Monday, June 22, 2009

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Random Recipe of the Week

How do you cope with such a crappy New York rainy day...throw a fiesta!!

Tofu & Black Bean Enchilladas:


1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 block of tofu, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1 tbsp dill
1 tbsp red pepper flakes
1 tbsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste
8 whole wheat tortillas
1 cup shredded cheese
1 avocado, sliced
1 jar enchillada sauce

This recipe make a LOT of filling. I think I had 2 to 3 cups leftover after filling 8 tortillas...you'll have leftovers!

-Saute onions and garlic for about 5 minutes
-Add tofu, beans, tomatoes, and spices. Simmer until heated through
-Fill the tortillas with the mixture and place on a baking sheet
-Pour enchillada sauce over tortillas and sprinkle with 1/2 of the cheese
-Bake on 350* for 15 minutes.
-Sprinkle on the rest of the cheese
-top with avocado slices


Emily says: "Don't Forget the Margaritas!"

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Kat: Excess Baggage

Sometimes I get really caught up in preparing elaborate meals made of several different dishes. It's a good way to get a balanced dinner, and a great way to practice your multitasking skills, but it can be very taxing night after night. Every now and again, I like to go back to the basics; use under 5 ingredients to turn out a delicious and filling meal.


I got these recipes from my boyfriend's mother. Lindi is from Kosovo and grew up on a diet that I have only dreamed about. His family had a summer vegetable garden and daily bought fresh milk and meat from their neighbors. His mom made all of the family's butter and yogurt, woke up early every morning to bake fresh bread, and cooked something warm for every breakfast, lunch, and dinner; all while raising three children and working a full time job. (And my friends complain that they don't have time to cook!) With a job description like that, you've got to have a few "trick" meals up your sleeves; dishes that seem like you slaved forever to prepare, while in reality, they're a simple as pie...and go a very long way.

These two recipes are exactly that.


15 cups of water
1 16 oz. bag of butter beans
2 medium onions, minced
2 green peppers, minced
4 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp corn starch
hot pepper flakes to taste (I used about 2 tbsp and added more at the table!)
2 tbsp Vegeta (Eastern European spice) can substitute with poultry seasoning
parsley for garnish

1. Place beans in your largest soup dish and cover with water (only a few cups)
2. Boil beans for 15 minutes
3. Drain and rinse beans, put back in pot and bring to another boil (this time use 15 cups)
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 hours
5. At this point, the water level will have greatly diminished. Add more water to the pot until you have about 15 cups in the pot again.
6. Saute onions (in a separate pan) until they turn translucent
7. Add onions and rest of the ingredients in with the beans.
8. Simmer for 30 more minutes
9. Chop parsley and add to individuals bowls.


Serve with warm homemade bread:


2 eggs
2 cups plain yogurt (a thick Greek is best)
1 tsp salt
3-4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
*******************
1. Preheat oven to 350*
2. Mix eggs, yogurt, and salt in a small saucepan.
3. Heat over low flame until mixture reaches room temperature.
4. Pour into medium mixing bowl and gently fold in baking soda and powder.
5. Fold in a cup of flour at a time, being careful not to over mix (this is not a kneaded bread!!)


6. Add more cups of flour until the dough does not stick to your hands then pour dough into a nonstick baking dish.
7. Bake for about 30 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.

Jenna: Excess Baggage


Here's an awkward situation we've all been in. A simple misguided judgement of character that leads to an uncomfortable series of events in which you cannot effectively or tactfully get rid of someone who's company you no longer desire.

It's not like you're trying to be mean. Or hurt anyone's feelings...but sometimes, people just don't get the hint. And there's very little you can do to imply that you don't want someone around without being glaringly obvious.

This has happened to you right? You meet a person who you seem to hit it off with at first (perhaps romantically, maybe as a friend), and invite them out to some fun group enterprise with a bunch of other friends. This way it's not a date and you get to see how this person will acclimate to your social group. You are the common link with everyone though, and you are obligated to spend time making your new friend feel comfortable. This is fine at first, but suddenly you run out of things to talk about. Or that habit they have of constantly mentioning that time they lived in Prague, or their restoration of a new car, or some band they've been following for years, becomes less endearing and increasingly irritating. Your friends think he's kind of lame and time seems to move in fast forward until you quickly realize that you can no longer stand to look at this him anymore. However, because you have put yourself in this situation (due to innocently misplaced enthusiasm) there is no tactful escape route.

