The Inn at Kent Falls in Litchfield County, CT

Baby boy #2 is supposed to arrive in 5 weeks. Knowing life will be hectic once he makes his debut, Daniel and I took a trip, just the two of us, last weekend. Nico happily stayed with my Mom in Manhattan while we whisked ourselves two hours away to lovely Litchfield County, CT.

We took a similar trip before Nico was born to Shinn Estate on the North Fork. We considered going back since it's still one of our favorite inns out of the many we've visited, but I'm a sucker for trying something new, especially when it comes to food and travel. As usual, I spent a lot of time searching for the right place and finally found The Inn at Kent Falls in this book, a gift from Daniel's cousin.


Similar to Shinn Estate, The Inn at Kent Falls feels like an intimate bed & breakfast without the nosy innkeepers and stuffy decor. It's run by Ira Goldspiel, a hip New York City transplant who kept a very low profile the entire time we were there. Though the inn was full, we only saw a few other guests briefly at breakfast, making it feel as if we had the place to ourselves. Ira told us the house is 250 years old, but only a few low ceilings and wide-plank wood floors gave it an old-fashioned feel.

The decor was country chic and the furniture was similar to what we saw in a lot of the antique shops nearby.

Our room had its own entrance on the side of the house, a very cozy four-poster king bed and a beautiful claw-foot bathtub.

It was the perfect place to rest and relax. Daniel and I had never been to Litchfield County and we were surprised by just how beautiful it was. We felt far away from New York, yet it took us just under 2 hours to get there. It was an ideal place to spend a romantic weekend, but there were so many things that made us think of Nico and how great it'd be with him, too.

Everywhere we went, we seemed to see rolling hills, babbling books, and waterfalls. Best of all was stunning Lake Waramaug.

The area is full of activities, but for once, we decided to not plan anything in advance (aside from dinner, of course). All weekend we just floated from one thing to the next, making decisions spontaneously, something so foreign now that we're parents.

To be honest, most of the food we had didn't wow me, but living in Brooklyn sets the bar pretty high. We did enjoy a nice lunch here (right after spotting Kramer from Seinfeld at the antique shop Privet House, across the street) and a fancy dinner here, although the service needed a lot of improvement.

We popped into cute shops in a few different towns and and saw a lot of very nice, and very expensive, furniture, housewares and even fancy homemade candy.

We ended up buying only one thing the whole trip. A little fire engine for Nico from an adorable store called Three Monkeys and Me. A fitting name considering I already have two monkeys in my life and will soon have a third.

As sad as we were to see it come to an end, this weekend away was just what we needed. I wish we'd had more time to spend at the inn and lie by the pool, or soak in that tub, but this is one place I'd happily visit again and again.

The Inn at Kent Falls
107 Kent Cornwall Road
Kent, CT
860-927-3197

Food Tour Overview

As a former Food Network employee and Mom of two little boys who has called Brooklyn home for the past 9 years, I'm passionate about food and what I believe is New York City's best borough. Whether you want to find some kid-friendly spots that actually have good food or visit Brooklyn's best bakeries, I'd be happy to show you around.

Currently, I'm only offering tours by request. Email me at: brklynfoodie@yahoo.com if you're interested in a customized tour and we can work something out.

Second Food Tour: A Movie, Cookies and A Lot of Toddlers

I led my second tour last week and it was a lot different than my first. This time around, there were 7 Moms (including myself) and 8 kids (one 5-week old, six 2-year olds and a 6-month old). I expected a bit of chaos, but got a lot more than that.

Since the majority of the kids were toddlers, we started off at the Big Movies for Little Kids film series at Cobble Hill Cinemas. It was the first movie experience for many of the children, and surprisingly, they all sat fairly still throughout the two short films, happily munching on popcorn.

Afterward, we walked over to One Girl Cookies, on Dean Street. Before moving to Park Slope a few years ago, I lived right across the street. I still miss that block, the neighborhood, and my proximity to some of Brooklyn's best sweets, a lot.


From the first time I stepped inside One Girl Cookies, it's been one of my favorite places in all of Brooklyn. First, I love the decor: blue walls, swirly chocolate brown and cream wallpaper, white subway tiles, and butcher block counters. It's hip, cozy and cheerful with an old-fashioned feel. I actually thought a lot about One Girl Cookies while coming up with ideas for my own kitchen (if you click, scroll down to see the one I'm referring to).


Cookies are the main attraction and I love One Girl's approach. About the size of a silver dollar, they can all be eaten in one or two bites. They're fun to order, too. Named after members of the owner's Italian family, they offer great ideas for baby names (think Lucia, Penelope, Cecilia, and Juliette) and you can't help but wonder about the women that inspired these dainty treats.

They're all addictive, although if I had to choose, I'd say the Olga (mint ganache sandwiched between two sugar cookies) and Lucia (a shortbread, caramel, and chocolate layer bar) are the best. As if the cookies weren't enough, there are unbelievably moist cupcakes topped with a crown of icing, Il Laboratorio gelato, ice cream sandwiches, fudgy brownies, chocolate or pumpkin whoopie pies, and a rotating menu of cakes, too.

Originally a mail-order business that owner Dawn Casale started in her West Village apartment in 2000, One Girl Cookies moved to Boerum Hill in 2005. Dawn now runs the business with Dave Crofton. They first met when he applied for a job as a baker and are now married. Together, they've created one of the best bakeries in Brooklyn. It's a place where you want to linger and try every single sweet.

I had been in contact with Dawn about my food tours and arranged to have some sweets ready when we arrived. As expected, the kids devoured most of them. Quickly. See that hand with chocolate-covered fingers reaching for a cookie? That's my son, eating what was probably his tenth one. And this smiling little guy is Dash, another very happy customer.

After attacking the sweets, the kids were ready to run, climb, jump and turn the place into an indoor playground. There were kids running toy cars over what we soon found out was Dawn and David's family tree (displayed on a delicate material that could be easily damaged) and others trying to climb shelves in the store. Then there was my own son who was trying to swipe sweets from the window display.

Sitting in a movie theater for an hour and then gorging on sugar was clearly not the best combination for a pack of 2-year old boys. A better idea would have been to stop in the shop, pick up some sweets and head to a nearby park. Lesson learned!

To help me plan future tours, I asked all the Moms to send me feedback. The one who joined with her 5-week old (and who found me through This Little Piglet!) said how nice it was to get out and spend some time with other moms. She said she felt comforted by the fact that there was no reason to feel nervous if her son suddenly cried or freaked out. Her comments and the experience itself reinforced my original plan to focus on parents and babies. New parents are usually the most desperate to connect with people who are going through the same changes they are. And when your child mainly sleeps and eats, you can actually sit, talk and savor the food you're eating! Hopefully, I can find a way to include older children on future tours, but for now, I'm sticking to babies 12 months and under.

