Pull it (like "Push it" but much tastier)

An affliction so well known, there are eCards for it.

Recently I've noticed a trend on my Pinterest feed and it isn't just an explosion of red, green and glitter (#seasonalpinning) - it's "Pull-Apart Bread" creations. Now maybe I'm behind the times, but I'd never heard of pull-apart bread until recently and I've certainly never made one. That said, I've also never come across a carb I didn't love and when you stuff a carb with cheese, I pretty much lose my shizz. Plus, the recipes I'm spying usually involve pre-made dough so my complete lack of patience for baking shouldn't be an issue. Here for your "bulking up for winter" pleasure are some simple, tasty pull-apart bread recipes perfect for holiday entertaining!

Pepperoni Pizza Rolls (so cute and tasty!)

Pin it HERE, Full recipe HERE.

Grilled Cheese Pull-Apart Rolls (yeeeeessss!)

Pin it HERE, Full recipe HERE.

Breakfast Pull-Apart Bread (there's bacon!)

Pin it HERE, Full Recipe HERE.

Cinnamon Pull-Apart Monkey Bread (bc sugar is an excellent substitute for cheese)

Pin it HERE, Full Recipe HERE.

Plus, here are 16 more Pull-Apart Bread Recipes for you to salivate over.

A belated ode to my beloved cheese.

Cheese all across our great nation!!

You guys!!! I cannot believe this happened, but yesterday was National Cheese Day and we MISSED IT!!! Well maybe you didn't miss it, maybe you spent the day indulging in all varieties of milk's greatest reinvention, but I missed it so I probably need spend the rest of this week eating copious amounts of all varieties of cheese to make up for it. Here to help me and anyone else who considers "cheese" a major food group celebrate a belated National Cheese Day, are some cheestastic finds from around the web. 

*salivating*

DomaineHome had me at hello leading with that absolutely ridonky looking picture of my beloved mac cheese, but the other recipes in this roundup (like the Chili Cheese Twists and Snap Pea Salad with Burrata!) look (almost as) amazing. Click HERE for all 5 recipes in their cheesy glory! 

SHUT.UP.

So I know that technically Grilled Cheese has its own day of the year, but given the primary cheese element involved, I think we'd be remiss not to give a nod to some of the epic grilled cheese creations featured HERE.

I love my chalkboard cheese slate because it looks cool while serving a very practical function. But if chalk isn't your style, check out some of the other awesome cheese boards the always unique Uncommon Goods has for sale. (I also really like this nautical themed one, might be perfect for father's day!?)

Uncommon Goods also sells a "Make your own Italian Cheese" kit and a "Make your own Artisanal Cheese" kit which I'm extremely curious about... Make my own cheese you say!?

In case you'd forgotten, one of my most favorite mac cheese spots in NYC is right HERE.

And finally, because come on... a nacho chip bleeding cheese!? That's amazing hehe.

Hump Day Distractions

The rewrite.

I had to read that pic twice, but once I got it, I could not stop laughing. "Everything". Hehe. Annnnyways, how we doing friends? Are you managing to stay warm!? As if the first full work week post holidays wasn't torture enough, Mother Nature threw in a little polar vortex to keep things interesting. Lordy it is COLD!! Here to help you endure (the week and the temperatures) are some goodies from around the web. Enjoy!

* The cold has never looked so beautiful.

* Fellow cheese lovers, brace yourselves... Cheesepocalypse is near.

* 8 little tricks to help you beat the blues (via exPress-o)

* This week is apparently actually designated as one of the most depressing of the year (yikes!) so HERE are some silly somethings to lift your spirits. (that hedgehog! I die!)

* Dinner tomorrow. It's gonna be Quinoa-tastic!

* Because dragging yo ass outta bed to exercise before work is even more awful in the winter, here are some tips for making sure it actually happens.

* P&G is back to make sure you cry during the Olympics again.

* Poor ducky!!! (thanks sis!)

* Spotted on Pinterest (in case Dr. H asks you what I want for Valentine's Day :)

* THESE parents are insane (in the best possible way!)

* Do you watch SYTYCD? If so, you must watch THIS.

* I work in an office and this list is 100% accurate.

PS- according to my Mom (who is an expert in such things), today is National Bubble Bath Day! I suggest we all celebrate!! 

Brrrr!!

The lone wolf says "winter is coming..."

Hello and happy Monday my merry friends! Here in NYC we woke up to mighty chilly temperatures (38 degrees!!!) which was a real shock to the system after Saturday's "leave your coat at home" sunshine. In an effort to get us feeling cozy and warm, I thought I would share a few hearty, hot and tasty recipes. Time to get cookin!!

