City Streets

I saw this for the first time on the Daily Dish and thought it was great. Then I lost the link to it and couldn't find it again. Then a friend sent it to me. And now since I don't want to lose it again and because I think it's worth sharing, here it is. It's a really cool photo project. Check it out.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

In an attempt to add more food to my blog (since it is a big part of my life), I'm beginning with a new chocolate chip cookie recipe. I found it when I was home for Easter and baking 10 dozen cookies with Molly. We were flipping through Cooks Illustrated and found this one. It's really great and definitely made fantastic cookies. Also, because it calls for melting rather than creaming butter, it works well for those of us struggling to survive without a kitchen-aid.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

1¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
14 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1¼ cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks
¾ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted (optional)

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.

2. Heat 10 tablespoons butter in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and, using heatproof spatula, transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter until completely melted.

3. Add both sugars, salt and vanilla to bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Add egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand for 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth and shiny. Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (if using), giving dough final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.

4. Divide dough into 16 portions, each about 3 tablespoons (or use a #24 cookie scoop). Arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.

5. Bake cookies 1 tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, 10-14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Transfer baking sheet to wire rack; cool cookies completely before serving.

My Bipolar Reaction to Rain

So I hated my trek to work this morning. It was pouring and windy. Walking to the train was a disaster--my umbrella was pretty much useless and all the water that my rain jacket prevented from soaking my upper body pretty much just ended up drenching my legs as it dripped (read: cascaded) off of it. The train was hot, slippery and humid. And the walk from the train to work was during even more of a downpour. Not good. But at least I was wearing shoes that kept my feet relatively dry.

However, getting off the train a few minutes ago and walking in the rain back to my apartment was amazing. I had my ipod set to a very upbeat Jukebox the Ghost playlist and I didn't even bother with the umbrella. I got drenched but totally loved it. I was practically singing out loud along with my tunes and honestly, really felt like having a good, exhilarated shout. Like an exciting sporting event shout, not a pent up rage shout. I stompped in quite a few puddles and now my hair is dripping and my clothes are soaked. But I feel great. YES!!

Before I Fall Asleep...

My last two evenings were spent enjoying live music--something which I don't get to do nearly often enough. The two very different concerts haven't left me with any deep or earth shattering thoughts but I just want to share the following:

Monday night I saw a show at the new Alice Tulley Hall at Lincoln Center. The concert itself was great (and featured some readings from James Earl Jones) and the new concert hall is beautiful in appearance as well as in sound quality. But perhaps even more enjoyable than the concert itself was the two hours I spent before hand sitting in the cafe in the lobby of the new hall. The space is spectacularly beautiful and acoustically impressive for a lobby. Everything had a muted quality that was very peaceful and sun was pouring in the south west facing glass facade. Definitely my favorite New York indoor space. I can't wait for an excuse to go back and just sit and drink a leisurely cup of coffee.

And tonight brought me to Bleecker Street for a show of two solo pianists playing works by Philip Glass. The music was spectacular and the piano-lounge-y space was pretty cool (truffle mac and cheese was also a treat). What made the evening even better was that I spent it with a new-ish friend from work. I love that I have people in the city to do things with and that I have new friends. I mentioned tonight that I felt bad that I'd been basically hibernating all winter but was encouraged by Mike's assurance that there is a lot more to do in the spring. I can't wait--I'm so excited about doing more new things with new people.

As positive as both of these experiences were, I can't stop myself from thinking that my time here is almost over. I've decided that a year in a new city is absolutely not enough. I'm starting to really really like my life and to come to love this city and even take it for granted. So although I'm excited about the next phase of my life and about the friends I'll be returning to and the new friends I'll make, I have a feeling I'll miss what I have now a lot more than I would have expected to.

Madness

I spent yesterday afternoon literally sitting on the edge of my seat. I was alone in the apartment, shouting at my tv, clapping like a maniac and hiding my face behind and screaming into a pillow. This is not normal behavior. Except in March. I literally have paid attention to no news in the past few days that wasn't related to basketball.

College basketball is almost certainly my favorite sport and I've been a Maryland fan forever. In the past few weeks I was almost totally overwhelmed with the huge decision I had to make. I wasn't consumed by trying to decide between Maryland and GW Medical but was consumed with who to put in my final four. Since I've been making a bracket, Maryland has either been really good and thus a clear choice for the overall winner, or they've been out of the tournament all together. A 10 seed, while unexpected and pretty awesome for this team, threw me for a loop. Ultimately I went with Maryland losing to Memphis after a first round upset of Cal. It was a really hard decision. Really hard. And I hope I'm not judged too harshly for it.

Louisville and Georgetown (my parent's alma maters) have always been my back up teams when Maryland didn't make the tournament. And this year, without gtown and with a fantastic Louisville team in the tournament, my Kentucky roots have me rooting for Louisville to go all the way. But it's not just about the Cards this year. Every single game yesterday was amazing. The great thing about March Madness is that really, any of these games could go either way so many games are edge-of-your-seat-yell-at-the-tv games. I know I might appear slightly insane to an uninterested bystander, but believe me, if they knew what they were missing, they'd be right there with me.