Vanilla Sugar Cookies

8 ounces unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

Beat butter in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add sugar, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt; beat until well blended.

Beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Beat in flour.

Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

Shape into 1/2 ounce balls and roll in sugar. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375º for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely on wire racks.

Treats Truck in the New York Times

My favorite truck in New York City! I wish I had thought of this a few years ago. There is a resurgence of canteen food trucks. From sweets to gourmet ice cream to tacos.

Read about the origin of the Treats Truck. I hope it's parked in Midtown today. I would like to pick up some sweets today since we are expecting a snow storm tomorrow.

The Treats Truck Story

Really Cool DIY Lampshade

I can't wait to try this DIY project. It looks like the outcome will be pretty cool.

Whirl-it lampshade - Whirl-it lampshade - free DIY tutorial - Pickles

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoons salt

8 ounces unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups smooth peanut butter

granulated sugar

Hershey kisses (optional)

Preheat oven to 350º. Whisk flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

Combine butter and sugars in a bowl, with electric mixer on medium speed mix until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in eggs, then peanut butter.

Reduce speed to low and add flour in 3 batches, mixing until just combined after each addition. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

Form 1 1/2 inch balls, roll in granulated sugar and place on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spaced 1 1/2 inches apart. Press cookies with fork tines to flatten and create a cross-hatch pattern.

Bake until golden brown, 14 to 16 minutes. Cool 5 minutes then transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

You can add Hershey kisses - unwrap and press onto the cookie while it is warm from the oven.

Chicken Sausage Meatballs

I love these meatballs. They are easy to make and delicious. If made to the size according to the recipe below, I serve them over pasta and marinara sauce. I also make bite-size meatballs and serve as an appetizer with a dipping sauce.

2 pounds ground chicken
black pepper and salt
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 2/3 teaspoons fennel seeds
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/3 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/3 cups ricotta cheese
2/3 cup grated Parmesan
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs
olive oil

Preheat oven to 450º.

In large mixing bowl combine chicken, salt and pepper, rosemary, fennel seeds, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, ricotta, Parmesan, egg and bread crumbs. If the mixture seems too wet, add a handful of bread crumbs and mix together.

Form balls (about 1 1/2-2 inches) and coat with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and lightly grease a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Arrange balls on baking sheet and roast 17-18 minutes until juices run clear.

Avatar Imax 3-D

I just returned from the theaters at Lincoln Center. Avatar Imax 3-D was incredible to watch (though I did doze off through the love story sequence). The action was great and the effects were really something to see in 3-D on such a large movie screen. I recommend seeing it in Imax before it's yanked from the theaters to make room for Alice in Wonderland in Imax 3-D (which I can't wait to see!).

Winter Olympics

The Olympics are on so late; I can't possibly stay awake to watch the entire evening's broadcast. Thank God for my DVR. I can watch (and fast forward through commercials) the following morning while I have my coffee. Go Team USA!

Fire-Roasted Tomato Soup

This is definitely one of my favorite recipes. I have tried this recipe using half and half or light cream in place of the heavy cream, but the consistency just wasn't there. I have added red bell pepper with the onion and garlic, and I have also added roasted red peppers for a flavor twist. If you cannot locate fire-roasted diced tomatoes, regular diced tomatoes can be substituted.

Mmmm. Enjoy!


Fire-Roasted Tomato Soup

1 tbl butter or olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 14.5 oz cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
14 oz low-sodium chicken broth
2 tbl chopped fresh basil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup heavy cream

In 3-quart saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly until onion is crisp-tender.

Stir in tomatoes, broth, basil, sugar and salt and pepper. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes.

Remove from heat; pour mixture into large heatproof bowl. Cool slightly, about 15 minutes

Place half of the mixture into blender. Cover and blend until smooth. Return to saucepan. Repeat with remaining mixture. Heat over medium heat until hot. Remove from heat and stir in cream.

Treats Truck

The Treats Truck, which wanders New York City, sells delicious baked goods. I spotted it on 45th Street just off 6th Avenue yesterday.

Snow Storm Madness

Okay, so some snow is coming tomorrow, but really? All I wanted to do was pick up a few items at the lovely C-Town in Greenpoint (I am planning on making homemade Chicken Noodle Soup). The store was total chaos. There were mothers wandering aimlessly while their young children, on the way home from school, commandeered shopping carts like drunk drivers. I only managed to knock two children over in the bedlam.

Welcome

I finally have a blog. Now, what to do with it? What do I write? What photos should I post?

It's too much to think about. I am going to drink coffee and think about this.