The one with Chia!

Today's obsession comes in the form of tiny little seeds, chia seeds to be exact. Go ahead, I haven't met anyone who can resist it yet: Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! However, I'm not spreading it on clay for amusement, but rather, eating that strange gelatinous material.

As it turns out, chia seeds are incredibly nutrient dense: 1 tablespoon provides protein, omega-3's, calcium, dietary fiber, antioxidants, & anti-inflammatory properties! Leave it to Americans to take something so fundamentally good for you, & to use it as a play-thing. Quite similar, in fact, to fried food garnished on a bed of kale! Our general blindness makes me both cringe & laugh.

The seeds can absorb 9-times their mass in water, which forms the chia-gel; while entirely edible on its own, it's rather dull to do so as the seeds have no taste of their own. This is a very convenient little attribute when cooking with them! So far, I've mixed the gel with yogurt or oatmeal for a little nutrient boost in the AM. Due to their gelatinous nature, they're great for athletes, those going on a long hike, or anyone who has problems staying hydrated. They're also said to keep you fuller long, & provide lasting energy -- all in a spoonful (Mary Poppins was dishing out the wrong stuff!)

Allow this gel to "grow" in a shallow dish, & within a few days you'll get some nice sprouts which can freshen & boost-up any of your favorite salads!

You can also sprinkle the dry seeds atop a nice baguette with Nutella (mio preferito), a fresh salad, steamed veggies, or anything you want to add a subtle crunch to!

This has all been fun, but I wanted more: I wanted to really infuse these seeds & their nutrition into something everyone could enjoy...enter the natural 1st viewers choice: cookies!! Now, my favorite little characteristic about these tricky little sees is that in its gelatinous form, it has such a strong & unique binding structure, that it can be baked with!! In face, they say in most recipes chia gel can substitute 1/2 the butter in a recipe with no noticeable effects. Are you comprehending the health degree we just took this up to?!?! The curiosity & obsession to super-pack my treats with nutrients has thus led me into a baking frenzy!

I successfully made Chocolate Chip-Chia cookies (right), even though they told me this would happen, I was amazed that they tasted & looked the SAME!! Next I made my favorite trail-mix oatmeal cookies (left dough), packed with dried cranberries, almond slices, dark chocolate slivers, orange zest, cinnamon & now - chia! The best part wasn't even that I enjoyed them, but rather, that my Aunt & Uncle, all of my cousins, & my grandfater (who avoids anything green) LOVED them -- had NO idea -- & they tell me I'm crazy with my health theories. HA! There is a BIG smile on my face right now. Today has taught me two important lessons: there is no limit to what being health-conscious ban bring, & I have to continue to share experiences venturing into health-life-style-choices.

Next, Banana bread!

The one with deception

If there is one thing which makes me laugh without fail, other than people getting hurt, it's when you think sometime is nice, but it's really quite mean. Catching a person off guard or in cruel & situational ironies make me giggle with joy. My newest fav is Samuel L. Jackson's reading of "Go the F*ck to Sleep"

Edwin Whipple, the famous critic of the 1800's, said it best with "Irony is an insult conveyed in the form of a compliment". Another amusing one is from comedic actor Jack Nicholson "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch".

A movie which I think is generally under-rated & which I enjoy with earnest is Be Cool, it has a montage cast of quality actors, & will keep you laughing. One of my favorite scenes is when The Rock gives a "monologue" but speaks both parts of a dialogue. John Travolta & Uma Thurman are standing there, knowing they have to tell him that he did well, but also break his heart because he doesn't realize his own idiocy: perfectly funny.

Recently, I was at a graduation party, & a small boy was deceived by fate in a way which made me laugh mercilessly. I must prerequisite this by saying that I love children, & sincerely hope that I get a child who cries in an adorably pitiful way like this boy did. He was playing outside with a balloon, which he accidentally let go; the balloon, predictably floated away into the sky becoming a smaller and smaller dot. The little boy, who was preciously dressed in slacks & a polo, has his arms out-stretched into the air, head back, crying with fervor at the balloon he has no hope of getting back. While I'm laughing at his predicament, someone brings him onto the porch where I'm sitting & gives him another balloon. Now, this cannot be made up, the second this little boy steps off the 1st step, the new balloon pops above his head for no reason. I think God just wanted me to laugh, I was in pain laughing as tiny little tears streamed down his face. He eventually got another balloon, but he continued to look into the sky & wonder why -- it was precisely priceless humor.