My next tour is on Tuesday along Atlantic Avenue and two Moms with newborns are already coming. Contact me if you're interested in joining, or spread the word to any new parents you know. I'll be posting more details soon.

One Girl Cookies
68 Dean Street
212-675-4996

Molly Wizenberg's Cider-Glazed Salmon

I started this post over a year ago. Right around the time I stopped blogging altogether. It features a recipe from one of my favorite food bloggers, Molly Wizenberg of Orangette.

Orangette was one of the first food blogs I discovered. It's still a favorite. Molly had been blogging for a few years by the time I discovered her. I spent the first few weeks catching up. Her writing felt familiar, as if she was someone I knew well. I wished, and still do, that I could write like her. Like many of her readers, I was swept away by the love story that unfolds on her blog. The short version? A fellow food lover from New York found her while searching for a lemon cake recipe online. He's now her husband and they run a restaurant in Seattle. Dig through her archives to find out more. It's a foodie love story fit for a movie.

Last year, Molly published A Homemade Life, her first book. It's a collection of touching stories and food, of course, sneaks its way naturally into every one. I was sad when I finished, but because each story ends with a recipe, I get to revisit it often. I think I dog-eared almost every one.

I missed Molly while she was in New York promoting the book last year, but finally met her a few weeks ago while she was here for the paperback release. We spoke for just a few seconds, but I was surprised, and honored, that she recognized me from my own blog. It was so nice to see her in person, hear her speak and see that she's just as I imagined. Warm and friendly, soft-spoken yet witty and sarcastic. Very articulate.

At first, Molly's life sounds perfect. But the more you read about her, the more real she becomes. She's been through a lot and is clearly wise beyond her years. A true old soul. I'd already been planning to start writing again, but hearing her talk about the book and how she became a food writer made me even more motivated.

I've made dozens of Molly's recipes over the years and they always seem to turn out perfectly. This cider-glazed salmon was no exception. It might be one of my most favorite yet, along with this granola, this salad, and this butternut squash puree that I wrote about back in 2006.

But, back to the salmon. It's poached in fresh apple cider and reduced with cream till you're left with a sweet, delicious caramel-colored sauce that you'll want to slurp straight from the pan. It'd be a great dinner party dish or the perfect meal for two.

Now that Molly's book is in paperback, I thought it'd be a good time to finally publish this post. I might have made her salmon recipe over a year ago, but I still remember it perfectly. Give it a try and pick up A Homemade Life as soon as you have a chance. You won't be disappointed.

Cider-Glazed Salmon
Serves 4

For this recipe, you'll need a large 12-inch skillet with a lid. The pan should be large enough to hold the salmon without crowding and to provide plenty of surface area for boiling down and thickening the sauce.

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 medium shallot, peeled and halved lengthwise
2 cups fresh unfiltered apple cider
4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
Salt
1/2 cup heavy cream

In a large, heavy skillet, combine the butter, shallot, and cider. Place over medium-high heat, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove and discard the shallot.

Place the fillets gently in the pan, adjusting the heat so that the liquid just trembles. Spoon a bit of the liquid over them, so that their tops begin to cook. Cover and simmer very gently. The fillets will cook for 8 to 10 minutes per inch of thickness. To test for doneness, make a small slit with a paring knife in the thickest part of the fillet: all but the very center of each piece should be opaque. (It will keep cooking after you pull it from the heat). Transfer the cooked salmon to a platter, and cover loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm.

To prepare the glaze, raise the heat under the pan to medium-high, add a pinch of salt, and simmer, stirring frequently, until the liquid is reduced by about two-thirds. It should be slightly thickened and should just cover the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium, and add the cream. Stir well to combine. Return the heat to medium-high and boil, stirring frequently, for a few minutes, until the mixture darkens to a pale golden caramel--like those Brach's Milk Maid caramel candies, if that helps--and is reduced by one-third to one-half.

Place the salmon fillets on 4 plates and top each with a spoonful of sauce. It should coat them like a thin, loose glaze. Serve immediately.

Note: If you'd like to make this for only 2 people, halve the amount of salmon, but not the sauce quantities.

Next Food Tour: Monday, April 19

I know it's short notice, but my next food tour is tomorrow. I'm still in a trial phase and most of the people joining are friends, but slowly the word is spreading. On Tuesday, I had 2 people and tomorrow, it looks like there will be at least 5 and maybe 1 more. If anyone else is interested, you're welcome to join us!

Most of the kids coming tomorrow are toddlers, so we'll be meeting at Cobble Hill Cinemas at 4pm. Every other Monday, the theater screens movies for kids ages 2 and up. Tomorrow's viewing is an Earth Day celebration featuring two short movies: Dr. Seuss's The Lorax and the Academy-award winning film, The Man Who Planted Trees. While food will always be a major focus of my tours, I'll try to combine them with events such as this from time to time, especially when older kids are coming.

After the movie, we'll be heading to my all-time favorite spot for sweets. If you'd like to join for that part only, we'll be arriving around 5pm. For more details, email me at: brklynfoodie@yahoo.com. To get updates about future tours via email, sign up for my newsletter.

First Food Tour at Nunu Chocolates

Before telling you about my Brooklyn food tours, I was taking all sorts of steps behind the scenes. Spreading the word among Moms I know, reaching out to local businesses, and making a long list of places to include. Putting the idea in writing and sharing it was my first big step. Leading a tour was the second. I can now check both off my list. I'm really doing this.

I've been contemplating this idea for over a year, putting it off out of fear and uncertainty. Now that I've gotten started, I can hardly contain myself. My head, which for so long could only handle Mom-related information, is spinning with ideas. This is still a major work in progress, but I haven't felt this determined by, or dedicated to, a project in a long time. It's refreshing.

My first tour was on Tuesday with Karlyn, who I spent many years with at Food Network, and her son Fox, and Bernadette, who I met in Park Slope soon after having Nico, and her daughter Eileen. Nico stayed home for this one, but he'll be joining my next tour on Monday. Details to come!

Eventually, I hope to make a few stops per tour. Since this was my first, I started small and settled on one (a smart decision considering it takes a long time to get anywhere with a few toddlers in tow).

We met in Park Slope and walked over to Nunu Chocolates on Atlantic Avenue. Opened by husband and wife team Justine Pringle and Andy Laird, Nunu represents everything I love about Brooklyn businesses.

