Deanna R. Eats

[deannareats-blog]

Stocking up on the provisions

It seems every week people are telling tales of some up-coming snow-pocalypse (which usually turns into a 1 inch dusting of snow by the time it rolls through). While I'm not buying into the whole "we must stock up all the food in the grocery store for when we're snowed into our apartments for weeks on end" fad that is going around right now, I have been very diligent about cooking my meals in bulk ahead of time. 

This is mainly driven by a hope to cut back on impulse spending. Because if I find myself at the end of a long day with no food prepared, it's easier to order something off my Seamless app than it is to cook something. This food tends to be pricier and less healthy than food I prepare myself. So I'm putting a concerted effort into preparing meals in advance. Call it a New Year’s Resolution if you want (I'm not).

This also gives me the chance to make meals I normally wouldn't make. When you're cooking for one, it doesn't make much sense to prepare a casserole. My normal meal is a protein and a side of vegetables- very simple. This new goal has given me the opportunity to play around with bigger meals.

First up were tired and true family recipes- my Papa’s chili (mentioned in a previous blog entry), my Mom’s lasagna, and my sister’s pot roast.

As in all family recipes, I can’t share the specifics. I will highlight two things though. My sister told me to serve the pot roast with mashed potatoes instead of noodles and I was more than happy to oblige, because my mashed potatoes are amazing. Seriously, you should try them.

The second thing to note is in reference to the lasagna. After the food allergy test I did in November, I found that I have a reaction to gluten (boy do I miss baked goods!). Luckily, I live in New York, where non-traditional diets are the standard. It was easy for me to find gluten free pasta. I just couldn’t find gluten free lasagna sheets. Instead I used penne noodles to create the pasta layers.

Some of the other dishes I’ve been making for myself include Ribs (with a side dish of melted leak and onion couscous). I used a barbeque sauce I bought while in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, Honey Chipotle Rum. It was tasty- a little spicy, but tasty.

With the left over beef stock and vegetables from the pot roast I made a beef and vegetable soup. It was warm through many cold nights. 

Most recently, I baked a chicken- nothing special, just butter, salt, pepper, and a herb mix (a blend of my former mother-in-law, of which I am very sad to not have unlimited refills of anymore)- which is nothing new to me. But what follows is. I used the pickings off the bones to make chicken salad and I used the carcass to make chicken stock which I then turned into chicken and veggie soup.

I am looking for new recipes that I can try out as well. If you have any, send them along.

Besides all these foods being wonderfully delicious and feeling good about cooking some wonderful meals for myself, I can also say that this quest has been successful in reducing my food budget. In fact, it's almost half of what it has been in previous months. 

Great food, more money- AWESOME!

[deannareats-blog]

A New Year, and a new year.

It has been quite some time since my last post. I wanted to post around Christmas. Then I wanted to post shortly after the New Year. And then I really wanted this post to go out last Sunday, not almost a week later.

Anyway, here we are. It is January 24. It is a New Year (welcome 2014!), but for me it is a new year in a different sense. The reason I wanted to post last Sunday, was because that marked 1 year from the day that the life I knew stopped and I started building my better life. I say better because, well, it is. There is no doubt that 2013 was filled with some very low points (and some very high ones too), but, as is often clear on the other side of things, the challenges I went through have made me stronger, wiser, more compassionate- better.

I have always been of a pretty resilient constitution. It is rare that I think something has or could beat me down. As much as getting a divorce sucks (because it does even if it’s for the best reasons), I never thought that my “better” life was unattainable. However, I did find it very difficult to envision a future with better food. My ex was a great cook. He had a great palate and a great deal of passion. I often tried to encourage him to pursue a career (or hobby) in food. I even suggested to him long ago to start a food blog (ironic, huh?) And I still think he would be a great food critic, despite his reservations (pun intended, thank you).

I’ve actually surprised myself with how far my cooking and my palate have come. I’ve improved, adapted, and experimented. It’s been an adventure (in part, thanks to this blog).

Anyway, you don’t come here to read about my musings on life (let’s be honest). You come here for the food and to get your salivary glands working.

Christmas!

The holiday season is easily my mother’s favorite time of year. She listens to Christmas music starting in October (early October) and she knows every Hallmark Christmas movie by heart. If you’ve been following me here than by this point you know that my mom is a wonderful cook. You can connect the dots from there (hint- the food is damn good).

Christmas eve dinner was a fondue spread.

For the 4 cheese dip there was fresh baguette, potatoes, broccoli, and sausage for dipping.

To go with the chocolate there was marshmallows, strawberries, pound cake, and rice crispy treats.

