I am a Honey Bee

All about my adventures with cooking, crafts, and travel

Archives for February 2011

Cara’s First Christmas LO- Studio Calico 2/7 Sunday Sketch

Fancy_nancy-sketch

-2/7 Studio Calico Sunday Sketch-

Years ago, if you would have asked me if I ever would have done pages with 1 photo I would have laughed at you. My pages were filled with pictures because I wanted to be able to look back and see all the pictures we took documenting the event. It’s funny to see how things have changed. I definitely think this is for the better since I have distilled my pages to feature the best pictures, not all pictures.

This page features my niece, who was about 2mo at the time. Cara is such a sweet baby that I wanted to do a page showing her off, showing her first Christmas off. We had plenty of photos of me holding her, which I could have included, but I wanted the feature to be Cara, and not me. I captured my moments with Cara in my journaling, but let the picture I selected show what I was most interested in… Cara.

Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment to provide some feedback. I appreciate all the comments I receive.

The Circus is Coming to Towne- Yelp Event Recap

On Monday night Price and I went to Yelp Boston’s Elite event. This was the first non Elite only event of the new year, the first event to introduce the new Elite’s to the community. So there was no holding back!

The theme was “The Circus Comes to Towne”. Why TownE? Well it was held at te restaurant called Towne. This is a place I have been dying to get to but have been pushing it off since it’s really out of my price range… hello $25-40+ dinner entrées. Well, the chef owners, Lydia Shire and Jasper White, provided a fantastic venue, as well as the best food I have ever had at a Yelp event. Things ranged from tenderloin, curried cauliflower turnovers, caramel ice cream in pizzelle cookie cones, fried shrimp appetizers, hot dogs with a sweet pepper relish, Peking chicken tacos, and much, much more.

Plus, how can we talk about a Yelp Event without talking booze. I had one of the signature drinks, I believe it was called the bearded lady. They did not have a typical menu of specialty drinks, like usual, so I just had that one. Price, on the other hand, made it his mission to try all of the flavored vodkas that Hanger One supplied. In the end we think he rounded out the night with 8 vodka tonics. Hello Tuesday headache!

And of course, you can’t have a Circus themed event without cotton candy, popcorn and entertainers! I was head over heels in love that they had cotton candy!!! There were entertainers from The Boston Circus Guild that walked on stilts, did acrobatics, and some skillful hula hoop routines. There was also a guy doing magic! Lots of fun everywhere we looked!

Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment to provide some feedback. I appreciate all the comments I receive.

Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum- Brugal Rum Tasting At The Urban Grape

I am definitely not one to turn down an outing with Price that involves cocktails and cupcakes. So when that exact opportunity presented itself last Thursday I knew that we would be heading to The Urban Grape in hopes of diving head long into some Brugal Rum.

“Brugal Rum is the Caribbean’s number 1 selling rum, to the point that it is almost a national obsession for the people of the Dominican Republic. It is the only rum produced by a large distillery that is made from molasses in the same manner that it’s been being prepared since 1793. There is even thought that rum dates back to just after the time of Christopher Columbus, when Caribbean colonists were the first to distill the juice from sugar cane.
So how is traditional rum made? Sugar cane is produced into molasses. The molasses is then diluted with water and left to ferment for 24 to 48 hours (using yeasts). The fermented juice is then sent to be distilled, where it is heated to temperatures that allow for vaporization. Brugal Rum is distilled two or more times, resulting in a smoother, more refined product. The liquid is then sealed into oak barrels and left to age.
Brugal’s Blanco Rum is the least aged of the rums, at only one to two years. The Anejo Rum is aged for five years. Brugal ages rum for up to 30 years, to produce a sipping rum more akin to an aged scotch or tequila. The Brugal family still produces all aspects of the rum, and boasts five generations of maestros roneros, or “master rum makers.””- The Urban Grape blog

Hadley and TJ, owners of the Urban Grape, partnered with Brugal Rum to host an evening of rum cocktails and rum infused cupcakes. The 2 cocktails on hand were mixed by Bill Codman. Bill can be found out the Woodward at The Ames Hotel, which is a great thing since you definitely want to have him make you another drink. There were 2 Anegjo Rum based drinks, one including some champange and the other with pineapple juice. I would love to get these recipes to make them again, especially the pineapple one.  And the cupcakes were made by Kickass Cupcakes. I have never been a huge fan of their cupcakes but this changes everything.

Price and I left with a bottle of the Brugal Anejo so we could create our own cocktails at home. Also, we left with a pass for the 2 of us to see “No Strings Attached” compliments of Mix 104.1, who were there to play some house music. Definitely a great Thursday night.

The Urban Grape

7 Boylston Street
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

617.232.4831

Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment to provide some feedback. I appreciate all the comments I receive.