Depending on the person in question, there are varying levels of awareness of the fact that your presence is no longer desired. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to sound like a bitch. I'm sure I've been on both sides of this situation, having overstayed my welcome in many a social situation. But I, at least, have the social aptitude to know when it's time to throw in the towel. Some don't. And with those kinds of people, as mean, rude, and awful as it may make you feel, one must be extraordinarily clear about your intentions. As in...you no longer have any. That this experiment has been a failure and must recorded in history as such.

My basic tactic is to start talking to your unwelcome guest less and less until they kind of wander off, get bored, and decide to leave. It's not the best way to handle the situation, but in my opinion, it's the path of least resistance. And until I develop a stronger ability to see into the future and head these things off at the pass, I will work on my tact and stop inviting near strangers out to day-long social events. Lesson learned.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Kat: Getting Back to My Roots

I was raised in the midwest, but my entire family tree is planted in good 'ole Alabama. Up here in Yankeeville, USA, it's a rare occasion to meet someone else with a family history like mine. I can name two people. That is, TWO people out of the ZAMILLION that I've met since I moved to New York. Alan and Liz are near and dear to my heart. One of the reasons: because they get it. They really understand what it's like to spend time in a place that feels like another world; where the salads are made of mayonnaise, the iced tea is sweeter than the dessert, and everything that can fit in a pan will be fried.

I grew up eating southern home cooking and it wasn't until years later when my brother and I became vegetarians that my mom started experimenting with some new dishes. We began eating less meals from my grandmother's cookbook and more meals consisting of what my extended family calls "Yankee Food" i.e. anything that is not a giant slab of meat.

Fast forward 11 years. I have given up my strict vegetarian diet which included a ton of overly processed vegetarian "meats". Now, I am eating fish and organic chicken in order to replace those highly processed foods. When my mom heard that I was enjoying fish (after she stopped jumping for joy) she gave me one of my grandmother's favorite recipes; Salmon Croquettes. I was a little hesitant to try it because I was no longer used to heavy dishes, so I made a few minor changes to lighten it up. I swapped the corn meal for whole wheat flour, added a few choice spices, and instead of deep frying the patties, I browned both sides on a stove top grilling pan.


1 small can salmon
1 small onion minced
1 bell pepper minced
1 medium potato cooked
1 egg
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp dill
1 tsp red pepper flakes
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 tbsp evoo

1. Boil the potato then mash into a medium bowl
2. Mix in everything else except oil and flour.

(At the last minute, I realized that I only had frozen bell peppers. And since we do not own a microwave and I couldn't find my steamer, I had to improvise. Saucepan + 1/4 c. water + hand strainer = instant steamer! Note: I do NOT recommend doing this. I'm pretty sure that all the nutrients were completely drained out of the peppers by the time I was done.)

(Don't be scared of the canned salmon. It may look and smell like cat food...but it sure tastes like...canned salmon.)

3. Chill mixture for 30 minutes so it crumbles less
4. Shape into 8 patties & lightly coat each in flour


5. Brown with small amount of oil in a skillet (on med-high) until golden brown.

Delicious. They came out more potato-y than salmon-y, which is fine with me, since I'm still not quite 100% with heavy fish tastes/smells.


I served it with a cool quinou salad and some grilled asparagus:

The salad included:
1/2 cup cooked quinou (cool completely before using)
1 cup kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped
1/2 small cucumber, chopped
handful fresh parsley, chopped
a dash of freshly grated Parmesan
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

....mix and enjoy!

Remember the best thing about cooking dinner...


...someone else has to do the dishes!

Question for my readers: Does your family's heritage influence your eating habits? For better or worse? Have you made your own creative changes to your family's favorite recipes?

Jenna: Getting Back to My Roots



I'm from Brooklyn. Deep Brooklyn, as we nicknamed my neighborhood in high school. The area I describe is technically called Gravesend (sounds charming right?) and is approximately 15 minutes (or 5 stops on the Q train) from Coney Island, and a little bit east of Bay Ridge. Most of my friends from high school were from Park Slope and we'd spend our free days roaming up and down the Promenade in Brooklyn Heights, lounging on the beach until curfew, or playing skee-ball and riding the Cyclone at Astroland.

