Spain In New York

The Iberian Peninsula has so many delicious and flavorful dishes. Now New Yorkers can have the best of Spain thanks to culinary greats Jose Andres and Ferran Adria. These two famed chefs along with Chef Adria's brother, Albert have brought the best of their country to underneath the famed High Line walkway and Manhattan's newest mall. Their mercado or market is worth a trip to the city on a hot summer's day.

Pete Well,s restaurant critic for the New York Times visited the market and highlighted the best dishes for yesterday's NYT 's Food section. This is a drool worthy pictorial that features a vast array of savory and sweet dishes.The place itself , called Mercado Little Spain, is situated underneath Hudson Yards, a melange of mall, hotel (home of the famed Equinox Hotel),  food court and residences.  You can easily see most of the above however it's the mercado that is the most interesting. According to Mr.  Wells, stick to the kiosks. The restaurants , in his words "are poky and a bit green". There are Lena - which offers grilled suckling pig(!) and lamb and Mar - a seafood restaurant featuring all sorts of seafood. There is also The Spanish Diner which is a Spanish take on American diner cuisine.It offers classics such as pan con tomate and French toast. Best to stick to the many kiosks that offer everything from savory to sweet, decadent to awesome.

There are pictures of the best dishes and all can make you take a trip to the mercado. There is the classic gazpacho which would drive me over there. It's blended with bread crumbs which undoubtedly gives it another layer of flavor and texture.Another must try is pan con tomate made with pan cristal or glass bread. Its' crumb is so delicate that it breaks like glass yet toughens up when olive oil is poured in it. Another worthy bite is chistorria con patatas fritas, a potato chip like fritter stuffed with a small sausage. There are the original empanadas, not those crescent shaped pasties but squares of flaky crust filled with tuna or stewed pork.  Of course the sweets rule too. There is the classic churro, crispy and dense with a rich bittersweet chocolate dipping sauce. Another must taste is Albert Adria's cardenal,  meringue domes gracing a sponge cake.It comes with a small creamer of dark molten chocolate for more decadence. For a real naughty treat try the pina borracha or drunk pineapple, shot through with dark rum and spiked with chopped mint and lime zest.A more sedate yet heavenly alternative is the tarta de queso, a cheesecake with a blackened crust and fluffy , light interior.

New York in the summer can be hellish. Get a bit of heaven and visit the Mercado Little Spain. It is worth visiting for the variety of delicious foods of Spain.

Changing Lancaster PA

Lancaster , Pennsylvania has always been the American home of the Amish and the Mennonites. For almost three centuries they have lived amongst themselves, only sharing their quaint recipes and dishes with the outside world. Yet there are other waves of refugees, some religious as their ancestors were, are coming to the area. The quiet world is changing - especially their food.

Priya Krishna ,a regular contributor and cookbook writer, wrote this informative piece for today's New York Times Food section.It starts with the Lancaster Central Market which houses an array of different food stalls which it has done since 1889. For decades the Amish sold their delicious fare of ,fruit, meats baked goods and produce.Now the aromas of North African and Middle Eastern foods fill the air while salsa is being sold along side chow chow and shoofly pie. The transformation reportedly fueled a small boom of upscale bars, breweries, restaurants and even art galleries. The New York Post declared the city "the new Brooklyn". Yet what's really behind the change is the large influx of immigrants and refugees who run many of the area's restaurants and food businesses. Lancaster has always been the haven for the persecuted and displaced. It became home to the Pennsylvania Dutch where they settled in 1709, after declaring their loyalty to the Anabaptist Movement in Germany and Moravia. The town became a stop on the Underground Railroad as residents sheltered runaway slaves in their homes. The 1930's saw Puerto Ricans arriving to work in the fields as did the Cubans in the 1980's.