Savory appetizers were aplenty. Shown here- meatballs and bacon wrapped sausages.

The drinking selection was not to be forgotten either with homemade cranberry punch and eggnog (which could be spiked with a bourbon that is older than I am (I’m not exaggerating).

For Christmas I got my Mom a white and a black truffle as her gift, along with an Italian cookbook that included a truffle section. For a little background information on truffles, they have a pretty limited life-span, losing 12% of their mass every day. They shrink, literally sweating the pounds away (okay, ounces, but forgive me an expression).

This means that we had to use them, and quickly. Aren’t I the smart one for getting my mom something that will cause her to cook me amazing food?

She did not disappoint, making baked truffle eggs.

Eggs, cream, butter, shaved white truffle, salt and pepper, and parmesan cheese baked in the oven until amazing and served with a side of bacon. OH YEAH!

Okay, so now that I’ve thoroughly excited your eating desires, I’m going to sign off (I know, I’m such a tease).

Even though this is a bit late, I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year, or new year if that’s where you are in your life. I’m looking forward to mine. 

[deannareats-blog]

Thank you for pie crusts and turkey.

It can be really difficult for me to make it home for Thanksgiving (variable work hours, high travel costs, pet care arrangements, etc.) so I usually stay in the city and forgo seeing my family. 

Because of this, my ex and I started to host what is sometimes known as "Orphan Thanksgiving," which is when you invite those who can't make it home either and celebrate together.

Last year we had a modest group of 6 (counting the 2 of us) and it was really nice to offer a great meal to our friends.

This year, I was the orphan. 

Luckily, I have a wonderful extended family (specifically in this example, my Mom's cousins) who, though I've only met them in person a few times before, welcomed me into their home as if I was a regular. Being the recipient of such unconditional love is a great way to spend the day of thanks.

We had a lot of the standard fare so forgive me if you've had your fill of turkey pictures but...

We started with Prosecco with pomegranate seeds.

There was a broth-y soup to start followed by a sorbet and pomegrante pallet cleanser. 

And you can't forget the Pink Fluffy which is a new addition to my usual Thanksgiving fare. I have no idea what this is made of (I assume marshmallows are in there somewhere... or everywhere). You'll need to talk to my cousin Marta for that recipe. It is shown here with canned cranberry sauce (because I don't care how good your homemade stuff is, canned cranberries will always win).

The turkey- cooked on the grill-

My dinner plate containing turkey, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli, and brussel sprouts-

And finally the deserts (from L to R- apple, sweet potato, pumpkin, and my apple)-

Because my Mom taught me to never arrive empty handed, I brought my annual apple pie.

I have made this apple pie every thanksgiving for the last 5-7 years. I have made a study of it. Every year I try to improve based on my results the year before.

My biggest challenge has always been the level of moisture in the filling. If it's too dry, it can be hard to eat. If it's too wet, it will cause the pie filling to fall out when sliced. And you never want your additive to alter the taste.

I have tried flour and it works to create the right texture, but only if you use enough and then your pie has a floury taste. 

I have used corn starch but that came out with the constancy of jello. 

This year I used tapioca and I was pretty happy with how it turned out, though next year I think I should add just a touch more to the recipe. 

Another new technique employed this year was to brush an egg wash over the bottom crust in an attempt to seal it- not sure how successful that was. In my opinion, the bottom crust was slightly chewy. 

The other secret to a great apple pie is the crust and I'm happy to say mine is getting to a point where I'm pretty confident about it. This year it needed a touch more salt. You see, I didn't write down whether or not to use salted or unsalted butter but I only had salted in my fridge, so I used a light hand when adding the ingredient to my dry mixture. 

My thought for next year... sea salt on top. 

Below are some pictures of the process (and the mess I made).

Also, BRRRR it's getting cold!

PS- I'm incredibly thankful for this year and all the people who've shared it with me. It's been a crazy ride, with incredible lows, amazing highs, sad losses, and wonderful people. I am better and stronger because of this year and I don't regret any of it. I'm looking forward to my next year and all that it will bring. 

[deannareats-blog]

Beat the sweets!

We're coming up on the holiday season which means my office is about to be inundated with sweets and all other sorts of bad things for you (for any clients reading this, you're awesome and I love you).

This realization has made me start a cleanse. (I hate to call it that because it's really just a restrictive diet. I'm not forcing myself to drink only lemon water and cayenne pepper or anything crazy like that.) I've been thinking about doing this for a while now to test for some of those common allergies that everyone is starting to realize they have. 

I figured if I find I have a reaction to gluten, or dairy, or whatever, it will be good to know it before the brownies start landing on my desk. It may help me to resist adding the 5000 calories in pure sugar to my diet every day.