I was born, raised, worked, and went to school in Brooklyn until I left for Indiana for college. And it wasn't until I lived somewhere completely different, that I realized how much of my personality has been shaped and defined by the place that I come from. It completely affects the way I relate to the world around me. It's also proved a challenge in my dating life, as well.

With the exception of one or two fine fellas I dated at IU, I never really felt like I had much in common with most guys I met in college. I had a close group of friends from all over the place, a lot from the midwest, that I got on with swimmingly, so it wasn't like I was close-minded about not having anything in common with people from outside of New York. But for some reason, those differences caused more of a rift when it came to romantic relationships. Maybe it was a communication thing, or a perspective thing, I'm not quite sure...but it often felt like there was a part of me that I felt like no one I dated could understand in Indiana. I believed someone had to understand where I was from to really "get me". I have a friend from Brooklyn, when reminiscing about her first boyfriend, the quintessential guy from Bensonhurst, wondered if she could ever truly be happy with someone who didn't grow up where we did. Who's favorite pizza wasn't a square slice from L & B, for example. At the time, I agreed with her.

Since I've moved back to New York and still meet people from all over the place, my opinion has changed. Now that I've got the home advantage, I've realized how exciting it can be to share all of those things that you associate with home with someone who's never experienced them. There's something very romantic about taking a guy for his first ride on the Wonder Wheel or introducing someone to the best bagel store in Brooklyn (Brooklyn Bagel Boys on Ave. Z and Coney Island Avenue). Not to mention that it's great fun to learn about where other people come from and what makes them tick. Those differences in the way you see the world can make a relationship that much more dynamic and exciting and allows you to expand your horizons. The place where I'm from will always be an important part of my life that I'm eager to share, but I no longer think that a New Yorker only dating policy is the way to go.

This post sort of just turned out to be a love letter to Brooklyn. I think I'm okay with that. If Brooklyn was a dude, I'd totally marry him. On the boardwalk next to the Parachute Jump, of course.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Kat: Taking Things for Granted

"You can't solo on a bass!" -me
"have you EVER listened to a song by Three Rivers Jackson??!" -jenna

...Touché Jenna, tres touché.

What did I learn? Don't take things for granted. No, not just the lovely instrument that is the bass, but other wonderful god-sents. Such as GREENS!


One of my favorite things in the world. I wasn't always so open-minded about these gems. I used to be scared of the mile-long green produce isle in the grocery store. I mean, what do you do with all those things?? I would grab my spinach and lettuce and get the hell out of dodge. With the help of some mind-expanding drugs (kidding) I have opened my heart to other things like kale, mustard, turnip, collards, and the list goes on and on.

A quick, easy, and delicious way to sneak greens into your diet is drinking a green monster. These have quickly become famous in the blog world, and I'm pretty sure Angela is to "blame". The basic recipe that I follow is:
  • 1/2 ripe banana
  • 1 cup Original Almond Breeze (or soy milk)
  • 1 T almound butter
  • 3 cup kale
Before:
After:

If you're a green monster virgin, I suggest starting with 2 cups to see what your tolerance is; you really have to work into the 3 cups of kale (you could also substitute spinach for the kale). It should taste like a peanut butter & banana milkshake. It's so delicious that you can eat it for dessert!

Tonight's dinner was an amazing way to cram a helluva lotta greens into one dish....I give you Green Greens & Mac stolen directly from Kath Eats. Basically, this dish is a twist on mac & cheese....still cheezy, still macky, but with an entire POUND of lip-licking, ass-kicking, energy-boosting, free-radical-fighting GREENS. love love love this dish.

Kath's recipe is so great, that I only made a couple of very minor changes in regards to what I had in my fridge.

whole wheat pasta (1 1/2 cups dry for me, the boyfriend, and leftovers)
1 pound greens
3/4 small container of mushrooms (I'm a mushroom wimp)
2/3 can sweet potato puree
1/4 cup vegetable broth
Salt and pepper to taste
Red pepper flakes to taste
3 cloves garlic
Nutmeg to taste
1 cup shredded cheese
2 tsp olive oil
Freshly grated Parmesan for garnish

Instructions:
-Cook pasta
-Sautee mushrooms in olive oil for about 5 minutes,
-Add pound of greens, 2 tbsp vegetable broth, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and garlic and cook until greens reduce, around 5 minutes.