Now there are a variety of different eateries that locals and visitors can enjoy. Even Malala Yousafzai. the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner, went to Saife's Middle Eastern Food. There is a framed photo of her and the owner Al Saife at his stand in Lancaster Market. The literal buffet of food is dazzling. The Indian and Nepali restaurant, Namaste, offers aloo bodi tama, a spicy black eyed pea soup loaded with potatoes along with momos, dumplings full of pork and scallions. The Lancaster Market has Moroccan and Indian food with bastilla pies and tangines, rife with lamb and spices. Locals can try Uruguayan foods which take from European cuisine. The town itself has a huge umber of  Thai and Vietnamese restaurants. Some are combined and offer both pho and ramen. Upohar ,a popular, eatery capitalizes on both the vegan and global food trend. Their restaurant employs immigrants and refugees while providing the community with dishes from Africa and the Caribbean, Even their drinks menu is international. Diners can sip Iranian lemonade,Masala chai and Yerba mate, an Argentinian herbal tea.

This summer visit Lancaster PA. There is Old World traditional married with the New Global Order. It's a fascinating mix of old and new, with centuries old traditions being entwined with each other.

An Oasis Of Cool

Hot weather and heat waves are good for bringing families and neighborhoods together. Like blizzards the extreme weather proves to be too much, especially for the elderly. It's time to reach out and help in big and small ways.

The recent heat wave had everyone reaching for bottles of ice cold water. During our next heat wave - and we will probably have more  - reach  out to neighbors and even those with young children. Make sure that they have water and offer to take them shopping or share a 24 or 12 pack with them. Check in on older relatives and friends to make sure they're cool and hydrated. If they have just fans and limited air conditioning, then invite them over to chill and relax. You can easily make  homemade lemon or limeade or iced tea.  Flavored water is also a nice treat. If the air conditioning is a bit much then sit out in the shade or in the garage. This is a good time to buy a fridge for the car port. Store water in there for when you and the family need it. Also , if you're feeding feral cat colonies or just a few strays, have bowls of iced water for them too. Animals can have heat stroke as well. Also put their food in cool, shady areas.

Hot summer nights can be unbearable too. Again invite elderly neighbors over for a cooling drink and maybe a bite to eat. It is easy to make any fruit ade. It starts with a simple syrup - one cup of sugar boiled in one cup of water. From there mix three cups of fresh  lemon juice with four cups of water. Serve with a lot of ice.Change it up with lime ade. Another cooling idea is buying ice cream or Popsicles for everyone. Everyone - no matter what his or her age  - will enjoy a frosty sweet on a 96 degree F night. It's a communal way to keep chill and along the way  a chance to hear interesting back stories. Another way to keep neighbors , family  and friends cool is inviting them over for a no cook dinner. Introduce them to hummus, salad Nicoise or gazpacho. All three  dishes require no cooking , only mixing and blending. You could even have a minimal cooking meal such as pasta crudo which is a great way to use the veggies of the season.

Make your house and yard an oasis of cool. Invite friends , family and neighbors over to enjoy frosty treats and company. Us these hellish days for heavenly connections.

The Most Perfect Egg Cream

One of my favorite drinks - and it really should be considered a sweet treat -is the egg cream. My Dad introduced me to it on on our many trips to local diners.I recently discovered the best add in  - Bubly flavored seltzer. Mix this in for sheer heaven. Another plus is using Hershey's Extra Dark syrup. This is a new addition and it adds a richer flavor.

Many will have questions about what kind of milk to add in. I've used almond milk which does make for a creamy drink. You can use regular milk or even a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream which made up the original ones sold in Brooklyn candy shops.

Here is the recipe.

1 can of either Bubly Cherry , Raspberry or Blackberry flavored seltzer (if you're making a vanilla egg cream, then use Bubly's Lemon or Peach flavors)
1/2 cup milk any kind
one good squirt of Hershey's Extra Dark Syrup (or vanilla syrup if you want to make a vanilla flavored one - go easy with it .Vanilla syrup is intense)

Squirt a good half  inch (more if you want it more chocolate-y) of syrup into a tall glass. Fill glass halfway with any kind of milk. Add Bubly and stir with a fork (yes a fork) to aerate and create foam. drink with a straw or straight to catch all that yummy froth.

This is the improved version of what my Dad and I used to have.💙💙

The Water Diet

If you're in the US you're probably in the middle of a severe heat wave. You don't want to eat - but you have to .It's too much of a chore. The answer lies in a water rich diet for the next few days.

