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.

It's snowing again...!

Let it snow!

...which means of course, that all I'm thinking about it eating (also, sweatpants). Cozy soups, piping hot mac and cheese, perhaps some chili or maybe something over quinoa or rice!? Here to keep you warm while the weather outside is frightful are some winter weather recipes sure to delight. Stay safe everybody!

Love me some one-pot goodness! This "Spinach Artichoke Wonderpot" from Budget Bytes is looking like an awesome dinner option for tonight. And maybe add some sauteed chicken or shrimp for a little extra protein? Pin it HERE, full recipe HERE.

Oh man... any recipe with the word "lazy" in it is going to earn a try from me! These simple Egg Pita Pizzas look delicious as suggested and you could really choose your own adventure with additional toppings and seasoning if you're feeling bold. Pita as pizza, so easy and brilliant!! Pin it HERE, full recipe from Everybody Likes Sandwiches HERE.

The perfect way to use my new Le Creuset Mini Cocottes (thanks Dr. H!) I cannot wait to try out this gooey spinach mac at home (and it's obviously healthy, because hey!! Spinach!!) Pin it HERE, full recipe from Donna Hay HERE.

And if sweet treats are more your winter weather style, don't forget about ms. (parent)thetically speaking's ultimate Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies! Click HERE to get the recipe!!

ps- took that panoramic beauty about 48 hours ago... however NYC's white snow is really an excellent way to show off my sun tan (#silverlining).

Hump Day Distractions

Did ya catch that?

Hello crisp fall Wednesday, thank you for reminding me that this is a time of year when no matter how I get dressed in the morning, I will be either too hot or too cold, always in search of Goldilocks' elusive "just right". (Am I the only one that finds getting dressed in early fall and early spring impossible!?) While I attempt to shed layers and regulate my temperature, here are some delightful distractions from around the web for you. Enjoy!

* Completely unnecessary yet totally freaking awesome.

* A truly hysterical voicemail (gets especially good starting at :45)

* Some super handy info about storing your fruits and veggies for maximum freshness.

* Rad street art.

* I'm totally dating myself with this link, but you know you'd have followed Cher (from Clueless) on Instagram!

* The nature girl in me says "I want to go to THERE".

* You know what's torture on day 3 of a juice cleanse? THIS mac cheese insanity spotted on Pinterest (direct link HERE) I'm so ready for my return to solids:)

* For those of you with a black tie affair coming up and $7,000 to spare. So glam.

* These two are pretty freakin adorable together

* Yes, yes I desperately want to know the back story behind each of THESE.

And then it was September...

Back to life, back to reality....

Hello my merry friends! I hope that you had a wonderful long weekend and that getting up and out this morning wasn't too brutal. To kick off the shortened week and the month of September, I thought I'd share some goodies from around the web of the food-loving variety... because nothing lifts my spirits like some tasty grub. Happy munching:)

THESE 27 "food hacks" are going to blow your mind!!!

Holy COW!

Get in my belly!

THIS recipe for "Creamy Greek Yogurt Mac & Cheese" from Cooking ala Mel looks absolutely incredible 

(and is absolutely on my dinner "to do" list!)

Another simple, tasty way to get some quinoa into your diet: with spinach and goat cheese (YUM!) 

Full recipe via Pass the Yum HERE).

This is gonna get juicy!

Can't get away from the BBQ just yet? (I don't blame you!) 

Here are 5 alternatives to the standard burger bun which I think all deserve a try.

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?

Hump Day Distractions

"How will we survive another 2.5 days?" asked the adorable baby walrus....

Hallelujah! Hump Day is HERE!! Somehow I'm still suffering from an awesome weekend hangover (celebrating your niece's second birthday with her and your fabulous fam will do that to you) and my upcoming weekend plans (GWU alum returning to her stomping grounds for 2 nights only!) still seem a million years away. So along with basking in the warm winter sun (I will shake you if it kills me Winter Blahs!) here are a few distractions to make the day go just a little faster. Happy Humping!

* Legos are just so damn cool.
* In case you were wondering, THIS is the definition of fierce.
* Fashion meets function, of the winter warmth variety (gots to get me one!)

* This link contains words like "triple cream" "cheese" and "bacon". Click at your own risk.
* I'm still learning how to apply everyday makeup (great tips HERE) but it sounds like it's worth the effort.

* Beware, jumping gay walrus.

* Perfect for that "Spring has Sprung" cocktail party I've been thinking of hosting.

* These parents are my heroes. When I grow up, I want to be just like THEM.

F.I.T.S. of merriment

Babe'in it up

Merry Meri is on vacation this week so she's left you with something Funny, something Interesting, something Tasty and a Site she loves (F.I.T.S.!!) to hold you over until her triumphant return. Enjoy!

Funny: When life gives you lemons..?

Interesting: I think I've mentioned my love-affair with the still image before. For me, there's nothing more incredible than capturing a solitary moment which evokes a feeling or tells a story far greater than the confines of that single frame. Here is a collection of some of the most powerful images ever taken (do you agree?)  

