February 2013
3 posts
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Blueberry Muffins
This past weekend I traveled out to “the burbs” to visit my friends’ new apartment. I had every intention of making them a batch of the best blueberry muffins as a house warming gift. That was until I ran out of flour.
And then after I made an extra trip to the store for flour, I came home to realize I didn’t have muffin liners. So, sorry Jenlo and Greg - this batch...
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Oscar prep: Packaged Movie Deal
The Oscar’s are Hollywood’s equivalent to the Super Bowl. Nominees were announced for the coveted “Best Picture” award, and I’m dying to know what all the buzz is about for a few of the “best” movies I still haven’t seen. If you’re the type who hates to feel like you’re not in the know, there’s an easy option to make sure you see...
January 2013
8 posts
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Miss-interpreted: Le Pain Quotidien's Tuscan Salad
I like a salad that feels healthy but doesn’t leave me hungry. After a recent ‘ladies lunch’ with friends at Le Pain Quotiedien ( locations all over the North East and California), I had a hearty salad that was good enough to leave a memory.
A full week later, I was wanting to recreate (or Miss-interpret) Le Pain Quotidien’s Tuscan Salad. Luckily most of the ingredients...
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Cozy up fireside
It’s freezing! And if you’ve had a look at the 10-day forecast, you know it’s not expected to reach above 25 degrees (or “feels like” 11 degrees) anytime soon. Bundling up and staying indoors is an option, but a date night, fireside is an even better option to warm right up. Here are a few of my favorite NYC spots to cozy up fireside:
DINING OUT
La Laterna di...
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Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
I’ve heard time and time again, one of the best ways to keep it healthy is to make it yourself. Even when you think you’re making a healthy choice while eating out, you have no idea what ingredients (i.e loads of butter, salt, or even preservatives) that went into that tasty meal. I’ve been on a homemade kick more than usual since I received an amazing Cuisinart Food Processor over the...
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NYC deals! deals! deals! [dinner and a show]
I had every intention of going on a savings spree after the holidays (New Year plan!), BUT I’ve experienced a slight hiccup: New York Restaurant Week and Broadway Week.
Although it’s going against my saving plan, it still feels like I’m being smarter with $$ because it’s discounted (did I rationalize that well enough?☺)
I’ve booked Sunday dinner reservations...
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Sewing 101: Eye mask
After the new year when your sleep is all messed up from staying out late and sleeping in over break or over-eating and over-drinking, it’s important to get back to some normalcy [in bed]. And have I mentioned that work is nuts lately?? I know, I know I’ll stop. But just as much as I’m trying to find time to eat right, I’m also trying to make the most of my sleeping time...
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Smokey Slow Cooker Chili
Work has been super busy since December with no signs of slowing down. I’ve been missing lunches, sitting down to ravenous dinners at 9 pm and becoming quite familiar with the local delivery guys since I’m just too tired to cook (or post much on the blog - sorry!). So I decided it was high time to make some big food decisions. I’m packing more snacks for work and taking...
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Healthy, Hearty & Tasty! Kale Salad
Last January right around this time, I was on a particular health kick worshipping all the nutritious and delicious ways to eat Kale. This year, I found one more awesome way to serve it up: Raw Kale Salad. It’s healthy, it’s hearty, and it’s quite tasty!
This recipe is my own Miss-Take based on 2 scrumptious kale salads I experienced via craft services on a shoot (work perk!)...
December 2012
1 post
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The best thing about NYC, better- with...
Only in New York City* can you order virtually anything at anytime and it’s delivered right to your door in under 30 minutes (Good pizza at 4 am, no problem). Though there are plenty of amazing things about this city, there are times when that feels like the BEST thing about the city.
Although most people may have at least heard about Seamless.com for food delivery, I was surprised to...
November 2012
6 posts
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Special Occasion Dinner: Chicken Marsala
As if Thanksgiving wasn’t gluttonous enough, this past weekend was capped off with a rich and luxurious homemade meal. It was a special occasion celebrating our anniversary so my boyfriend and I pulled out all the stops making this Chicken Marsala recipe together.