Slow cooker bolognese sauce sounds just my style. This recipe from The Kitchn lets your slow cooker do all the patient simmering for you and the basic ingredients make it easy to prepare. Perfect for Sunday dinner, I can't wait to give this recipe a try. (Pin it HERE)

This is the self-declared "Best EVER Black Bean Soup" so I think it's worth a try! With only 8 ingredients (and 1 is water!) this recipe from Comfy in the Kitchen is easy enough to whip up after work and would be perfect over rice as a chilly evening supper. I think I've got tomorrow night's menu all figured out! (Pin it HERE)

Another hearty but healthy (and comfort foody!) dinner option, this vegetarian quinoa chili recipe from Cooking Classy may seem intimidating when you look at the ingredients list, but I'm willing to bet it's just a matter of checking your spices supply and you'll already be halfway there! Easy to whip up once you've got all the ingredients on hand, I can't wait to serve this one up sometime soon. (Pin it HERE)

I am actually salivating over here... These cheesy chicken parm meatballs from Tracey's Culinary adventures are much easier to pull together than I would have expected and anything that has a surprise cheesy center is a winner in my book. Dr H better be hungry because I have some serious cozy cooking to do!!! (Pin it HERE)

Hump Day Distractions

hehe.

Good Hump Day my merry friends! Today is one of those chilly "don't forget that winter is coming" sort of days in NYC and it took a trip to Duane Reade for tights (which I'd opted not to wear this morning) to fully clothe myself for the day (doh!) Wherever you are today, I hope your apparel is sufficient and your Wednesday is speedy.

* What does your drink of choice say about you? (via CupofJo)

* One of the things I look forward to most about having kids is making them look ridiculous.

* These photos are stunning and also delicious (still on a fromage kick over here!) (via CupofJo)

* Is America ready to go green?

* Do I need this blouse? I think I need this blouse.

* And while we're shopping, these shoes.

* So apparently I'm super late to the party and THIS is a viral sensation. What does the fox say?

* Kinda like Sleep No More, but possibly even more amazing? (wish I was headed to LA sometime soon!)

* Remember.

* The season of slow cooking is upon us and THIS looks yum.

* Scotchy Scotch Scotch

* It's a little bit nuts how many of THESE I can relate to.

Hump Day Distractions

Where!? Where do I find this!?

Do you guys ever wake up starving!?! Like stomach growling, how was dinner only 12 hours ago STARVING!? This morning's breakfast was like an appetizer and I'm literally counting the minutes until I can justifiably dig into my lunch. What's up with that? Annnnyways, here to distract you from the mid-week blues (or your hunger, as applicable) is a big ol pile of internet goodness. Happy Humping!

* THIS is amazingly creepy (via CupofJo)
* Fellow bike riders rejoice, GoogleMaps has got us covered!

* 22 habits that happy people have (most are easier said than done, but we gotta at least try!)

* Hey Dr. H... I've got our 48 hours in Paris all figured out:)

* A bitty ballerina attempts to master first position (collective awwwww!)

* Cheese, cheese and more cheese. Who's with me!?

* Bill Clinton does #THICKE

* I want.

* I also want.
* I have got to visit the real life "goodnight room"

* See, I told you guys that getting enough sleep was important to weight loss!

* If NYC kids could name the new little prince (apologies for the ANNOYING pre-roll commercial)

* What was he supposed to do, bring his own toilet paper!? (ps, eww)

Hump Day Celebr-istractions

That's about right...

Hey-o my merry friends! Guess who is humping her way through a birthday today!? That's right... another year older, wiser and very merry if all goes according to plan:) I'm also really hoping that THIS happens today because how kick ass would it be to share my bday with the future King or Queen of England? (I'm hoping Queen!) Anywayysss since I'm going to be distracted all day, I thought you should be too, so here's a heaping pile of birthday-licious goodies from around the internet. Enjoy!!

* This is oh so perfectly timed...

* How to make your birthday snap, crackle and POP!

* Just when I though I couldn't love Mr. Met any more, he invited me to meet his wife.

* Nothin wrong with getting a little cheesy on your birthday!

* Get high, get happy... just drink some beer (I knew it!!) (via CupofJo)

* "I am sitting right next to my air conditioner and it's on turbo. WTF do I need to put this b*tch on? Power Ranger?!"   - One sassy woman's rant about the heat wave. (warning, contains some "adult" language)

* Looking for a splurge? Maybe your iPhone wants to walk like an Egyptian!?

* Some more tips for getting yourself organized.

* Why on earth did Avon stop making these!!?

* Reeee-mix!

* I could click through this list and crack myself up all damn day (and because it's my birthday, I just might!)

The Mac Daddy

Time to get your (mac)cheese on.

When a macaroni and cheese aficionado such as myself tells you that she's just eaten a "top 3 mac cheese of her life", it's time to take note. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Beecher's New York, a Seattle import which rocked my (mac)cheese-loving socks off this past Friday night.

