirteen Things to do in New York City

Help! Mr. Geek and I are planning a trip to New York City for our anniversary. I have wanted to go to New York all of my life so this will be a dream come true. I want to make sure I get in as many "don't miss" things as possible.

Details: We will be there in January after the New Year's celebration.
We are big fans of the Food Network and Bravo TV (Top Chef, Project Runway).



So far I am thinking:

1. Eat at Perilla . This is Harold's restaurant, winner of Top Chef.


2. Eat at Crave . This is Dave Martin's restaurant, also from Top Chef.

3. Eat a hot dog from a cart. This might be a cliche touristy thing to do, what can I say, I am a tourist. Any tips on how to spot a good hot dog cart? Please?

4. Eat some real New York style Pizza.

I am sure there is some more food I don't want to miss.

5. See a Broadway Show

6. See an off-Broadway Show

7. See an off-off Broadway show

Suggestions?

8. See Times Square

9. See Central Park. Mr. Geek wants to jog thru Central Park.

10. See some "only in New York" museum ??????

And because I am really a dork.....

11. Go to some local markets to look for cheese etc.

12.

Okay I am leaving these open for suggestions. I know there are some really good ones out there.

Thirteen of The Geeks Favorite Foods

These may not the most favorite because I was limited to what we have in the house right now. Also the food that is one boys favorite can be totally disgusting to the next boy (of course).



These foods are all gluten (wheat) and casein (dairy) free as well as egg, peanut and artificial color free. While this might seem restrictive, this diet changed my family's life (for the better) and I think we eat really good food.



Come visit our kitchen and this is what you will find.


Blueberry Juice - The Littlest Geek's favorite when I use Knox gelatin and make jello cups.





Blue Sky Soda- The Middle Geek loves soda. I do not like him to drink it. Our compromise is natural soda. It is high-fructose corn syrup free and I think it taste so much better. It is a bit pricey which makes it a treat, but isn't that what soda is supposed to be.





Sliced Jalapenos- Middle Geek's new obsession. The brand is not that important, but be sure to look for those jarred without Yellow 5 or 6.





La Tiara Taco Shells - These are the best crunchy tacos shells ever.

Frank's RedHot Sauce -Chicken Wings are the Middle Geeks favorite and this is how we buy our hot sauce.

Bob's Red Mill Cinnamon Raisin Bread Mix - There are some premade mixes I like to keep in the house. This Cinnamon Raisin Bread makes great bread or sometimes I make them in my minimuffin pan to make cinnamon rolls.

Pamela's Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix - These are the very very best. I keep these in my pantry when I need a quick company dessert. Even people who don't eat gluten free loves these.

EnerG Rice Pasta -This pasta makes the best Lasagna which is the Littlest Geeks current favorite food.





Ian Fish Sticks - The Middle Geek loves these, the Littlest Geek hates them. They are expensive so I don't try to talk him into them. They are good for a quick lunch.

EnerG Hot Dog Buns and breads are one of the few that are egg free. These are not like gluten filled bread at all, but my boys haven't had gluten in five years and they love them.

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Double Chocolate Brownie - The Middle Geek's favorite treat when I let them pick out "one thing".

Cherrybrook Kitchen Chocolate Chip Cookies- According to Middle Geek, "These taste like I am not supposed to have them." That is a really good thing!




Full Circle Sunflower Butter - If your child is allergic to peanuts there are lots of other options. My favorite is Macadamia Nut Butter. However if your child is allergic to tree nuts then you can have Sunflower Butter. (Sunflowers are seeds, not nuts) It tastes different than peanut butter, but once you get used to it it is very good.

Dinner at the Geek House

I had a birthday this week and I am feeling a bit old. They say to keep your brain sharp you should practice mental games. So today I am going to see if I can remember the last thirteen things I had for dinner.

Last night - I had jello, homemade jello with sour cherry juice. yum (Okay, my mom took me out for a huge lunch and I ate so much I wasn't hungry until nine o'clock.)

Tuesday - A big ice cream sundae with butterscotch, hot fudge, whipped cream, cashews and a Cherry on top. Shut up it was my birthday. The family had beefy stew.

Monday - Enchilada Casserole con Crock Cooker

Sunday - (oh man this could be embarrassing, it was just me and my youngest at home all weekend do I really want to admit how much junk I ate.) Okay honesty it is. I was cutting up some steak for a freezer meal for later this week and kept some out. I fried it up and ate it with some cream cheese wontons I "accidentally" bought in the grocery store. The steak was yummy, the wontons were icky.

Saturday - I was a bit better. I took some lettuce from my garden and made a chef salad with left over cooked chicken etc.

Friday - Pizza. I bought some premade dough at Trader Joes. The youngest had his GFCF pizza.