Of course you should have chilled water at the ready during these horrendous days. That's a given. Remember to place a bottle by your bed along with having fresh bottles in your car. Keep away from large amounts of sodas and coffees during this time. Caffeine acts as a diuretic which causes you to urinate more and lose fluids. Wait until after the heat wave to hit the colas and lattes. If you do want a flavored drink, think fruit juice.Just make it's 100 per cent juice.If there's even a bit of sugar in it , it will inhibit hydration.Keep in mind that milk both regular and skim are excellent at hydrating.  Almond milk is good for hydration so you could drink it instead of the usual cow's milk. Soy milk is better for skin than for lowering internal temperatures. What about the hot drink of the moment - seltzer?You  can drink it for regular hydration. Just don't sub it in for water after work outs or any heavy physical activity.

Another must is eating water rich foods. These are light and tasty - perfect for these fiery days. All veggies are water rich but also high in fiber. Popular veggies that are high in hydration are spinach and Romaine lettuce. These are the perfect bases for salads. Fill them with low calorie proteins such as hard boiled eggs and chicken. You can also add other water rich veggies such as tomatoes and cucumbers to the salads too. Dress with a simple olive oil and apple cider vinegar mix. If you want some crunch then toss in a handful of sunflower seeds or croutons. Tomatoes and cucumbers on their own make for delicious and refreshing salads. Tomatoes mixed with just olive oil and garlic is a great lunch or a good side to anything from burgers to steaks. Make it more substantial by turning it into a Neopolitan bread salad with the addition of chunks of Italian bread.Cucumbers just doused with a plain dill  vinaigrette is a nice light meal or even afternoon snack. Fruits are also water rich  and are perfect for hydrating on a hellish day. Have a bowl of chilled blueberries or strawberries for dessert or  a late night snack. Stay away from starchy cookies and cakes. You have fall and winter to eat those. You can even puree the fruits and turn them into healthy pops and slushies.

It's an inferno out there. Stock up on water and water rich foods to stay cool and hydrated. You'll feel better thanks to eating  better.

Fresh N Lean A Fresh Perspective

It is hard to cook for a vegan. It's a matter of trying to be creative with a limited amount of ingredients. Luckily there is a new food delivery service Fresh N Lean that can not only serve up low calorie meat centered meals but also vegan meals as well.

                    I received five dinners plus a packet of tasty smoked almonds.

   Here are the meals. They're vacuum packed in recyclable trays.

What I like about the meals is that they are all natural and that the vegan options have Beyond Burger  as the main course.

One of my favorites was the burger on a bed of quinoa , flanked by sweet potatoes and green beans. It was just four minutes in the microwave. 

Some dinners were big on the red pepper and kale which were welcome additions. The meals are filling .gluten and dairy free. Just dinners are $13.31 for five days. There's also pasta and black bean with squash. Other plans include Performance Paleo which is a low carb, Performance Protein and Clean Keto. I may upgrade and get the vegan breakfast plan for the fall and winter. I can also add to the dinner by ordering lunch too.

Fresh N Lean is a great way of eating healthy and eating vegan. Sign up for it for an easy and healthy way of eating. You'll feel better with it. Less mess, but more nutrition.

Recipes Past , Recipes Best

This is my Mom's second birthday without her. I think the best way to pay homage is by posting one of her best recipes and my all time favorites - tomatoes Provencale. This is a great way to use vine ripe tomatoes. Just be sure to have a whole (!) loaf of Italian  bread to sop up all that delicious tomato infused oil when you've polished off the tomatoes..

Ingredients
Olive oil
two finely chopped garlic cloves
1 cup breadcrumbs , preferably plain
5-6 vine ripe tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste


Pour enough olive oil to cover the bottom of a medium frying pan. Mince garlic and add to bread crumbs along with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Slice tomatoes and lay them side by side in the frying pan.Spoon large heaps of the breadcrumbs over them and cook them over a medium flame. Put a glass lid over the tomatoes to steam them. Doing this will give a more tender flesh. Cook for about ten minutes or until tomatoes look wilted and breadcrumbs are browned.

Usually tomatoes provencale are served with a roast chicken or barbecued or grilled steak. You can do  this or better yet, just have the tomatoes on their own with a good iced hard cider. Dip hunks of Italian bread into the olive oil and enjoy!!!

Thanks , Mom!!!💓💓💓