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.

he's baaack....

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

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.

Uncle George

     Uncle George paid us a short but sweet visit. Uncle George is Marcy's brother who lives in Pennsylvania Dutch Country and deals in awesome antiques and plays banjo in a cool blue grass band. Since we don't see Uncle George often, a feast was in order. So Mommy made her special chicken cutlets, which are the bestest everest. I made some simple caprese salad, rice, my peach boats, a garden salad, and we had some nice wine, great conversation and good music.
      When my brother Joe and Uncle George are together all they talk about is music. It made me think about riding out to Grandma's house out on Long Island with my Mom, Uncle George and my brother's all packed into the chocolate brown Caprice Classic. When my brother's weren't torturing me in the back seat, we were all singing songs together. You'd think after all that practice I'd be able to carry a tune today.      
       Music has always been in our family and it stuck to some better than others. My brother Joe is a really amazing musician and in so many Uncle George gave him the gift of music with mpromptu banjo lessons, showing him blues chords and giving him cool hard to find records. When Uncle George's house on Penn's Creek flooded over and my uncle lost every earthly possession, my brother Joe gave him a guitar. I know I'm getting all mushy, but the gift of music is a beautiful thing.

Water Balloons for Rice Balls

Hello my ravenous friends,

    Your dear crazy food friend is very busy with some upcoming projects that I want to share with you. You don't mind if I post a few things that aren't food related, do you? But they are actually because everything always somehow and somewhere relates back to what we stick in our pie holes.

     I am a very busy bee working with my homegirl Joann Kim on organizing the Greenpoint Open Studios. Joann is the amazing brains and muscle behind the famous Greenpoint Food Market. (see - food.) I am truly honored to be working with her. She is truly an amazing inspiration.

     What is the GOS? On October 1-3rd, 2010, all the talented artists in Greenpoint, Brooklyn will be opening their studios to the public so we can all enjoy their work. There are a few upcoming events that will help raise money for this awesome weekend.
     First, this Saturday, August 28th there will be a Water Balloon Fight on India Street at 3pm by the East River! You know that I love getting wet and into fights. Please join us for an awesome afternoon and help us spread the word so we have a lot of crazy wet people running around!  I am offering a Sicilian dinner to anyone who helps us fills water balloons! You get one rice ball for every 20 water balloons you fill. That is an offer I don't know how anyone could refuse! 

     During the Greenpoint Open Studios, Paulie Gee, our favorite pizza place (more food), will be functioning as a gallery, curated by yours truly, along with great friends Julie and Martin as part of the Ugly Art Room.  If you are hungry and like to see beautiful things, then please visit Paulie's during the Greenpoint Open Studios! More info to come...

xoxo,

Jen

A Sicilian Food Diary

Eat your face off!