So 5 days ago, I started. I am not allowed to eat the following things-

Gluten

Dairy

Red Meat

Artificial Sugar

Nightshade Vegetables

Caffeine

Alcohol

I know, I'm crazy.

  So far it's been okay though. Every morning I have a green shake for breakfast. Which basically means I threw spinach, almond milk, parsley, garlic, ginger, flax seeds, avocado, blueberries, apples, cinnamon, and stevia into a blender.

For the first two days, I didn't take to this smoothie well- forcing it down (sometimes while holding my nose). Then I found the secret- adding lemon juice (and more stevia). I wasn't having an issue with the taste- the blueberries, apples, and stevia made it sweet enough. But I was finding the smell of the garlic and the parsley hard to palette. The lemon juice cut the smell really effectively, allowing me to drink it without gagging. 

Some of the dishes I've made so far are described below.

Baked Chicken with Mashed Cauliflower

Before baking, I marinated the chicken in lemon juice and olive oil with parsley, salt, and pepper. For the cauliflower, I boiled them with chopped garlic. When they were soft I added olive oil and herbs and mashed away.

  Salmon with pesto, cuscus, and steamed broccoli

My pesto was made with basil, walnuts (because who has the money for pine nuts?), garlic, and olive oil. No dairy means no parmesan cheese. :(

The Salmon was sautéed on the stove with the skin on and the steamed broccoli was seasoned with lemon pepper.

  The best thing I’ve learned so far on how to get through the next 3 weeks is to find replacements for the things you love. For milk, I can have almond milk, and for sweet cravings, I found a lovely virgin chocolate bar. It’s called Raaku. (check it out at Raakachocolate.com). The bar I’m munching on right now is Dark with sea salt. It’s gluten free, dairy free, nut free, soy free and made with organic ingredients. And it sure is helping when the brownies and cupcakes come down the hall.

[deannareats-blog]

Give me the pu pu platter!

When people you care about go out of your life, it can be a confusing time. Depending on the situation you can be sad for yourself, excited for them, frustrated by the situation, angry for the reasons why, and/or apprehensive about what’s to come. As someone who has strong emotions, (my sisters would call it “dramatic” or “emotional” – and then I would chase them around the kitchen with a knife while screaming and crying. I’m not quite that bad anymore.) I understand these situations pretty well.

Despite what you may be thinking, this post is not about my emotions around my divorce. It’s about my job.

My co-worker, Jill, has just left. She moved to Texas to marry her long-time boyfriend. I’m very happy for her because I know this is what she wants. On the selfish side, however, that means I am losing a friend and a fellow assistant that I have come to trust. It also means that for the past week and for the next week, I’m covering two desks at work (which kind of sucks).

To celebrate Jill’s last day some other co-workers and I took her out for dinner at Gyu-Kaku, which is a Japanese DIY Hibachi restaurant (http://www.gyu-kaku.com/). It’s like the Melting Pot, but with a grill instead of a fondue pot (like an oversized pu pu platter). Right up front I will say I highly recommend this place. It was fun, different, delicious, and you get free edamame if you check in on Facebook. Complete Win.

We started the night off right with drinks and appetizers (spicy tuna puffs, luckily not soo spicy that I couldn't enjoy them), as well as the traditional miso soup and salad.

For our main dish we got a group combination. Some items included were short ribs, skirt steak, pork belly, salmon, and asparagus. The last two came wrapped up in foil with butter and sauces so they steamed on the grill.

I was trying to take pictures of everything but I couldn't stop eating. The marinades on these meats were pretty stellar.

The dinner ended on a wonderful sweet note that came in the form of S'mores. That's right! S'mores cooked over an open flame in the middle of a restaurant in the East Village. It must be said- boo ya!

I'd say it was a pretty successful night and a great way to send our friend off. I will miss Jill. She is beautiful, cool, and helped the day go by quickly.

I've had enough people leave my life to understand the emotions that come with it. I try to wish them the best (and that includes for my ex-husband) and remember that they are still with me (whether I want them to be or not). In this case, I haven't lost a friend. I've gained an opportunity to visit Texas! BBQ anyone?

Also, don't I have some attractive co-workers?

[deannareats-blog]

Oh October!

Today is my wedding anniversary.

I remember being so happy walking down that aisle. I remember thinking that surely we would never separate. We did everything right, after all. We took our time. We really made sure we knew the best and worst of each other. We discussed all the tough questions we might face. The girl in that dress couldn't image that the boy at the end of the aisle would ever hide something he knew would break them up.

But I was wrong, and he did, and here I am on my anniversary thinking about traditions, and family, and promises.

