Why I Cook - Not JUST For The Holidays!

If you were to ask my immediate family...or even the few people who have lived with me...they will tell you I DON'T cook. HILARIOUS isn't? Most people judge me, most people think I'm lying, most people think I'm just a joke. 

Well, if truth be told...when I'm home alone and living what currently feels like my pre-planned, revolving, predictable life; I just eat to stay alive (these days I'm making a point to make my consumption's more healthier). But I would be lying to if I said I cooked a gourmet meal every night, every other night, or even every week. 

As ridiculous as this may sound....the reason I don't cook much at home is because I'm an extrovert. I feed off of other peoples energy. The thought of people coming together, jolts my inner "Joan" (you have to watch Girlfriends to get it but if you don't you can just use "entertainer"). I want to pull out all my All-Clad pots that I don't have, my tricks, the recipes I've saved, a bottle of wine and turn the music UP! This is who I am although many people just don't get my logic. 

Not that I had ANY intentions on changing who I am...my feelings and thought process became justified a few weeks ago. One day, I opened my mailbox and screamed that my December edition of Bon Appetite came! (this scream/squeal....occurs monthly). Finally...taking a moment to crack it open and suddenly....BOOM!!!

I landed on a Swanson advertisement that explained who Chef Ce....REALLY IS. These are the VERY EXACT reasons WHY I COOK and NOT JUST for the holidays. So there....I'm not so crazy after all....even Swanson made an advertisement about me! :-) 

I'm weeks late but I will call this my Thanksgiving post. I've shared some pics from Thanksgiving Week (its NEVER just a Day with a foodie).

The week began with some friends coming over for a pre-Thanksgiving meal. My roommate and I thought it would be a cute and fun way to share some love. I will admit, I didn't do much cooking on this day but I'm a good overseer and food rescuer (aren't I Ades???) While the Baked Mac and Cheese and Herb Crusted Cornish Hens were baking in the oven...I decided to help create an atmosphere for ENTERTAINING!! 

Old-school jams played in the background, candles were lit, and I attempted to shuffle a new deck of cards (its not a party if Spades isn't involved). And that random book you see in the background.......is a Busboys and Poets menu that was accidentally taken from the restaurant...(SORRY ABOUT THAT)

Anyone who knows my Daddy....KNOW'S about "Major's Brew". It's ONLY the BEST Iced Tea known to man lol. So I decided to be a little creative and swap out Lipton for my favorite tea, "Tazo Passion". It is still a work in progress but we are off to a GREAT start!

FINALLY....Feast Time!!! Cornish Hens, Broccoli, Mac & Cheese, Stuffing, Whole Wheat Rolls, Salad w/ Fig Basalmic. Served on our cute Ikea table, paper plates and real silverware! What a fun filled night! It was great to create new memories and celebrate a big holiday in my own apartment....this is definitely something I want to remember!

After a CRAZY drive home to NYC for the holidays BUT before going out with my friends....I made time to make some pate sucree (shortbread-cookie-like-pie-crust) for my pear and almond tart (an FCI lesson turned into a family favorite). I had to take a picture of my kitchen aid in action! It made making pie crust a BREEZE. My mom's old mixer would have overheated and started smoking by now (hahahaha j/k mom).

AAHHHH the ORIGINAL crock pot....it's my mother's. It's 4 am on Thanksgiving day and I just walked into the house. Before crawling into my bed....I came up with the idea of waking my family up to some spiced hot apple cider. I filled up the crock pot with apple cider and half of the seasonings in my cabinet (cinnamon sticks, star anise, allspice, nutmeg...uummm I think that's all lol). By 9 o'clock, I rolled out of the bed and whipped up some sweet potato biscuits and sausage to accompany the hot spiced drink. Already, I had my families taste buds prepared for DINNER YUUUMMMM!

AAAAHHHH the Cranberry Sauce! Just washed the cranberries and threw it in the pot. Added a cinnamon stick, sugar fresh orange juice and orange zest. Placed it on the back of the stove, turned it on low, and went about my merry way. Such an EASY dish. MY PEOPLE...leave that canned garbage alone!

Another super easy dish, Roasted Vegetables. This dish is like a blank canvas. No recipe needed. Go to your favorite supermarket and find the freshest veggies that are in season. Wash and cut them up in bite sized pieces. Add a few garlic cloves and chopped onions, sprinkle with salt and pepper. For an added touch drizzle some Blood Orange Olive Oil!! Toss in a bowl, spread out in a cookie sheet, bake at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes and VOILA! (this pic was taken before the roasting). Roastings adds such a beautiful flavor to food. Many people want to go OVERBOARD ingredients. Sometimes its good to stick with the basics and let your cooking techniques add the flavor that your want to your food.  

There were many other side dishes that accompanied Thanksgiving Dinner but being the chef and the photographer was a bit much for me, so unfortunately many dishes got left out. BUT the main star took a second for his photo-op! For starters...I'm a brine-er! Knowing I wouldn't make it to New York until the day before Thanksgiving, I had my sous chefs (thanks mom and dad) put my bird in his nice, cool, salty, apple cidery, herby (okay, I'll stop now) bath for 2 days. Following Anne Burrell's advice in her Brined Her-Crusted Turkey w/ Apple Cider Gravy recipe...I took the turkey out of the brine the night before, rubbed the herb butter under and over the skin and let it sit the fridge overnight, uncovered. Thanksgiving morning, I cut up some mirepoix, added some stock and apple cider and let him bake away. Hope you like my before and after pics! (For the record, I also made Anne's Sausage Cornbread Stuffing as well! AWESOMENESS).

I couldn't move on without posting a Thanksgiving consumption after-math. PRICELESS!!!! (love you bro-ham!!!)

A couple of GREAT friends (more so family) and I went out to a chocolate & wine bar we discovered a year ago, out in the village. It's called Ayza. Small and quaint place. Never ordered a meal but their wines and desserts have NEVER disappointed me. I finally ventured out and suggested we order the chocolate fountain. Wellllll I kind of thought it was going to be a chocolate fountain....but it was more like fondue. BUT it was awesome nonetheless. Bananas, strawberries and even pretzels dipped in chocolate is a GIVEN but MY favorite combo is pineapple and chocolate *drools* 

The following day, my family and I celebrated a milestone birthday for my Aunty! We went out for brunch on the Spirit of New York cruise and had an amazing time. Delicious food (as you can see) and even some dancing! #goodtimes #family&food

Lastly....I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF...I had to post this super cute pic of my parentals at my Aunt's shin-dig! LOVE THEM!!! You guys are my biggest supporters and I can't wait to experience the love that you two have!

WELL GUYS....THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT TO READ MY BLOG. WISHING EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY HOLIDAY!!!

(there is no better way to show holiday love...than offering it from NYC!)

UNTIL NEXT TIME!

*smooches and dueces*