Thursday - Dijon Chicken

Wednesday - Beefy Bean Burritos

Tuesday - Chicken Pollo Loco

Monday - Pepper Steak

Sunday - Mother's Day! I had pork steaks (a St. Louis tradition) and all the fixin's, yummy.

Saturday...... I think grilled chicken?

Friday.... Pizza and chicken wing night for the boys, and I ate ....

I guess I might as well admit it - I am old. (((((sob)))))

My Herb Garden

It looks like we may have finally gotten the last frost this week. To celebrate the ending of winter (finally) and the beginning of May, I am going to start planting my herb garden.

This is what I plan to grow.

1. Oregano - This is a hardy perennial that I don't think I could kill if I tried. (My kind of plant!)

2. Sage - This also came back this year. It doesn't always and with all the snow this winter it was a nice surprise.

3. Basil - My favorite herb of all time. Trust me once you have eaten fresh basil you will crave it in your pasta sauce, on your pizza, in a salad. yum

4. Rosemary - My second favorite herb. In the summer I love to cook a whole chicken with rosemary on the grill. MMmmm, add some grilled new potatoes and asparagus, maybe corn on the cob and .... I just need a moment....

5. Thyme - Good in the baked chicken and soups.

6. Marjoram - We have GREAT pasta sauce all summer.

7. Thai Basil - All basil is not the same. I grew this for the first time last summer and enjoyed this in curry.

8. Cilantro - A controversial herb in the Geek house. I love it, Mr Geek hates it.

9. Chamomile - Not only does this make good tea, but it have pretty white flowers

10. Lavender - Sometime I grow plants just because I like to. I have never used lavender for anything, but I like having the option.

11. Parsley - Two reason - First I love fresh parsley, but even better Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars love parsley. Each year we try to capture one of these caterpillars and watch it turn into a butterfly right in out kitchen. (I'll take pictures.)

That leaves two opening for impulse buys at the store. I will fill them in when I decide.

Any suggestion?

Thirteen Things I bought at the International Food Store

We have many small international grocery stores throughout this area, usually specializing in Mexican, Indian-Pakistani, or Chinese items. However we have one large grocery store that carries, I believe, every food available across the world. It is not very close to my house, so I only get there a few times a year. I mainly like to stock up on flours that are not made with wheat, but I love to wander up and down the aisles and see how other parts of the world eat.

I went to that store yesterday, and I couldn't beleive it, I bought exactly thirteen things. That must be a sign I thought so I will share them with you.

First the various flours and cooking basics.

1. 8 Pounds of Rice Flour

2. Glutinous Rice Flour - This is like Rice starch or Sweet rice flour

3. Gram (Besan) Flour - This is Chickpea flour, not Graham Flour.

4. 5 Pounds Rose Rice

5. Ginger Paste - If you like fresh ginger, this is a nifty short cut.

6. Yellow Split Peas

7. Dried Dark Kidney Beans

8. 6 pound can of Chick Peas



Next I bought a few unusual items that we enjoy.

9. Preserved Mango - Dried Mango rolled in sugar and chilis

10. Wasabi Rice Crackers - Crunchy with a real WOW. they are great fun at parties.





And then there are the items that I bought just out of overwhelming curousity

11. Toasted White Chick Peas - They look a bit like corn nuts.

12. Instant Tapioca/Taro - Tapioca Pearls with instant coconot milk. I made this last night and I threw the Taro away (I am not sure how it should have looked after it was cooked but it didn't really taste very good), drained the pearls and mixed with the coconut milk. It was not a pudding consistency like I thought it would be but tasted really good. (The boys HATED it.)

13. Coffee Agar Mix - Can you believe this: Coffee Jello!

Thirteen Places I would like to visit (and what I would like to do there) before I die

1. See one (or fifteen) plays in New York City. I’d really like to spend a semester in this city.
2. Eat Pomme Frites in Belgium. I saw this on the Food Network and the thought still makes my mouth water.
3. Bicycle though Denmark.
4. See the tulip and windmills in the Netherlands.
5. Rent and stay in a villa in the south of France. I read this in a book or magazine, where two couple rented a home, walked to the farmers’ market everyday and cooked their own fabulous meals or visited local restaurants.
6. Drink a beer in Germany during Oktoberfest.
7. Visit Australia. Now I realize this is a really large country with so many options, so I am not sure if I want to visit The Great Barrier Reef or tour the outback. Someone out there help me with some specific destinations.
8. Take a Safari Tour in Kenya.
9. Do a pub crawl in Ireland.
10. Go from the Pacific Ocean to the base of the Andes Mountains in Chili.
11. See India. This country has always fascinated me. I would like to visit with someone who has lived there and knows what to see.
12. See the great cathedrals in St. Petersburg, Russia.
13. Visit Tiananmen Square in China.

Oh no, I have thirteen already, I feel like I have just begun. There are still so many places I would love to see.