Game Changers

Mobile games aren't just for kids. Moms can get in on the action, too! Just beware of 'life-ruiningly fun' (direct quote from 'The Simpsons' mobile game) finger action. Judge me all you want, I know more about Zelda than the Fresh Beat Band and ain't ashamed to say so.

Here are some iPhone games that I've really gotten into, just know this... don't blame me for getting you hooked! Oh and, they're all free because that's how I roll...

1. Candy Crush Saga (number one but everyone is pretty much 'been there, done that')

2. The Sims Freeplay (you can make them do what you want, they follow your exact orders!! Dream world!): I've followed the Sim series since Sim City/Sim Tower and have played the early versions of the Sims, it blows my mind that this game is on my phone and plays/looks/feels better than all of those versions.

3. Another Clue Solved: totally addictive and a waste of time but what fun!

4. Covet: Fashionista Moms? YOU have GOT to download this game, NOW. You put together, compete for and vote on the best looks with real people. It even comes with a feature that compares you to other players in your local area! Plus, you get to 'buy' clothes for your look book and can win virtual OR actual physical clothing and accessories. Are you sold or what? 

5. Crime Scene Mystery: if you like look and find games, this one can satisfy. There are different murder cases that you follow as the game progresses to remind you that this isn't child's play.

6. Can You Escape: Classic room escape game. There are several versions available for this game, all totally free. What are you waiting for? Go waste time like you have tons of it!

7. Doors & Rooms (aka D&R): More fun then Can You Escape and looks better, too. Also, has many different stories to choose from and some are actually quite gruesome. Super fun to see the story unfold as you escape each room. 

8. Cause of Death: Remember those 'Make Your Own Adventure' books? I cheated all the time in those. Well, this digital version with neat graphics and mood altering background music won't let you cheat which means, you die. So? Play again! 

And the last two (at least for now), I am somewhat embarrassed to mention but I will share them anyway.

9. Surviving High School: from the same creators of Cause of Death, same gameplay but completely different story line. This game allows you to play as different characters in high school and you follow the story line while making decisions. All I can say is, it's fun and completely not embarrassing.

10. High School Story: A spinoff from SHS, this game plays similar to The Sims and doesn't really retain any similarity to the original but follows a similar story line. Not sure what these kinds of games are called but play it and see!

Happy tapping!

Sandwich Time

Sandwiches are such cop out meals for dinner. But I am so relieved when there's a call for PB and J, minimal dishes, minimal mess. Awesome... 

Today's sandwich? Nutella, Sunflower Butter and Strawberries on 12 Grain Bread. And instead of making a proper sandwich for myself, I just ate the leftover bread ends. Even then, Nutella is so good...

I posted sandwiches ideas a long while ago. Feel free to comment on your own favorite combinations! I'll revisit new ideas soon, today is cop out day. Laziness is in now that our temps have hit the 50s! It's downright tropical for Forest Hills... Peace out!

New Stuff

I don't often deviate much from regular grocery shopping. There's just no time to try new things. Even when a product looks interesting enough, I know that it'll just sit there until expiration date and I deem it 'trash.' What a waste. 

So, new year new ways... Here are some products that I had in the pantry and couldn't pass up. Finally tried them all!

What: Chewy Sesame Bread Mix

Where: Super H Mart in Fort Lee, NJ

Ease: Super Easy, very clear directions

Look: shape matched the box's picture but mine weren't as nicely browned, more pasty and not as appetizing

Taste: not bad, chewy inside due to tapioca flour, smells nicely of sesame

Thoughts: worth trying again, possibly adjust baking temp and amount of water sprayed prior to baking

Met Food is my 'emergency' supermarket. They're open 365 days, from 8am to 8pm, no matter the weather! The only other place that I can count on would be 7-11. Met Food employees are dedicated! However, their prices reflect their confidence on being the only supermarket in a 3 block range and also being open at practically all times. I've found a bunch of interesting things here and although it's a Met Food, they carry some surprisingly niche/boutique market items. Gotta love that...

What: Chia Pods 

Where: Met Food in Forest Hills

Ease: Just open and eat

Look: Cute! Literally a pod! Plus a spoon!

