Recently the Hubs and I took a weekend trip to one of my favorite places on Earth. New York City… For some reason being in the city always makes me feel alive! It also makes me very nostalgic for my college days and all the years I spent living on the Upper East Side. Now, let me tell you that you could always find a good little restaurant and the Upper East Side was filled with many of my favorites! I could go on and on about that, but I will save that for another time.
This weekend getaway was filled with your typical tourists visits. We stayed at the outstanding Hilton Millennium Hotel at Ground Zero (we had breathtaking views from our room). Visited the heart wrenchingly beautiful Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial. Ate lunch at the delicious and reasonably priced Umberto’s in Little Italy. Stopped in Ferrara’s for a sweet treat and a double espresso. Then we traveled up to Time Square to see Rock of Ages which definitely brought you back into an era of big hair, loud music, and many fashion dos and donts.
The trip was an all around success! I really wish I could stay forever. I did became a bit melancholy as we were packing our things to leave, but as we were driving through the tunnel I realized there is NO place like HOME!
Until Next Time
xoxo
thetastilife
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! It has ALWAYS been a tradition in my family to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with corned beef & cabbage, potatoes, carrots, Irish soda bread, mashed potatoes, green beer, family, and music. It all started with my Irish grandparents, wearing green, sporting Irish sweaters and hats, and listening to traditional Irish music! The BEST part about St. Patrick’s Day is EVERYONE is IRISH and can partake in all the festivities! So my hubs and I decided to take on and carry out the tradition of having St. Patrick’s Day at our house! Let me tell you, it’s a lot of work, but definitely worth it!
I started cooking bright and early… 8:00 am!!! This meal takes ALL day to cook and the prep for it is also a process, but once its in the pot it simmers on low all day for a whopping 7 hours!
Recipe: One Pot meal- Corned Beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots:
- Corned Beef Brisket (I bought 2)
- Red skin potatoes
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- One large onion
- Guinness (2 bottles)
Directions:
- Using a big pot on the stove top
- Take out corned beef-place in bottom of the pot
- **make sure you use spice packet that comes with it.
- Add spice packet
- Add 2 bottles of Guinness or any other dark colored stout you might prefer
- Add water until corned beef is submerged.
- Bring to a boil
- Once boiling- cover and bring to a simmer- (about 50min per lb of corned beef)
- While corned beef is simmering- prep veggies.
- Wash and half potatoes (keep skin on)
- Wash and peel carrots and cut in thirds
- Wash cabbage and cut (however you prefer)
- The last 30min add potatoes and carrots.
- The last 15min add in cabbage.
Then ENJOY!!!!
Here are some pictures of the process… the hubs and the pups helped decorate and prep the house for company. We had such a great time spending the day with family and friends. We had some delicious homemade deserts brought over to enjoy like homemade Chocolate Guinness cupcakes… AMAZING! And homemade fudge… SO GOOD!!! My contribution to the desert table was funfetti cupcakes… LOL… FYI… I am NOT a BAKER! I decided to garnish mine with green dyed frosting and a green bunny peep (to make it look more homemade).
I wish I would have taken more pictures of all the yummy food and drinks, but I was too busy enjoying the moment! 🙂
I hope you all had a great weekend and joined in on the St. Paddy’s fun…(even if you aren’t Irish).
Tonight there was no ordering off a menu or having to tip. I am feeling very domesticated weird! Not really, I just think I should get a super wife award for cooking a kick ass dinner.
I planned our meal in advance- which makes cooking dinner so much easier after a loooong hectic day in the classroom.
So, what was on the menu tonight? I know your dying to know
Garlic herb pork tenderloin with tomatoes, carrots, onions, and peppers. With a side of delicious and protein packed quinoa blend with brown rice!!! So good!
I would give you a step by step recipe… But that wouldn’t be me because I never follow them. I like to cook by taste and smell and sight. A total sensory experience…
Recipes actually make me anxious. Did I use the tablespoon or the teaspoon?!? Did I give a pinch of salt…?!? You get the gist of it.
Anyway I searched the fridge and freezer and this was created for dinner:
xoxo
the tasti life
thetastilife 