Hurrican't

Ham and Cheese Biscuits

Eyes have been glued to the television this week as the East Coast was slammed with stranger-than-strange weather. Earthquake tremors and a hurricane in 5 days, what gives Mother Earth? Don't be mad at me, I've started to compost.

Be assured that we Manhattan-ites remained unscathed even though days ago we prepared for the worst. Local stores nearly sold out of bottled water and flashlights. (If I have to hear the phrase "hunker-down" one more time...)

Me and Mr.*From Scratch stocked up on water and supplies nonchalantly throughout the week. It wasn't until Saturday afternoon that we started to get worried. By then the media and overall mood in the neighborhood was bordering on panic. We went back and forth to the grocery three more times for extra water. (In our defense, the media was saying be prepared for up to 5 days without power or water.)

See you in September!

Thanks for stopping by! This blog is taking a break until around the first of September. Check back then for new and exciting recipes!

Best,
*Girl From Scratch

Summer Bumper

Zucchini Fritters

I refuse to believe that summer is winding down, but it's hard to ignore when the school supplies are on sale at Target. Sigh. Where has the time gone? It seems as if it all just began.

One of the best things about summer (to me) are the fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables that are in peak season. Right now zucchini, and other squash, are showing up abundantly at the markets in my area. Others who are lucky enough to have a vegetable garden, may have more of this bumper crop then they know what to do with. You came to the right place!

Today's recipe is good... Really good. It might be one of my top favorites that I've blogged about, and I do not toss that claim around lightly. (It's that delicious.) Me and Mr.*From Scratch made these Zucchini Fritters on a stay-in date night, we paired it with roasted salmon, mixed vegetables and some chilled white wine. I am not exaggerating when I say that almost every bite was followed by a "Wow! These are real good!"

I am definitely adding this to my permanent repertoire and hopefully so will you. Enjoy!

Zucchini Fritters

Cast of Characters: Zucchini, parmesan cheese, oregano, parsley, onion, eggs, flour.

Grate zucchini and onion with a cheese grater.

Add all herbs and flour. (I also added, salt, pepper and garlic powder.)

Add cheese and slightly beaten egg. Mix all ingredients together.

Get pan super hot and coat with olive oil. Put spoonfuls in pan and flatten slightly.

Flip when golden brown and then put on a paper-towel lined plate.

Pair with plain yogurt for dipping, but I think marinara sauce would be awesome too! 
Original Recipe:
Zucchini Fritters- Martha Stewart Living

This would be a great vegetarian main dish with a substantial salad, or a crowd-pleasing appetizer for a small gathering. What are you doing with your bumper crop this summer? (Is there anything else besides zucchini bread?)

The Best of Times is Now

Documenting that I rode my bike around the island in 3 inch wedges. I felt very Brooklyn.

For the last 9 days we've been living it up on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. We've spent time sunning on the beach, swimming at the pool (lots of jellyfish right now), and laughing in the kitchen. My family loves to cook, so it's been fun making our favorite recipes and spending lots of quality time together around the stove.

Me and Mr.*From Scratch were also lucky to sample some fantastic local restaurants that wowed even our cynical Manhattan palates.

(Okay, let me be completely honest for a moment: I feel like it takes several days for my husband and I to shed the jaded New Yawk demeanor that we've developed since living here. We must look like complete jerks when we arrive at the Savannah Airport, clothed in black, pale and Vitamin D deprived, chained to our iPhones, making a beeline towards the airport Starbucks saying things like, "Why is everyone so friendly?" and "How do people function at this hour without a quad espresso?" I kind of feel like that snooty couple from the Griswold's Christmas Vacation. But I digress...)

The food we ate on this vacation was out of this world, so this week's post has no recipe, just a collage of "The Best" of what we ate. Enjoy!

The delicious buttery bird that my vegetarian brother, taking one for the team, basted to perfection. Thanks Sam!

Homemade strawberry daiquiris with homemade whipped cream. My family don't mess around.  

Tomato and Feta Pizza from the restaurant "It's Greek to Me"

Cincinnati-style chili made by Uncle Ted. Here's more about a  my hometown's famous chili.

The best hush-puppies ever. At the  Crazy Crab.

Taco Night at the beach house with the family.

My husband reveling in crabmeat glory. Everything tastes better dipped in drawn butter.

We had a great vacation! I'm happy to be going back to the city-that-never-sleeps and diving into my kitchen with some great new recipes. There are still a lot of summer flavors left to enjoy and then we head into September which means Fall is just around the corner. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for next week's exciting recipe.

 (Extra Credit: Name the musical that this weeks title is from!)

Sweet July: Beaches and Cream

Pound Cake Peaches and Cream

We are having an epic summer here in New York City as far as the heat is concerned. Record-breaking high temps, struggling AC units, rumors of brown-outs, public requests to lower energy consumption, open hydrants, low water levels, cats and dogs living together...how's a girl to cope with all this? Get out! (Of the city, that is.) That's right friends, we're going on vacation. While I've enjoyed some promising auditions, am continuing to meet great people at the wine bar where I work, and love the laid-back life of summertime (the living is easy, after all), me and Mr. From Scratch need a break from the daily grind. As you read this I will hopefully be sippin' a key-lime daiquiri with my dad, step-mom, sibs, aunts, uncles and cousins on a South Carolina beach. Praise.

Today's recipe is easy-breezy, using summertime peaches and (thank you!) no hot oven. This is the last and final week of our theme month Sweet July: An Exploration in Four-Ingredient Desserts and I've had so much fun digging around for new and simple sweet treats.

Pound Cake Peaches and Cream

Cast of Characters: Store-bought pound cake, peaches, heavy cream, confectioner's sugar.

Slice peaches.

Add sugar to peaches.

Slice cake in thirds horizontally.

Heavy whipping cream and sugar in chilled bowl, whip until peaks form.

Line a loaf pan with wax paper and put bottom loaf in, then layer with peaches.

Put a layer of whipped cream. Repeat.

Freeze for an hour. 

Enjoy!
Actual Recipe:Martha's Pound Cake Peaches and Cream
Nail Color: Essie "Haute as Hello"

Me and adorable Clara drinking from an open hydrant in Manhattan.

Lillie, Clara and Me.

Sweet July: An Exploration in Four-Ingredient Desserts... what a blast it has been! I can't wait to think of the next theme I should do. Any suggestions? (No dad, I will not do a "Vienna Sausage Extravaganza Month." )