On the Road: Top Eats in Madison, WI

On my most recent trip back to the great city of Madison WI, home of my alma mater, University of Wisconsin, my beloved Badgers, great bars and parties, and lots of delicious food, I of course had to visit some of my favorite places for the foods that helped me pack on the freshman 30, er, 15.  They were even better than I remembered!

Essa Bagel: Midtown

My last big weeknight out sent me straight to Essa Bagel for my favorite post-party cure-all, bagels!  While H&H and Tal Bagels are also dear to my heart, I prefer the chewy exterior and soft interior of the Essa Bagel to the sweet/soft H&H style.  It also doesn't hurt that the Essa Bagel is a behemoth in comparison, and they will toast it, butter and cream cheese it (in this case, I went with scallion cream cheese and a side of butter -yes, both - on an everything bagel).  Essa Bagel in midtown will also give you bacon on your egg and cheese sandwich, unlike the Kosher downtown location.  Get there in the morning and your bagel will be hot, too!  The perfect way to cure what ails you.

Homemade turkey breast meatballs

One of my favorite websites for recipes is Smitten Kitchen. Deb lives in New York and her recipes never cease to amaze me. From her chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting (the cake Cannelle made for my birthday in October) to her warm butternut squash and chickpea salad (a staple in my winter recipes), the dishes are always amazing. Her photos make my mouth water, and I knew when I saw these meatballs I needed to make them. They, too, have become a staple in my recipe box. I've made a few changes to suit my tastes, but trust me, they are delicious!

Recipe after the jump!

Caracas & then some

Happy Wednesday!  Time for a little update on recent culinary adventures.  Sunday brought Cherry Cupcake and I to Caracas Arepa Bar, a favorite in the EV that popped up on my radar again recently because of their gluten-free options, thanks to one of my favorite blogs!

Motorino

Last night, Miel and I decided to add some cheer to the gloomy day in NYC by making our long-anticipated trip to Motorino in the East Village for some pizza and wine.  Motorino has gotten rave reviews since it opened in the space that used to belong to Una Pizza Napoletana, but would it, could it, live up to all the hype?

Dinner, Jersey Shore Style.

Now, it's no secret that MTV's "The Jersey Shore" was very successful, particularly because of viewers like my roommates and I.  It may not be common knowledge that the show also reminded some of us of the foods we love...and inspired us to mix up the weekly cooking routine at home!

New York (Food) Institutions

When you think "New York City" and "food", a few main things come to mind - bagels, pizza, hot dogs, cupcakes, and, of course, delis.  The two most well-known, Katz's in the East Village/LES, and Carnegie Deli in Midtown, are famous for their hot pastrami on rye.  Miel and I made our way down to Katz's on a rainy Saturday to see if this sammy lived up to the hype....

Part Deux

A bit later than I promised, here is the recipe for the zucchini "pasta" I love to make as a gluten-free, low-glycemic alternative to the real thing (which, trust me, once you have this, you won't miss.)  While the zucchini is cooking in the oil, I also like to toss in garlic or garlic powder, and some Italian spices, especially basil, for added oomph.  This is great with tomato sauce, pesto sauce, or,  if you are on orders to keep it simple like I am, with some butter and parmesan.  Again, the photo doesn't do it justice...but it's the taste that matters!

Basic, But NOT Boring!

Doctor's orders have had me on a "bland" diet as of late, which, everyone knows, tastes about as fun as it sounds.  Luckily, with some poking around the internet, I found some not-so-bland (delicious, in fact!), easy-to-digest options and have been able to cook myself some pretty tasty dishes.  Here is one such recipe, found on one of my new favorite blogs, Delectably Free.  I modify the recipe by using an egg.  I also went a bit crazy with the onion on this one (and was too lazy to chop it small), as you can see...in the end, though, it tasted fabulous.  And though this may not look pretty, as everyone also knows, taste is what matters!