Taste: 'No, thank you' then Interesting then better then 'Hey, not bad'

Thoughts: Way pricey at $4 but would consider trying again at half the price

So I cheated on several of these products as they do not require cooking or even prepping... Ah well. These ice popsicles were a great, tasty way to get 1. fruits and vegetables 2. liquids and 3. happy into T while he was sick. Not arguing that bit. 

What: Edy's Fruit & Veggies Ice Pops

Where: Met Food

Look: Awesome, smells really good, too!

Taste: Sweet, great flavor combos, Strawberry Rhubarb, Blueberry Medley (it's got beets, pear, apple, etc.), Tangerine Carrot

Thoughts: I love it but wonder 'why shouldn't I just make it myself?' 

Summer Pops

It's already the middle of summer. As expected, summer with T is a whirlwind of activity. Not that we stop when the leaves fall down but in comparison, summer is chock full of birthday parties, outings and events. We're happy to have such a fun summer and welcome the slow afternoons when we can hang out at home (or rather, T hangs out at home while I spin circles around him doing chores that I never get to do because it's so rare for us to stay in) to enjoy popsicle time. I had bought 3 sets of popsicle molds earlier in the year with very ambitious flavor profiles in my head. All I have had time to do, however, is fill them with Stonyfield's yogurt. T does not mind and loves his 'ice pops.' I love that he enjoys them and am not afraid to give him more than one. Also, it's proven effective to say 'we have ice cream at home' when the ice cream truck does his playground drive-bys.

Since there are so many kinds of seasonal fruit, use what you find in the supermarket/farmer's market, allow to ripen or add a bit of honey to sweeten and then blend/mash, add an extra punch with a touch of vanilla or herbs. Here are some ideas that I never got to do, yet.

1. Orange Juice with Strawberry Slices - I didn't work out the technicalities on this one. But I guess freeze OJ halfway and then poke in the strawberry slices before OJ completely hardens.
2. Mint with Watermelon - Mash sprig of mint with ripe watermelon or blend it for more even results.
3. Honey Kiwi Ice - I did this often as a kid. Mix hot water with honey, to your level of sweetness, until honey is dissolved. Pour into mold and add kiwi slices (or fresh berries).
4. Vanilla Almond with Blueberries - Pour in sweetened vanilla almond milk and blueberries.
5. Pineapple with Coconut Milk - use thick coconut milk (i.e., Goya's) or coconut creme, stir in regular milk for lighter consistency, mix/blend with mashed fresh pineapple, a bit of honey.

These are the molds that I have and seem to work well. I also mix up different flavors or colors of yogurt for more interesting taste and visual combinations. So easy!

Monster Ice Pop Molds - also available at Marshall's 

Rocket Ice Pop Molds - also available at Marshall's

Standard Ice Pop Molds - also available at Walmart

Good-bye, ice cream truck!

It's all in the prep or if you wanna go French, mise en place

T has been giving me these great 2.5 hour or 3 hour long naps. It gets me too comfortable. When he goes down, I clean up, have lunch and then have too much freedom on my hands. After I shrug off the initial feeling of strangeness, I start projects at about the 1 hour mark, it could be cleaning the closet, washing the floor, reading a book, watching TV (most likely result) or doing actual money earning work (forgive my language), anyway, I get engrossed in whatever it is that I am doing and I forget to prepare for 'the awakening.' In the middle of translating 'low muscle tone with high degree of pronation' I hear a small volumed 'Mommy!' and I think, CRAP! I'm not ready! There's no food for my usually starving toddler. I don't want to give him a snack when this is the time where he'll sit and eat a meal. Yogurt just feels like I'm not trying. Fruit will only hold him so long. But there are times when a Past Wendy thinks of Future Wendy and does things to help her along in moments just like I had mentioned. As a veteran of sorts from restaurant work, Past Wendy knows it's all in the prep. If you've done what you're supposed to, service will never feel too hectic or out of control. Moms, if you find yourselves in similar situations, here are some prepping ideas for your fridge:

Chicken- portion meat into sandwich sized plastic bags (I separate each of these in one bag, 1 leg/2 wings/1breast)

Use for:

1. Chicken Fingers- heat pan with a little oil, dip chicken into egg then your choice of bread crumbs (when I make this for adults, I dip into egg then flour then egg then bread crumbs but no reason for extra work here), pan fry

2. Chicken Soup- cut meat into small pieces, stir fry a little in quart pan, toss in some vegetables (onions, celery, carrots, potatoes, etc.), pour in Chicken or Vegetable stock, can add pasta/rice or toast some bread

3. Chicken Sandwich- pound breast meat thin, cut into desired portion, grill in fry pan. Serve in mini-pita pockets with cucumbers and cream cheese.