I had found an easier, potential week-night version via Food Network, so even though our Gourmet recipe seemed a bit more...
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Thanksgiving Recipe Round-up
I’ve celebrated all sorts of Thanksgivings - as a local guest, as an extended traveler, and even as the full-time cook. So here’s a round-up of all my favorite recipe Miss-takes and solutions for any type of holiday celebration this year:
If you’re traveling far:
Keep it simple. Bring something that can add to the meal in the most no fuss way. The further you’re...
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Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice
It never feels like a true Thanksgiving without one of my sister’s pies. She’s the baker in the family, so it only seems appropriate that she’s been making my family’s classic pumpkin pie recipe for years.
Classic Pumpkin Pie
A family recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups canned pumpkin
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon molasses (or corn syrup)
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt...
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Peas please
Last night marked another annual FriendsGiving. I used it as an excuse to practice a few new Thanksgiving recipes since I agreed to cook a full turkey dinner for my family + my boyfriend’s family this Thursday (yikes!).
I was looking for recipes that would keep meal planning and cooking simple but still be worth it in the flavor department. This pea side dish was very easy to manage...
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Miss Update
The last few weeks have been quite eventful to say the least. I don’t typically use this site as a forum to blab on about my personal life (just tasty recipes and fun date ideas ☺), but recent updates to the blog have obviously been quite uneventful and here’s why…
Most of the East Coast is still recovering from the widespread devastation left by Hurricane Sandy. I feel fortunate that my...
October 2012
9 posts
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DIY - Mirrors
DIY Objective: recreate the look of high end design for a fraction of the price
Inspiration: Crate & Barrel Dubois Mirrors, vintage looking collection of mirrors
I had my eye on these Crate & Barrel mirrors as an elegant way to open up small apartment space (the mirror effect), but I couldn’t bear to pay full price.
Essential Materials:
- Tin Boxes - I found 9 of these at a...
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Miss-interpreted: Motorino Pizza
I’ve heard that “imitation is the highest form of flattery.” So I’m introducing my latest Miss-interpretion, aka my own attempt at recreating a great meal dined out: Motorino’s Brussel Sprouts and Pancetta Pizza.
This pizza is pretty unexpected, but if you’re a fan of brussel sprouts you’ll love their crisp and nutty flavor complimenting this pie. AND...
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Date Day: NYC Fall Family Tour
Who: Special visitors to New York City this fall. It’s a great itinerary for parents or even grandparents since it’s easy walking.
Date Day Requirements: The real feel for NYC in what is arguably it’s BEST season - Complete with Central Park stroll, relaxing guided boat tour (for a deal!), good Italian food, and a Broadway show (for another deal!).
Check out all the NYC...
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Harvest Salad
Sunday’s leftover butternut squash inspired Monday’s healthy lunch.
The ingredients in this salad are simple and made even simplier by finding a Trader Joe’s trail mix that fit exactly what I was looking for in terms of autumnal salad toppings.
Harvest Salad
My own Miss-Take
Ingredients:
- Lettuce - I prefer baby spinach because the texture stands up well in this hearty...
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Celebrating Fall Flavors
There are few things lovelier than Fall in New York. This past weekend felt like the official kick off to the season (albeit a little rainy), and I celebrated with one of my favorite autumn meals. It’s vegetarian, but the warm flavor of the butternut squash and the earthy taste of the mushrooms and sage proved to be quite a hearty meal.
Pappardelle with Squash, Mushrooms,and Spinach ...
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Cooking Classes 101
I’ve taken a few cooking classes over the years - some to learn and get serious about cooking techniques and some for more recreational entertainment. I’ve been asked about recommendations for classes so here’s my Miss-take on some great culinary schooling options out there:
Extensive cooking classes from the pro’s:
Cooking level: best for people highly interested in...
