by Paula D.
on January 23, 2023 12:26 pm in Food / Recipes
It’s feast or famine with freelance work. Right now… famine. For that reason, I’ve decided to go deep into organizing my home – like every draw, closet, and corner. It feels good to purge. It also feels good to know I have five whisks, three crock pots, four pizza cutters, and six very cute measuring spoon sets, among other multiples, I don’t remember buying.
I’m pretty much done with the kitchen. Now I’m tackling the office. I’m going through my books with the intention of donating 20%. Alas, I’m having difficulty letting go but it’s time to find new homes for How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days and I Could Pee on This. As I’m going through the “keep or donate” process, I realized I have a multitudinal of cookbooks, 22 actually. I need to be using these beautiful books. I decided to bring some in the kitchen so they’re in sight and handy.
I came across one of my old favorites, Cooking With Italian Grandmothers by Jessica Theroux, The book gathers recipes, traditions and the wisdom of female elders from around the world.
Since the “Halloween chocolate fiasco,” I can’t stop eating sweets and so, aptly I find myself flipping through the dessert section. I found a delicious sounding – not too unhealthy – treat with apples, nuts, and chocolate. All boxes checked. The Author describes, “These are the most delicious roasted apples I have eaten, with the bitter chocolate (typical of Northern Italy) and lemon zest adding depth and brightness. I highly recommend using a bar of chocolate with 80 percent cocoa content for this recipe, and a tart fruit, such as the Granny Smith.”
Roasted Apples With Hazelnut, Bitter Chocolate, And Lemon Zest
By Mamma Maria, Italy
(Serves 6)
Ingredients:
- 6 firm baking apples (such as Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Crispin, or Pippin)
- 1/4 cup sugar (divided)
- 1/4 cup soft unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
- 2 tsp lemon zest ( minced)
- 2/3 cup hazelnuts (finely chopped and toasted)
- 1/3 ounces chopped dark chocolate (80 percent cocoa)
- 1 cup Marsala wine (divided)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a small baking dish, roughly 8 by 10 inches.
- Slice a thin layer off the bottom of the apples and discard; this levels the apples so they have a stable base during roasting. Slice 1/2 inch off the tops of the apples, and set the tops to one side. Peel the apple bases. Using a small teaspoon, scrape out an inch-diameter core from each of the apples, making sure not to cut through the bottom of the apples.
- Mix together the butter, 3 tablespoons of the sugar, lemon zest, hazelnuts, and chocolate. Spoon this filling into the center of the apples, mounding any extra on top. Drizzle the exposed apples with the ¾ cup of the Marsala and cover with their tops. Pour the rest of the Marsala over the apples and sprinkle them with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes, basting the apples with the hot Marsala a few times during their roasting. The apples are done when a toothpick can be inserted into them easily. Serve warm, with Marsala spooned over the apples and whipped cream on the side.
This quote from Mamma Maria resonates with me as it describes how I learned to cook, beside my Mother in the kitchen, “You just watch and spend time. You lend a hand. Maybe the first time you make a mistake, then the second time you do it right. It’s not that you are “taught.”
by Paula D.
on January 18, 2023 7:27 am in Surf
I had three car situations happen in the past two weeks. The car struggle is real. I don’t know much about them. I’m bad at maintaining them – renewing registration, tickets, oil change (how do you read that sticker?), random missing license plate, cleaning it, etc. I do know, I need my 2005 Chrysler Pacifica to transport plants in the spring, to buy 12 foot skeletons on a whim, to go thrift store shopping and non-negotiable… to see my mother once a week on Long Island.
The first car chronicle… I’m not the best driver, yet I managed with success to navigate everywhere on my recent trip to Puerto Rico! As many of you Rincon folks know, the roads in PR have major potholes, phone navigation is spotty and road signs are not always present. On top of that, I was driving with my rental surfboard on the roof. I learned how to use those foam things and ratchet straps to secure the board! This may not sound like a big deal but it is for me. With the variables mentioned above, I’m feeling really great about my Puerto Rico driving record. Maybe I’m not a bad driver after all…
Enormous, muddy pothole on the way to Wildo surf break, no problemo.