Quick accompaniments to keep on hand:

Vegetables- Carrot sticks, Cucumber rounds

Dips- Pesto with cream cheese, Marinara Sauce

Stock or Soups- Chicken soup, Vegetable stock

Pasta/Rice- cook extra pasta/rice when you are making it for a meal and keep in storage container for super quick future meals

This may seem like a lot of work. But I just did the chicken fingers today. It was 10 minutes from 'how I met your mother' marathon to 'Mommy!' to BAM ... food on table. I also stock frozen waffles and that's what kept T busy while I spent the rest of my 8 minutes finishing the chicken fingers.

Bon appetit!

Sandwiches

I was never a lover of sandwiches. I love heroes, cheesesteaks, muffalettas and two slices of bread with so much stuff inside that it can't be handled with one bite. Sandwich sounds so weak. A slice of ham here and a nibble of cheese there, with cucumbers? Blech.

Now, with a toddler and constant traveling, mainly by car and within borders anyway, I realize the necessity of sandwiches. They are comparatively neat and efficient. I can cover all the food groups in 5 bites. Clean up is a relative breeze, dust some hands and send them on their way. Here's the current list of favorites:

All made with frozen commercial multigrain bread, Arnold's Oatnut or 12-Grain:

Tips-
1. Cut into fours prior to packing into a glass container, the hard container makes sure that the sandwich isn't crushed.
2. Make sure to give sandwiches an extra press at the end so the whole thing stays together
3. Frozen bread will defrost by the time your child eats the sandwich thus ensuring extra freshness and chill while in lunchbox
4. Always include a spread, it's such a great way to include nutrients and taste but more importantly, it 'glues' the sandwich together. Cream Cheese means Whipped Cream Cheese, which is lighter-tasting, easier to spread and sticks better.
5. I leave the crusts on. I don't have the time nor the money to waste on cutting those crusts off!
6. On pancake days, freeze extra pancakes and substitute for bread in 'Sweet' sandwiches on special lunch days
7. Make what you would eat, toddler food should also be 'adult-friendly', especially if you only have time to feed the kids, at least you get to eat their leftovers and be happy about it!

Savoury:
1. Cream Cheese and Ham- Line with spinach leaves, sliced cheese, sliced roasted peppers.
2. Hummus and Cucumbers- I had to squeeze the cukes in there somewhere! Add sliced tomatoes or some grilled chicken/poultry. If your child isn't like mine, some sprouts or watercress would be awesome in this. Hint: try Trader Joe's Edamame Hummus.
3. Roasted Red Pepper Spread and Mozzarella- Just slice string cheese in half, dust with some fresh basil. Add some 'slices' of grilled corn or baby corn, if you have the time...

Sweet:
1. Cream Cheese and Strawberries- Strawberry cream cheese is such a popular item, why not just add fresh sliced strawberries to cream cheese? T loves this one and this was how he started his sandwich phase.
2. PB&J- Good old classic but use fresh ground PB and some imported Jelly (my favorite is Bonne Maman)! Toddler tastebuds are super influential, use the good stuff if you can! Plus, the flavors are better, you can use less (just a smatter of jam, you shouldn't even see it) and overall healthier. I sometimes replace the jelly with apple slices, whichever I have on hand. I'd imagine Granny Smith would taste pretty good.
3. PB&N&B- N is for Nutella and B is for Banana. On days that I make this one, I also wish that T doesn't finish it. Even the crusts taste awesome! You can also switch the banana for apples and it tastes just as good with an added crunch.

Open rice!

Tea

I love the idea of tea. It's so comforting to have a hot cup of tea when it's been raining for a full week and the temperature is miserably low. Nothing beats an afternoon in a cafe with a book and your cup of tea.