-In another pan, heat sweet potato with the remaining broth and a pinch of nutmeg.

(Note: you're not cooking until you're using more than half of your burners!)


-Put half of the greens in a blender with the squash and puree until smooth. Add a pinch more broth. Return to original pan.
-Stir in cheese
-Once cheese has melted, assemble your creation!


If you're not into "sneaking" a pound of green into your main course (I know It's scary. Shhhhhh....baby steps), then why not start with some yummy side dishes. You could simply saute some spinach with garlic and onions, or roast brussel sprouts (cut in half, sprinkle w/ salt and evoo, bake on 400* for 30 minutes) until they are crunchy and golden brown.

If anyone has a great greens recipe, let me know....I'm always looking for new ones!

My challenge to you is to try and work some extra greens into your diet. Don't take these babies for granted. EAT YOUR GREENS...and feel like a rock star....Three Rivers Jackson style.

Jenna: Taking Things for Granted

Oh, Three Rivers Jackson. You know when your friends are in a band in college and you think they are just the bees knees? Like so talented. Then you brush the dust off that CD a few years later and have a listen...and realize that every song on the album has a 30 second bass solo.

Though 3RJ did not sell a million records with this approach (they were ahead of their time), I do agree with Kat on the merits of thinking outside of the box. Trying not to assume that just because something isn't what you're used to, it might just be good for you.

Much like the produce aisle, the pool of singles is expansive, often frighteningly so. There are so many kinds of people with vastly different backgrounds, interests, and occupations, it often seems easier, when dating, to stick with what you know. And I'm starting to think that this is why, even though I'm constantly meeting new people, I rarely see much dating potential in anyone.

I think my problem is that my focus is too narrow! I am only drawn to the types of guys I'm familiar with (much like spinach and lettuce- safe because you know what you're getting into) instead of opening my mind to other possibilities. For example, I was going to a friend's party last weekend and another friend emailed me mentioning that she wanted me to meet a single friend of her boyfriend who she was going to bring to the party. She described him has a cool, clean cut guy currently taking the bar to become a lawyer and working for the dept. of corrections in the meantime. So far, this guy does not sound like my type. She goes on to mention he has a motorcycle, attempting to play up a wild side. This makes things slightly better. I wrote her back that it sounded like a plan (though still uncertain) and tried to convince myself that there was no harm in meeting someone new, even if he turned out to be lame.

But to be perfectly honest, it was over before it began. I'm the kind of girl that dates artists, actors, musicians (and when I'm really desperate, comedians). That very special group of guys who have no shortage of burning passion, right alongside a complete lack of maturity, paralyzing fear of commitment, and approximately $15 in their savings account. I like guys that stay up too late and drink too much. A lawyer with a trust fund just sounded too far out of my comfort zone (even one with a motorcycle). How could I possibly have anything in common with someone who seems so unlike the type I'm usually attracted to? The conversation would be forced and polite, awkward at best. It's the way I feel about lawyers, financiers, accountants or anyone else who works in a cubicle.

So, of course the guy didn't have a snowman's chance in hell. It was brief and awkward and I was unforgiveably rude. I was totally unwilling to try something new. Lesson learned? Maybe. I think I might be pleasantly surprised if I could learn to open my mind a little. Besides, the real, human part of me would much rather be somebody's girlfriend and respected companion than a fly-by-night muse. I hear the benefits are better.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Random Recipe of the Week

Taratoj
(A chilled Kosovar soup; pronounced "tara-toy")

This is one of my favorite soups of all time and it couldn't be easier to make. I'm thrilled that summer is around the corner and now I can start "cooking" it again!


2 cups plain yogurt
1 1/2 cups cold water
4 cloves garlic
1/2 cucumber
dash olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
(if you're feeling sassy, try adding a couple of green onions and/or a handful of fresh parsley)

It doesn't get any easier than this:

1. Wisk yogurt and water together
2. add the rest of the ingredients
3. chill for at least 30 minutes (the longer you let it sit, the stronger the flavors become)

On lazy summer days (does anyone even have those anymore!?!?) I put this together right after breakfast and let it chill until lunch or even dinner....just make sure to stir again, right before serving.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Kat: Expecting to Fail

I consider myself an optimist...that is, until I'm confronted with cooking a new recipe. It always makes me nervous: 1) because I think I'm a "good cook" and I struggle with this unhealthy illusion that one unsatisfying dish would automatically make me a "bad cook," 2) because I really want to eat whatever I'm about to make!