Justine and Andy make all the chocolate themselves in a small kitchen that you can see while relaxing in their cozy space. They didn't know anything about making chocolate when they started and don't have any formal culinary training. To get their business going, they've worked countless hours and multiple jobs over the last few years. They continue to work about 18 hours per day, 7 days a week. When asked if they ever take vacation, Andy told me they took a half day for Thanksgiving. Hearing their story only made me more excited to boast about the good food Brooklyn has to offer, and the incredible people behind it.

With Andy's help, we selected an assortment of treats, including salted caramels, chocolate covered graham crackers, a ganache with organic raspberry puree and another with mezcal chili. All of Nunu's chocolate has a 53% cocoa content which allows it to be sweet, but not overpowering. Everything was delicious and Andy was nice enough to send us home with a few extra samples.


Eileen and Fox were happy to help us taste test, of course.

Nunu also serves coffee, tea, wine and beer and is open from 7am-9pm, every day. You can find their chocolates at various locations throughout Brooklyn, or you can join me the next time I take a group of Moms and kids there. I plan on going back soon!

Nunu Chocolates
529 Atlantic Avenue

917-776-7102

Brooklyn Food Tours for Parents & Children

A lot has happened since you heard from me last. I stopped working at Food Network, became a full-time Mom, and in two months, baby boy #2 will be born.

For me, becoming a parent marked the end of leisurely restaurant meals (temporarily, at least). And of course, food blogging fell by the wayside. But my devotion to eating the best food I could find never wavered. If anything, I became more obsessed. Case in point? I joined the Park Slope Food Coop. I also became the honorary planner of food-related outings for a group of new Moms I met.

On one outing -- a six-mile walk to satisfy a croissant craving -- my friend Bernadette suggested I start my own food tour business. A light bulb went off. I’d been exposed to the food world during my 7 years at Food Network, but never felt like I could get close enough to what really interested me: the food.

I considered culinary school, but knew I didn't want to be a chef. I started this blog thinking I wanted to become a food writer, only to discover that writing about food is very, very hard. Finally, thanks to Bernadette’s brilliant suggestion, I realized I could do what I do best. Walk, talk about Brooklyn, and show friends, and eventually food-loving strangers, the best places to eat.

It’s been a year since that inspiring walk to Fort Greene. At last, I’m ready to get this going. I'm starting food tours for parents and children in Brooklyn.

I know what it’s like to be a new parent, to feel immobilized, as if you can’t venture too far from home, fearful you’ll be stuck with a screaming infant and scornful looks from strangers. I want to help parents see that they can still be adventurous with kids. Outings with children, especially those that revolve around food, are different, of course. Even when you live in a very kid-friendly neighborhood like mine, the idea of eating out with a little one is daunting. But anything that gets you out of the house, talking to other parents, and walking, and treating yourself to something delicious, is good for both you, and your child.

When I first had Nico, I met many women who were afraid, or unsure, about doing anything adventurous with their babies. I on the other hand wanted to take Nico everywhere. It wasn’t always easy, but I was always glad I’d tried.

I'd love to get some feedback from all of you, if any of you are even still out there, and would be forever grateful if you'd help spread the word. I have a long list of tours I want to plan, but need to start slowly to make this the best it can be. Hopefully, over time, I can help new parents discover some of the best food Brooklyn has to offer (and eventually in Manhattan and beyond). As I've learned since becoming a Mom, it's all about baby steps.

My first tour will be a trial one with a few friends and their children on Tuesday, April 13. We'll be leaving Park Slope around 4pm and heading to some sweet spots along Atlantic Avenue. If you’d like to join, contact me for details (you can now find my email under my profile). I hope to plan a few more in April and will post all the details here. Stay tuned!

Guest post: Daniel's Coq au Vin

Cock-a-doodle-doo!!!

Apparently there are a few of us out there: chefs at heart who have, for what seems like ever, dreamt of one day making - or eating - a Coq au Vin. My recollections of this fantasy begin sometime in my early teens, overhearing my parents and their grown-up friends discuss en passant that a true Coq au Vin exists no more; after all, the mother - or father- of all ingredients, i.e. the Coq (rooster), has disappeared from our modern markets. And so this traditional recipe of no particular exclusiveness became a Holy Grail. At least for me.

I envision the dish being created somewhat like this: Rooster Jacques is past his prime. He still walks tall, chest plumped out, waking his masters at 3 am, and courting the chicks in his dominion. But his apparatus, the inseminator of so many oh-so-delicious young birds, is lacking in luster. And so Mother Genevieve decides it is time for vieil Jacques to serve his last purpose. Jacques has been roaming the coop for a few years now. His muscles tough and aged. Your regular fricassee won't tenderize those roughed up legs who fought so many battles against dogs, children and rivals. With plenty of Burgundy in the cellar, Genevieve submerges Jacques in good wine and decides to cook the coq for a while...

Jump to 2008 and old roosters are nowhere to be found. Partly for fun, partly to quench a certain curiosity and partly due to pure naïveté, I called our local meat market and inquired about ordering a rooster. In disbelief as to what kind of idiot, lunatic or prankster was on the other line, the Brooklyn accent yelled across the room "This guy wants a roosta! Yeah! A ROOSTA. He wants a roosta." I found out the best they could do was a Capon, a young castrated male chicken. They are usually a few weeks older than their female counterparts, whom we commonly find in every supermarket. The market said they needed a week to get me an eunuch rooster, so I gave up on that goal.

All of this is to say that I failed in my quest for the Holy Grail. Maybe one day I will find my Jacques. In the meantime, we had a fantastic meal this Saturday. I got two so-called Black Feathered Chickens from Bo Bo farms, in upstate NY (love the homepage that shows a chicken with "head included"). The description on the package said they were a bit more mature than the other birds around. So, I went with the ladies, instead of the chicks.

I thoroughly examined over six recipes. To compensate for the short cooking time, some recipes ask you to marinate the chicken overnight (e.g.. Alton Brown and Epicurious). I found one that claims to be for a person who actually has a rooster to cook. Saveur has a recipe that I almost chose as the winner, but the cocoa threw me off. I am sure it is delicious, but I wanted a classic and not a classic with chocolate. Supported by a great post I read on ...an endless banquet, I came back to my original inspiration: fail-proof Julia Child. Her recipe assumes you are using a regular supermarket chicken, with about 3 lbs of meat. Since my birds were about 4.5 lbs each -- including feet, leftover feathers and more fat than I have ever seen on a chicken -- I simply doubled the recipe.

In an attempt to leave my black-feathered friends swimming in Pinot a while longer than the recipe asked for, I cooked it a day ahead and did not reduce the sauce at first. I just let it cool after cooking for thirty minutes and put the whole Dutch-oven in the fridge.