The second car story begins at JFK. I was exhausted from the overnight flight out of Aguadilla so I decided to cab it. I get in and tell the guy I’m going to Rockaway Beach. He was very polite. A few minutes go by and he tells me that it was meant to be that I entered his cab. He said we’ve met before… in a past life. He goes on to tell me that he’s from Pakistan and that he’s a life coach. He asked me my name and then said, “Paula, have you found love?” Strangely, I felt very comfortable talking with this man. In a half lucid state, I engaged in his conversation. His name is Jeffery. He tells me that conflict and lies cause anxiety which perpetuates grief and pain. We need to free ourselves of those traps, he continues. If we find axiom we will find peace. He goes on about how mathematics is directly correlated to our happiness and that I can find the formula. 6 years ago he attended a week long seminar on Dianetics. There he was enlightened and discovered pure truth. He also met the love of his life in a conference room.
As I was leaving the cab, Jeffery gave me his phone number and said he knows of a great Indian restaurant by Laguardia airport. He said to text him and he and his wife would enjoy having lunch with me sometime (I love NY).
Lastly, two days after my 42nd birthday, I learned how to put air in car tires. They say it’s never too late to learn. It goes like this… I left the house heading to my parents for a belated birthday dinner when I noticed the car tires were very, very flat. I got irrationally frustrated. I started cursing wildly. I didn’t want to disappoint my parents.
But then, I thought of Jeffrey, the scientologist, life coach cabbie… how would he handle this roadblock? I needed to reset and erase the content of my reactive mind. I took a few deep breaths. I texted my father and told him about the tires. He said, sometimes tires go flat in the winter if you don’t use the car. Who knew? Apparently a lot of people, because they responded to my Instagram story, where I shared my struggle at the gas station.
13 dollars in quarters and two unnecessarily long youtube videos later, I successfully filled the tires. And I made it to my parents house for eggplant rollatini and birthday cake!
Learning new things and opening yourself up to different people and ideas (cultish or otherwise) feels right for me this year. I’ve started a list of accomplishments and skills I’ve learned so far in 2023. Let’s see how far I can go.
My fit form has lost its shape since surfing days have dramatically slowed …ugh winter. Not only that, when I’m not active, I get, as they say, “Down in the dumps.” Exercising releases endorphins and serotonin that improve our mood. This is why you’ll hear people say, “I’m addicted to the gym.” This is an addiction we can all embrace in 2023. That feeling of feeling good after a workout is everything.
Lately, I’ve noticed some friends sharing stories on IG of their workouts at Goodform Studio. The gym opened back in October 2022 and I’ve only heard great things since.
I checked out the website goodformny.com. I read, “BodyCamp is a total body strength and conditioning session. Improve your energy levels, metabolic rate, strength, and endurance. This class will leave you alert and ready to take on whatever comes your way.” This is exactly what I needed. I signed up and the next day, I headed over for the 8:30 a.m. session.
I was welcomed by owner Monice Small, better known inside and outside the studio as Mo. She was so welcoming. Mo helped me log in and informed me of what to expect from the class. She asked if I had any physical limitations and if I had a fitness focus. I told her I surf and wanted to work on strength training. She thought the BodyCamp class would be perfect for me and she also recommended I try the 60-minute Pilates workout on Saturdays at 8:45 a.m.
Monice Small, owner, and coach at Goodform Studio
Class began and Mo explained and demonstrated the exercises. The music started pumpin’ and we got lifting with the kettlebells. The vibe was so fun, upbeat, and not intimidating at all.
Later that day, around 4 p.m., I felt my quads, calves, and biceps were sore – the good, good kind of sore that feels fantastic. Actually, who am I kidding, my whole damn body was sore, what a workout!
