NYC-themed party

I’ve had the pleasure of rooming with Katie for the past 2 years in Chicago—together we’ve lived in the South Loop and in our current apartment in Lakeview.  She’s decided to take an amazing offer with Alexander Wang in New York City!  You may recall Katie's first NYC experience.  Of course that only meant I had to throw a fabulous surprise going away party.  

Chicago Roomie Love

I wish I took more photos that evening, but being a hostess with the mostest does keep you busy :)

Welcome to the first of my new page-- DIY posts!  Below are some ideas for an NYC-Themed party:

•  Décor:  A city of Lights - Place white Christmas lights throughout the party area.  The plain white or icicle ones work best-- if you go with color it's just too Christmas-y. 

Shout out to party guest Gianni for providing white lights and helping with set-up!

• Food:  New York Cheesecake – I ended up buying one because I was super busy that week, but here is a great quick and easy recipe that I intended to make:

Ingredients:
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
8 oz softened cream cheese
Vanilla wafers
Foil cupcake liners

Beat all ingredients except wafers until smooth.  Place one wafer inside each foil cup and fill half full with batter.  Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.  Cool in refrigerator.  Top with chocolate chips, fruit, almost anything!

• Drinks:  Manhattans—I even bought a shaker, and each drink included maraschino cherries and a lemon garnish.  

Thanks to all who made it out that night!  Best of Luck to Katie!!!You will be missed!

Ooey Gooey S’mores Cookies

One thing I did not get the opportunity to do this summer is sit by a campfire, toast a marshmallow, and make a delicious S’more treat.  It’s hard to find a bonfire in the city—I think I will have to tap into my friends living in the burbs for a fall bonfire invite.  

I decided to make these S’more cookies for an office baby shower.  I was able to share more than expected--the morning of the baby shower the Mama went into labor!   These did not last in my office very long.

Now that the summer temperatures are cooling down, you can use the oven to bake this melt-in-your mouth delicious s’more treat.  Here's how:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 dash of cinnamon

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 cups miniature chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
2 Hershey bars, chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, salt, and dash of cinnamon. In a second larger bowl beat together the butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Slowly beat in the flour mixture until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 8 minutes, and remove from the oven. Push 3 to 4 marshmallows and a few pieces of hershey bar into each cookie.

Return to the oven and bake an additional 3-4 minutes until fully cooked. Cool cookies on a wire rack.

Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies.


Yummy-- let me know how your cookies turn out!

Life is better in flip flops

OK all, I’m back by popular demand!  Things got too busy but I’m back and better than ever—stay tuned for upcoming posts!

Summer is by far my favorite season.  I went to a friend’s pool party for the 4th and made these flip-flop pool party cookies. 

A great way to wow your friends, these make the perfect treat for any summer occasion— pool party, beach gathering,  summer office party, or cookout! 

These are easy to make, require no baking, and cost less than ten dollars in ingredients.

Here is what you’ll need:

A package of Nutter butter cookies (who knew they were so conveniently shaped like sandals)

Cake/cookie icing

Cake confetti decoration

With icing, simply draw a V-like shape at the top of the cookie (as shown) to mimic a flip flop.  Decorate immediately before the icing hardens (you have about 5 minutes)—simple as that!  I made these while watching just one episode of The Big Bang Theory!

Now go make these cookies for your next summer event before the season slips away!

First bake the strudel then sit down and ponder

“First bake the strudel then sit down and ponder” is an Austrian proverb.  Last night I enjoyed a bite with my roommate at Austrian Bakery located in Lincoln Park.  We made our way inside and sat in the corner propped on stools at the window sill, ideal for people watching.  

Upon arrival, my sweet tooth was attracted to the display of cookies, cakes, and torts.  I decided immediately that I needed to save room for dessert.  I began contemplating my decision between the red velvet cookies, chocolate cake topped with a raspberry ganache, and giant heart shaped flakey pastries. 

It was a quite frigid out, so soup was perfect for the evening.  We ordered Frittaten soup, which is a traditional Austrian dish composed of savory vegetable broth with thins slices of Frittaten (pancakes) on top with a touch of diced green onion.  It tasted similar to a chicken noodle soup, except this had no chicken and noodles were substituted with sliced pancake.  It hit the spot.

Austrian Bakery really had a comfortable feel inside.  It was very European and welcoming, quite different from most mainstream delis and bakeries in the city.  In my opinion, it’s perfect to warm up on a cold winter night with a friend. 

As mentioned, I had to save room for dessert.  With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I went for the heart pastry.  When I received the check, I realized that heart pastry I ordered was actually a “Big Ear.”

Let me know your thoughts after visiting this spot!

Neighborhood:  Lincoln Park

2523 N Clark Street
(between Deming Pl & St James Pl)
Chicago, IL 60614

Hours:  Mon-Sun, 8am-8pm

Website:  www.AustrianBakery.com

Menu: Soup, deli, bakery

Perfect for:  A casual bite for 2-4 people

Price Range:  $