The next day I took the hardened fat off the top (and saved it), removed the chicken parts and continued to follow Julia's instructions to reduce the sauce. I used part of the reserved fat to brown the potatoes, mushrooms and onions. I also used all giblets, feet, necks, and bones to make a chicken stock that I used in a soup last night.

I think I speak for those at the table when I say the meal was truly excellent. I am still daydreaming about the taste of the sauce. If I could I would have swam in it. Simple flavors combining in perfect harmony. Nothing too fancy: chicken, garlic, butter, flour, bay leaves, thyme, parsley, mushrooms, onions, wine ($12 pinot noir bottles, from Mendoza, Argentina), salt and pepper. Perhaps the only "special" ingredient is the Cognac, which I substituted for Armagnac (roughly the same thing). But in reality, the wine as well as the cognac are your French equivalents of American lager and Tennessee whiskey.

I served it with a Pear-Manchego salad to start (a big hit and I highly recommend it). And Julia knows best: parsley potatoes and green beans were the perfect accompaniments.

All in all, Coq au Vin is a dish that merits the hype. It is a dish that lingers on your palate and your mind, like a perfect vacation day. I keep trying to come back to the taste of that sauce and the meat falling off the bones. I will certainly do it again some day, and then I will only use legs, thighs and wings. In my opinion the breasts were sub-par when compared to the rest.

I have to admit that my first impression of the Coq au Vin, as I took that first bite, was of slight disappointment. But then again, my expectations were impossibly high, carrying the baggage of a meal one waits their entire life for. Moreover, I had a hard time letting go off the "what if this were a true Coq au Vin"- thought. I mean, the chicken cooked for about 30 minutes in the wine. I am sure Jacques would have cooked for a few more hours. Imagine how much more filled with wine and deliciousness his old muscles would be.

Approach your modern-age Coq au Vin with humility and reason and you shall be blown away by this dish. Piglet and I ate the leftovers yesterday, and it was fantastic, again. Too bad we finished it.

Coq au Vin, served with Parsley Potatoes, Green Beans and Pear-Manchego Salad

Recipes:

Coq au vin, by Julia Child
(Chicken in red wine with onions, mushrooms and bacon)
For 4 to 6 people.

A 3-4 oz chunk of lean bacon

2 Tbsp butter

2 1/2 - 3 lb cut-up frying chicken

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1/4 cup cognac

3 cups young, full-bodied red wine, such as Burgundy, Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône, or Chianti

1 - 2 cups brown chicken stock or beef bouillon

1/2 Tbsp tomato paste

2 cloves garlic, mashed

1/4 tsp thyme

1 bay leaf

*12 - 24 brown-braised onions (recipe follows)

**1/2 lb sauteed mushrooms (recipe follows)

3 Tbsp flour

2 Tbsp softened butter

several sprigs fresh parsley

Remove the rind and cut the bacon into lardons (1/4" x 1"
long rectangles). Simmer for 10 minutes in 2 quarts of water. Rinse in cold water. Dry.

Saute the bacon slowly in 2Tbsp of hot butter until it is very lightly browned. Remove to a side dish.

Dry the chicken thoroughly. Brown it in the hot fat in a stove-proof casserole.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Return the bacon to the casserole with the chicken.
Cover and cook slowly for 10 minutes, turning the chicken once.

Uncover, and pour in the cognac. Averting your face, ignite the cognac with a lighted match. Shake the casserole back and forth for several seconds until the flames subside.

Pour the wine into the casserole. Add just enough stock or bouillon to cover the chicken. Stir in the tomato paste, garlic, and herbs. Bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer slowly for 25 - 30 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and its juices run a clear yellow when the meat is pricked with a fork. Remove the chicken to a side dish.

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the onions and mushrooms (instructions follow).

Simmer the chicken cooking liquid in the casserole for a minute or two, skimming off fat. Then raise the heat and boil rapidly, reducing the liquid to about 2 1/4 cups. Correct seasoning. Remove the reduced cooking liquid from the heat, then discard the bay leaf.

Blend the butter and flour together into a smooth paste (beurre manié). Beat the paste into the hot liquid with a wire whip. Bring to a simmer, stirring, and simmer for 1-2 minutes. The sauce should be thick enough to coat a spoon lightly.

Arrange the chicken in the casserole, place the mushrooms and onion around it, and baste with the sauce.

Shortly before serving, bring to a simmer, basting the chicken with the sauce. Cover and simmer slowly for about 5 minutes, until chicken is hot through.

Serve from the casserole, or arrange on a hot platter. Decorate with springs of parsley.

*Oignons Glacés à Brun

(Brown-Braised Onions)

18-24 peeled white onions, about 1" in diameter

1 1/2 Tbsp butter

1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 cup of red wine

salt and pepper to taste

1 medium herb bouquet (4 parsley sprigs, 1/2 bay leaf, and 1/4 tsp thyme)

Heat the butter and oil in a 9- to 10-inch enameled skillet. When they begin to
bubble, add the onions and saute over moderate heat for about 10 minutes,
rolling the onions around so that they brown evenly as possible and being
careful not to break their skins.

Pour in the wine, season to taste, and add the herb bouquet. Cover and simmer slowly for 40-50 minutes until the onions are perfectly tender but retain their shape, and the liquid has evaporated. Remove the herb bouquet.

**Champignon Sautés au Beurre

(Sauteed Mushrooms)


2 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp oil

1/2 lb small fresh mushrooms, washed, dried, and left whole


Attention: do not salt them until ready to serve.

Place a 10-inch enameled skillet over high heat with the butter and oil. When the butter foam has begun to subside, indicating it is hot enough, add the mushrooms. Toss and shake the pan for 4 to 5 minutes. During their saute the mushrooms will at first absorb the fat. In 2 to 3 minutes the fat will reappear on their surface, and the mushrooms will begin to brown. As soon as they have browned lightly, remove from heat.

Browned Potatoes

2 pounds small, "boiling"potatoes or new potatoes

2 Tbsp butter

1Tbsp oil (more if needed)

1/4 tsp salt

Peel the potatoes and cut them into elongated olive shapes all the same size, 2 to 2 1/2 inches long and 1 to 1 1/4 inches at their widest diameter. Cut them smoothly, so they will roll around easily and color evenly when sauteed. (You may save the cuttings for a good leek soup, for example.)

Add enough butter and oil to the skillet to film it by 1/16 inch and set over moderately high heat. When butter is very hot put the potatoes into skillet. Leave them for 2 minutes, regulating heat so butter is always very hot but not browning. Then shake skillet back and forth to roll the potatoes and sear them on another side for 2 minutes. Continue thus for 4 to 5 minutes more until the potatoes are a pale golden color all over, indicating that a seared, protective film has formed over them, so that they will not stick to the pan.