I’ve signed up to keep in good form over the winter. This will guarantee that come spring, I’ll be strong and conditioned for surfing. There are several affordable membership options allowing for flexibility with your schedule and commitment level – Monthly Unlimited, Weekly Unlimited, 8 classes per month, and 4 classes per month. There’s a range of training options to keep your workouts fresh. They include – BodyCamp (total body strength), GF Greatest Hits (quick, intense bursts of exercise, followed by short recovery periods), Pilates, Cardio Kickboxing, and more. Visit goodformny.com for details and get in good form for 2023.
Goodform Studio is located in the old Wave Building – 88-08 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Queens, NY 11693, (516) 632-0859. For workout info, make sure to follow Goodform on Instagram – @goodform_studios See you at the gym!
Pre-workout selfie
“Carrots struck again at the free fridge.,” read a text from my friend Mike B. Every so often a very large, beautiful bag of multi-colored carrots are donated to the community fridge at 166 Beach 92nd St. The carrot drop is a mystery to many and we’d love to know who the generous carrot-donator is? Please come forward!
I took some purple carrots. I decided to make a creamy carrot soup with fresh herbs and garlic. Soup calls to us during the cold winter months. Carrots of many colors have many health benefits – fiber, vitamin K1, potassium and antioxidants. Color in all food is mostly made from the following compounds: carotenoids (orange and yellows), flavonoids (blue, red and creams) and chlorophyll (greens). Colorful food – fruits and vegetables contain the vitamins and antioxidants we need for a healthy diet.
This Creamy Purple Carrot Soup recipe is hearty and rich. The thyme and parsley complement the semi-sweet purple carrot flavor. I like spice! If that’s you, add a healthy amount of red pepper flakes to keep warm. You can puree the soup but I thought the color was so beautiful as is, I let it be.
Creamy Purple Carrot Soup
Ingredients:
8 carrots peeled and chopped
2 shallots diced
1 white onion diced
10 cloves garlic chopped
2 tsp Thai red curry paste
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy cream
6 cups water
1 tablespoon Better Than Bouillon (vegetable/vegetarian)
Fresh Thyme
Fresh parsley
Salt, pepper, red pepper flakes to taste
Directions:
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In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and onions. Saute for 5 minutes. Season with the spices. Add the garlic and Thai red curry paste – saute for 3 minutes.
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Add the carrots, water, Better Than Bullion, fresh herbs and bring to a boil.
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Reduce heat and simmer until the carrots are soft – 15 minutes. Add the heavy cream, simmer for another 10 minutes. Top with parsley and serve hot.
Recipe adapted from: thestayathomechef.com
We tend to think about donating food around the holidays but the truth is, people are challenged by food insecurity year round. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Hunger refers to a personal, physical sensation of discomfort, while food insecurity refers to a lack of available financial resources for food at the household level. According to feedingamerica.org, in NYC, 1 in 10 people face hunger and 1 in 7 children face hunger.
Since the pandemic, there has been a spike in food insecurity. We all need help at times, so don’t hesitate to access this resource. Anyone can take food from the community fridge located at 166 Beach 92nd, between Rockaway Beach Blvd. and Holland Ave. It’s open 24 hours / 7 days a week.
The Community Fridge Project is generously brought to us by the Rockaway Mutual Aid, with support from Campaign Against Hunger. It is kindly cared for and hosted by Rockaway resident Becky Glennon and her family.
Community members and local businesses help fill the fridge. Please consider donating – any time of the year. Drop food directly at the fridge or contact The Rockaway Mutual Aid. In addition to food, The Rockaway Mutual Aid provides services such as food drop off to elderly folks, health care information, family/child care resources and more. To donate or volunteer, visit rockawaymutualaid.com and follow on IG @rockawaymutualaid.
To request resources and support, call (732) 654-2505, visit the website or the Facebook page.