I had a feeling October would be a hard month for me this year. Which is a shame because it's my favorite month. October starts out with my hometown's Oktoberfest celebration, then my anniversary, followed shortly by my ex's birthday, and ending with Halloween (with multiple family birthdays thrown in, including my Mom's).

All of these events were things I really enjoyed sharing with my ex. I like sharing things with people in general. When I was younger, I was rather socially awkward. I didn't have many (or sometimes any) friends. This isn't a pity party. I had a much better childhood than the majority of people out there. I can see that as an adult. But as a child who doesn't know that darkness, you can't comprehend why you should feel grateful to have food, a nice home, and a supportive family when people make fun of you and you sit alone at recess. That is your world. It's all you know. It doesn't feel good and you're not comforted by the fact that other kids have it worse.

Needless, these experiences shaped my character. Because of them, I long to have someone I can share myself with because I spent so many years with no one. Call it needy if you want. I don't care.

This year I have you! The void! The countless (or maybe 6) people that follow my blog to share my experiences with.

That being said...

It's less than a week since Oktoberfest. My very small hometown is almost entirely of German heritage. So the first weekend of every October is Oktoberfest. I love it! Food, family, and polka music (there is beer too if you enjoy that).

First- My Mom specifically gave me the task of emptying 6 bags of flour into her flour bucket just so I would mention it on here. So there you are Mom.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programing...

There are many customary things that go along with Oktoberfest but, for me, most of those things revolve around the food.

How about I just walk you down the tents and through some of the deliciousness?

#1- Sauerkraut Balls-

These delicious balls of joy are essentially fried Ruben sandwiches. Sauerkraut and minced corned beef rolled together and deep fried. I like mine with some honey mustard to dip them in. Others prefer the traditional route of Thousand Island dressing. In a typical Oktoberfest I can eat about 5 orders of these babies. My Mom and I even have a on-again-off-again tradition of getting them after the German mass on Saturday night. They are easily my favorite food sold at Oktoberfest. One year I wasn't able to make it home so I attempted to make them myself. That was a horrible failure when I bought sweetened condensed milk instead of evaporated milk. NOT GOOD!

This year was sad- I only got 3 orders before they sold out. Looks like I'm waiting for next year. (Also, side note, the Greek yogurt I'm eating right now is so disappointing in comparison to the mouth-watering desire I have for these.)

#2- Wurst- (Brat, Met, Beet, etc.)

My heat tolerance for spicy foods is pretty low, but I can't say no to a Met wurst (a spicy Bratwurst). There are a few options to get this 1. The Fire Department booth (the original) 2. The Band Booster booth (which is more of a Sausage sandwich) 3. The Schmidt's booth (the Bahama Mama)

My preference is the Bahama Mama. Schmidt's is a German restaurant in nearby (relative term) Columbus, Ohio. They have only been attending the Oktoberfest for the last few years, but I think they have been well received. So good! Truly, if you're in Columbus, Ohio, visit Schmidt's.

#3- Giant Pork Tenderloin Sandwich (aka the Schnitzel Sandwich, shown here with German Potato Salad, a Bahama Mama, and three more Schnitzel Sandwiches on the side).

Pounded so thin you're not sure there is still meat left in there. It's a must have with pepper, mustard, and a towering stack of pickles. Some people cut the sides off and stack them under the bun. Not me. I eat around the ring until it's a normal sized sandwich again.

#4- Mom's Cabbage Rolls

A more recent tradition which is catching on quickly. My Mom made 27 this year. Not many were left by the end of the night. I wasn't directly involved in the making of these but they are essentially my mom's hamburger recipe rolled into Cabbage leafs and cooked in a tomato sauce.

#5- Cinnamon Rolls (and not pictured, homemade doughnuts)

So much better than Grands. My mom makes homemade cinnamon rolls on Saturday morning and homemade doughnuts (including pumpkin) on Sunday morning. This year she also made some gluten free apple fritters for my aunt. I didn't try one but the word is they were delicious.

#6- Apple Dumplings with homemade ice cream

Yes that's Captain America guarding the Apple Dumplings. He wants one too, Damn it!! My poor father drooled over these for 30 minutes while my mom waited for the ice cream to harden in the freezer. I drooled too.

These are just some of the amazing things to eat during this annual gluttony fest.

See! Now do you understand why I love my hometown Oktoberfest so much?? It's awesome and it makes me happy to share it with you.

Also, I met my new nephew while I was home. His name is Archer. You can't see his face in the picture, but trust me, he's adorable.