Then sprinkle the potatoes with salt and roll them again in the skillet.

Lower heat, cover skillet, and cook for about 15 minutes, shaking potatoes every 3 to 4 minutes to prevent sticking.

They are done when they yield slightly to the pressure of your finger, or a knife pierces them easily.

Chop parsley and sprinkle on top before serving.

Green Beans

1 pound green beans, washed and with ends cut off.

1 1/2 Tbsp butter

Salt and pepper to taste

Bring 4 quarts of salted water to a boil. Cook beans in boiling water for about 3-4 minutes, until they are cooked but have not lost bright green color. Remove from water, add salt and pepper and butter. Serve.

Pear-Manchego Salad

For 4-6 people

Large bowl of mixed greens, washed and dry

1 large red beet

2 1/2 oz Manchego, shaved

2 pears, peeled and cut into eighths

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 Tbsp water

Balsamic Vinaigrette

Make a bed of greens in a large serving bowl. Peel beet and grate it raw. Place on top of greens.

Bring water and balsamic vinegar to a boil. Cook pears in liquid for about 3 minutes. Remove and place on bed of beets and greens. Arrange Manchego shavings on top. Serve with Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing.

Voilá!

Calling all Coq au Vin recipes!

Daniel and I are having some friends over for dinner Saturday night. He wants to make Coq au Vin. We've been going back and forth the past few days with recipe ideas and have yet to find the one.

I suggested a Julia Child recipe, but he's not sold. He thinks her recipe seems too quick & easy. He believes the chicken must marinate overnight. (After reading Julie & Julia this summer, I didn't think Julia Child had any easy recipes!).

When I forwarded our guests one email Daniel sent about the dinner, they were not surprised. One even said it was just the type of email he'd expect us to exchange. Nice.

Here it is for your reading pleasure:

I called United Meat market and tried ordering a Rooster. They talked to me like I was CRAZY: “Hey, there is a guy here who wants a Rooster!” Pretty funny. Long story short it takes a week and it is not a Rooster. It is a Capon, which is a young castrated rooster. I’ll stick with organic chicken this time. Hahaha.

Now that the rooster situation has been sorted out, we need to pick a recipe. I'm rooting for Julia Child's. This one and this one are also in the running. Does anyone out there have a Coq au Vin recipe that is even better? If so, I'd love to hear about it.

Daniel plans to do a guest post next week about our Coq au Vin experience (which will also involve a few bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau!). I'm sure that will be a very interesting read.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares

I've always been a planner. I like to cram a lot into each and every day and when things go as planned, I'm a happy woman. Having a baby has obviously thrown such predictability out the window. Now, if I can just squeeze in a shower, it's a good day.

So, imagine my delight when yesterday, everything went as planned. Nico took two naps, on time. I showered. We even ran some errands in the morning before nap #2. All of a sudden, it was 3pm and I had a free hour to spare. So what did I do? I made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares!

When I made this recipe last week for a Thanksgiving potluck at work, they were a big hit. They were just as popular last night when my mom, brother, sister-in-law to be, and niece came over for dinner. Daniel made us a Brazilian feast (shrimp cooked in a pumpkin!) and then we had some berry crumble with vanilla ice cream, and these squares, for dessert.

They're perfect for this time of year and a nice alternative to pumpkin pie or some of the more traditional fall-flavored treats. I tinkered with the recipe a little and used just a cup of sugar (instead of 1 1/4 cups) and only half a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips. The squares still tasted perfectly sweet to me.

If you're searching for an easy Thanksgiving dessert, give them a try. I might just make them again myself in a few days.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares
From Everyday Food
Makes 24
2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang on all sides. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pie spice, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth; beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in pumpkin puree (mixture may appear curdled). Reduce speed to low, and mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
3. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in pan.
4. Lift cake from pan (using foil as an aid). Peel off foil, and use a serrated knife to cut into 24 squares.

Tofu and Broccoli Stir Fry

I've wanted to to tell you about this recipe for awhile. Since I first started this blog, in fact. The problem is, I could never get a decent picture of it.

I promised last week to write more and obsess about perfection less, so here it is. (Of course, I wish the picture above was more enticing, but time to stop sweating the small stuff. Right?)

This has been my go-to tofu dish for a few years. It's the recipe that made me realize I actually really like the stuff. Daniel on the other hand is still not a fan. He happily eats whatever I make, and while tofu is no exception, he insists on dousing it with whatever condiments he can find.

The recipe comes from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food and it really couldn't be easier. You fry up some tofu till it has a nice golden crust, then toss in some broccoli and a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic and red pepper flakes. Top with toasted cashews and voila, a vegetarian dish that'll truly fill you up.

Tofu and Broccoli Stir Fry
From Everyday Food
Serves 4
1 package (14 1/2 ounces) firm tofu, drained, cut crosswise into 6 slabs (about 3/4 inch wide), each slab halved horizontally and cut into triangles
1 1/2 pounds broccoli, stalks trimmed, peeled, and cut into 1/4-inch rounds, florets separated into bite-size pieces
Coarse salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup cashews, toasted

Directions
1. Arrange tofu in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with several layers of paper towels. Top with more paper towels and another baking sheet; weight with canned goods. Let tofu drain, about 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, cook broccoli (stalks and florets) in a large pot of boiling salted water until bright green, 2 minutes. Drain; set aside.
3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add tofu; cook until golden brown, turning gently halfway through, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to paper towels.
4. Meanwhile, make sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, vinegar, red-pepper flakes, garlic, cornstarch, and 3/4 cup water; set aside.
5. Add broccoli to skillet; cook over high heat, stirring often, until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk reserved sauce to combine; pour into pan. Return tofu to pan; stir to coat, about 1 minute more. Serve topped with cashews.

Ina Garten's White Pizzas with Arugula

In my six and a half months as a mother, I've learned many things.

The one lesson that keeps popping up? The sooner I stop striving for perfection, the happier I will be.

I'm the type of person who pushes myself, sometimes a little too hard, to do things perfectly. Parenthood has only magnified this pressure I put on myself every day.

I'll spare you the psychoanalysis and just say this is why I haven't written in so long.

There have been many things I've wanted to share. A trip here, for one. And the veggie reuben, from here (which was my new favorite sandwich when I started writing this post a few weeks ago, only to be trumped by the one from here this weekend). Or how obsessed I am with the espresso chocolate chip biscotti I seem to eat every Friday from here. And of course I could have gone on and on (and on and on) about how in love I am with my little boy.

I would have loved to write my usual long, detailed posts, complete with photos. But trying to take care of a baby while juggling a full-time job and checking off all of life's seemingly endless to-do's doesn't leave much time for that.