Mr Wonderful LO- Studio Calico 2/14 Sunday Sketch

Cheerpro-sketch

Woohoo! A Studio Calico Sunday Sketch that I actually completed in the week it was posted! I completed this last Tuesday but have been dragging my feet about blogging/posting since I have had so much going on. But here it is in it’s scrapbooked glory!!

I loved this sketch because it made me float the pictures, as opposed to grounded them to a side, which I typically do. Also, I angled the pictures and accent papers, which I have a love hate relationship with. I embraced this sketch and went for it which is why I think I love it so much. Plus, I used that red sparkly frame sticker, that I got in a Studio Calico kit, in a way I never would have thought about before, had I not seen this sketch.

Sketchbook 2: Day 7

It’s funny how so many things change in a year. This photo was taken for my 25 birthday- 1/10. Last year, if you would have told me what would be happening between now and then I would have thought you were crazy. But it seems that life is in fact crazy so you have to constantly roll with it.

Last summer I took a scrapbooking layout class from Kelly Purkey. I have posted my previous layouts (1-6) but I’m just getting around to finishing up the rest of the class now. Well, this layout has been completed for a while but I’m just getting around to posting it now.

I loved the sketch from day 7 because it was so simple. I liked the verticality of the page. Granted it could be rotated for a horizontal layout, but I liked it vertically. I also really liked how everything came to one this one line. I played around with mirroring the pictures along the line, having the large picture-less areas opposite each other. I made the title by cutting out numbers with my Cricut, lightly adhering them, spraying the paper with a glittery mist, and then removing the numbers later.

You can purchase the class sketches on Kelly’s blog.

Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment to provide some feedback. I appreciate all the comments I receive.

Strumpets Crumpets’ Valentines Swap

I hope you enjoyed Valentines Day. Price and I relaxed at home with some cheese fondue, chocolate fondue, and some wine. This was the first year since we have been together that we did not have classes or homework to compete with so we took it easy and just enjoyed the opportunity to savor the night together, without the collegiate pressure. Next year I am stepping up the game and we will make a bigger deal about it, but without those cheesy hallmark card moments. yak!

__________________

So the real reason for the post… my craft for the Strumpet’s Crumpet’s Valentines Swap!

I enjoyed the Strumpets Crumpets Ornament Swap so much that I signed up to the Valentines Swap as well. I loved getting to meet my previous partner Erin and I loved the ones she made me sooo much. I made her a mini crapbook ornament using some of her 2010 photos posted on flickr. I actually forgot to take a pic of it before shipping it on its way. But that made me even more aware of taking photos of my Valentines Swap before packing it up.

This time I was partnered with Kym. We emailed each other with some information about each of us.  With that knowledge about her and some crafty supplies I got to work on a yarn wrapped wreath that was adorned with some paper flowers. I created this to symbolize the family that she is a part of.

The 2 largest flowers are for her and her partner

The 3 smaller flower are for her kids.

The 5 heart shaped leaves are for their pets.

In the end it took a bit more spring like theme instead of Valentines Day…oops! I just fell in love with the papers (Stampin’ Up!) and had to use them. At least this way the wreath can hang around a bit longer than Feb 14th. 🙂

Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment to provide some feedback. I appreciate all the comments I receive.

Cheesecake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

These Cheesecake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are so easy to make that you’ll be saying “Ta-Dah!”. You’ll also be amazing at how quickly they disappear. Yum!

Post from 2/4/18, Pictures updated 8/22/18

Do you know people who don’t cook?

I didn’t think people like that really existed, but my friend Dawn does not cook.

…

Read More

OMG Red Velvet Event- Recap

A few weeks ago my friend Jason sent me a link to a red velvet themed charity event for Lovin’ Spoonfuls and he did not have to ask me twice about going. The event was organized by Urbanspoon’s Christine Liu and was sponsored by Signpost Boston and How About We… So on Tuesday night we headed over to Flour Bakery in Fort Port to chow down on some fantastic red velvet themed treats by some of Boston’s great chefs who donated their time and food for this event.

Macaron from Sportello/ Cupcake from Flour Bakery

Participating chefs included:
The Chocolate Tarte
Flour Bakery
Hungry Mother
Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake
SoCo Creamery
Sportello
Susu Bakery
Sweet Cupcakes
Union Bar + Grille
Garden in the Cellar

Red Velvet with Jalapeño Infused Sugar from Rattlesnake/ Red Velvet Fried Chicken from Garden at the Cellar

I enjoy a good red velvet treat but I enjoy that my admittance fee went to Lovin’ Spoonfuls.

“Headquartered in Brookline, MA, Lovin’ Spoonfuls is a 501c3, non-profit organization that facilitates the recovery and distribution of perishable and unserved foods that would otherwise be thrown away and wasted. They deliver this food directly to local crisis centers, soup kitchens and other social assistance entities. Lovin’ Spoonfuls was incorporated in 2010, and is committed to do its part to help eradicate hunger in Massachusetts.”