Tasty: It's called "Revolutionary Mac & Cheese" so obviously it's time to stop reading and start cooking!! (Link on Pinterest HERE) 

SiteILove: The Daily Muse - This blog is a great daily read about the life and interests of Rebecca Baust, a Manhattan-dwelling nutritionist/writer/photographer. All about clean lines, simple decor and healthy living, Rebecca's aesthetic is like the yin to my zig zag, organized chaos, mac cheese loving yang. We both however adore photography and sarcasm. Also, her dog Sam Wiggins is absolutely the coolest.

These things happen...

Beauty & the Beach.

Sometimes it's 9pm-ish on a Sunday night and your waiter is telling you that "martinis are like boobs: one is not enough, two is just right and three is one too many." I'm proud to say that I stopped at "just right," but "just right" is still a lot for a Sunday. So forgive me if all I've got for you is this adorable hedgehog getting a bath:

rub-a-dub-dub

And perhaps a brilliant idea like THIS:

citrus mint ice cubes: so ready for this summery treat

This kinda creepy yet totally adorable baby panda just wants
to remind you to stop and smile, even though it's Monday

So don't forget to cook something yummy this week, maybe THIS:

Avocado Mac Cheese, recipe HERE
(there is no better mer/dr. h dish alive)

And of course, remember THIS:

Until tomorrow... :)

A serious case of The Eats

Talking & Eating. Two of my favorite things!

Do you ever get "The Eats"? The Eats are more than being hungry, The Eats are when you eat and eat and eat... and somehow, you're STILL hungry! This week I gots a serious case of The Eats  (perhaps because I consumed my body weight in delicious dishes last weekend!?) so I'm thinking that a trip to one of my favorite NYC spots might be exactly what I need to calm the beast (aka, my stomach). 

Chat 'n Chew is where you go if you want some down, dirty and delicious home cooking. Located just off Union Square on 16th btw B'way and 5th, the restaurant is awesomely casual, reasonably priced and a great choice for big groups. The vibe is retro-divebar-chic and just when you thought it couldn't get any better... they have outdoor seating!!

There's often a wait; that's what the bar is for!

The worst part about going to Chat n' Chew is actually deciding what to eat. There are SO. MANY. AWESOME. DISHES. and like the glutton that I am, I dig their ridiculously huge portions. MENU highlights include:

The "Quintessential Macaroni & Cheese"

This might be my favorite mac cheese in all of NYC which you know coming from me, means a lot. Crunchy on top, loaded with cheese inside, I struggle to ever order anything else!

Yes, yes that is chicken fried steak.

TV Dinner: Chicken fried steak, green bean casserole & skin-on "smashies" with country gravy. I mean.... 

Cajun Catfish po'boy: warm loaf with lettuce, tomato and 
Old Bay tartar. Not surprisingly, their fries are also epic.

I also love (but can't find images of): Thanksgiving On A Roll (Fresh roast turkey, awesome stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayo on ciabatta); Not Your Mother’s Meatloaf (with skin-on smashies with mushroom gravy & garden veggies); and Panchos Nachos Grandito (with all the works). If you aren't actually salivating by now, I'm not sure you're human.

As for sweet treats, I must confess that I have never made it to dessert at Chat n' Chew (if that's not a sign of awesome food, I don't know what is!) but I can tell you from watching them go by, that the menu has plenty to offer.

That'll do it.

On the mend!

Happy to report that I'm back in one piece... one achy, napping, constantly icing piece. Awesome. I could give you a deep blog post about facing my fear of hospitals like a champ (woop wooop!) but instead I think we'll focus on being distracted and happy. Dr. H making me mac cheese from scratch = happy.

Looking

at

these pictures?

Definitely happy :)

Don't worry about me, I'm hanging in there!

First Image via Pinterest

Hump Day Distractions

Starting a blog which promises a daily post Monday through Friday is an ambitious endeavor. Even those of us who seem to have an endless stream of words to share (eghm) worry about having “nothing to say” on occasion. I’ve decided to get out ahead of this potential crisis... welcome to “Hump Day Distractions”. Every Wednesday I’m going to take a break from the writing and simply scour the internet for share-worthy items.

* Sometimes they will make you LAUGH (this is the funniest thing you will read all day, possibly week, possibly ever)

* Sometimes they will make you want to SHOP

* Or COOK (Mac cheese is the best food ever invented. Do not debate this.)

* Or THINK

Mostly they’re an excuse to surf the web when you should be working (or sleeping or whatever it is that you’ve given up to spend a few minutes being merry each day).

* Over 14 million people LOVE MARCEL ... you should too

ps- did you know that when you search pinterest for “hump day” the majority of images in your search result are big round booties!? I tell no lies... You’re lucky you got Dr. Seuss (or not, depending on your preference:)

Image via Pinterest