Being Chinese, I have always felt comfortable with tea. As a child, I was very familiar with tea served during dim sum, usually Pu Erh. It's a bit intense, especially when the leaves continue to steep in the pot, but it clears off your taste buds. For a long time, that was all I knew about tea. I didn't know about milk and sugar, bubbles in my tea, fruit teas, herbal teas or anything.

It's almost akin to my learning of the world. As I expanded my social circle beyond family and Chinese friends, I found that milk and sugar in Earl Grey was pretty satisfying. I almost didn't need to eat after a cup of Earl Grey. The milk solved hunger and the sugar fulfilled a mental need for sweets. Bubble Tea became hugely popular while I was in college and traveling in Taiwan. It was a novelty and most definitely a meal in itself. Fruit teas I discovered while spending a week with friends in Turkey. Dried apple bits with honey in hot water, I wasn't sure if I ever fell in love with it but it was worth trying. As a mom, looking for alternative juice options, I found that herbal teas are good for toddlers. Apparently, tea can be matched to milestones in my life. How interesting. And yet, I'm pretty sure it's cliche.

But honestly, I wouldn't mind going out to the world and drinking tea.

Our Time in Bali

Warung Murah- Seminyak

Plataran Resort

Seminyak Beachside Food

Chili Crab

Fried Fish with Chilis

View from Metis- Seminyak 

Sardine- Seminyak

Metis- Seminyak

Plataran Resort

Metis-Seminyak

Plataran Resort

Plataran Resort

Beachside Food- Spring Rolls

My Romance with Trader Joe

I love Trader Joe. My toddler really loves Trader Joe. Whoever he is, we love him. When we step into the store, T drags me to the 'yummy' area for a sample of their daily product tasting. He has his own grocery list when I visit Trader Joe's.

Pretzel Stick Bread, which is eat on premises
Freeze Dried Strawberries, eat in car on way home
Blueberries and Cream Yogurt, eat first thing when we get home
Ground Turkey (for meatballs or burgers) and Frozen Petite Peas, used for dinner that night
Mini Pancakes with fruit and agave, breakfast the next day
Edamame Hummus, for sandwiches the next day
Guilt-Free Pita Chips, to finish off the hummus by the evening

I can actually keep going just on snacks alone (honey wheat pretzel sticks, kettle popcorn, peanut butter filled pretzels, etc.). We love Trader Joe. Whoever he is...

T in the Far East

16 hours from JFK to HKG. A week later, 4.5 hours from HKG to Denpasar, Indonesia. At the risk of malaria and Bali Belly, we touted our 2 and a half year old T on a 3 week trek through Hong Kong, Bali and Macau. I think T is made for travel- the many times that he's flown, he never had problems with air pressure and motion sickness, and though we worried about upset stomachs and mosquitoes, the biggest problem we had to deal with was T getting too comfortable sleeping on our bed.

I'm almost ashamed to admit the amount of Hong Kong street food that he had, the curry fish balls, the mini cakes, the waffles, the bowls of noodles and steamed rice crepes. Add to that, all the freshly made juice that we bought in street stalls, whose equipment and ingredients lay open and accessible to dirt, people and gaseous fumes. But he had the time of his life! I have to say, I'm pretty proud of him.

T even got to see the fancier side of Hong Kong food. He loved it just the same. It was just more painful for us when he decided that he'd eaten enough and wanted to run around instead. I'm really ashamed to admit that we pulled out the electronics all too often. But there was no way anyone was letting him loose around Lei Gardens or the Four Seasons. So, iPhone it was.

Salt Cooked Chicken and Quail Eggs- Street Stall in Tai O

Baked Portuguese Chicken and Rice- Mei Do Cafe

Smoked Duck Egg- Ningbo Restaurant

Stinky Tofu & Shrimp with Egg Yolks- Ningbo Restaurant 

Satay Beef with Tomato Broth Rice Noodles- Star Cafe

Shrimp Caviar on Noodles- Six Cafe in Macau

Street Stall- Tai O

Beef Chow Fun- Mei Do Cafe

Breakfast with T

In our household, breakfast never posed much importance until the arrival of our toddler. Waking at dawn on most days, T is hungry by 7am EST. My groggy self usually whips up a suitable breakfast in automaton mode. Here are some ideas:

French Toast- Super easy with store bought bread, especially if you're close to a Chinese bakery, the high-gluten flour that they use for sliced bread gives your toast great texture. Give your slice of bread an egg bath, toss it on the fry pan with a teeny bit of oil, some cinnamon and maple or agave syrup, good to go!
Omelets- Pop an extra ingredient to make it more filling or nutritious.
Frozen Pancakes- Serve with fruit/nuts/granola and yogurt on top.
Steel Cut Oatmeal- Make enough for a couple days and store in fridge. When ready to use, heat up a little milk and pour in oatmeal to warm. Add your mix-ins.