[deannareats-blog]

I love the cooler weather. Fall has always been my favorite season. This time of year is not complete without certain dishes (just wait until I start talking about Sourkrawt balls in my next post). My Papa's chili is one of those dishes. I had some friends over to watch the premier of the Marvel's Agents of SHIELD tv pilot and made two versions- one with ground beef, one vegan.

I was kind of hoping to have left overs. Didn't happen! Both pots were scraped clean.

I don't really share my recipes on this blog and I'll tell you why- the good ones are the tried and true family recipes and my mother has sworn me to secrecy on the threat of never getting another chocolate cream pie for my birthday. Well played mother! And thanks Papa for the amazing chili!

[deannareats-blog]

All by myself...

I've never understood why people take so many pot-shots at marriage. Your friend announces he's purposing to his long time girlfriend and there is always some smart-alec who comments that the groom-to-be's life will be over and nothing will be fun again. Even married couples subscribe to this social practice- the phrases "ball-and-chain" and "doormat" immediately come to mind.

I'm not guilt-less of this charge either. I remember very clearly having a discussion with my ex-husband after I said something about him to my family that embarrassed him. To me, it was in good fun. To him, it was hurtful.

Now, I'm not trying to get into a diatribe about this. And I'm in no position to tell people that they are in the wrong for participating in such commonly practiced "comedy." All I want to say this-

Marriage is great.

(side note- when I say marriage, I'm also including long-term committed relationships. It's the lifestyle, not the institution I'm touting.)

Sharing your life with someone is great. You have a friend, your best friend (hopefully), joining you through all the good, the bad, and the ugly that makes up your life. No matter how big or small the moment, someone is there to hear about it, to offer their insights, and to experience it with you. And you get to do the same for them!! You get to build someone up and get built up in return. It's a wonderful experience and incredibly rewarding (so long as it's not taken for granted).

I don't have that right now. Some might say this is loneliness but I would argue that point. I have great friends, good co-workers, and my amazing dog. My social life and work are in a really great place. Life is good right now.

Not being married doesn't mean you're lonely. It means that no one celebrates you actually killing the tiny spider in the corner (because you're afraid of spiders so this is a big thing to you but why would you bother your friends with that information?) It means when you've had a rough day you're greeted at the door with a hug and a kiss instead of by your roommate's trash sitting on the new couch you bought. It means that there is always someone there to do something with you, even when there are no plans (MasterChef or Big Brother tonight, dear?)

In my opinion, this is the hardest thing for me to get used to now that I'm not with my ex. Especially recently since I haven't had as much to do with my nights. Some nights I'm motivated to clean and cook and play with Jillian (the amazing dog I mentioned before), some nights I just want to disappear into the middle of a couch cushion. I've experienced both nights recently.

One night I was motivated!! I made myself a wonderful, homemade meal (with enough for leftovers) of Panko crusted chicken breasts, haricot verts, and rosemarry mashed potatoes.

It was delicious. At the end of the meal I had a hankering' for chocolate milk but there was none to be had in my house. So I did some quick problem-solving and came up with chilled hot chocolate. Drinking it while watching some West Wing was a fulfilling end to my "productive" evening.

However, some nights I am not so motivated. It's nights like this when I collapse on my bed after returning home only to be pulled back to reality by an eager pup needing to relieve herself somewhere and not caring if that somewhere is outside or on my floor. On nights like this, my food choices become a lower priority. Thus, my dinner last night- a frozen chicken patty and half an avocado- for the nights when even ordering takeout is too much energy.

I'm still getting used to these nights by myself, whether I'm being productive or not, or killing spiders or not, or feeling lonely or not. However, I'm glad that, despite the ups and downs, divorce has not ruined marriage (or long-term committed relationships) for me. I know someday I'll again be able to share the good, the bad, and the dead spiders with my best friend. This gets me through.

[deannareats-blog]

While eating German Potato Salad at the Beergarden at the Standard Hotel my friends decided to photo-bomb my pictures- thus making me laugh my ass off.

[deannareats-blog]

Why does it smell like wet dog?

My husband is now my ex because I want kids and he doesn't (we covered that two posts ago). That doesn't mean we didn't have a child. Allow me to introduce the jewel of my eye, Jillian. I got this wonderful ball of love in the separation and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

That doesn't mean it has been easy. Owning a dog in the city is tough. It's even tougher doing it all on your lonesome. She requires time and energy- which can be difficult to find some days. But for everything I give her, she returns it tenfold and that keeps me going when I'd rather resign from the world into a land of sheets and pillows.

However, there are certain responsibilities that I just can't do by myself. In this case, Jillian bath time.

Jillian is well behaved and obedient, but when a 75lb Rottweiler/Pitt Bull doesn't want to take a bath... well, as the saying goes, it takes two. Or in this case, three.

