Sunday Sandwiches: Smorgasburg

This was actually two sundays ago...but who's counting? Anyway...on this particular Sunday Chloe and I went to DUMBO in search of two things: puppies and good food. We spent a while "awwing" all of the dogs in their various costumes. I've included numerous pictures to satisfy your cuteness craving. I like picturing the interactions how they would be if they were not costumes, like a shark sniffing a dinosaur. 

After we got our puppy fix, we headed down to the water in search of food. I've been to Smorgasburg in Williamsburg a couple times and now know the best way to navigate it - do a lap and make note of what you want to eat, then go back to two or three places. Too often have I bemoaned the choice currently in my hand, seeing a stand I didn't know existed and wishing I had made a different choice...I'm very particular about my food stand choices. I like things with cheese and/or slow-cooked meat, preferably on a stick or in the form of a dumpling. 

I ended up getting a turducken sandwich with slow-cooked turkey, foie gras, chicken sausage and pickled vegetables, a corndog made from chorizo on a stick covered in cornbread batter, and infused lemonade. I think it's clear that when it comes to my love of all things food, I don't mess around. One reason I love Smorgasburg is the unspoken commitment by vendors and food-lovers alike to go all out. To make a sandwich with everything on it, then to eat it without guilt.

 This is my last post with blue/green hair! I'm currently in the process of dying it back to a normal color. Right now it's kind of a mess and forces me to wear a hat when in public, but it should be back to a recognizable color soon.

Healthy Granola Bars

When I was searching for a recipe for granola bars, they all had so many ingredients that I would have to go out and buy. I didn't want to make them if it was significantly cheaper to go out and get a box of granola bars. I stumbled upon this recipe for five ingredient granola bars from Minimalist Baker. It's great because I only had to buy a couple ingredients, and it gives you the freedom to add anything in your pantry! I had some stale raspberry yogurt covered pretzels that were a great addition! I changed the recipe a little to account for the extra ingredient. 

Note: when you're buying peanut butter, make sure it's natural! The brands we all love, like skippy and jiff, can have hidden trans fats. When reading the ingredients on peanut butter look out for "partially-hydrogenated oil." This is when they take unsaturated oils (healthy oils) and make them unhealthy my adding high temperatures and a metal catalyst. This makes it so the oil doesn't separate from the peanuts. To make your bars as healthy as possible, use all-natural peanut butter (free of saturated fats and trans fats)! 

Here is my take on the five ingredient granola bars:

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup packed dates, pitted 
• 1/2 cup honey 
• 1/2 cup creamy salted natural peanut butter 
• 1 cup roasted unsalted almonds, loosely chopped
• 1 cup yogurt covered pretzels, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute)
2. Toast your oats in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
3. Place oats, almonds and dates in a bowl – set aside.
4. Warm honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout.
5. Once thoroughly mixed, transfer to an baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper (I wanted to produce a large quantity of thinner bars, for thicker bars use a smaller pan)
6. Press down until uniformly flattened (I used a spatula)
7. Place in the fridge to harden for a couple hours 
8. Remove bars from pan and cut into bars. Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. 

Halloween recap

I'm not sure why, but everyone seemed more excited for halloween this year than I remember. Maybe it has something to do with Sandy hitting last year, but people were dressing up two weeks before the actual event. I don't mind. I like all the festivities surrounding the holiday - pumpkin carving, candy eating, and costumes. This year I dressed as a bunch of bananas (with one ape who chased us all around), a hippie, the painting American Gothic and zombie Wayne and Garth from Wayne's World. I spent the weekend in upstate New York visiting my boyfriend who is a big fan of the holiday. Turns out his hidden talent is halloween makeup (who knew?). Getting ready was, at times, even more fun than going out. Already looking forward to next year.