Banana Walnut Bread

It's highly ironic that I'm posting a recipe that features bananas and walnuts, two foods that don't normally find their way into my diet. Something about the smell of bananas makes me cringe, and something about the shape of walnuts makes me think I'm about to crack into tiny little monkey brains. Running on a somewhat regular basis helped me get over the smell of bananas -- I knew I needed to eat them for the potassium. And I've been trying really, really hard to give walnuts another shot ever since I included them on my list of pantry staples and committed to buying a bag of them to keep in the cabinet. So when I found myself with a slightly overripe banana and no desire to plug my nose and just eat the damn thing, I decided to bake banana walnut bread instead.

Featured Friday, Volume 1.4

My week did not go as planned. I had wanted to get ahead with blogging since I knew I was going to be out of town for a few days. (College friend getting married = long weekend in Florida. Woot!) I had wanted to have a strong training week for my upcoming half marathon since it's now only 9 days away. I had wanted to clean my apartment.

Interview with Robb Duncan of Dolcezza

(Image courtesy of Dolcezza)

My second freelance piece for Kestrel Growth Brands has been published! Go check out my interview with Robb Duncan of Dolcezza!

If you're in the Washington, DC area, make sure to stop by one of their gelateria locations or to look for their stand at the local farmers' markets. Tell Robb I sent you!

Very Potent Margaritas at Viva Pancho

Viva Pancho

156 West 44th Street

New York, NY 10036

(212) 944-9747 | Map

According to signs posted in the restaurant and to the description of the establishment on their website, Viva Pancho is the "Home of the Sizzling Fajitas". As tempting as that sounded, it was so hot in the restaurant when we walked in, the last thing my friend Candice and I wanted after an intense afternoon of shoe shopping was a plate of sizzling fajitas. We wanted margaritas.

Chicken with Creamy Mushrooms and Snap Peas

I have been at my job for just over three months now and, slowly, responsibilities and tasks and obligations that had been delegated to others are finding their way back to my desk since I've proven that I have a brain, that I know how to use it, and that I won't crack under the pressure when asked to do so. One of those responsibilities is that of the Business Unit Manager for my department (ooooh...), meaning I'm in charge of making sure that everyone follows the rules of document retention set in place by our corporate headquarters.

Featured Friday, Volume 1.3

"It's been a long week." Curious little phrase. How can a week be long when it's exactly the same number of days every time? Regardless, it's Friday... which means, despite how tired I am from the hustle and bustle of a busy week, it's time to post another Featured Friday post.

Springtime in Paris... on the Upper East Side

(Photo courtesy of Le Paris Bistrot)

Le Paris Bistrot
1312 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10128

(212) 289-0997 | Map

I'm sure I'm not the only person hoping that the recent record-breaking mini-heatwave in New York is not an indication that we'll be making a direct transition from winter to summer without the intermediary of spring. I need the spring -- it's when I do my best daydreaming. Daydreaming of the cute little sundresses I can't afford or the vacations I don't have the time to take. Like to Tuscany. Or to Barcelona. Or to Paris.

Should've Had a Pint at The Perfect Pint

The Perfect Pint

123 West 45th Street

New York, NY 10036

(212) 354-1099 | Map

Yep. The lunch I'm about to write about occurred more than a month ago. I'm terrible.

Anyway, I had the opportunity to meet up with my friend Karl before he moved to Pennsylvania to start his new job (yay!). Choosing The Perfect Pint was a strategic move -- it was close to my office and easy for Karl to get to from Penn Station. Thankfully, the place wasn't too crowded when we got there and we were seated at a table on the second floor right away.

Featured Friday, Volume 1.2

This edition of Featured Friday is going to have to be a short one since I'm typing this up on my lunch hour and our office is closing early for the holiday weekend. (Woot!)