Cue the Handel...

Hallelujah! My camera has come back to me (from the horrible camera repair shop), and I couldn't be happier. I can't wait to snap away, and have high-res photos with focus again... YAY! If you're new to the blog and have gotten used to the smudgy cell phone pics, beware... I take a LOT of photos with this lovely thing...

And now, onto a totally different topic!

Please don't judge me, but... who's watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey tonight? I've been waiting all season to see Teresa flip the table- it better be awesome! I hope you're having a great Tuesday so far!!

I heart a quick tart!

What can you make out of these simple ingredients?
A delicious Apple Tart! I saw the recipe on PW, and after my mom tried it and recommended it, I decided to go for it! But since I'm not feeding a farm full of people, I modified the original recipe a bit! First, I cored and sliced one apple. (I tried to make the slices even, but my knife skills are nowhere NEAR those that I see on Top Chef!) I tossed the slices with a 1/4 cup of brown sugar, the juice from 1/4 of a lemon, and a pinch of kosher salt.
Yes- I used my fingers instead of a spoon- and it was sticky and messy! I set the bowl aside (to let the apples get a little juicier), and focused my attention on the pastry. Since I like a lot of puff, I went ahead and used half a sheet of puff pastry for this tart. I put it on a piece of Pam-ed Reynold's Wrap, and proceeded to lay the apples upon it. (PW placed her apples with the innards facing up, but since mine didn't have a pretty, rounded core area, I tried to conceal it as best I could...)
After baking for 15 minutes in a 415 degree oven, this is what I got:
It was kinda pretty!
And most important- it was delicious! Of course I had a bit a mess when a bit of the sugar juice ran off the pan... but the tinfoil caught most of that for me!
In conclusion, I would recommend baking this scrumptious little treat. It bakes up in no time and is delish right out of the oven!

It's a stormy day here in NYC (followed by a really stormy evening with crazy amounts of thunder and lightning)... wherever you are, I hope you're having a good day! Happy Tuesday!

NoHo... where I spend my days...

In NYC, people like to label neighborhoods... like, A LOT! You've probably heard of some of these: TriBeCa (Triangle Below Canal), Chelsea, The Village, SoHo (South of Houston), etc. Everyday, I get to travel to NoHo, which as you might have guessed, stands for North of Houston (and you have to pronounce it [how-ston] or people will look at you like you're nuts). It's often considered a fancy neighborhood, as New York Magazine pointed out:

Above Houston, lawyers, bankers, and their arty spouses live in Viking-appointed lofts. Below, filmmakers and fashionistas nest in renovated tenements, drawn by nightlife and shopping. Oh, and don’t forget the celebrities (David Bowie and Iman, Lauren Hutton) in Lafayette Street’s airy conversions.

I love walking around during my lunch hour- there are tons of stores for window shopping (the Bond No. 9 shop is just around the corner) and I love to see the uber-trendy things people decide to wear! As you travel east from Broadway, things get a little more interesting; for example, on Bowery you can find a Patricia Field and the Bowery Poetry Club within 10 feet.

So on my way back from lunch today, I thought I'd take a couple quick cell-pics. First, please find a shot of the St. Anthony Flea Market. To be honest, until a minute ago I didn't even know this place had a name (but thanks to my Internet super-sleuthing, I do now!). Everyday around 1 pm, the tarps are rolled up and the chain link door swung open to reveal the most eclectic items I have ever seen. Depending on the day, I've seen an 8 foot tall fiber glass Santa Clause, a moose head, antique snow skis, and SO much more. Today, it seems like they had a special on subway signs...
Isn't that funny? The entrance to the flea market is that dark opening to the left of the photo... I haven't gotten up my nerves to check out the inside quite yet... but the sidewalk-wares have never left me disappointed!

A little farther down the block, you get this beauty:
How's that for some neon? The graffiti artists are starting to add their own embellishments, but this wall is still pretty BRIGHT! When the sun is shining off of that yellow-orange color, watch out!!

I supposed that's it for my brief, lunch time tour of NoHo. There's lots more to share- I'll just have to wait until I get my good camera back... ok? I hope you're having a super Tuesday!