weekend.

a fabulous friday night with friends in the village, an iron and wine concert at radio city, another pretty snowfall, my favorite aunt in town, and a fifth avenue appearance of the mystery machine/the general lee/the batmobile made my weekend one of the best i've had. 

 

no blues over here...

We are four-ish feet of snow into the season and I suspect that it won't be long before people start feeling the wintertime blues.  I've even wondered if and when I will start feeling them myself. I have really been looking forward to my first real winter, but I am also assuming that you can only hibernate for so long before you start wanting to get out and do other things, right?

But so far, so good. I am thoroughly enjoying the slow pace of the season. I have been reading even more than usual and I still find myself surprised that, post-graduation, I can read whatever I want and it not conflict with my school reading. I am still re-reading the Harry Potter series (currently half-way through The Half-Blood Prince) and I am almost finished with Get Me Out: A History of Childbirth. It's fascinating and makes me wonder how any of us are alive today. Amanda Verzello, if you are reading this, you would love it!

I have also been taking long walks around the park and my neighborhood as much for the activity as for the scenery and I have developed a great appreciation for the fact that my mail is delivered on foot by a postman pushing a handcart. It's so charming and old-fashioned.

The slower pace of wintertime also reminds me of simple pleasures that might be easily overlooked in a busier time of year, things like warming up from the inside with an afternoon cup of tea or watching favorite childhood films back-to-back because it feels like the best way to spend a snowy night.

snow scenes. are you tired of these yet?

Forgive me for yet another snow post, but, really, it's what's going on here. It has snowed for the last two days and will continue for the next few. I am currently on a work, marvel at snow, sleep, repeat cycle and we have reached the point where it's not just white anymore; the trees actually look silver now. I didn't even know this point existed.


Everyone is talking about how NYC never gets this much snow, but what they don't know is that I have made enough snow wishes over the last 22 years for every person in this city. Wishes come true...we bypassed "the most snow of my life" feet ago.

*I know the last photo is awkward, but no one was around and it was just so deep!

black + white.

love letter to new york.

 from now through may, these beauties are blooming down park avenue. 

...like a love letter to new york.

chocolate crinkle cookies.

an invitation to dinner and a request that i bring a treat gave me the perfect excuse to make chocolate crinkle cookies. i have seen variations of them on several recipe blogs lately and i have only made them once before, so i have been looking forward to meeting them again. if it's possible for cookies to be friendly, i think these might be the friendliest. they're just so pleasant.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies


(Note: This recipe makes 4 dozen, so I half it.)


2 cups sugar
¾ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup cocoa powder (1 cup if you want them really rich)
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup powdered sugar  

• Mix sugar, oil, and cocoa in a large bowl. Add eggs one at a time, then add vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to cocoa mixture. Blend well.

Cover and chill for 4 hours. 


Heat oven to 350. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in powdered sugar. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. (Note: If you compare the picture of mine to others, mine aren't powdered sugar-y enough. But next time...)


Bake 10-12 minutes or until almost no indentation remains when touched. (Note: Do NOT overcook these. Part of their goodness is in their softness.)


Remove from cookie sheet; cool on wire rack. 


Adapted from Cuisinie.

and the hot chocolate kick continues.

thanks to a craving that has persisted all winter long, i'm quite the hot cocoa connoisseur these days. i have made it with nutella at home, and i've tried it with salted caramel at starbucks and with salted peanut butter at shake shack (i also tried this at home. it didn't work out.).

today i was introduced to jacques torres, which has an entire hot chocolate bar with flavors like orange, white mint, and wicked (made with chili peppers!). i was super boring and went with the dark chocolate, but it was nice to have options.

the moma.

the moma is free on friday nights and i spent a few hours there

tonight. i could go back every friday from here on out. it's that good.