food

maple sugar candy

March 1, 2011

Maple sugar candy.

Have you ever in your life had the pleasure of eating this delightful treat?

Please say yes.

And if your answer is no, then I hope for your sake you get a chance to experience this in your lifetime.

Sugary, maple-y, sweeter than watching the sunrise goodness.

Maple sugar candy is out of this world.

My teeth hurt just thinking about it.

It’s amazing.

I’ve always known this is my favorite treat ever but sometimes I forget just how much I love it until I have some on my tongue again after a long time apart. This candy, made up purely of maple syrup, is found in parts of the northeast. It’s often made into shapes like maple leaves and can be popped into your mouth in one piece, or savored slowly by licking the sugar with your tongue. Either is delicious!

We were luckily able to stop at one of the very best Maple sellers in all the world! Smack dab in the middle of nowhere NY, Wicks Pure Maple Products sells quality maple products straight from the maple trees of the Adirondacks. DREAM.

Lucky to know they ship these candies just about anywhere. I might have to order some boxes of these come September. I vow never to go so long again without these little leaves in my life. Hallelujah.

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wegmans: craft your own pack

February 27, 2011

Wegmans is the place of ALL places to shop for anything grocery related in your life. It is the mecca of all grocery stores, the “KING”, if you will. And so this makes me very sad to report that my only opportunity to visit and soak up Wegmans are the few times I am home visiting my mom and dad in Syracuse. We do not have Wegmans near Boston, and this is one of the greatest tragedies of all time.

Not to be dramatic or anything.

I’m just simply stating the facts.

On a happier note, when I do get to go to Wegmans there is so much to see and do I can spend hours there, days even, and so this makes my trips home always that much more exciting.

Last summer when I was home I discovered the “Craft Your Own Pack” section, upon where there is a wide variety of single beers to choose from, to make yourself a custom 6-pack of tasty beverages.

This I had never heard of before!

It’s a pretty sweet deal, I think, to be able to pick out ones you know you like, and others you want to try. We filled a few “Craft Your Own Packs” on our way to Lake Placid, which gave us a nice variety to choose from while we were there.

VERY cool. Thanks, Danny W.!

1 Comment · Filed Under: food, fun products ·

bittersweet wine bar

February 23, 2011

While in Syracuse this week for my February break, my family made sure to have lunch at Bittersweet in Armory Square. This restaurant was opened by Patrizia Barbieri, an alum of my high school, good old Jamesville-Dewitt. My sister is good friends with Patrizia’s sister Luci, a pastry chef who makes the desserts for the restaurant. YUM!

Overall the food was delicious, featuring a long list of wines and the most amazing desserts. We stopped in for lunch and were able to pick from a handful of sandwiches, which are named for each of the Barbieri family members; all of which have helped make Bittersweet a reality for Patrizia.

Click here to read the article above, featured in Syracuse Woman Magazine.

Here are a few of my own photographs from today’s excellent lunch:

Everything was so tasty! The Belgium Delight dessert was amazing. And the Death By Chocolate Cake was incredible too (it’s said to be Patrizia’s favorite). I only wish I could have tried the whole dessert menu. With over 15 options for dessert alone, this would have been impossible, but I guess it just means I’ll have to go back next time I’m in Syracuse!

Here’s a snapshot of Patrizia and Lucia, the lovely ladies behind the unique downtown cafe.

This is such a great addition to Downtown Syracuse! Definitely visit if you are in the neighborhood. It would be just the place to have a light bite for lunch, or a rich and satisfying dessert before a night out on the town– the perfect place to bring a date, or enjoy a nice night out with friends.

Bittersweet Wine Bar & Desserts
121 West Fayette Street
Syracuse, NY 13202

2 Comments · Filed Under: food ·

v-day dinner.

February 17, 2011

I hope your Valentine’s day was as delicious as mine! This recipe was perfect for a special V-day dinner, but it would be an excellent choice for any night of the week!!

I got this recipe straight out of Barefoot Contessa’s Back to Basics. YUM.

Ina Garten’s Herb Marinated Pork Tenderloin:

Ingredients
1 lemon, zest grated
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (4 to 6 lemons)
good olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
kosher salt
3 pork tenderloins (about 1 pound each)
freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Combine the lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, mustard, and 2 teaspoons salt in a sturdy 1-gallon resealable plastic bag. Add the pork tenderloins and turn to coat with the marinade. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag. Marinate the pork in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours but preferably overnight (I did mine overnight and the flavor was unreal).

You can find the rest of Ina’s version here. I went a different route and simply baked the pork for 350 degrees for 40 minutes. It was super tender and lemon-y. Highly recommended.

We made homemade risotto as a side dish, which was insane, and topped it off with a strawberry poppyseed salad.

Pretty lovely for LOVE day!