So, I just stopped writing.

That's where this perfection thing gets tricky. It makes me very black or white. I do something full force, with every ounce of energy I have, or I don't do it at all.

It took awhile, but I finally realized that if I kept waiting for the perfect time to write a perfect post, you wouldn't have heard from me for a few more years. At least.

From now on, I'm going to try to write quick posts whenever I can. And for the record, they're going to be far from perfect. Some might just be a few sentences. Or a photo with a blurb. Who knows if I'll ever go back to writing long posts again. Baby steps, ok?

Right now, I want to tell you quickly about Ina Garten's white pizzas with arugula. Daniel and I made them a few weeks ago, and although my memory is hazy these days, I do remember that they're one of the best things I've eaten in awhile. When it comes to describing food, I'm feeling kind of rusty. But these are the words that come to mind when I think of this pizza: golden, crispy, rich, creamy, light, refreshing. You get the idea?

When I told two friends about these pizzas, they were surprised I made the dough from scratch. I promised them, and I promise you too, that this is the best part of the recipe. Do not skip this step! Do not substitute store-bought stuff. This is not the perfectionist in me talking. Really.

Need more incentive? What if I told you that this recipe makes six pizzas? Ina says the dough can be refrigerated for up to four hours, but we had two leftover portions that tasted almost as good when baked the next night. And believe me, you'll want to eat this pizza again the next night (and probably the night after that).

White Pizzas with Arugula


From Ina Garten's Back to Basics

Active: 1 hr 15 min

Total: 1 hr 30 min

Makes: 6 pizzas



FOR THE DOUGH

1 3/4 cups warm (100 to 110 degree) water

2 packages dry yeast

1 tablespoon honey

Good olive oil

4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for kneading

Kosher salt

4 cloves garlic, sliced

5 sprigs fresh thyme

3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes



FOR THE TOPPING

3 cups grated Italian fontina cheese (8 ounces)

1 1/2 cups grated fresh mozzarella cheese (7 ounces)

11 ounces creamy goat cheese, such as montrachet crumbled



FOR THE VINAIGRETTE

1/2 cup good olive oil

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Freshly ground black pepper

8 ounces baby arugula

1 lemon, sliced



1. Combine the water, yeast, honey and 3 tablespoons of olive oil in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. When the yeast is dissolved, add 3 cups of flour, then 2 teaspoons salt, and mix on medium-low speed. While mixing, add up to 1 more cup of flour, or just enough to make a soft dough. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until smooth, sprinkling it with the flour as necessary to keep it from sticking to the bowl.



2. When the dough is ready, turn it out onto a floured board and knead it by hand a dozen times. It should be smooth and elastic.



3. Place the dough in a well-oiled bowl and turn it to cover it lightly with oil. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 30 minutes.



4. Place 1/2 cup of olive oil, the garlic, thyme and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat. Cook for 10 minutes, making sure the garlic doesn't burn. Set aside.



5. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.



6. Dump the dough onto a board and divide into 6 equal pieces. Place the doughs on sheet pans lined with parchment paper and cover them with a damp towel. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes. Use immediately, or refrigerate for up to 4 hours.



7. Press and stretch each ball into an 8-inch circle and place 2 circles on each sheet pan lined with parchment paper.



8. Brush the pizzas with the garlic oil, and sprinkle each one liberally with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the pizzas evenly with fontina, mozzarella and goat cheese. Drizzle each pizza with 1 tablespoon more of the garlic oil and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the crusts are crisp and the cheeses begin to brown.



9. Meanwhile, whisk together 1/2 cup of olive oil, the lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.



10. When the pizzas are done, place the arugula in a large bowl and toss with just enough lemon vinaigrette to moisten. Place a large bunch of arugula on each pizza and a slice of lemon and serve immediately.

He's here!

It's a good thing I wrote my last post when I did. I had a doctor's appointment the next day, and at first, it looked like our midwife Bonnie was going to let me wait another week for our little guy to show up. Then she did a sonogram to check my fluids. I had very little left.

She instructed me and Daniel to go the hospital immediately. To not stop at home. We were told we'd have our baby by breakfast time the next day.

At first I cried. I hadn't expected things to go this way. I wanted to go into spontaneous labor. I'd expected to wake up in the middle of the night with that first twinge of pain. I was also really looking forward to some chicken tikka masala leftovers for lunch!

I ended up convincing Daniel that we did in fact have time to go home. A Virgo by nature, I wanted to straighten up the apartment, grab our bags and go to the hospital together, not separately, as Bonnie had suggested. I also tried to convince Daniel to let me eat my chicken tikka masala, but that didn't work. He slapped together some sandwiches and then we were off.

When I first got pregnant, I couldn't read much about labor. Just thinking about it made me nauseous. It felt so far off. Especially in the beginning when I barely had a bump. I put it out of my head for the first six months and just enjoyed being pregnant.

Then as my due date drew near, I started to mentally prepare for it. I had read the Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy and although I enjoyed parts of that book, the author had a way of making everything sound so dramatic and scary.

Then I started reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, a book my friend Marie lent me. It was all about natural childbirth, something only my Mom encouraged me to think about. Most people told me I was crazy to even consider it.

My Mom has always made labor sound so easy. Too easy. My brother and I both popped out in under two hours and she claims she didn't feel much of a thing. In fact, she says she could have have done it all over again the next day. I thought she was crazy until I read Ina May's book.

Full of real labor stories written by women who worked with Ina May at her birthing center, it was this book that changed my outlook on childbirth. Each story was more beautiful than the next. Rather than focus on all the things that could go wrong, Ina May's book made me see that labor could be an empowering, spiritual experience. I felt inspired by all these women who had chosen to give birth naturally and peacefully. The more I read, the more I realized that labor didn't have to be as medical and fear-inducing as it's become. For the first time, labor became something to look forward to and my fear about it slipped away.

I started talking to other people I knew who had given birth naturally. One friend suggested a hypnobirthing course. I was already 36 weeks along, but Daniel and I scrambled to sign up and spent three Saturdays working with an instructor who taught us all sorts of breathing and relaxation techniques. I'll admit that some seemed a bit hokey, but there were others that we really liked. Almost every day for the next four weeks, we practiced the techniques at home before bed. I liked the birthing affirmations best. A series of encouraging sentences that I read or listened to each day, they helped me think about labor in a positive way.

This might help explain why I was so upset when Bonnie told me that I had to be induced. I wanted my body to go into labor on its own. Instead, I needed a drug to get things going. I'd heard that Pitocin, the drug normally used during inductions, was extrememly powerful and often made contractions come on a lot stronger and more quickly than they would during a non-induced labor. Luckily, Bonnie was willing to start me off on Cytotech, a drug that was a bit milder.