I've been toying around with the idea of making my own yogurt for quite a while now. There are several yogurt-making techniques out there and I was beginning to feel weighed down by all the choices; until I found a youtube video by Simply Living Smart. I knew immediately it was the one to go with. Why, you ask? Because it did not call for using a slow cooker or any other "fancy" equipment. Simple. Just like the name says; so I broke down and bought the ingredients.

Here's what you need to start up:
7 cups milk (1 or 2%)
½ c instant nonfat powdered milk
½ c yogurt (make sure it's a "real" yogurt with cultures)
4 mason jars
Fleece blanket
Small Styrofoam beer cooler

For all you visual learners:


1. Mix wet and dry milks together in a saucepan (if you want to make vanilla yogurt, you can add 1/3 c sugar and a tbsp vanilla at this step)
2. Scald milk over medium heat (5-10 minutes). The milk has scalded when bubbles form around the edge of the milk and it begins to rise in the pan (or 180* if you're fancy and have a kitchen thermometer)
3. Transfer milk into a big mixing bowl (don't use plastic...mine started to melt!!)
4. Let cool on the counter for about 40 minutes. When it "feels warm like a baby’s bottle" (or 100*), it's cool enough
5. Mix in the yogurt (make sure to take it out of the refrigerator for 20 minutes before you're ready to use it “so it won’t shock the milk”
6. Pour mixture into 4 mason jars & put lids on tightly


7. Line beer cooler with fleece blanket
8. Place mason jars in the cooler, 2 on bottom, 2 on top.


9. Wrap the blanket around the jars and close the lid of the cooler
10. Let sit undisturbed for about 11 hours

So did it work??

You bet it did!!! I still can't believe it! Look how much it firmed up (that's what she said). Creamy and delicious.

...and after an uncontrolled taste "test"...


I'm used to whole greek-style yogurt, so I prefer a yogurt that is thicker and more sour than what I ended up with. If you do like low fat yogurt, I would suggest going with this recipe. Next go-round I'm going to use whole milk instead of 2% and try heating the cooler (possibly with an electric heating pad?) to see what a difference it makes.

Overall, I think this was a pretty successful first try. It felt kind of like baking bread...working for 20 minutes, sitting back to let chemistry do its work, then *POOF*, a few hour later you've got lunch.

Looking at all of this yogurt sitting in my refrigerator has inspired me to make a cool summer yogurt soup...keep a look out for the recipe; its an essential for the hot summer days to come (soon, I hope)!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Jenna: Expecting to Fail

It's kind of intense (and very scary) to walk straight into something that you know might not be successful. There are certain situations that demand a bit of boldness along with a sense of neutrality about the outcome.

A recent experience comes to mind. I met a guy recently. He was an actor/writer working on a play with a my friend; talented (read: sexy) articulate, charming, the works. We hit it off from the beginning. Get drunk at a bar, go on a postcarding adventure, have a swell old fashioned good time. My curiousity is piqued...this could get interesting.

It didn't take long for him to come clean about the catch, though: he's about a week and a half away from leaving the city for more than a month. Things obviously can't go anywhere at the moment. This is lousy. I hang out with him a few more times anyway...knowing full well that this brief liaison is pretty much a waste of my time. He goes his way, I go mine. No harm, no foul, but no fireworks either.

BUT, in retrospect...I'm happy for the experience, and even about the outcome. Was the result of our brief and exciting flirtation successful? Yes and no. It's been quite a long time since I'd met anyone who excited me this way. I dug him and he made me laugh, but most importantly he made me realized that somewhere along the way, I'd lowered my standards.

I've been expecting the guys I meet to have one or two qualities I appreciate and forgiving them all of those unsightly things that make us less than compatible. I figure they'll grow on me, or I'll get bored and it's just a matter of time either way. This dude reminded me that it's perfectly fine to be picky; that I am no dating beggar and the choices are all mine.