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Dressing for the Occasion
Last year, I let you in on some of my favorite Halloween Custume ideas. This year, it’s a much easier conversation with the help of Pinterest of course.
Simply Google “Halloween Costumes Pinterest” or just type in “Halloween” in the search bar of Pinterest and you’ll be flooded with inspirational costume boards.
Check out this one or this one or this...
September 2012
6 posts
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All Dressed Up
I recently read an article about certain foods that “the experts,” as in doctors, nutritionists, etc, won’t eat. One of the first items was bottled salad dressings.
When you’re opting to eat smarter by choosing salads, the healthiness of the dressing may not be top of mind. But bottled dressings can be loaded with preservatives and lots of added sugar that most people don’t realize. It’s...
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By the Book
Hot off - not one but two! - family vacations last week, I had enough travel time to get through some good reading. I zipped through a new book on my Kindle. And this ebook was a freebie. Compliments of the NY Public Library.
While a Kindle makes reading accessible, I have certainly missed the experience of passing great, FREE books back and forth between friends. Racking up a Kindle book...
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Farmer's Market Special: Zucchini Bread
The final days of summer are eaking their way out but fruits and vegs from this season are still going strong. Farmer’s markets and community gardens are bursting with late summer vegetables. I was recently gifted a 2 foot zucchini (no joke) from my Aunt’s garden overflow. And with a vegetable of that size, I decided to share the wealth and make zucchini bread for my coworkers. This...
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Spaghetti & Clams
Last week at this time, I was lucky enough to be spending a long weekend at a beach house with some of my best friends since childhood. Just one week prior we had been whipping up a gourmet meal of spaghetti and fresh clams, beachside, clinking wine glasses and toasting to fabulous friends and food.
This week at this time, I was going through some major Sunday night blues, reminiscing about...
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Sweetening the Pot with Homemade Biscotti
If you’ve spent the last few days celebrating summer (see previous post) today is probably quite the rude awakening. You’re going to need coffee. Lots of coffee. And you might need to dress up that bleak office coffee with crunchy, sweet biscotti goodness. It’s lovely to dunk it in said coffee so you can enjoy the first moments before work really sets in.
Biscotti Toscani
Recipe from All...
August 2012
11 posts
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A Toast to Summer
This weekend marks the unofficial end to summer (wah wah). But before the season is over, it’s certainly time to fit in a few cocktails.
While the temperatures are still hot, whip up a cooling batch of Moscow Mule. The oddly named cocktail is a perfectly refreshing summer drink with lime juice, vodka, and the surprise ingredient - ginger beer - which you can find in the grocery...
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Meatless Monday: Vegetable Lasgna
I tried out a few vegetable lasagnas before landing on this great recipe. This had the best combination of vegetables for maximum flavor without the meat, was not watery (as vegetable lasagnas can be), and I could use a short cut with no-boil lasagna noodles.
All in all, this is a great meal for vegetarian guests or for a small family because the left overs can easily be frozen for a make-ahead...
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Smarter Nutrition: there's an (easy!) app for that
I generally try to eat healthy, but I’ll admit, there are a lot of nutrition guidelines that I don’t follow because I just can’t keep up. I know you’re supposed to limit the amount of sugar you have each day, but if you told me daily needs were 6 grams or 25 grams, I’d nod my head either way (and I’d still have no idea how many grams I personally consumed that day). I base most of my nutrition...
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Caprese Salad
My Basil Pant was in need of some trimming back, and tomatoes were at their peak ripeness at the markets this weekend, so Caprese Salad is the meal of the moment!
Standard Caprese Salad:
Ingredients:
Ripe tomato, sliced
Fresh mozarella, sliced
Basil leaves, whole, or julienned (as pictured)
Good Olive Oil
Extras, for extra flavor:
Proscuitto
or Pesto to spread
Just layer all your...
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The Best Apron Tutorials from Around the Web
Aprons are the best beginner sewing projects, but even as I’ve been sewing more, I still love going back to making them because they are adorably, adaptably fun. I made the 3 aprons above (as I call “Anthrolopogie Apron Knock-offs”) as gifts last year.