It took a little while for anything to happen. To pass the time, I text messaged and emailed all my friends and family to let them know what was going on. I sent Daniel out to buy some food and a few magazines, and for a little while, I just hung out with him and my Mom, waiting.

Soon I started having mild contractions. Bonnie kept coming in to check on me periodically. I was starting to dilate, but at a pretty slow pace. She made it clear that if I didn't progress quickly, they'd need to use Pitocin. We begged her to give us one a little more time. She agreed, but the nurses still hung the bag on my IV pole so it'd be all ready in case they needed to use it. Determined to avoid it, Daniel and I walked around the labor ward a few times and less than an hour later, my contractions started to get stronger. When Bonnie came in again, she was happy with my progress and let us skip the Pitocin.

In the beginning, the contractions were manageable. I was able to talk and laugh in between them. I felt in control. Daniel was on one side, coaching me through various breathing and relaxation techniques, and my Mom was on the other, my constant cheerleader. It felt wonderful to have them there.

As my contractions began to get stronger, I needed to move. I'd learned that walking or moving during contractions would help me get through them. Unfortunately, I was required to wear a blood pressure cuff on my arm and a fetal monitor around my belly, which made it hard to move around at all. I had to ask permission to get out of bed and when I did, the nurses hung the wires around my neck so they could hook everything back up easily.

Then came a point where my contractions were so painful that I couldn't pay attention to anyone and needed to fight through on my own. I remember moaning a lot, and when I was allowed out of bed, I went into the bathroom and labored in there, standing up, swaying my hips, anything to help alleviate the sharp, stabbing pains. When the contractions were really bad, I kept thinking that I would never have a child again, that I didn't even know how I'd have this child, that I wanted the experience to be over right then and there. It felt like I was in an ocean and kept getting knocked over by big, violent waves. Right when I was able to stand up and catch my breath, an even bigger one took me down with a force I could have never imagined.

When I was 4 or 5 centimeters dilated, someone told me that the worst was almost over. In my head, I remember thinking "How can that be if I still have 5 more centimeters until I'm fully dilated?" My Mom and Daniel kept telling me I could do it, but I knew I couldn't. The pain was unbearable.

When Bonnie suggested that I consider getting an epidural since my blood pressure was rising, it felt like music to my ears. I knew that if my blood pressure continued to go up, I'd be at risk for a c-section and so, I gave in. I'd given it my all but felt completely exhausted, knocked down and traumatized by the experience. It was too hard to try to have the peaceful, natural labor I had hoped for when hooked up to a bunch of machines and having internal checks every 30 minutes, often during some pretty big contractions.

The anesthesiologist couldn't have come sooner. In my labor classes, I had a hard time hearing about the epidural. The thought of a needle going into my spine freaked me out. But at this point, I felt so beaten up. A little needle in my back seemed like nothing.

It took a little while until I felt fine. I could still feel my contractions but they were much less intense than before. It was around 1am at this point, 8 hours since they'd started the induction, so Bonnie suggested that we all get some sleep before it was time to push.

Daniel got into bed with me, my Mom settled into a reclining chair, the lights were dimmed and the labor mix I'd created on my Ipod lulled us all to sleep. I thought the worst was over, but no, there was still more to come.

A little while later, an alarm on the fetal monitor went off. Eight doctors came rushing into the room. Bright, surgical lights were thrown on, I was told to turn onto all fours, an oxygen mask was thrust over my mouth, and I was given a shot in my arm. I felt like I was in a scene from either Lost or Grey's Anatomy.

The baby's heart rate had dropped significantly due to the intensity of my contractions. The shot in my arm temporarily stopped them to give the baby a break. I was shaking. It only lasted five minutes or so, but felt like an eternity. There was one nurse whose voice I remember vividly. She was stroking my arm and telling me in a calm, sweet voice that if the baby's heart rate didn't go up in five minutes, they'd need to prepare me for a c-section.

All eyes were on the fetal monitor which I couldn't see because I was still on all fours. In my head, I started talking to the baby, begging him to stay strong and to keep fighting and that I'd meet him soon. I'm not sure if that's what did it, but his heart rate eventually did go back up and things became semi peaceful once again.

It was time to push soon after. The end was near and I felt excited, not scared. I couldn't believe that I'd soon be meeting my baby. I know that Bonnie was worried about my blood pressure and his heart rate, so she coached me rather vigorously. The baby's head had been low most of my pregnancy. She said that if I pushed hard enough, we could have him out quickly.

I loved pushing. For once, I felt in control. It was up to me to push my baby into this world and in just 40 minutes, I did. That final push was incredibly painful and for a second I didn't think I could stand it. Then his whole body just slipped out and the pain melted away.

Since I was already six days overdue, the baby had passed his first stool in utero which the doctors were able to detect when my water broke. Immediately after he was born, they rushed him to a table and put a tube down his throat to suck out the tainted fluid that he had inhaled. It took a little while, but finally, after 10 very long minutes, I met my little boy. As expected, it was love at first sight.

Weighing in at 7 lbs, 2 oz, Nicolas arrived with an adorable head of dark hair, his Dad's lips and a cute button nose.

I'd been hoping for an Earth Day baby, but ended up getting something even better. Nico was born on my cousin Christopher's birthday. Christopher passed away a year and a half ago in a tragic car accident. He was only 16. When I found out I was due on April 17, just 6 days before Christopher's birthday, I couldn't help but think that he'd come on the 23rd. To be honest, I wasn't sure how it would make me feel. Now that I see how much joy it has brought to my aunt and uncle, I couldn't be happier that it worked out this way. And I can't help but think that it was meant to be.

The first few days in the hospital were tiring and we couldn't wait to bring Nico home. It's only been 15 days, but so far, we've been blessed with a calm, peaceful baby.

It probably won't come as a surprise that Nicolas has already been to a few restaurants. There was a trip last week to Thomas Beisl, an Austrian restaurant where I satisfied a very intense craving for sausage, sauerkraut, and my first beer. He slept the whole time.

And last Saturday, he also slept through his first Park Slope brunch at The Stone Park Cafe (where the eggs, biscuits and sausage gravy are unreal!).

There was also an impromptu trip to Manhattan to see our friend Josh who was in NYC on a business trip for one day. He was staying at the swanky Gramercy Park Hotel and had keys to Gramercy Park, a place I'd always wanted to visit. It took me 30 years to get there and my little guy just 6 days!

We also spent one afternoon in Prospect Park having a picnic. Once again, he slept most of the time, so we just continued staring at him and taking lots of pictures.