My fabulous friends Liz and Jared came over to help me bathe my dirty puppy (she's actually 4, but she'll always be my puppy). She hasn't been cleaned since I moved into my new apartment over 4 months ago- yuck!

To thank them for helping me avoid paying for a groomer, I cooked them dinner (of course).

On the menu-

Rosemary Chicken, Fingerling Potatoes, and Sauteed Mushrooms.

For the Rosemary Chicken I took a whole 3.5lb chicken, and slathered it with butter (on top of the skin and under it). On top of the butter went rosemary, salt, pepper, and chopped scallions. I then squeezed a lemon over top. Inside the chicken went more rosemary, scallions and the now squeezed lemon halves. I then cooked it for 20 minutes at 450 to get a crispy skin. After 20 minutes, I reduced the temperature to 350 and cooked it for another hour and 10 minutes. The most interesting part of cooking the chicken was that I lost the meat thermometer in the divorce and I haven't bought a new one yet- so I was cooking blind. Luckily, I am a master of juicy chicken (I always had that over my ex. He couldn't get chicken right for the life of him.) It was perfectly cooked!

You may notice in the picture that I'm using spoons in lieu of a roasting rack- another thing I lost in the divorce. (thank you buzzfeed for your life hacks!)

The fingerling potatoes were simple- roasted in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper.

The sauteed mushrooms were a variation on the way my ex used to make them. He always used butter and garlic. I used butter and scallions. (I should mention the mushrooms, potatoes, and scallions all came from a local community garden about a block from my house.)

I also had the pleasure to learn how to cut the chicken- thanks Jared!

It was a great night with great friends and I have delicious leftovers and a clean dog- it doesn't get much better.

[deannareats-blog]

Found a new gem. GRK- fresh Greek. Now, I know 5 blog entries doesn't provide much of a basis for trusting me about what is good and what isn't, but, in my opinion, this place is on point.

4 different choices of meats, 3 different choices of tzatziki, really good pita, fresh slaw- need I say more?

I had this on Fulton St. near Broadway, but I'm told there will be another location opening up near my work around Grand Central!!! This could be bad.

Also, they have frozen Greek yogurt- which just makes me happy, and they call it a Yeero, not a Gyro.

[deannareats-blog]

Come fly with me.... the final journey

So I went to the Smokey Mountains and ate food from a pouch and I went to Ohio and ate food from a grill. What can be next?

California!

That's right. I took my first trip out West. Less than 12 hours after getting home from Ohio, I was on a plane to LA. This was very exciting to me because I've never been further west than Huston, TX before.

Long plane trips can only mean one thing- Plane food!!! Wrong!

When did flights stop serving meals on long flights? Or snacks even!?! 6hr flight and I didn't even get peanuts. Fail, airlines, fail.

LA was everything it’s always said to be- beautiful, clear blue skies and a lot of driving. A sense of calm and joy came over me as soon as I walked out to the open air baggage claim of the Burbank airport.

My first meal in LA was a casual lunch at a local chain called Tender Greens. It was on Sunset near Vine, right off the Hollywood Walk of Fame (I passed by Brian Cranston’s star ceremony on my way there.) Tender Greens specializes in salads (not as good as Chop’t in NYC, but so few places are). I ate a Spinach salad with goat cheese, hazelnuts, marinated steak, and cabernet vinaigrette. It didn’t blow my mind but you really can’t go wrong with goat cheese and steak.

From there I walked down Hollywood Blvd towards Highlands (home of the Hollywood and Highlands Center and the TCL Chinese Theater- fka Grauman's). On my way, I had a lovely boost to my self-esteem when a man got on his knees and thanked god for me. Now normally I find catcalls annoying and offensive but this felt different. Perhaps it was the respectful distance this man kept from me. Perhaps it was the lack of sexual expletives or pantomimes that so often make up a New York City catcall. Perhaps it was simply the amazing weather putting me in such a good mood. Whatever you want to attribute it to, I took it as a compliment and continued with my day. After all, regardless of the circumstances, your confidence, or general logic, when you’re going through a divorce sometimes you just need to be reminded that you’re still desirable- even if it’s to an older Asian man trying to sell tickets for celebrity home tours.

My first night in LA is marked by my first time trying an In-and-Out Burger. That’s a damn fine burger. East coast, we’re missing out. The closest thing I can compare it to is Five Guys, another very good burger chain but I give In-and-Out the win. Nothing is ever frozen and their fries are cut in-store- pretty good for a chain. To my New York readers, don’t get bent out of shape. New York is still home to the 2 best burgers I’ve ever had (though that is put to the test later in my trip, but you'll have to keep reading)- Shake Shack and The Burger Joint at the Parker Meridian (which now has a second location!!!)