Growing up Chinese, we have a whole other menu of breakfast items. Some to share are:

Macaroni in Soup- Use any kind of broth (chicken, usually), add cooked macaroni, cubed carrots, peas and chicken, variations aplenty, tailor to taste.
Frozen Waffles- Use for pb&j's, nutella and pb. For really special mornings, condensed milk with peanut butter.
Chow Mein- Great to heat up in nuker for a quick breakfast. Don't use the typical American-Chinese oily noodles, instead, grab the thin or wide egg noodles. Stir fry the noodles with chives, a little soy sauce and sesame oil. If that's too plain, mix with an omelet cut into strips and add some chopped up veg.
Savory Oatmeal- use a savory broth to cook the oatmeal, add chicken or pork, peas and carrots, same idea as Macaroni in Soup

Happy Brekkie!

Medicine

Is medicine 'good eats'? Perhaps not. But when faced with a fevering toddler, medicine cannot be avoided. Modern parents have a menu of options in their arsenal. Pharmacies can flavor liquids with their child's favorite syrupy concoction. There are quick dissolve tablets that actually taste decent. You can drown the 5ml of Acetaminophen in a 118ml suspension of cocoa and milk. So much available and yet, nothing worked. 

Here's the trick that totally got my 2 year-old blindsided- dissolve a quick dissolve tablet in a small amount of juice. It's that simple! The tablets are much more pleasant in flavor and lacks that icky, fakey sweetness of syrup meds. Pass it on.

Capital Crushers- Washington DC with a Toddler

On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., I was shocked. I still can't believe that we had so much fun. "We" being my 2 year old toddler and I! It felt like I was touring the city with a friend. The weather did not cooperate, it was raining softly the whole day. T hates his rain cover and I hate umbrellas. As a result, we arrived slightly damp at each stop.

Our day began at the National Building Museum, I was very excited about this one. They have a space created especially for toddlers called the Building Zone which promised kid-sized Bob the Builder equipment for kiddies to experiment and explore. It was educational for me and awesome fun for T. Despite the lightly falling rain, I made the trek from our parking garage to the somewhat out of the way museum. We made it just as the museum was opening. On the walk over, I had repeatedly touted the fun we would have to my tour group of one. He was hyped, I was beyond excited for him to run off and leave me be for an hour. When we walked in, we oohed and ahhed the giant marble columns that faced us from the entrance. I quickly located the information booth, saw a list of exhibits that required additional payment and thought, "So D.C. museums aren't REALLY free!," then I stopped dead. There was an information sign with a huge picture of Bob the Builder. It read, "Exhibit closed for renovations 10/15-10/20." What date is it today? DARNATION!!!

We heaved a great sigh and walked out.

Quick contemplation about where we were, where we should go and how to get there led us to the National Mall where everything else was located. Our first stop, National Air and Space Museum, was an immediate hit the moment we stepped past security. The airplanes, rockets and vehicles locked in T's attention and we quickly ran from plane to plane to exhibit. There is a large children's area with exhibits that explain the science of flight. Preschoolers will love fiddling with gauges, buttons and wheels. Older kids can learn about gravity, atmosphere, torque and etc. Within the children's area, a small stage area is set up for short talks and presentations. We walked in while a boy stood center stage being fitted for an astronaut suit and a guide explaining why the suit was necessary (environmental concerns) and what it was made of (Kevlar was in there). There is also a gift shop with freeze-dried ice cream, memorabilia, astronaut costumes, etc.

