Haney Pancake Recipe!

Who wants to get together for a PANCAKE PARTY?  How fun does that sound?: )  I randomly wanted pancakes as I was working late tonight, and my good friend Matt Haney sent this delicious recipe to me.  Thanks for sharing!!

Banana Nutella Pancakes 

Ingredients:  

1 ¼ cup all purpose flour

1 tbsp white sugar

2 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 egg, beaten

1 cup milk

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 ripe bananas, mashed

2 tbsp Nutella

Instructions:  

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  In a separate bowl, mix together egg, milk, oil, bananas and Nutella.

Stir flour mixture into banana mixture; batter will be slightly lumpy.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or skillet (use Pam) over medium high heat.  Pour or scoop the batter into the pan using approximately ¼ cup for each pancake. Cook until pancakes are golden brown on both sides; serve hot.

Just Because...Hello Kitty Macaroni!

Presenting...the cutest macaroni ever!

How can you see this in a Japanese grocery store and NOT buy it?? 

I will be sure to wear a bow when I eat it too, hehe.

More Summer Tidbits

It's the last week of July, friends!  I'm in and out of NY until mid-Sept, but I am still planning to do all my fave summer things (and hopefully more!) while I am here, don't you worry.

Come meet up the two days I'm in the city this week (email me for details):

• WED 7/28: Late night movie night!  INCEPTION, around 10p - dream on!
• THURS 7/29: DIRTY DIAMONDS ft. K!O & Lani Love, 10p-4a - making my first trip over to Williamsburg (I know, about time hehe) to support and dance it up with my amazing amiga DJ Lani Love, who will be playing music throughout the night.  The Cove, no cover (see fb invite HERE)!

Check out some other fun things ahead:

JULY

WED 28: 

• Etsy Craft Night @ South Street Seaport, 6-8p - FREE sea-themed applique sewing workshop.  Materials and goodie bags included! 
• Lincoln Center Out of Doors Fest, 730p - (Daily thru 8/15) - More FREE performances (music, dance, theater, a little bit of everything!) @ Lincoln Center - will let you know when I plan on going.

THRU 31: For those going back to school in the Fall...get a FREE backpack from Staples or Office Max (w/ rebate).

AUGUST

Until SUN 1: A few more days left for Shakespeare in the Park - "The Merchant of Venice" (see Al Pacino!) and "Winter's Tale" (see POST on our tips on getting tix!)

SUN 1 and 8:  2 more Moondances left!  Live music and dancing as the sun sets on Pier 54, Hudson River Park, FREE

TUES 10: Pop Tart World Cafe in Times Square?

Until End of Aug: 

• Bryant Park Summer Film Festival - see HERE for schedule.  Get to the park early to secure a spot on the lawn!
• Movies With a View - more FREE outdoor movies, under the BK Bridge! Sched HERE (Indiana Jones, 8/26!).
• $2 Bowling @ Astoria Bowl - 11a-5p daily - worth taking a Summer Friday?: )

ONGOING

TUESDAYS: Highline Stargazing  - do it, it's really cool.

Until 9/6: NYC Restaurant Week is extended!

Until 10/11: "Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917" @ MoMa - another fave artist of mine!  Remember, it's FREE on Fridays, 4-8p.

Stay cool, NY!

7/20 - Let's go...Highline Stargazing!

A new friend reminded me of this fun little thing that happens every Tuesday night - stargazing on the Highline!  Such a cool, urban space to take a stroll in...so why not see some stars up close too?: )

EVERY TUESDAY: Stargazing with the Amateur Astronomers Association

Photo by Kiersten Chou.

Join Friends of the High Line and the Amateur Astronomers Association (AAA) of New York for Astronomy on the High Line, each Tuesday at dusk, on the High Line. View the stars using the AAA’s high-powered telescopes, and get a lesson from the experts on the celestial wonders of New York’s night sky.


Telescopes will be set up from dusk to 9:30 PM under the Standard Hotel on the High Line, located between Gansevoort and 14th Streets. This event will occur every Tuesday evening. In the event of rain, Stargazing will be cancelled. For updated information on weather related changes, visit www.aaa.org.


Location: On the High Line under the Standard Hotel
FREE. RSVP not required. 

I've been once before, to see Jupiter (I think it was Jupiter hehe), and though it's a small set up, it's really amazing to be able to see something so far away!

I plan to stop by tonight TUES 7/20 - b/c I'll be traveling again for the next few weeks! This is what we'll see, acc. to their website:

July 20

8:24

9 days old in the South

Mercury low in WNW Venus, Mars, & Saturn low in W till 10:00

Maybe later this summer, we can take another trip to Inwood Park with AAA to see the full night sky (remember when we went the first time? POST) - I hear there is another meteor shower or something neat to see in a few months - will keep you posted!

Email me to meet up (nycolor.is.life@gmail.com) - and make a wish!

