my version of NYC popovers

I might need this pan now.

Made these popovers tonight for dessert. With this butter, except I used marionberry jam, because that's what I had. They were very good. I did not have a popover pan, so I just used muffin tins. I filled 9 tins with my batter. My only wish/complaint was that there wasn't more. EVERYONE ate one and then we were staring at each other... hoping nobody else wanted the last three. We split them, but I will certainly double (if not triple) that recipe next time. I would definitely triple if that was our breakfast. Just thought I'd share!

NYC

Pictures by Jane The food of NYC did not disappoint. Favorites??? I don't know if I can pick. Those french fries and hamburgers from Shake Shack hit the spot, not once, not twice but...three times. The Cuban corn on the cob was super tasty. I even googled a recipe for it. We all had our share of cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery, YUM! We walked into John's Pizza and I remember I had eaten there with Scott a few years before. Although, that picture is from Patsy's and it was delicious too. I had never had a popover before, and now I'm afraid no popover will ever compare to the one we had in NYC with strawberry butter. I have found recipes for those treats as well and plan on making them soon. Not only did Jane take most of the pictures, this was her 5th time to NYC, so she led us to all the good eats. Thanks Jane!

As we were walking the streets of NYC, I looked up and saw this cute dress. It was in a shop on the second floor, that you had to be buzzed into. This dress cost $1400!! Cute...but not that cute. Jane did take my picture and I sent Scott a text telling him about all the money I just saved.

Most of you that know me know that we trekked over to NJ one day to check out the Cake Boss. When we arrived the line to get into the bakery WAS HUGE. Not a single one of us felt like waiting in that line, so we asked around and got a recommendation for a good deli close by. Sarah and I got these huge "Big Paulie" sandwiches, and we both ate them up. Not everyday do you have a prosciutto, sun dried tomato and fresh mozzarella cheese sandwich. After lingering for about and hour and a half at the deli, we set off for NYC. However, as we passed the bakery, this white navigator passed, and people were yelling "hey buddy hey buddy". We snuck around to the back alley, and who was there??? Buddy and his little elves, I mean helpers. They were loading some cakes into delivery vans. Buddy and Frankie stayed out for a little picture session. Good times!

On Friday we went and saw Memphis. Very entertaining! Good story and great music.

The rats in the city were huge. I knew they were there, but I didn't expect to see them as much as I did. The first night we came out of the subway and we were walking, only to spot several at the end of the corridor scurrying about. For the most part, they stayed down by the tracks. But they were huge. We saw one lady buying rat traps in a Time Square Walgreens. Yuck. Those necklaces come from a vendor that we saw in a Brooklyn flea market. He made necklaces out of old coins, then he would put some kind of charm to go with it. The one that spoke to us, was this old subway token and the RAT charm. I thought it was very cute.

I sported my sensible shoes around NYC. Except for Sunday, and I had a skirt on. The Dansco shoes kept my feet happy all day long. Here we are in Brooklyn, we came to this pier to get some ice-cream. I also ate a handmade pretzel and a shaved ice. Usually not a huge fan of the shaved ice, but it was hot and it sure looked good that day.

So, that is just a little glimpse into my trip to New York City. Thanks to Carrie, Becky, Sarah and Jane for all of the good times!

It was taking way too long to download the pictures the other way, so I just "blogged this" from picassa, and it was much faster.

More pictures of the Japanese Gardens.

I thought this place was very beautiful.

Hope and Liam. Liam is my friend Julie's little guy. Hope and Liam love each other. I have about 20 pictures of them kissing and/or hugging each other. This was the day before we left, they were saying goodbye. Eventually, Liam tired of all the hugging and kissing, but not Hope. Toward the end she would say...."Just one more kiss Liam!". Liam would kiss and Hope would say, "ON THE LIPS LIAM". Is it so wrong to arrange a marriage? They would be perfect together and I so love Julie.

Taken off my front (well my old) porch. Loved looking out and seeing those deer.

Here we are at the Japanese Gardens in Portland. From the first day I lived in Camas, I wanted to go to the Japanese Gardens. Not sure what took me so long to get there, but...I was going before we moved. When my Mom came to visit right before we left, I took her and all the kids. Hunter had just gotten his screws removed a few days before. He hobbled around on crutches. But we made it to the Japanese Gardens, and boy am I glad we made it.