The next day I was drawn by the rollerblades and henna tattoos to visit Venice Beach. In my opinion you can’t go to California and NOT have a fish taco on the beach so I went to James’ Beach, a restaurant whose claim to fame is that their fish tacos were featured in the film “I Love You Man.” Grilled Mahi Mahi, black beans, guacamole, salsa, and, of course, lime juice was combined on a tortilla to make a perfect beach lunch.

By Thursday, I was leaving LA and heading to San Diego for Comic Con (BE JEALOUS!!). The Con was amazing- so much fun!- I can’t even say. However, it kind of marks the end of any interesting food for me to tell you about. The only food options within a mile radius of the convention center were either really expensive or bland hot dogs or plain burgers.

There were two things of note. First, kudos to TBS and their show King Of The Nerds for hosting a FREE cereal bar. This was a must-stop on our way to the con every morning. Because nothing is better than Captain Crunch cereal with Chocolate Teddy Grahams and chocolate milk to start your morning, except perhaps Cinnamon Toast Crunch with Oreo chunks.

The second was the culinary highlight of the trip. There is a restaurant near the airport in San Diego called Slater’s 50/50. Want to know why “50/50” is included in the title? You do. You really do. The 50/50 in Slater’s 50/50 refers to the composition of their burgers which are made of 50% ground beef and 50% ground bacon.

Let that sink in….

RIGHT!?!?!?!?!?!

Ground bacon in a burger! How is this not the norm? It was amazing!!! I had mine with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun, arugula, avocado, and a garlic aioli. It was quite green so I named my burger (a requirement at Slater’s) the Gamorurger, which is a combination of “Gamora” (a green alien in my favorite comic book) and “Burger.”

It was very sad to pack up my stuff and head back to New York after my week in Cali. I will have to go back soon. More than any food ever could, it was the people that made my trip so great. My divorce has really helped me see how great my friends are. I am so lucky to have such understanding and passionate people in my life. The type of people that say “Screw being sad- come play with comic books and be geeky.” There was a great meme I posted on my Facebook a week or so ago, “It doesn’t matter who hurt you, or broke you down, what matters is who made you smile again.”

Well, I'm smiling.

[deannareats-blog]

Come fly with me.... part 2

No more than a week after returning to NYC (at 5:30AM!!) from my great Smoky Mountain adventure, I was leaving again. This time I was on my way to my hometown in Ohio for the best of celebrations, my older sister's baby shower. I'm going to be an aunt (for the 2nd time) to what I'm sure will be a beautiful baby boy.

Now, I haven't gone into the details of my divorce because I wanted this blog to focus on my love of food. But without giving a little more color to the backstory, the journey through this homecoming would be left in sepia.

The reason for my separation from my ex-husband is intrinsically linked with my desire for children, and his desire for the opposite. Isn't it ironic then that the first time seeing my extended family after breaking the news is at a baby shower?

I was apprehensive. I was mad at myself for being apprehensive. I am soo incredibly happy for my sister! That can't be said enough. The last thing I wanted was for people to think I was jealous that she has the thing I want, or worse, that she thought being around me would make me sad. Crazy thoughts? Maybe. But I've never claimed to be sane and I've always claimed to be a worrier.

Anyway, it is with this apprehension that I took flight to Ohio.

I mentioned in my first post that I was raised by a mother that loves to cook. This is never put to better display than when she hosts a party. From the moment I arrived I was put to work. There was cleaning and cooking to be done and I was happy to help. My efforts were not in vain. The night before the party, we sat down to a delicious meal of steak cooked on the grill and a yummy cheesy cauliflower au gratin that I was entrusted to make.

Not all of my cooking endeavors were successful, however. I destroyed some beautiful pieces of bacon.

I now bow my head in shame………….. okay that’s enough.

The party itself went off splendidly. We were actually running ahead of schedule at one point!

I didn’t do much cooking the morning of the party. My duties were more in the clean/set up department. But, I made a mean lemonade.

The baby shower was a brunch. The main offerings were a variety of different quiches, including a gluten free option. There was also fruit danish, pasta salad, and breakfast meats among others.

I was in charge of drinks- which meant pushing mimosas on everyone of legal age. I was also in charge of games and I think my Candy-themed Baby Bingo was a success. The prize was a jar of my mom’s fresh canned fruit jam.

All went well. All were fed. And in too short of a time I was headed back to the airport- very full. I didn’t need any dinner when I arrived back in New York- that was certain.