Cupcakes with The Chocolate Tarte/ Red Velvet Donut Muffins from Susu

The red velvet desserts varied from cake, cupcakes, donut muffins, and macarons. Then coming out of left field there was a savory item that consisted of chicken coated in red velvet cake batter, fried, and then dressed in a blue cheese sauce. It was a very creative on red velvet. My two favorite items were the macaron from Sportello and the red velvet spoonfuls from Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake.

Macaron from Hungry Mother/ Red Cake with Chocolate Mouse topped with a Red Hot from Union Boston

While there we learned about another very unfortunate situation that requires some special attention. Will Gilson, chef from Garden at the Cellar, reported a tragic situation his mother is experiencing. Jodie Gilson lost all of her greenhouses under the weight of the snow, which means she has lost her lively hood. Why can’t she just go through insurance to fix it… well read about the whole situation and donate to help her get back on her feet HERE.

Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment to provide some feedback. I appreciate all the comments I receive.

Tacos Tacos Tacos Tacos!- Boston Brunchers at Dorado Tacos and Cemitas

On Sunday morning 16 food bloggers, including myself, descended upon Dorados Tacos in Brookline, MA. We arrived an hour prior to their normal opening to feast on their brunch options. We snapped photos, discussed our blog’s point of views, talked camera settings, and what we did for work. We took video, shared plates of food, talked about events we have attended, and which restaurant offers the best{_fill in the blank_}.

Why did we do all that?

Because we are part of the community of food bloggers in Boston. But more specifically we came together through Boston Brunchers. Renee, the organizer, has put together a great schedule for people to to enjoy brunches at various places throughout Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge. Brunches vary from free to $ to $$$, limited by first come first serve sign up, or participants are selected by the restaurant based on reasons why they want to attend the brunch.

In this case Dorado limited the total # of people, while they threw in a few free meals for the people that won their approval. I was one of the first 14 people to sign up so I paid for my meal , which is no big inconvience since everything there is really affordable.

The group came together over plates of huevos rancheros,  breakfast quesadillas, patatas bravas, agua frescas, hot chocolates, and coffees. I enjoyed the house-made pork chorizo quesadilla with guacamole and a side of patatas bravas. The quesadilla was really good, without being greasy from the chorizo. The guacamole was inside th quesadilla so it was incorporated into each bite. The patatas bravas, a Spanish potato side dish that is similar to home fries, were so much more spicy than I anticipated. I really enjoyed them but I’m glad I listened to someone describe them before pouring hot sauce on them, like I typically do with home fries. I washed that down with my favorite cucumber mint agua fresca.

I’m looking forward to attending more brunch gatherings in the future with the great people I met. Plus great food doesn’t hurt!

PS- Whenever I hear about or have tacos I think of Terry on Reno 911. Any scene with Terry at Tacos Tacos Tacos Tacos cracks me up.

Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment to provide some feedback. I appreciate all the comments I receive.

Ole! First Annual Burrito Bowl Recap

When I first saw a tweet about the First Annual Burrito Bowl at Rattlesnake Bar I knew that I would have to rush to get tickets to attend this event. Thankfully I did because the event sold out and was a blast.

It’s no secret that Rattlesnake is one of my favorite places in Boston. So I obviously could not miss a chance to go there, while enjoying this burrito battle. The premise was simple, top chefs in the Boston area “serving up an edible homage to their favorite NFL team” making burritos to be judged by a panel and by the public.

Natalie, Jason, Price and I arrived early to grab some seating for us since we knew it would be packed. Emily and Peter followed shortly thereafter to pile in the booth after us. We all took turns supervising bags and coats while roaming around taking bowls back to sample together. An afternoon as simple as sampling the various burritos and enjoyed some beers and margaritas* results in some heated debate regarding the burritos.

– The frito pie inspired one was really good, however not really a burrito!

– The one with the roasted pig was fatty and there was some idenitifiable thing in the rice that was really chewy. However, it had a good slaw on it. Also, it had a QR code on it directing you to the recipe, which is fun and creative

– The New Orleans Saint’s one was a favorite since they fried each piece of fish at the station so it was hot and crispy. I would love this as a whole dish.

-The only one that resembled a burrito was submitted by Brian Poe (host) and consisted of chicken braised in duck fat. The sauce served with that was amazing.

Seeing a packed restaurant with people buried over bowls of burritos and chefs conversing together about their recipes just proves that food is a great connector. It certainly brought us all together to enjoy a rainy Saturday afternoon.

The line up:

Jason Hutchinson of Boloco, Laura Henry-Zoubir of Church, Jason Santos of Gargoyles on the Square, Erwin Ramos of Ole, Brian Poe of Poe’s Kitchen at The Rattlesnake, Jose Duarte from Taranta,  Andy Husbands of Tremont 647.

