Get to Know a Serious Eater.

LizNYC's Profile

Website: http://flickr.com/photos/capitaliztic/

Location: New York City

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Favorite foods:

Last bite on earth: That question could give me panic attacks if I thought about it too hard.

The Ten Most Recent Posts By LizNYC

From Talk

Music to chew by: what to play during Thanksgiving dinner?

Posted by LizNYC, November 7, 2007 at 12:38 PM

The Amateur Gourmet's current post about music and food got me thinking. I already have an "old reliable" playlist on my itunes for cooking and baking. But I'm assuming not everyone at my thanksgiving table will have the same music taste, so I'm at a loss as to what to put together for my Thanksgiving Day Playlist.

Growing up, my parents pulled out the same "101 Strings" album during Easter and Thanksgiving dinner, probably thinking that since candles were lit and the meals took hours to make, we should have classical music. I'll probably include some traditional music in the list, but what other songs or artists would you like the hear (at a low volume, to facilitate conversation, of course) as you give thanks through food?

17 Comments | Tagged: music, Thanksgiving

From Talk

Calling all canners!

Posted by LizNYC, November 5, 2007 at 4:16 PM

With a recent batch (ok, four batches) of apple butter under my belt, I do believe I've caught the canning bug. I'd like to get one more batch of something preserved, but I'm not really in the mood for a weekend of trial and error. So, other canners, what are your tried and true canning recipes? Specifically, I'm looking for a seasonal jam (like cranberry, maybe), but let's hear what you've got!

17 Comments | Tagged: canning, Question of the Day

From Talk

Canning Questions

Posted by LizNYC, September 27, 2007 at 12:48 PM

I've been itching to try my hand at canning (jams, maybe some pickles too) for awhile now, and I think I've got my nerve up. Any experienced home-canners out there...do you have any advice for this newby? And also, one specific question: after canning, are there any foods that require refridgeration? In particular, if I make apple butter to be given out at christmas, do I have to refridgerate it in the meantime?

Thanks!

11 Comments

From Talk

Oh dear...Low Carb recipes?

Posted by LizNYC, August 3, 2007 at 12:24 PM

I cringe as I write this, but I'm trusting my fellow serious eaters to come up with something more creative than deli meat wrapped around a piece of cheese.

And just to preempt the type of response I would normally give to this topic ("It's not healthy to exclude any one food group, just eat it in moderation") this is an early intervention for me, so I don't end up sticking myself with insulin in a few years. So with that, let's hear your inventive salads, filling meat meals, etc. Thanks!

12 Comments

The Ten Most Recent Comments By LizNYC

From Talk

What do you bring to lunch to eat at your desk?

Leftovers for sure. I'm single and cook only for me, so I generally plan my dinner according to how long it will feed me for lunch that week. For instance, yesterday I made a pot of spicy pinto beans which I ate for dinner. Today I'll have the leftovers with tortillas and homemade salsa, tomorrow I'll finish them off as nachos by bringing in chips and some shredded cheese.

Also, even though it means bringing (and later washing) a lot of containers, I like the lunch that Molly described on Orangette - cheese A with bread B, soup or salad C, and fruit D. It's enough of a variety that it isn't depressing and it feels special to pull out a wedge of brie and baguette when your coworkers are eating ramen.

LizNYC at 11:52AM on 05/12/08

From Talk

Gifting foods - or how to send a long-distance hug

I usually send baked goods that would normally sit out on the counter (quick breads, cookies, etc) so I don't worry too much about the freshness when it arrives. Or, at least I don't when I'm shipping domestically - I once sent a huge batch of cookies to a friend in Germany and they were rocks by the time they arrived!

Also, if you can ship overnight and know they'll be home to receive it the next day (say, sending it Friday to arrive Saturday) a loaf of bread and homemade (or locally made) jam is a great gift. I just sent that to my younger sister during her finals.