And in a city that's as fast paced as this one, where free social time is a luxury, it seems silly to waste time on anyone that's less than spectacular. I'm a busy woman, after all.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Kat: Dr. Ruth Meets Julia Child

What a better way to start a blog than a "getting to know you" post. Remember the first day of school when you were a kid and had to everyone had stand up to state their name, favorite color, and something 'fun' about themselves? I used to hate doing that. Well, times change and I've gotten a little less shy so, here goes.

My name is Kat
My favorite color is pink
and I AM SO EXCITED TO START A BLOG WITH MY BEST FRIEND JENNA!!

Whew. Glad that's over. In case that wasn't enough...here's a bit more. I live in New York City, work in a art gallery, and my real passion is FOOD. Anything that has to do with food. Recently, I've given my diet a makeover. I realized that feeling my best is worth ALOT so, I've sworn off processed foods and have began eating as healthily as possible. This means cooking almost everything I eat and, living in this city, that's pretty much unheard of. I have a lot of people ask me how I do it; cooking my own healthy food within a budget.

Enter this blog.

I'm hoping to show how it's possible (and delicious!)...because where I come from, seeing is believing.

Ok. Let's just jump into it. Now, I know this is not the best place to start, since I just said that I barely eat out, but I need to get this off my chest, so here goes. If I do eat outside of my own kitchen, you can usually find me here; I give you the Hummus Place!


There are four branches spread around the city, but I've only eaten at the one in the West Village. It's a little hole in the wall with only about eight tables, but the service is pretty fast (probably since they have a small menu), so you never have to wait for a table very long, if at all.








You have the choice of hummus topped one of 5 ways as well as a handful of sides and appetizers.


My standard choice is Hummus Fava. It's a combination of hummus (obvi) fava beans, a hard-boiled egg, tahini, some green goop, olive oil, and paprika; served warm with fresh just-out-of-the-oven whole wheat pita. What could be better for $5 a plate? Not. Much.


And this is the rest of the table (note to self: work on food photography skills)

I am drooling over these pictures. This is the best hummus that I've ever had. I dream about this hummus. Seriously.

There you go. Keeping it simple with this first post (i am a bloggie virgin after all!).

Jenna: Dr. Ruth Meets Julia Child

Woohoo! Hello wide world, we are thrilled to join the blogosphere. Look no further, for all of your needs about learning the ins and outs of dating and food will be satisfied by this blog.

Kat and I joked about starting a blog a few months ago (well into our second bottle of wine) following a delightful meal she'd cooked at her place on Spring Street. The subject of blogging came up (who knows why?) and we somehow determined that we could write a brilliant blog together. But what would we write about? What do we know enough about that other people might benefit from reading from our experiences?

We settled on sex and cooking.

I'm good at gallavanting around our fair city, enjoying the trials and tribulations of being a 20-something lady on the prowl. I always have a ridiculous story to tell. Kat cooks amazing, healthy, delicious food all the time. She ought to write about it.

That's how 'Table for One' was born.

My name is Jenna.
My favorite color is burgundy.
I run this awesome theatre company. We even have a blog. I, for one, am NOT a blogging virgin. (Big surprise.)

I live and work in Brooklyn and was born and raised here. I love Brooklyn. I'm probably as passionate about Brooklyn as Kat is about food. I started my own theatre company 2 years ago and we're finishing up an Off Broadway run of a original play. I subsidize the income of an artist with a serving job (painfully cliche, I know) at a fabulous family style Italian restaurant in Park Slope. I work at the restaurant 3 days a week and spend the rest of my time producing theatre, seeing new bands, and absorbing all of the wonderful, energetic culture the city has to offer. Or at least, what I can afford to.

I tend to be busy. I tend to stay single. I tend to meet lots of interesting types in my line of work and travels through this town. As any person dating in New York will tell you, it can be a pretty wild ride. There are so many different kinds of people here, you never quite know what to expect. It can be hilarious, confusing, disheartening, and fun (not to mention all sorts of nonsense in between) and we've all experienced it at one time or another. I've always enjoyed hearing the sordid tales of others because they help remind me that it's a shared insanity, this dating thing. My hope is to share some stories with you that you might learn from my mistakes, laugh at my follies, and maybe empathize a little. A little empathy never killed anyone.

So here's to day one of our blog! A New York infused orgy of information to satisfy your palette and tickle your funny bone. And here's to you reader, as we begin this mad journey together.

And, for the record, I fucking LOVE the Hummus Place.