Strong Enough for Whisky and Candy?

Well, I finally lingered long enough in the liquor store to find the locked cabinet with the single malt scotches. I even asked for a recommendation, based on wanting to try something new, something not as awesomely expensive as the top shelf stuff, and something strong-flavored. So I got McClelland's Islay - super peaty, super smoky. I quite like it. Reminds me of lapsang souchong tea. And it's surprisingly smooth to drink. I look forward to the day that I can sample more expensive scotches, but this is diverting for now. I can now sip neat - I've graduated from ice! Hoorah.

Also, my Islay is a very nice counterpoint to Cadbury Mini Eggs. Though it's doubtful whether anyone else would agree with me on that point.

So apparently I have quite the family history of diabetes; it just keeps getting longer and longer. I am wondering if I should devote my life to fitness or nutrition or something. Like, get a degree in it and make my body a temple. Eventually sell my self-designed fitness equipment on late-night television infomercials! Like Tony Little's Gazelle! Like Bowflex.

Lasagna Redux

It's an official kick! I don't think I'll be able to eat a third round, though. This week I'll do multi-vegetable lasagna: zucchini, eggplant, Tuscan kale, baby portabellas. This will fill my 6-month quota for lasagna, I do believe.

Edit 1: Might be mediocre lasagna. I didn't have enough mozzarella for optimal coverage. Not sure how I feel about zucchini in any kind of casserole/lasagna-esque dish.

Edit 2: Of course, lasagna is better on the second day. I should have known! Quite tasty, though perhaps less filling than the 100% kale lasagna. The thinly-sliced eggplant is nice, but still would have benefited from more cheese.

Ate grilled cheese as my museum/concert/entertainment snack. I like this tradition of bringing my lunch on mini-adventures. Also, I continue to be obsessed with tangerines. Where have they been all my life? Extra juicy, extra tart-sweet. Super fragrant when peeled. Sexy fruit.

Recently had a chance to have a true diner breakfast - in East Boston! Who knew there was a public beach right off the T? Seriously. I need to get out more. Specifically to walk on the beach before the Beach Crowds repulse me. But I digress: Here's a picture of my diner breakfast, complete with perfectly over-easy eggs, uber-buttered white toast, home fries, and mediocre bacon. (I don't know why my eggs are always over-exposed in camera phone pics. Reflective white surface, I guess.)

Donut Muffins!

The internet is abuzz with word of a new creation: the donut muffin. Yes, a combination of muffin and delectable donut. Or is that doughnut? Whichever you prefer. I am intrigued, though wary - I am not a huge fan of muffins, but I will scarf a doughnut. You know, I just prefer that spelling. "Donut" seems too...corporate? Ew.

This recipe for Sugar-Crusted Donut Muffins is from a blog called BakingBites.

This recipe for Donut Muffins is from the Boston Globe!

And this little recipe for Kathleen's Doughnut Muffins went to town. I mean, it's from The Food Section.

Pictures of donut/doughnut muffins included come from BakingBites and The Food Section blog. Mmm.

A Sunday Sundae

Ordered a small sundae at Picco's in South Boston: mint chocolate flake, hot fudge, whipped cream, and nuts. Was expecting something slightly above average. I was most happily blown away by goodness.

My mint chocolate flake had a nice balance of spearmint to peppermint - very "green", very minty. The chocolate flakes melted easily on my tongue. Very good! The hot fudge was bittersweet and actually warm. The whipped cream was the genuine article. The "nuts" were toasted hazelnuts dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in powdered sugar. AMAZING. A perfect sundae for a perfect Sunday. I was glad to try it.

They had pizza and calzones on the menu, in addition to salads. My salad was over-priced for the size, and didn't have as many beets as I'd have liked, but I enjoyed the toasted hazelnuts. I'd say this place is best patronized for its desserts, beer offerings, and pizza/calzones.

Picco's Restaurant on Tremont.

What Does It Mean!

This morning, while slicing a chunk of lasagna for breakfast, and peeling my tangerine, something remarkable happened. It has never happened to me before. Does it portend a long life? Good luck? Something musical? I will give a full report later, when I know more.

Edit: I now believe the curly peel is a portend of good luck!

Lasagna

Gorgeous Tuscan kale, ricotta, mozzarella, an egg to bind, Amy's puttanesca sauce, Barilla pasta. And garlic! Initially I was afraid that mixing my ricotta, garlic, and egg with raw chopped kale would turn out a mistake. But it did not! This lasagna is delicious, though a little on the salty side due to puttanesca sauce. Ricotta's sweetness balances out the salt for the most part. Next time I would use a more basic tomato sauce, but I am not disappointed with this pan. I look forward to eating it throughout the coming week. Hurrah!

Hummus To Go

So I worked earlier than usual today, in this attempt to make myself indispensable and all. Left my brain in my warm pocket of a bed, and forgot the lunch that I had prepared the night before. Look, I got home at 11 pm and had to get up 6:30! I deserve some slack. Which is why I bought myself a chicken and pepper quesadilla from the cafeteria grill - and it was tastier than most things from the cafeteria. And pretty cheap, so I was thrilled.

I also picked up a Naval orange, and something I had never seen before: a two-tiered Sabra Hummus To Go container. The top container is filled with pretzel chips and the bottom container is filled with hummus. And may I just say that Sabra has been my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE pre-packaged hummus ever since I first experienced its superior mouth-feel. It is the sort of hummus a deity would eat.

And the little plastic containers with foil-peel tops are so adorable. I am an instant fan of this kind of packaging. They are the right size to be handy travel-size food/water dishes for Jackahuahua. The only negative part about this design is that many of my pretzel chips are broken.

Sabra Hummus!