LizNYC at 11:02AM on 05/06/08

From Talk

Buying Produce for One

I'd say explore your grocery options. Here in NYC there are lots of ways to get less produce, by shopping around to green markets, whole foods, and various grocery stores and bodegas. I'm not sure where you live, but I'm sure there are grocery options - frequent the store that make buying produce easier. Or talk to the produce manager at your favorite store and see what he/she suggests.

Also, I know this is obvious, but use your surplus of produce to try new recipes. When I've got extra cilantro left over from guacamole, that's the perfect reason to try a new thai recipe. About-to-spoil celery or carrots practically screams "make me into soup!" I shred leftover carrots and cook them with my end-of-the-month-running-out-of-money pot of beans. The same goes for lots of leftover fruits - I make them into muffins, quick breads or pancakes and freeze them for a quick breakfast on the run.

LizNYC at 11:38AM on 04/28/08

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

Well hi, everyone! As you could probably guess, I'm Liz and I live in NYC. I'm 25, I write ads, and I'm originally from the SF Bay Area. My parents recently relocated to South Carolina (where most of the extended family is) so, I have a great interest in and appreciation for the main food cultures in my life - city food, california cuisine (which was just food, growing up!) and southern food.

I'm young(ish) and on a tight budget, so the kitchen is a source of adventure for me - how little can I spend while still getting the flavors I want? I also love love love to bake and cook for friends and family. I'd love to write more about all of that, but I'm stuck for a blog name. SO many people out there have taken the domain names of blogs I'd want, and haven't used the darn things since the beginning of the century!

So, that's me.

LizNYC at 3:11PM on 04/23/08

From Recipes

Dinner Tonight: Asparagus with Fried Egg and Parmesan

I think my most common weeknight dinner is a roasted vegetable (last night it was brussel sprouts) and either a fried or poached egg. My non-adventurous -eating roommate has learned what a poached egg is through my dinners. "Wait, you just put it in water? Like pasta?"

LizNYC at 2:17PM on 04/15/08

From Talk

Grocery shopping at Target!?

I love Super Target! Target is a looong subway ride away from me (c'mon, build one in Manhattan! Actually, don't. It'd be a zoo). But at my parent's house in SC, there's one about 5 miles away.

I love the Maui Onion kettle chips, the monster mix (I think that's what it's called) and Archer Farms makes a garlic bread that's studded with big cloves of roasted garlic. My sister turned me on to it, and I could eat half a loaf for dinner. So good!

LizNYC at 12:44PM on 04/14/08

From Talk

Watching food shows for the chef, not the show.

Thank goodness I love Jamie Oliver's cooking, because I also have the biggest crush on him! He's adorable, and I love how excited he gets about food. So yeah, I watch for the cooking...but I'm not going to change the channel if he makes something that doesn't appeal to me :)

LizNYC at 12:39PM on 04/14/08

From Talk

What do you drink?

Certainly not everyday, but I love a muddled fruit and herb drink - usually as a basis for vodka on the rocks put you could substitute seltzer for a non-alcoholic version. Raspberry/mint is great, as is blackberry/basil.

LizNYC at 4:18PM on 04/10/08

From Talk

Canning anyone?

I got really into canning this past fall, making a billion batches of apple butter and jam before I got it right. The Ball website was a great resource for me about canning safely (no one wants botulism, especially as a gift!). I tweaked an apple butter recipe to go from the specified 2 cup of sugar down to 2 tbsp, and realized only after canning everything that the high sugar content was probably for a reason.

The folks at Ball emailed back a response to my question (!!) and filled me in that a "tweaked" apple butter recipe should be treated like apple sauce and processed for twice as long. So I'd take a look at their FAQ section.

And be sure to let us know how you get on!

LizNYC at 2:26PM on 04/04/08

From Talk

How does anyone afford to travel & eat?!

It's been mentioned, but priorities are key when traveling on a budget. For me, food is part of experiencing a new place so I make sacrifices to be able to eat well. Like staying at a cheaper chain hotel instead of the fancier boutique places. And if you can, stay somewhere that offers a free breakfast and take advantage of it - grab one of their apples for a snack later in the day.