The one with my Godmother

As much as I thrive in celebrating the joys of life, inevitably, with joy comes sorrow. It's the feeling as though you're standing beneath a dam & it suddenly begin collapsing over you: you stand there aghast because you know that nothing you do or say can stop what just happened. Yesterday, my Aunt died. She was only 39, but she lived a beautiful and joy-filled life, here are a few things I know for certain about her:

1. She loved making people smile


2. She had an infallible ability to make people laugh; simply being in the room added levity & humor, because she wanted to see everyone happy


3. She thoroughly enjoyed the act of "mooning" & laughed whole-heartily when she got one of us


4. She would do whatever she could or had to in order to help others - a very big heart


5. She taught me how to roll my jeans in order to look "cool"


6. She was the 1st person to call me a b*tch (in a playful manner when I beat her at UNO) she was also the 1st person to let me say the word without reprimanding me


7. I visited her when she was in college; her & her friends taught me to play SPUD (having now gone through college, I cannot imagine having the selflessness to entertain a child on a college campus for a week!)


8. She taught my cousins & I how to "hover" in order to avoid touching public restrooms


9. When she was around I laughed so hard it hurt


10. Her favorite term of endearment was "Freak-a-zoid"


11. She was the coolest adult I knew when I was 10


12. I & so many others loved her deeply & will mourn her absence daily

The one with Birreria

On most occasions I would tell anyone that they were crazy to wait 45 minutes in line to put in their name for a restaurant & then another hour before they were seated; this however, was an exception. Tonight I dined at Eataly's newest venue, Birreria, a rooftop beer garden! Before I go further, No, it's even better than it sounds!

Having dinner in the middle of an open-market is ambiance enough for the most harsh of critics to enjoy, but now Eataly has really stepped up their game! You walk up to put your name in with the above pictured sign promising you all the delights of Italian beer, there is a large b&w picture of three men who look like brothers holding hand-fulls of hops & spices. Once you get a text that a table is ready for you you're whisked away to the elevator around the corner & instructed to go to floor 15 - the roof. Within the elevator you find a playful spin on Dante's Inferno stating that here the Gluttonous are sent to the rooftop.

Take my word on this one, once you're up here, you are not among bad company! As you walk up a set of deep mahogany you're swept up in visual, auditory, & olfactory excitement. You first see the brewery before walking out to a patio open to the NYC sun & air. Everyone is alive with conversation & I'm not sure whether to direct my attention to the sharp design, oak casks behind the bar, or the beautiful plates of food being served as an orchestra to the tables around us. From my seat I can see the Empire state building in front of me, & the Madison Ave Clock-tower to my right -- anyone want to contend with that view?

I noticed while sitting down a sign nearby which read "Off centered stuff for off-centered people", instantly confirmed that I was exactly where I wanted to be: far from the mundane! I quickly ordered the house Thyme-pale ale, which was as I had hoped was light & summery with earthy notes. My friend J (cheese-lover-extraordinaire) & I ordered a plate of three cheeses: Robiola Bosina, Pecorino Toscana, & Pecorino Fiore Sardo. The first was fresh, nutty & aromatic, the second sharp & paired deliciously with the house honey, & the third was sharp & smokey: all perfect pairings with beer!

By the time we got around to our entrees, I was far too engulfed in delight to capture it! I had a delicious grilled portobello dish (Portobello con Acciughe) which I did not have one complaint for. As we finished our meal all the lights in the city were beginning to come up, the combination of city lights, a seriously chill atmosphere, & the sound of people getting together simply to enjoy great food & beer -- well, I can't think of any better way to spend a Wednesday evening!

The one with MET-foolishness

Today I met up with one of my girlfriends & my cousin in the City to check out the MET - specifically the Alexander McQueen exhibit: Savage Beauty. I was enraptured entirely by his brilliance; though, it did have to be audibly noted while praising him, that this is the type of genius which can only occur when directly preceding an artistic demise. I can best detail the exhibit as a whole, by stating that the "Jack the Ripper stalks his victims" collection was able to capture his unraveling: it was the collected calm drive of a man who knows his fate and knows the actions he must consequently take. Atmospheric tension simply walking through tickled my imagination & lifted hairs upon my arms. Even now, late in the day, his work which I saw this morning floats about my mind.