[deannareats-blog]

Come fly with me.... part 1

Wow it has been a long time since I've written anything so I'm sorry this is longer than normal. The reason for that is about the best reason it can be. I've been on vacation!

I've always loved traveling. I think it contributes significantly to a well-rounded life (plus it's fun!). When I was married, vacations seemed to be constantly relegated to visiting family or occasionally going on a trip with friends. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I desired. I wanted to see new things and have new experiences- not take a long weekend to go to Cozumel, Mexico for the 3rd time because it was cheap.

Now that I'm all on my lonesome and can make my own vacation choices, I took the summer by force (with the help of many people inviting me places, offering couches, and getting me into things for discount or free). What follows, for your reading pleasure, is the account of my travels with a focus on the foods I ate (have to stay on topic after all). I hope it helps you escape from the dull-drums of the real world for a bit and dream about your next adventure (and meal)!

4th of July weekend-

Well, if I wanted to try something different, this is a great way to start! I went backpacking in the Smoky Mountains. My dad gets the credit for thinking this one up. I've been camping, but never backpacking and I've only been to the Smoky Mountains once when I was a child.

Joining me on this trek up a mountain (Mt. Sterling in NC to be precise) was my father, two of my aunts, and my uncle. 3 days, 3 nights (including one at the summit). It rained every night. During the day, food consisted mostly of cliff bars and these wonderful homemade power food treats my aunt made. For dinner we tried to spice it up a bit. It was hard without a fire (it was so wet we couldn't get toilet paper to light with a butane lighter!) but my uncle had the foresight to bring a mini gas stove.

The first night we had MREs. That's right! "Meals Ready To Eat" Those brown plastic pouches filled with food so loaded with preservatives you can have chicken and dumplings that have been sitting at room temperature for the last few years and you don't have to heat it up. Which is exactly what I had. It was no where close to the best chicken and dumplings I've ever had, but it filled me up and it gave me the strength I needed to keep climbing.

Our night at the summit had slightly better offerings. Thanks to my aunt we had chicken salad wraps (pouches of chicken joined with a fruit and nut mix on tortilla wraps) and instant mashed potatoes. In the morning, we used the mini gas stove to boil water for coffee and hot chocolate (or coffee with hot chocolate!) How we didn't attract the bears I can only attribute to the insistent downpours washing away the scent.

For the third night we were back at base camp and tired of being wet and eating cold food. Thus, a short drive found us at a local orchard restaurant. The atmosphere was amazing, the food was okay. I had pulled pork which wasn't anything special in the grand scheme of things but it was warm and I was happy to sit in air-conditioning and eat it.

All in all, it was a great trip- rain included. I would be happy to do it again. I've included pictures below, none of the food, but there is one of me filling up water bottles in the creek (don't worry we sanitized them before drinking).

Keep your eye out for part 2 of my journeys soon.

My aunt and I getting ready to head out.

Our campsite on the top of the mountain as seen by the nearby fire tower.

Refilling the water bottles.

Our view at the top during a brief break in the rain.

[deannareats-blog]

Always trying new things- my first time eating Pad Thai! This was at Republic near Union Square. I had the Vietnamese Beef Broth Noodles.

Pad Thai has a new fan.

[deannareats-blog]

Beet salad apatizer at SKT. Cool place with a hip vibe. Not he best steak in the city (I miss you Peter Luger), but it was quite enjoyable.

[deannareats-blog]

You are coordially invited...

Those little words at the bottom of an invitation, or perhaps on a small slip of paper inside the envelope- Registered at...

When you get married you register for china, crystal, silver... WHY?

Have you had a need for any of these things before? For most people I'd venture to say probably not. However, you're a married couple now. And part of that comes with hosting parties (apparently it's an unspoken rule).

I've always embraced this facet of married life. My mother raised me in a home filled with celebrations with friends and family. I enjoy having guests over to my house. I wasn't going to let a little thing like a divorce stop me.

So, prologue over, I threw a party. I called it a housewarming party even though I've been in my new apartment for a decent amount of time now. Still, it was my first gathering at my new place and, more importantly, my first time hosting by myself.

And it went off great!!!

I made homemade meatballs (Turkey and sausage with onion, Parmesan cheese, eggs, and breadcrumbs browned in the oven and slowcooked in gravy).

They were served over a cauliflower puree.

Sides included guac (Thanks to my buddy Jared who makes the world's best guacamole), queso (Thanks to Guerros in Brooklyn who makes a fabulous queso), salad, and fruit salad.

It was a great night (with a lot of wine) and I can't wait to invite people over again.

So take that unspoken marriage rules! I may not be serving people on china, but I can still serve them a damn fine meal!

(and sometimes get a Lobster tail for my troubles!)