On a trip to Vienna, a friend and I managed to only buy one meal a day - dinner. Eating the hostel's free breakfast (and lots of it!) and then snacking throughout the day on Luna bars brought from home, we could splurge on dinner. For someone with more of an appetite, I'd second the suggestion for a picnic: get some cheap eats from a farmer's market or grocery store and enjoy it in a park or while site-seeing.

Lastly, plan where you want to eat to avoid wasting money on the closest thing available while you're starving. I'm an uber-planner so I'd probably have each restaurant picked before leaving home, but you can leave room to be spontaneous. Say you have three nights to eat out, come up with six restaurants that look good to you and decide from them. Again, never end up at some expensive hotel restaurant just because you're too hungry to go anywhere else!

LizNYC at 2:23PM on 04/04/08

Responses to Comments by LizNYC

From Talk

What do you bring to lunch to eat at your desk?

Here's the other one: Tuna and White Bean Spread. This recipe came from Prevention magazine. The combination is unusual (at least in this country--the reason I tried it was because I had read that tuna and beans is a common combination in Italy), but it really works. I don't usually care for tuna, but I like this.

Roughly mash I can solid white tuna (drained) and 1 c. cooked white beans together with a fork. Stir in 1 minced clove of garlic, 1 heaping t. dried basil, 1/4 heaping t. dried oregano, 1 t. olive oil, 4 t. cider vinegar, 1/8 t. salt, and 1 small can sliced black olives, drained. Serve on crackers or in a pita. (The original recipe called for Kalamata olives, but they're a little strong-tasting for me.) Important: this recipe needs to be chilled for at least a couple of hours before you eat it.

stillSTH at 12:23AM on 05/13/08

From Talk

What do you bring to lunch to eat at your desk?

My pleasure, fozziebayer!

For the hummus, soak 3/4 c. dried garbanzos overnight, then drain and rinse. Saute 1 chopped onion and 2 chopped garlic cloves in a little olive oil until onion is soft. Transfer onion and garlic to the pot with the beans, cover with water, and simmer until the beans are tender and most of the liquid is gone. Mash beans in food processor with 1 1/2 T. tahini, 2 1/2 T. lemon juice (bottled is okay), and 1 t. garlic powder (yeah, yeah, I know, but it works!) You might need a little salt if the tahini is unsalted. To pack this for lunch, put some in a shallow plastic container and drizzle a little olive oil over it. Put chopped cuke, tomato, and green onion in a little separate container. Add some quartered pitas in a baggie and you're set.

This is the best, most flavorful hummus I've ever had, but some folks might find it a little too garlicky. I've never had any complaints, though--even people who hate beans like this recipe, especially with the vegetables on top.

stillSTH at 12:15AM on 05/13/08

From Talk

What do you bring to lunch to eat at your desk?

I've just gone back to work after almost 2 years of consulting (mostly from my home office), and I'm immediately back in "pack my lunch" mode after spending $8/day for less than mediocre sandwiches the first couple of days. I toast a bunch of slivered almonds and have a bag of 'em set for salads for the week. Each night I cut up romaine, add almonds, Craisins, and then cut up whatever protein is in the house (today it was pork chop, tomorrow it'll be tuna), esp b/c sometimes I want to heat up the chicken/turkey/whatever. I usually pack the protein separately from the salad, and put a small piece of paper towel on top of the salad before putting the lid on the container to keep it from getting overly soggy. Definitely don't dress it until you're ready to eat!

Curlz at 9:15PM on 05/12/08

From Talk

What do you bring to lunch to eat at your desk?

I've been able to come home for lunch most of the time, where I'll usually cook a quick tilapia fillet in the skillet and steam up some veggies or just destroy any leftovers. Favorite desk munchies include the good old standby granola bar or some munchies: cashews and dried cranberries, yogurt, apple or banana with peanut butter, string cheese, triscuits & laughing cow cheese, or a new favorite, toasted pepitas and raisins.