I’ve posted one of my own, easy apron tutorials, but I wanted to share a few links to other tutorials that I found...
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Date Night: Classic Dinner a Movie Combo
Who: whoever you want Date Night Requirements: Classic Dinner and Movie combo
The spot: Cask Bar + Kitchen Location: Midtown East
167 E 33rd St, between Lexington Ave & 3rd Ave The basics: Cask is a dim lit bar and restaurant serving up food that feels as cozy as the surrounding atmosphere. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu (I’ve tried a lot). There are delish...
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Bringing new flavor to a Bargain Buy
Canned tuna is always a good grocery deal (10 cans for $10!), but the trick is using it in a way that doesn’t make it feel like a discounted dining experience.
A great way to bring more taste appeal to any dish is by adding fresh herbs. Dill is one of my favorite summer herbs because I associate it with cool and refreshing dishes. So naturally, this tuna salad recipe with dill is my new...
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Family Favorite Recipe
There is one recipe that my family has been making for generations. Almost every year on my dad’s birthday this dish makes it to the table. And almost every year on his father’s birthday this dish was served.
It’s one of my all time favorite meals.
My family calls it BBQ Crab. But don’t let the name fool you. There is no BBQ involved; it’s really just the...
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One More Broadway Deal
One of the greatest things about living in or near New York City is the exposure to culture and new things. I want to experience it all.
Unfortunately, ALL of it doesn’t fit my budget, so I’m always on the lookout for a deal.
When it comes to catching the latest and greatest on Broadway there are a few known deals in the city. I’ve already talked up Broadway Week and HipTix, but you...
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Summer Salad: Watermelon, Feta & Mint (amazing)
The other weekend my mom sent me home with some fresh mint from her garden. It didn’t take long before I found the perfect recipe to highlight the mint and some other crisp summer flavors.
This summer salad of sweet watermelon, salty feta, and cool mint is an unstoppable flavor combination. The simplicity of the recipe speaks for itself, and it’s sure to be a big hit at summer...
July 2012
9 posts
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Miss-Adventure: San Francisco
My most recent big Miss-Adventure was a trip to San Francisco. It was my first ever visit to the city, so of course I did my research on the best things to squeeze in during a 3 day trip. I searched online and asked anyone I could find (friends and locals) about trip highlights. So it only seems appropriate to share with you:
Check out my map overview: Google Map
Where to stay: Union...
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Meatless Monday: Falafel Pocket Sandwiches
If you haven’t heard of Meatless Monday it’s an international campaign intended to encourage people to skip meat at least once a week to reap health benefits as well as help the environment. I’ve been eating a lot of vegetarian lately, so I figured an easy Meatless Monday of Falafel Pocket Sandwiches would be a nice highlight.
Falafel is traditionally a Middle Eastern food...
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Thinking of you
When someone close to you is going through a rough time, there are often feelings of helplessness as a friend.
Earlier this year, a dear friend of mine experienced a tremendous loss. Our group of girlfriends searched for the right way to comfort her, yet nothing felt like it would ever be enough.
But we gathered all our classic pictures and silly captions into a photo book and did the...
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Ladies Lunch: Waldorf Chicken Salad
While on the phone with my sister the other day she happened to be multi-tasking and whipping up some Waldorf Chicken Salad for lunch with a friend. The recipe sounded perfectly light and refreshing - precisely the makeover my standard work-day lunches needed.
Waldorf Chicken Salad has the same components of your standard chicken salad (mayonnaise and diced chicken) but it’s slightly...
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Miss-Take on a Skincare Staple
I’m often asked about the best anti-aging products. It’s not because I have a face full of wrinkles (yet), but I’ve been working in advertising, primarily on an anti-aging brand, for the past 5+ years and I’ve learned a boat load about skincare.
In my early years I would tell my friends and family that a daily moisturizer with SPF and general sunscreen are crucial,...