According to their website's extensive "Our Story" section, Mr. Kurt Beecher Dammeier was a cheese lover from childhood and his artisan cheese obsession eventually led to the 2003 opening of Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Pike Place market. In June 2011, an NYC outpost was opened at the corner of 21st and Broadway, a cheese shop and cafe upstairs with the warehouse-chic decor clad full bar and restaurant "The Cellar" downstairs. Cue Friday night...

Delightfully cheesey

The Celler at Beecher's is a great spot for group dining. With an extensive drink menu (I took down 2 of their spicy "Henry Ward Beechers" with delight) and meats and cheeses galore, it's easy to chat and graze for hours, but my suggestion is to go for the full meal experience. Sharing one of the cheese covered flatbreads (the "meat: charcuterie, smoked flagship" blew our minds) a veggie plate and the burrata amongst my group of 5 allowed for tasty flavors and a good sampling with enough room left to hit the pièce de résistance hard core... I present to you, the self-proclaimed "World's Best Mac & Cheese":

Be still my heart...

One of six different mac cheese variations on the menu, the World's Best is not messing around. Baked to crispy on top and at the edges, creamy, gooey and just shy of too decadent on the inside, Beecher's mac was a lifetime favorite. (Due to variety of ingredients and texture, I cannot easily rank Beechers against the breadcrumb-on-top Chat n Chew brilliance or a few other variations of the classic I've encountered, so please accept my "lifetime favorite" as a highest possible accolade). Simply put, this mac cheese rocked my world and the tastes I managed to snag of the pork belly version (ordered without fennel by 2 in my party) only served as evidence that I must come back again and again until I've had one of every mac on the menu.

A peak into The Cellar

And in case you were wondering, Beecher's has plenty of non-mac entrees (Dr. H thorough enjoyed his Littleneck Clams) but the mac cheese is definitely their finest. Lastly, it should be noted that Beecher's "cheese-osophy" is that the cheeses are all au naturale, meaning they contain no additives or preservatives and the milk-makers (cow, goat, etc) are all hormone free. Plus, according to their website, they now have a gluten free mac cheese available! Now isn't that just cheese-tastic?

Uhhh...

Snow. NYC. November. WHHHAATT!?

So things are officially freaky deaky here in NYC (and if a New Yorker says it's freaky, it must be reaalllly freaky!) After flooding and wind of epic proportions, last night we added snow to the list.

View from my apt, 9pm last night

Where do I buy tickets for the ark..? This shizz is no joke. I don't know if this is global warming or El Nino or just some seriously bad luck, but how's a girl supposed to get dressed in the morning when the forecast is hurricane with a side of blizzard and godspeed opening your umbrella in this wind pretty lady..!?

Since this weatherpocolypse (combined with moving, unpacking, decor shopping and organizing) has left me in a mental clusterf*kc, I'm going to default to one of my favorite topics today: FOOD. It's like I always say, when the going gets tough... eat something:

"Skinny Cheesy Potatoes"

I think my fellow blogger over at The Spotted Lamb is onto something. These potatoes may not be healthy per se, but they are certainly healthier. Made with no butter, no sour cream and no condensed soup, the new super-ingredient greek yogurt is here to delivery creamy, tasty goodness. Yum.

It's important for you to know that I DO actually eat vegetables... starch and cheese may have my heart, but my booty is on a strict diet of delicious greens (don't you wish it could work that way!?) Here are a few new veggie recipes I'm eager to take for a test drive:

Israeli Couscous w Chickpeas, Brussels Sprouts & Asparagus
Pinterest HERE, direct link to recipe HERE

Apparently this will be the "Best Broccoli of Your Life"
Pinterest HERE, direct link to recipe HERE

And of course, don't forget to save room for dessert:

Homemade "ice cream" sandwiches!

Plop some Cool Whip and pudding (exact recipe w combo quantities HERE) between two graham crackers, sprinkle some yummy/pretty treats on the edges (sprinkles, crushed nuts, mini M&Ms!!) and pop into the freezer for about 1 hour. Voiala! Low fat "ice cream" sandwiches.

Hump Day Distractions

Hehe

You ask, I deliver... Enjoy your weekly dose of distraction:

* Quickly grab all the bread and cheese you can find and meet me in the kitchen.
* A cool "behind the scenes" for my fellow retro-lovers and fans of smokin' hot babes (via CupofJo).
* Corporate girl sports colorful weekend hairstyle?
* Glow in the dark dance routines. So hot right now.
* You're more awesome than a monkey wearing a tuxedo made of bacon riding a cyborg unicorn (this child is my hero).
* Andddd a little more humor at the expense of small children.