April Random Bites



Strange Addiction:

Growing up in NJ, I had always heard about the ladies who lunch going to eat the BEST frozen yogurt on the planet, eaten at the counter at "40 Carats" inside Bloomingdales department store. Yogurt for lunch?

Since I have always been a frozen yogurt hater, I never bothered to try this legendary fake ice cream treat. Recently I met a friend there for lunch who said it was mandatory that I try this stuff. (My sister also has been eating this for 20 years).

This was absolutely delicious. What do they put in this stuff to make it totally addictive? There were plenty of 80 year old skinny women at the counter eating it, so no one has died (or gained any weight) from it yet.





When all else fails, you always have cavatelli, sausage & peas (one of Henry's favorite dinners).



For 4 portions:
Saute 2 links of good Italian sausage with 3 cloves of chopped garlic and olive oil.
Once the pink is out of the sausage, add 1/3 cup of chicken stock and place the lid on.
Add 1 cup of frozen peas and simmer while your pasta is cooking.

Add 8 oz. of cooked pasta with a few tbsp of the starchy pasta water to the sausage and peas and simmer another minute or two, till the sauce is coating the cavatelli. Grate in enough Parmigiano Reggiano to thicken the sauce (about 1/4 cup).

Easy Peasy.



I baked this awesome cinnamon crumb cake made with yogurt. Here is the recipe.

It was gobbled up before I could even take photos, but here is the last piece.





Thankfully, tonight is the last night of Passover.
Now I can finish the box of matzoh and that amazing scary beetroot horseradish that I received as a gift for Easter.



It's so delicious, but it's so hot, my eyes tear when I eat it, but my sinuses feel better than any Claritin could ever make them feel.



April Militant Community Garden Update:

They finally turned the water on this week, so I can water my seedlings.



I don't have my bumper crop of asparagus yet, it's taking its sweet ass time, but I am hopeful that in the next few weeks you will see some great asparagus recipes here.





Guilty Pleasures: Late Night Snacks

I know I shouldn't tell you that I eat a Reuben sandwich sometimes late at night when I am craving salt, but I will tell you anyway, since there are no secrets between us.



It is the BEST Reuben sandwich EVER (also best eaten after 9 pm). Corned beef cooked in Guinness, with melted Swiss, Russian dressing and buttered toasted rye. My mouth is watering just writing about it. It can be yours to have if you can get to Charlie's Aunt in Chatham, NJ.

Have a great weekend.

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Comments

mil said…
Wow!! What a blog! You covered so much ground this morning and kept my mouth MOIST!!! That Reuben looks luscious! Chatham, huh? Your asparagus looks great, the crumb cake (I want a piece) ditto... Pasta dish yummy... and your narrative super.
Have a great weekend.
Mil
Anonymous said…
No Henry, that's MY favorite dinner! Do you use Celentano frozen cavatelli? That's my brand.
stacey snacks said…
I buy my pasta at the Italian market, it is fresh from Italy. They sell the brand in Princeton as well as The Wine Library in Millburn, NJ.
Ciao Chow Linda said…
Ok, so I'm going to have to get myself to Bloomingdale's to try that yogurt - after the cavatelli and the cake!
Anonymous said…
Hi Stacey,

Great post; thanks for all the info! You're going to keep me busy...can't wait to try the Bloomie's frozen yogurt,the reuben AND the cavatelli.

Beth
Joanne said…
Bloomingdale's and I have a date with destiny!
have the crumb cake in the oven now! smells great but doesn't look like your photo. The sausage and peas look like the best comfort food.....
Foodiewife said…
You hate frozen yogurt? Not my #1 favorite frozen treat, but if it's made right, it is addicting. All good eats here, especially the Reuben sandwich. Only, beer comes to mind when I see this. Looks fab.
Anonymous said…
Are you part of the problem or the solution? http://www.food52.com/blog/3195_advice_for_future_food_writers My vote, the solution! I am VERY underwhelmed by most food writers, Ms. Hesser included, and enjoy the more casual, enthusiastic, daily and REAL ramblings of a layperson like yourself to the less than literary stuff posing as literature, or something, that Hesser (although I do like the community bloggy atmosphere of FOOD52), Molly Wizenberg, even Gabrielle Hamilton, hawk. I am a worthless magna cum laude English major, voracious reader, and lover of literature - but for literature give me Chekhov, Nabokov & Fitzgerald, for how-to writing on food & a little fun, give me STACEY SNACKS and her posse of like minded food obsessed bloggers (Hello PROUD ITALIAN COOK)! I think I just wrote you a love letter, and I'd love to know your opinion of MY opinion!
Dana said…
I love frozen yogurt. Can we still be friends? There are all kinds of places that have popped up nearby us that are self-serve and it's all I can do to take a small portion. I love these posts!
Stacey Snacks said…
Dear Anonymous:
Thank you for your love letter.
I love you too!

xo Stacey
How you could eat that stuff for a late night snack is beyond me, I would gain 15lbs overnight! You got the best genes and I love your millitant garden ramblings.

A side note to anonymous, thanks and I love you too!
Stacey Snacks said…
Dear Anonymous,
I just read the Food52 article and have to say that I agree w/ Ms. Hesser.

I don't consider myself a food writer and certainly don't do this for the big bucks.

I am a good home cook and have a passion for food, which is obvious!

I started 4 years ago and I am thrilled with response to my recipes and ramblings and can't thank you enough for the compliment!

I do this not for the money, but for the satisfaction of knowing people like you (even though you remain anonymous!).

Thank you.

Stacey