I'll be biking to work soon since the weather is so nice, but that will mean not coming home for lunch. I'm psyched to keep up the healthy munchies and try out more salads (like the stetson chop salad I'm trying my butt off to recreate: pearl couscous (the fat kind), chopped baby greens, corn, diced tomato, pepitas, raisins, and probably a red wine vinegarette). I'm also a hug leftover fan, so I've already started planning out stuff I like that I can make in mass quantities like casseroles (so very few that I like) and other filling dishes that are great cold.

joyyy at 8:55PM on 05/12/08

From Talk

What do you bring to lunch to eat at your desk?

Leftovers! Making a big pot of soup on the weekend is always a good idea. I also keep dried fruit/nuts in my desk at work for snacks.

dettling05 at 8:14PM on 05/12/08

From Talk

What do you bring to lunch to eat at your desk?

Awesome question; some of these responses gave me some new ideas. My top picks for desk-munching are:
plain walnuts
cucumber
bell peppers
dried prunes (I know no one likes them but I love'em)
dried apricots
"Frut to Go" bars
those Cheeros and chex mixes
peanuts (if I need the calories)
cherry tomatoes
I think as long as I'm sitting at a desk all day; I feel like crap if I eat heavy things--so these seem to work best and digest well for me.

hungrychristel at 3:41PM on 05/12/08

From Talk

What do you bring to lunch to eat at your desk?

I usually go to the grocery store on Monday during lunch and get food for the week. I usually buy a package of whole wheat tortillas, deli meat (usually turkey or ham), light cheese and some fresh fruits and veggies. I make wraps at work and it takes no time at all. Once in a while I buy the Amy's Organic frozen burritos which I like. I agree with the NO tuna rule! It stinks up the office.

natalie2040 at 1:42PM on 05/12/08

From Talk

What do you bring to lunch to eat at your desk?

I work from home so lunch isn't a problem for me, but I do make lunch for my husband every day. (Plus, I'm about to finish grad school, so it's box lunches for me soon!)

I do my own odd little version of bento boxes. I have a Mr. Bento and some other compartmentalized containers. Today he'll have leftover rigatoni and meatballs in one box, fruit in a second. Tomorrow is deviled eggs, a tortilla smeared with peanut butter and honey with trail mix sprinkled on then rolled up, and some veggie slices. Wednesday I'm making a persian rice salad with "planned-over" rice from Tuesday's dinner and putting some Morningstar Farms buffalo nuggets in with it.

The general idea I go with is to have a variety of things, but not too much of each. Lots of flavors makes him feel fuller, and I can sneak in more veggies and grains when there's little bits of many things. If I just made him a sandwich all he'd want is a pile of lunch meat and chips on the side.

I get ideas from the photos on Flikr (just search on bento)

AliceBlue at 11:59AM on 05/12/08

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

I'm Rosezilla (named for my three year old daughter and the giant lizard thing that stomped Tokyo...it's what I call her when she's being...how you say...willful). My real handle is Mandy. I live in Santa Barbara County again after growing up here, but lived for 11 years in western Sonoma County...home of fabulous food and wines. It spoiled me rotten, to become an adult surrounded by all of that luscious produce and foodie opportunity. I managed a microbrewery's kitchen for 6 years, and have SERIOUS opinions about ales, should anyone care for them. Now I'm a home cook primarily, although I do a little catering here and there. My daughter's favorite foods are salmon and broccoli, so I feel as though I've triumphed a bit over the three-year-old beige-food diet. We do, however, eat at McDonald's every Friday after school...it's our little Happy Meal indulgence...and those tiny cheeseburgers are SOOO good. I live with and cook for my mother, as well. I am dating a high school band director, who has actually LOST weight being with me, as he's eating more asparagus and less fast food. I think that size 14 should be the new size 6. I am curvy, healthy, happy and active...and think that excellent foods should be part of everyone's diet. I am active in the "S'Cool Food" movement here, which tries to bring local and sustainable healthy food into school cafeterias. And I love, love, love this website.

rosezilla at 1:31PM on 05/09/08

From Talk

Gifting foods - or how to send a long-distance hug

Zingermans in Ann Arbor has some delicious things grouped in theme baskets, or you could put your own selection together. www.zingermans.com

sarajane at 6:36PM on 05/07/08