After 2 hours running around Air and Space, we went next door to the Museum of the American Indian. This time we were in search of food at Cafe Mitsitam, a very child-friendly food court with interesting food choices plus wine and beer. They feature food that Native Americans really would've eaten prior to modern conveniences and much of it is very familiar, roast salmon, pumpkin soup, roast vegetables. We had the fried bread, duck sausage soup, a quinoa salad and a wild mushroom salad. I enjoyed it. T gobbled up most of the fried bread dipped in soup. Very satisfying. They also have chicken fingers, fries and buffalo burgers. We said our good-byes after lunch, vowing to return in the future for a more thorough visit, and headed to the Museum of Natural History.

The Big Mac

It must be the kid in me. McDonald's has just been weighing in my mind. Do you remember when the Golden Arches used to count the amount of millions that it had served every day? Despite its bad reputation, McDonald's has its place in my head and I believe in many others, as well. Their marketing, especially with children, is genius. Its representation of good times, golden fries, free playgrounds is hard to wipe away. At times, I still indulge in its freshly salted, red boxed fries, the lovely soft-serve sundaes and the perfect chicken nugget. Yum ... just thinking about it makes me smile.

Recently, as you know, I have been inundated thoughts of the Golden Arches. First, by its new mocha frappes and now by the Filet-O-Fish. I've always loved the Filet-O-Fish...

Still do but again, will have to leave this posting unfinished as I have completely forgotten what I had planned on writing here...

The Caribbean Fish

I just came back from a week in the Southern Caribbean Islands. My first cruise, my first foray into the Caribbean, my first time crying about leaving a beach. St. John's Trunk Bay, oh, how I love thee. Aside from the sun and sand, there was definitely food. A whole lot of it! So much that I am now experiencing a departure from meats and seafood.

On the boat, the food was expectedly tailored for mass tastes and while satisfying, it was not entirely inspirational. I had looked forward to trying the food on the islands themselves. My group, consisting of a husband and two friends, were definitely down for some local culinary scenery. We were all known for being adventurous in food and despite my limitations, I was willing to go the full distance without doing something ridiculous.

On Sunday, we landed in San Juan and headed into the old neighborhood to try out a restaurant known for its mofongo, El Jibarito. Located on a seemingly residential street with a small sign posted on the wall, the wooden doors opened into a high-ceilinged lounge bustling with activity and noise. The smells of shrimp and garlic tantalized our noses once we were pulled inside the main dining room and made us very eager to be seated. The menus did not disappoint with offerings of mofongo with shrimp, fried snapper, grilled skirt steak as entrees with such sides as sweet and fried plantains, arroz con habichuelas, smashed yuca, on and on. It took me a while to decide what to have, I finally decided on the mofongo with shrimp, classic PR style. It is did not disappoint. The grilled shrimp was so perfect that I did not mind chomping on a bit of charred shell along with the meat.

This post will have to remain unfinished as I have left it alone for 2 whole years...

Dirty Water Dogs

Dirty water dogs, heard of them? I believe they may be a New York phenomenon. They are hot dogs sold from stands found on many New York City streets, known for the abundance of automobiles passing by releasing clouds of fumes. These special hot dogs float around a metal container full of tepid, gray-colored water until the hawker stabs one up and places them in a bun that has been treated in much the same loving way. But despite my description, I find them irresistible. It is not surprising considering my foundation in culinary tastes. Born in Hong Kong and raised in New York, I am a big city girl with an iron stomach. In truth, I am quite proud of my belly.  Aside from a painful stint resulting in bad cabbage slaw from a Barcelona shop, I had never gotten sick from food. The grilled beetle on a stick from Beijing, the duck blood noodles from SuZhou, the curry fish balls from Hong Kong, the stinky tofu from Taipei, the takoyaki from the streets of Tokyo, I was immune. As I say, too proud.

Nowadays, with the little kid in my womb, the iron stomach is on hold as being with child means a bit of sacrifice. Hot dogs are a thing of last year, dirty water or not, as they are a double whammy. First off, hot dogs contain preservatives such as sulfites and nitrates which can cause birth defects when consumed in large quantities. Although my normal dirty water dog intake barely exceeds one per year, hot dogs can carry listeria, a bacteria that can cause serious problems during pregnancy. As a result, I have forlornly abstained from hot dogs ever since the test came back positive. 

