Baking in Boots

Highlights:

Halloween eve cocktails in Williamsburg at Maison Premiere Oyster Bar, followed by champagne & Pies n Thighs take out with Practical Magic

candycorn pumpkins

bear & panda beanies purchased on Bedford street

Casper & Hocus Pocus

Halloween macarons

workouts to Michael Jackson’s thriller

harvest candles

Halloween & Saw marathons on Syfy

pumpkin beer

mums lining the city streets

serious decorations on the UES

Starbucks pumpkin loaf

opi chop-sticking to my story orange nail-polish

Lowlights:

snowstorm 2 days before Halloween = broken trees covering the streets. October, really?

As we neared our highly anticipated graduation, Bekah and I (along with the rest of my class) began to get a tad distracted. It seemed that the hands on the clock moved slower than dripping molasses-the school days lingering longer than desired. To get through these meandering final weeks, we began a Starbucks ritual- a daily prize at the end of the finish line. We began as “triple shot iced espressos in a grande cup with a side of soy”. The two 4PM girls in chef whites, better known as the “triple shot soys”. Then, as the cool fall weather slowly made its appearance, we discovered the spicy, creamy, “tastes like a cup of fall” chai tea. Specifically, “chai tea-almost-soy mistos with extra foam, less milk”. Then we would split an Apple Pie macaron (possibly 3 or 5) in my car-dissecting their every detail while passing them off back & forth until there was nothing left but a tiny nibble. Ridiculous-I’m aware. But I do not apologize for my food quirks, nor my serious obsession for macarons.

I have graduated (literally) from those days. Now, in the midst of fall, I cozy up in my NYC apartment, book in hand, sipping homemade soy chai tea mistos and nibbling my pumpkin macarons. I think I could get used to this.

Pumpkin Spice Macarons

October 24, 2011

Pumpkin spice macarons, contemplating my sanity, macaron lineup: strawberry cream, lemon blackberry cream, pumpkin spice, strawberry with chocolate ganache, Halloween macarons

I have been on a bit of a macaron kick lately

After making nearly 6 dozen, I flinally feel that I have comfortably mastered these tricky treats

I boxed up about 50 of my favorites, and sent them to my sister in Texas

I will definitely be making more of these little cuties for Halloween this week end!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

October 14, 2011

Caramel Sea Salt Macarons

October 13, 2011

Macarons are my one true love in this world

They are, however, very difficult to make (the first time)

But once you master them, it’s like riding a bike

I recommend to bake immediately. Yall will not regret it.

Unless, maybe, you eat ten within fifteen minutes.

Enjoy!

Time Flies

October 2, 2011

I graduated college on Friday.

I’ve settled back in Upper East Side NYC living in a state of confusion, giddiness and healthy discomfort all at the same time.

My parents came up for graduation and I had them all to myself, and loved it. We sipped dirty martinis and nibbled on hot cornbread at Dovetail, seeked refuge from the rain with beer flights and hot pretzels at The GingerMan, and rounded up our celebratory weekend like royalty at ElevenMadisonPark.

When did I get this old?