Salsa Sundays!

Here are two great FREE dance events that happen on Sundays, and they're both pretty close to each other! Planning to go to both tonight - so excited to dance again: ).  Click on the titles to get more details on the website.


MOONDANCE
"Whether you’ve been dancing for years, or want to learn how to boogie like a pro, Hudson River Park’s MoonDance is your chance to strut your stuff under the stars! No experience necessary. Featured styles include swing, tango and salsa."


Free dance lessons 6:30pm – 7pm courtesy of Dance Manhattan

Live Music 7pm – 10pm | Hudson River Park, Pier 54 (see directions here)


July Events

• 18 July 2010, Sunday – Los Hermanos Colon - happening tonight!
• 25 July 2010, Sunday – Nu D’Lux
• 1 August 2010, Sunday – Hector DelCurto’s Eternal Tango Orchestra
• 8 August 2010, Sunday – George Gee Swing Orchestra

LATIN SUNDAYS

Salsa, bachata, merengue!


No Cover | Las Chicas Locas - 25th bet 6th and 7th

730p-1am

Happy Dancing!

How to: Spam Musubi (by Evan)

From Wikipedia: "Spam musubi is a very popular snack and lunch food in Hawaii made in the tradition of Japanese onigiri, also known as omusubi. Spam musubi is composed of a block of rice with a slice of grilled spam on top and nori (seaweed) wrapping to hold it together."

Last Friday, Evan W. (who grew up in Hawaii, of course!) had us over to teach us how to make this simple but deliciously filling food, and I'm here to share it with you! 

THE INGREDIENTS
Seaweed, White Rice, and Spam...and a bowl of water!
NOTE: Spam prep involves marinating in soy sauce and sugar for a few hours, and then pan frying it!

PUTTING IT TOGETHER

The secret behind putting it together is the clear, plastic hollow rectangle spam musubi maker...and "The Masher".

• Before you begin, make sure the inside edge of the rectangle is wet.  This is key so your rice doesn't stick!
• After preparing a clean surface and laying the seaweed down, place the rectangle a little off of center.  Fill it with white rice, and then use the masher to flatten the rice.
• The rectangle is designed to fit the spam perfectly!  Place two pieces on top of the rice, and fill it with another layer.

• It's time for The Masher again, but don't forget to wet it or else it won't work.
• Press the layers together!
• Then, with The Masher still pressed down, slip the rectangle off from the top.
• And now, the hardest part...carefully remove The Masher without moving the rice or the spam from its place.

THE WRAP

• Almost there!  Take one edge of the seaweed, wet the edges like an envelope, and stick it to the rice.  Then take the other edge and do the same.  Make sure it's snug like a hug!

...AND THAT'S A WRAP!

• Cut it into a few cubes, and it's ready to eat!

Yay - always so fun to learn something new.  Justin got creative and added egg to his too, and it was also delicious.  Add a side of macaroni salad, and you got a true Hawaiian meal.  

ALOHA!

7/13 - Happy National French Fry Day!

UPDATE: Hot potato!  What delicious fun.  Us 6 girls ate up our Pomme Frites with a fury, so fast that the guy at the counter gave us more sauces to try and a whole extra order, for free!  We liked the Parmesan Peppercorn, thought the Especial tasted just like normal mayo, and the Sweet Chili had a bit of a plum flavor.  Perfect way to celebrate today: ).  Thanks for meeting up!!

_____

Though it's likely a big a marketing ploy, I do enjoy days/months dedicated to specific foods -- Sweet Potato Month (Feb 2011), National Burger Month (May 2011), Pancake Day (Mar 8, 2011)...check out this calendar of all the random things to celebrate! -- and today we get to celebrate French Fries!  Let's go to Pomme Frites tonight!: )

July 13, 2010 is National French Fries Day


Oh how we love those deep-fried strips of potato we know more commonly as french fries (or "chips" in England). The Belgians claim to have invented french fries, but no one knows for sure.

According to a Belgian historian, french fries date back to the 1600s when the inhabitants of a region formerly known as the Spanish Netherlands (currently Belgium) had the custom of accompanying their meals with small fried fish. When the river froze and they could not fish they turned to potatoes which they cut lengthwise and fried in oil. The term "French" was introduced during World War I when soldiers arrived and tasted the fries. They called them "French" as it was the official language of the Belgian Army at the time.

Today, we have many variations of french fries. Waffle fries, curly fries, sweet potato fries, shoestring fries -- what's your favorite? Whatever variation you prefer, chances are you'll be eating them away from home like most Americans. In fact, one fast-food chain's famous fries are so popular, they have their own Facebook page with more than half a million fans!

So hit up the drive-thru and super size your order to celebrate National French Fries Day!
(via MyPunchBowl.com)

Apparently, it's also National Ice Cream Month and National Grilling Month too - fun fun!