Dirty water dogs hold a special place in my memory. Long ago, in the days of piano lessons and art classes, a friend's mom would buy them for us almost every Friday when the walk to the bus from class would allow us to pass by two hot dog stands. If you go there today, they're still there selling shish kebabs, hot dogs and knishes. I used to savor the moment when she would suggest, 'How about a hot dog?' They were a dollar for two, one for my friend and one for me.  The hot dog man would load it with everything the stand offered, relish, onions, mustard and of course, ketchup. Wrapped in a piece of foil leaving the top open for immediate consumption, I remember the first bite into one of those. New Yorkers honor the unique snap of the skin of a dirty water dog. We don't know whether it's the water or the fumes. I just know it's not replaceable. Later, further along my culinary prowess, I realized that this snap is really tough to replicate. 

Good memories or not, the desire for a hot dog has been strong. It never crossed my mind that there could be healthy, non-preservative hot dogs. Why would anyone want one? Nevertheless, salvation came in the form of a random grocery store outing on Austin St. The gourmet food market had a line of non-cured hot dogs made by Applegate Farms. I eagerly grabbed a package of beef dogs and another of turkey. Much to my disappoint, they don't taste nearly as satisfying as its 'so bad for you' counterpart. It's a decent sausage and the snap is there but as I have said, dirty water dogs have etched their being into my mind. The experience is unique. Perhaps I could try eating it amongst the smog and taxis. 

*But try the Applegate dogs, they really should be pretty good. I may not eat them in a non-pregnant state but I have devoured two packs of those dogs. So that must mean something...

Starbucks Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino

Hello blog. Aside from a stint on Xanga, this is my first attempt to broadcast my words on the internet. You will soon learn that I am not a serious blogger and that my numerous physical diaries are either 3/4 empty or if you are the positive thinking kind, a 1/4 full. Nevertheless, a picture of a recent indulgence brought a desire to share my experiences as a voracious eater that also happens to be pregnant at the moment. 

I have been attracted by the recent onslaught of Mickey D ads regarding their new frappes, Caramel and Mocha. It had been a long held misconception of mine that preggerland means no caffeine whatsoever. But a discussion with my doctor and a nurse specializing in OB care saved me from living that stereotype any longer. The main reason for no caffeine is the dehydrating effects of caffeinated drinks which isn't good for pregnant women. A preggo lady would be fine as long as she didn't overdo the caffeine and drank enough liquids to cover the indulgence.

Nevertheless, I have never really been a coffee drinker. Love the smell, hate the taste. So instead of heading to the Golden Arches, I made a pit stop at a Union Square Starbucks and rather than a frappuccino, I had a strawberries and cream smoothie-like concoction. I didn't, however, stop the barista from filling it to the top with whipped cream. This would be the first time I've ever had an indulgence of this sort, ever. Seriously.

Please allow me to present an exception, I have had milk shakes of which I am a big fan but didn't often possess the guts to indulge. Since this indulgence has waited a lifetime, I was quite proud of this moment. It was worthy of being documented via Facebook and I included a luscious picture of the pink and creme-colored concoction on my posting. Upon casually opening my Facebook account the next day, I was bombarded by notifications that friends had posted on my wall. My postings normally do not elicit much attention and so I was curious what had caused such a response. To my complete shock, it was the Starbucks posting!

Apparently, I shouldn't have bothered to inquire about the caffeine. The responses were more akin to concerns that the beverage was cold and full of sugar. Being a Chinese-American and quite Westernized in my food tastes, the idea of not drinking cold beverages elude me. Am I to drink warm milk every day with my cereal? Or perhaps hot OJ with my egg sandwich? My fraternal grandmother had always told me that women should not drink too many cold things especially during their 'you know what' period. I had always believed in the truth of that but to completely withdraw from cold beverages just sounds ridiculous! I overheat once the mercury hits 80 degrees and the thought that I am just in the middle of my pregnancy with full blown summer still around the corner, man, that just makes me mad!

Well, it may now seem anti-climactic to include the fact that the whipped cream sitting atop my drink also granted me several 'tsks, tsks.' All I can say is, lighten up, people! And the frappe wasn't even all that great... With that said, I will continue to air my pregnant food adventures full force en blog. Stay a while and see!