Once we had successfully see what we had set out for, the rest of the day was for gaiety. Via pictoral dialogue we learned the following thigns to be true:

Dirty street pretzels make me inexplicably happy - always with Starbucks!

Sculptures placed on the top of the MET were put there strictly to play with!

We were clearly NOT Egyptians in a past life

This guy understands the meaning of Pain

Whether Thai, Italian, Hummus, etc. Grom is hte best ending to any meal -- Perfetto!

No matter how gorgeous the heel, you're not making it more than 2 hours in the concrete jungle.

The one with a Graduation!

Today, my youngest brother graduated from the historic private preparatory high school which is also the Alma mater of my sister & I. John Bapst Memorial High School is a jem of place located in the heart of Bangor Maine. Established in 1928, JBHS boasts not only outstanding academic records which few High Schools across the nation can contend with, but also a breath taking Shakespearean auditorium & stage which was the largest north of Boston for some decades.

I find graduations, whether HS or College, to be incredibly inspiring times. There is nothing but possibility before the young graduates, but more so than them, I find myself motivated to find new opportunity, new adventure, new passion. One of the guest speakers noted "By building powerful, lasting bonds with people, you can impact their lives far beyond your physical reach". How can you not continue to aspire with words such as those resonating in the air?



What's wonderful about graduations as well, is the levity which is added to the situation being that school in its essence will be filled with joy by the students. The headmaster started his speech with light-hearted good will by relaying this message to us "We all know how fun it is to give freshmen directions to anywhere other than where they wish to go". The Valedictorian later said with brilliance I cannot begin to express, "As the famed 21-century philosopher Lil Wayne said 'Nuf said'". It's wonderful to see such incredibly bright young adults thinking outside the box and realizing that the world is theirs to do with it as they will.



In the midst of all these quotes upon quotes which demonstrate the theories & virtues by which we can choose to live our lives; is the realization that these quotes are in essence, the phrases created in minds of great people which they came to be known for, what then, will you be remembered for?

The one where it's MINI

I own & admittedly LOVE my MINI Cooper. There's a culture within owners which I think only somone who does or has owned a MINI can understand; & yet, it's also as though the brand attracts a certain type of person. I often wave to other MINI drivers passing & they wave as well....but this morning as I drove to work, a woman proudly threw a peace sign out her convertible top as she beamed with a mile: she made my day entirely!!! MINI owners share this fabulous bond of loving a turly outstanding brand. MINI stands for quite a number of values, among those:

Integrity

Adventure

Ecology

Heritage

Thrill of the Drive

Passion

FUN

Technology

Efficiency

MINI inspires me. The beautiful thing about MINI is that passion is really what matters, MINI can morph into whatever YOU are passionate about. As thier website (MININIUSA.com) states "MINI will continue to lead the way in trying to reduce our impace without sacraficing the very things that make a MINI a MINI". This brand is iconic, timeless, yet fresh & new. They continue to come up with brilliant, stylish & innovative new projects & marketing campaigns. Such being right now, they're holding "ROCK the RIVAL" a charity event spanning multiple appearances of thier four KISS inspired MINI's: all proceeds from these events are going to UNICEF! Hard Rock & MINI = Love. The cars are even signed by the band-members!

Below are some other clever marketing schemes MINI has come up with -- how tricky MINI!

The picture to the left is coming out of a metro station in Europe.

Some of the other great initiatives MINI is looking into & exploring are featured in their magazine: MINI International. (a publication available only to MINI owners which explores topics of fashion, design, urban culture, science, & the environment, to name a few things)

The first pictures is of the MINI E, a fully electric MINI which is available currently only via a limited trial lease. The 2nd picture if of a "Mobil DJ", a concept to bring the DJ wherever the party may be! 3rd is a concept for the future, an automated transportation device where driving is done via computer while you enjoy the sceneary & your ride. Over the past 50 years MINI has been innovating & look at what they've accomplished, as the last advertisement suggest, what will we see in another 50?!?