The winners:

Judged:  The roasted pig buritto bowl from Jose Duarte (Taranta)… not my favorite

People’s Choice: Frito Pie burrito from Jason Santos (Gargoyles on the Square)… not a burrito!

UPDATE: RECIPES FROM THE EVENT! FIRST ANNUAL BURRITO BOWL RECIPES

I really enjoyed the event. It gave me the opportunity to see food bloggers Jacki and Meesh from Just Add Cheese and Bianca from Confessions of a Chocoholic.  Getting a chance to taste different plates from great restuarnts I have not been to was a great experience. Plus I can’t deny that I enjoyed the 3 margaritas I had.

*Uber excited that the Cranberry Ginger Margarita that I created and won for the 20th anniversary event is now on the newly revamped drink menu!!!*

Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment to provide some feedback. I appreciate all the comments I receive.

Satan’s Kingdom

DSC_1201_edit

There is a small group of people who know me personally enough to know that when they come across random, bizarre articles, link, or places that I am a good person to share them with. So, the fact that I received an email from my friend Emily with no text and just the wiki link to Satan’s Kingdom, MA is not that out of the ordinary .I could not believe that a place actually existed called Satan’s Kingdom, let alone driving distance from Boston. After the busy holidays we found that we would be able to go last Sunday (1/30). Plus, we felt it would be best to go as a way to celebrate my birthday. ha

The idea of driving 2+ hours one day to get to Satan’s Kingdom, “an unincorporated community in the town of Northfield, Massachusetts” (wiki), would be a ridiculous idea for some people, but this is just the kind of thing the Emily and I enjoy. We have driven to Maine for lobsters since it’s much more fun to get them right off the docks and to the Cape for no real reason at all aside from a trip just to end with boxed wine.

So we set out early to drive to Satan’s Kingdom. The ultimate goal was to get to the Satan’s Kingdom Wildlife Management Area, where there had to be a sign that we could take a photo with. Without real directions to there we drove around the town trying to reach the Wildlife Management Area, mind you this is the middle of no where so there is no consistent 3G reception telling us where to go. First we overshot it and ended up in Vermont. Then we circled back and stumbled upon W Rd, which according to google maps on the iphone is “closed winters”. I thought that this would not be true… hello, we are not in the Rocky’s here! I was wrong. Finally, we then found Veron Rd which brought us there, which also was closed further down.

I have no idea how my car made it on the hills. The two just kept cracking up in the car as my car made angry noises as it slowly made it up these little snow covered hills. But we made it through, even making it over the tiny causeway at Sawyer Ponds.

Once we made it there we took foolish photos with the sign. How can you miss the opportunity to make devil horns in front of that sign?!? And briefly wanted around Satan’s Kingdom, which was not spewing hot fire but was covered with a nice coating of snow. There were even older snowshoer’s who were also there, that I suspect not as (childish) amused by the sign as we were.

After the visit to the Satan’s Kingdom, we headed north to Brattleboro, Vermont. We enjoyed an amazing brunch and checked out at local yarn store before heading back to Boston. In all it was a long day of driving but it was totally worth it. I can’t even wait to scrapbook these pictures!

Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment to provide some feedback. I appreciate all the comments I receive.

Happy Hour with SeamlessWeb and Boston Food Bloggers

I absolutely love the food blogging community in Boston. While I don’t exactly consider myself a food blogger… I’m a ‘life’ blogger who writes about what I care about, which often is food… I have been meeting great people who are just as passionate about food and restaurants as me. All this is thanks to Rachel, who has organized Boston Food Bloggers.

Last night was no different. Great food, drinks and people coming together because of food. The thing that brought us all together is called SeamlessWeb. What is SeamlessWeb? It’s an online food delivery service. So hop on the site, enter your address, and then see what food can me delivered to your door. This gets rid of the guess work when it comes to delivery ETA, ratings, and getting your order taking properly since it’s all done with a few clicks of a mouse.

SeamlessWeb hosted the happy hour mixer at The Landsdowne to introduce the company to Boston. They actually had been braving the elements this week and were giving out free coffee as well in different neighborhoods in the city. I definitely welcome any sort of launch party/happy hour/raucous get together that invovles free drinks and food. So Price Tag, as he introduced himself as, and I had a great time seeing bloggers I have met before and meeting a few new ones, all while enjoying some pub food and beers.

In honor of the gift certificates we picked up last night and the mess in the kitchen I have left for too long, we ordered pizza for dinner to night. Muy Bueno. Thanks SeamlessWeb!

PS- That magic 8 ball thing is AMAZING! I snatched one up and have been having too much fun shaking the hell out of it getting different answers like Thai, Mexican, Pizza, Panini, etc.

Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment to provide some feedback. I appreciate all the comments I receive.