Our friends and family have been wonderful, coming by with adorable baby clothes, all sorts of little toys (including a guitar from his Aunt Margherita and Uncle Dante!), and tons of food to stock our fridge.

I even have more time on my hands than I was expecting since all he does is eat and sleep. Maybe I'll be writing more often than I thought. Might also explain why I finally decided to join Facebook! Our pediatrician told us that the first two weeks are a honeymoon, so things could change any minute. For now, I'm enjoying this amazing experience and the joy it's bringing me, my family and our friends. It's truly been one of the best times of my entire life.

Looking back on my labor, I feel like a warrior. In the moment, it felt traumatic, but now I just feel a million times stronger for having endured it. I understand why so many people opt for pain medication, but I'm still curious about the all natural route. But to do that, I'd need to be in a more peaceful place, such as a birthing center or at home, for it to truly work. I'm still glad I gave it a try.

What's important is that Nicolas is healthy, happy and finally here!

The waiting game

I didn't plan to let a month and a half go by without writing. But with all the pre-baby preparations, the weeks just kind of got away from me. Then, as my due date drew near, I just figured I'd write after he arrived, to let you all know he was here.

That day has come and gone and still no sign of the little guy. Friends and family have been calling, emailing, and texting hoping for some sort of update, but unfortunately, they keep getting the same one. I'm four days overdue at this point, so at least I know I'll finally be meeting my son very, very soon.

As eager as I am for him to get here, so I can finally see what he looks like, and hold him in my arms and and sniff the top of his little head, I have to admit that I've enjoyed these final weeks of waiting.

For one, I'm still not sick of my pregnant belly. I'm going to miss all the kicks and jabs, especially the ones that make my stomach stretch out in certain spots as he tosses and turns. Sure, sleeping isn't the easiest and I wake up at least three times per night to use the bathroom. But I'm sure both those things will seem simple when I'm taking care of a newborn 24 hours per day.

It's both incredible and surreal to be on the cusp of a life-changing event. To know that one of the most euphoric experiences of your life is so close. Sometimes I have a hard time letting myself imagine what his birth will be like. I keep thinking of that moment when he'll be handed to me. I can get a clear picture in my head, but thinking about how I'll feel makes me so emotional it almost hurts.

At the same time, I know as soon as that moment arrives, the ones I've been experiencing these past few weeks will be a distant memory. Daniel and I didn't expect to have all this time without any concrete plans. But I couldn't be happier that we do.

The nursery is all set up. All the baby's clothes are washed and put away, and thanks to a shower at Daniel's office, we now have enough diapers to last us a few months. My bags are packed, the stroller's been put together and our fridge is stocked with lots of frozen food. There's nothing left for us to do!

So, to pass the time, we've been cooking and eating. A lot.

Two weeks ago, my doctor told me to start working from home and to get more rest. Like a good patient, I'm making sure to do that. In fact, I even take a 1-2 hour nap almost every afternoon. But a very pregnant lady can only sit still for so long.

I've made this homemade granola three times in the last few weeks. A few days ago, I made a double batch. Daniel and I love it so much that we wanted to stock up before the baby comes.

Two Sundays ago, on what we were sure was our last weekend as a twosome, we set out on a walk through Park Slope, planning to sit in one spot for lunch. Instead, we found ourselves grazing at a bunch of different places. Our first stop was Willie's Dawgs, home of the high-end hot dog, where we sampled all-natural, grass-fed ones on homemade rolls with sauerkraut, melted swiss cheese and grainy mustard. We've been dreaming about when we'll go back ever since.

From there, we moved on to Trois Pommes, a patisserie that lured us in with the promise of homemade jelly donuts. We sat outside, slowly savoring each of our halves (stupidly, we decided to split just one), powdered sugar sticking to our lips. They were light and not overly sweet and the type of treat I could eat every Sunday (which is why we went back yesterday and I had one all to myself). You'd think that would have filled us up, but according to Daniel, we really hadn't had a proper meal yet. And so we ended our day at Franny's, where we split a warm artichoke salad and a simple tomato, mozzarella and basil pizza.

And then my due date came and went last Thursday and still no sign of our little guy. We'd been staying in every night, expecting to have to rush to the hospital, but when he didn't show up that day, one of the prettiest spring days I can remember, we felt like we still had to celebrate. Soon, emails were flying back and forth with our friends Tim and Judith about an impromptu barbecue on their Brooklyn roof deck with an overzealous menu of spring rolls, sausage, steak, grilled tilapia with a mango cilantro salsa, and chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing and a sprinkling of sea salt from Baked, a great bakery in Red Hook. We were sure it was our last night before becoming parents. We were wrong.

The food and fun continued on Friday when I took a break from working at home to meet my friends Doug and Karlyn for lobster rolls at Brooklyn Fish Camp (which I think might have better ones than its sister restaurant, Mary's, in the West Village), followed by tangy frozen yogurt at Oko. We also figured out where Jennifer Connelly lives in Park Slope (yes, lent is over, so I'm allowed to say that!).


On Saturday, Daniel and I woke up early and walked to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, a place neither of us had ever visited even though we've lived so close for the past seven years.

There couldn't have been a better day to visit. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, making it a perfect place to take what felt like the gazillionith photo of my pregnant belly. We were amazed by all the parents and kids and bright colored strollers. It made us excited to come back with our own little boy so Daniel can take him to the rain forest room where tropical plants and damp, humid air transport you straight to Brazil.

From the gardens, we walked to Joyce Bakeshop where we refueled with a black and white cookie, banana bread pudding, and my first sip of coffee in over a year. Everywhere we went, people were curious about when I was due. At Corduroy Kid, we spent a long time talking to the Australian owner about both of her labors. Her advice? Go home and have a "nice shag and big spicy meal." She promised that would get things moving.

Later in the day, on our way to visit our friends Joe, Marie and their son Lach, we passed by a restaurant called Tom's that had a line snaking around the corner. We soon learned that it's one of Brooklyn's oldest and most famous breakfast spots. The food looked like standard diner fare to me, but I'm still curious. We'll have to go back after the baby finally gets here. I hear they have some pretty amazing Belgian waffles.

A part of me can't help but think that the baby is giving us all this free time to really, really enjoy ourselves before he sweeps into our lives and turns them upside down (in a good way, of course). And for that, I am very thankful. I feel more relaxed and in love and blessed than words could describe and while I can't wait for this new phase that is so, so close, I'm grateful for these last few moments of peace, freedom and guilt-free relaxation.

But now I'm ready and really want him to get here. Anyone want to place any bets on when he'll finally decide to show up? I'm hoping he's holding out for Earth Day, so we shall see!

As Lach likes to say whenever he checks out my belly, "Baby, come out!"