Thursday, September 23, 2010

Great Paulie Gee Video

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

ART EXHIBIT AT PAULIE GEE'S!

The one and only Paulie Gee is so generous to donate his amazing restaurant for a group exhibit during Greenpoint Open Studios, presented by The Ugly Art Room.

As part of the Greenpoint Open Studios (October 1-3rd), The Ugly Art Room proudly presents A Cinderella Story: From a Bomb to a Bombshell

Opening Reception: Friday, October 1, 2010 @ 11pm

Ugly Art Room Hours:
Saturday and Sunday, October 2nd & 3rd
Noon to 6pm.
*Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn

*Note: there will be no pizza served during the opening and gallery hours, but come earlier than the opening for pizza on Friday and stay for the party! And stay after the gallery hours on Saturday and Sunday and enjoy a pie!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Pie Bake-Off in Grub Street!

Check out the awesome press and bring on the pies!

NY MAG GRUB STREET

PIE BAKE OFF!!!

    My ladies have been working so hard to put this awesome event together. Its a pie bake off! to benefit the Greenpoint Open Studios! Thursday September 23rd at The Diamond (43 Franklin). Plus raffles and a silent art auction! COME!!! And bring a ton of pie freaks! RSVP on Facebook. Read more about the shows I am putting together at The Ugly Art Room.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

WINNER'S DINNER

     You have to be in it to win it! Markus spends hours on end in his garage working on his vintage race bike and just making it to the race and getting the engine to start is a gigantic feat. So when he came in second place he deserved a winner's dinner!
     We both get CSAs and we both get so sick of certain vegetables that come in week after week. Like zucchini. I had to reinvent zucchini a million ways this summer. This time I made Zucchini Potato Pancakes with Trader Joe's dill yogurt dip. These were fried and yummy. Just shred zucchini with potatoes and onion. Make a batter with some egg and form into patties and fry. Easy!

Another fruit that has been haunting our fruit share is peaches! I made peach boats again! Peach, blue cheese, an almond and balsamic creme. No complaints. And of course, the Hitachini!!! Such a great Japanese import. And I love repeating it over and over. Hitachini! Hitachini!
        I made my roasted eggplant and pepper dip and put it on a panini with mozzarella. I am never disappointed when I dust off the panini press.
      And again with the zucchini! Zucchini Carpaccio, a dish I discovered at a tapas bar in Amagansett this summer called Exile. Sliced very thinly zucchini drizzle in olive oil, roasted pine nuts and parmesan cheese. Some parsley and a little balsamic creme is nice here, too.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

TRADER JOE'S RICE BALLS REVIEW

   It is nothing short of complete blasphemy to buy rice balls out of the freezer section at Trader Joe's, but when I picked up the box, Rocco assured me, "that the shit." Rocco learned a lot of slang from us Queen's kids, and he just can't shake it. I was skeptical, especially since in Rocco's eyes Trader Joe's can do no wrong, but had to try them.
    It could be that it was 3am when I decided to test these Arancini Bites that made them so delectable, or maybe it was my expert preparation.
Anything from a package tastes good baked rather than nuked. Duh. But after I baked these they were rather dry, so I gave them a quick nuking to soften them up. They became the perfect crispy on the outside and nice and gooey fontina cheesy on the inside. They needed a sauce, and I had some red sauce in the fridge. Perfect. They had nice flavor and didn't taste like they came out of a box. A perfect 3am snack. In no way do they compare to Nonna's Sicilian homemade recipe, but they don't give arancini a bad name.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

he's baaack....

Una Pizza Napoletana lives again! When am I booking my tix to SF is the next question?

Friday, September 3, 2010

Mark wanted a drink...

...So I made him a drink.
     Mark (Mike) my brother (Nonna for some reason writes Mark on his Xmas cards), was over talking about our modest plans to take over the universe, and looked at my alcoholic cabinet and said, "Jen, I know what you need to do for your blog. You need to be more spontaneous! Look at all these bottles of alcohol, look at those peaches, those tomatoes, make me a drink! Make a me a hipster drink!" (I don't know what a "hipster drink" means.)
     To look at the Queen of impulse and fast decisions and challenge me to a contest of spontaneity was ballsey, but Mark is more impulsive than I can ever be. 
     So here it is: "The Froydian Markel":  Overholt Rye Whiskey, Muddled Peach & Mint, Elderflower Berry, Rosewater, Triple Sec, Angostura Bitters
     And since that was so good, I made a "The Hipster Assassinator": Jim Beam, Muddled Peach and Basil, Elderflower Berry, Orange Blossom Water, Triple Sec and Peach Bitters.
     Both were badass, subtle in flavor, strong in liquor, not too sweet and elegantly perfumey. Don't challenge me. I will deliver. Always.