Cel-Ray

After 25 years and a handful of weeks of living, I was offered my first can of Dr Brown's Cel-Ray soda.

Actually, I had never even heard of celery-flavored soda up until this past Easter. Tom and I had gone to his dad's girlfriend, Louise's lovely brownstone in Park Slope for dinner. Apparently this pop is big in the Jewish delicatessens in New York City (been around for a long long time) and parts of Florida (??). And whattayaknow, it tasted like carbonated celery.


Photo by flickr user yvespaul

Luckily I like celery, but would I drink a whole can again? Maybe if you gave me a Katz's Pastrami sandwich too. Just sayin'.

Oh and Easter dinner was pretty delicious. 2 different kinds of salads; Manicotti, ravioli and meatballs from Lenny's, a yummy spiral ham which I had the honor of doling out to everyone, and lots of desserts. I rolled out of there feeling just right.

Buffalo Wings

Superbowl Sunday... the beginning of the end for me.

I made my famous guacamole. Delish.

Then I also made Fried Buffalo Wings.


Washed and left to dry for 3 hrs in the fridge


The end result.

What I did to get there:
-separated the wings into 2 parts. Washed, let dry for a few hours as to eliminate oil splatter.
-heated a pot of canola oil
-made a special hot sauce of Red Cayenne Pepper Sauce (ie Red Devil), melted butter, cayenne pepper, and dried minced garlic
-deep fried the chicken wings, 4 at a time for about 6 minutes each batch. drained on paper towels
-coated in sauce
-Poured on
...But I gotta be honest with you. This is not my favorite blue cheese dressing. I would've made it myself, but I was already making so many other things. I chose this particular one because it was all natural. But it was too sweet for my taste.
-Chopped celery sticks
-Served on a platter only to inhale them minutes later.
Nom nom nom

Hearty Tomato Soup

I normally hate tomato soup. I am just not a fan of eating tomatoes in liquified form if it isn't a Bloody Mary, and CERTAINLY do not serve me gazpacho, because let's face it, that is just watery salsa without the chips.

However, for lunch yesterday, the office was ordering from Columbine yet again, as their food is pretty damn great (so great that I had to call about 20 times to actually get through to someone).

The soups change every day, and they had a hearty tomato soup as one of their choices. For whatever reason, I decided to get that and ½ special sandwich (which consisted of kalamata olives, feta, chickpeas and probably arugla or something... point is, it's really not worth writing about.)

But the soup! So simple, so delicious

-Tomato Soup
-Rice
-Peas & Carrots
-Onion

and here's the kicker...

-Pancetta!!

It was so flavorful and, like the name suggests, HEARTY. They changed the way I viewed tomato soup forever.

I just bought Pacific Natural Food's Organic Creamy Tomato Soup with 50% less sodium than the regular box. Who wants to give me some pancetta?? I will whip up a pot.

**EDIT** I couldn't help it. I made a serving except with Canadian Bacon. Not quite as rich, but still pretty tasty. In a small saucepan, I sauteed some onions, peas, diced carrots, diced Canadian bacon and brown rice. Looking at it, I realized I just made fried rice (minus the scrambled egg, soy sauce and scallions). But add in the tomato soup and you totally change the look and taste. I guess that's what recipes are.


*******
Bonus: Virgin Bloody Mary

-Tomato Juice
-Horseradish
-Worcester Sauce
-Tabasco Sauce (or Red Devil)
-salt & pepper
-celery

Adjust the measurements to your liking. Mix with a stalk of celery and you've got yourself a nice little drink. Add vodka to be a grownup.