Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I want to go everywhere I haven't been, and back to everywhere I have been.

Friday, January 29, 2016

Best of the Weekend 1.29.16...and a New Look!

 

Welcome to the Weekend...
the Best of the Weekend, that is!
I hope that those of you who endured severe weather conditions last week
have had it a little easier these last few days.
We ended up being pretty lucky...
Jonas dumped just a foot of snow on us,
while everyone else just a few miles away 
got

Thursday, January 28, 2016

25 Game Day Recipes!


25 Game Day Recipes | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


Let's talk Super Bowl Sunday...
Are you in it for the game, or the food?

Me? I love football, so I do enjoy watching the game.
However, since my NY Giants didn't make the cut,
I'll be paying a little more attention to the food. 
While I'm stuffing my face

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Today in New York City: 1.27.16

Passing through Rockefeller Center, on the way to the dentist.

The skating rink, down below.


Not so pretty, but what the sides streets look like four days after Snowzilla.

And later today, back in New Jersey...



 The foot-path to school.

Linking with:

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Monday, January 25, 2016

Kale, Avocado and Apple Salad...and...Driving Me Crazy!



 Kale, Avocado and Apple Salad: Avocado and apple are a delicous combination! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #salad

What kinds of things drive you nuts?

It makes me bonkers when I go to load the dishwasher, 
and it's filled with clean dishes.

It cheeses me off when I want to brew a cup of coffee in my Keurig,
and it flashes "add more water."

And it drives me crazy when we make plans around Junior Goo Shoes' plans,
and his plans keep changing.
And changing

Kale, Avocado and Apple Salad: Avocado and apple are a delicous combination! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #salad

Two weekends ago, Junior Goo Shoes asked 
if he could go into New York City to sleep at a camp friend's.
The unspoken question was, "Can you drive me there and back?"
We didn't have any big plans, so we agreed. 
Because he had to be there at 6:30pm,
Mr. GS and I thought it would be fun to stay in the city and have dinner.

Kale, Avocado and Apple Salad: Avocado and apple are a delicous combination! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #salad

The camp friend's parents are divorced --
 the Dad lives on the Upper East side; Mom, on the Upper West. 
We were dropping JGS at the mom's,
so I spent about an hour online looking for a reservation in that neighborhood.

Five minutes before we were leaving the house,
JGS said,
"Change of plans, I have to go to his dad's."

Seriously?


Kale, Avocado and Apple Salad: Avocado and apple are a delicous combination! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #salad

Not wanting to drive East Side-West Side-All-Around-The-Town just to eat,
I spent the entire car ride to Manhattan 
searching Open Table for another restaurant on the east side.

An Italian place called 83 1/2 still had reservations available, 
which is usually not a good sign.
However, the reviews sounded good, and we couldn't be too picky, 
as it was T minus 45 minutes to dinner time.

The restaurant was small, and pretty...and empty.
Two of about 20 tables were occupied,
but it was only 7:00pm, so I wasn't too concerned.
Well, just a little, to be honest.


Kale, Avocado and Apple Salad: Avocado and apple are a delicous combination! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #salad

The meal was one of the best we've had in a long time.
Seriously good. Moderately priced.
If we still lived in Manhattan on the Upper East Side, 
83 1/2 would be our go-to neighborhood joint.   

The restaurant owner has Sicilian roots,
and it showed in the preparation of every dish we had.  
We both ordered the Cavolo salad to start, described on the menu as 
Tuscan kale, arugula, green apple, avocado, toasted hazelnuts, 
with a ginger vanilla dressing.

  One mouthful, and I knew I'd have to recreate this at home.

The combo of avocado and apple in one bite is a match made in foodie heaven
(avocado toast topped with apple, anyone?). 
  If you know Mr. Goo Shoes, then you know that he rarely gets excited about food.
When he said, "This salad is really good,
that, my friends, was a rave.

By the time our entrees arrived, the restaurant was completely full.
My zucchini-crusted branzino was outstanding. 
And guess what Mr. Goo Shoes said about his pasta?
"Best pasta I've had since Italy."

High praise, folks. High praise, indeed.

I've now made the salad a bunch of times,
with some slight modifications.
I leave out the hazelnuts, since Mr. GS doesn't like "nutty" food.
and I add either scallions or red onion, since I'm partial to a little zip in my salads.
It's delish topped with vanilla vinaigrette, which I posted about last week.
Sooooo good. 

I wrote up a recipe, below, just to be official,
not that it's really necessary. 
Just use as many greens as you want;
one avocado and one apple should be enough for two or three salads.


Kale, Avocado and Apple Salad: Avocado and apple are a delicous combination! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #salad


Kale, Avocado and Apple Salad
Recipe adapted from 83 1/2 Restaurant 

Makes 2 Servings 

Kale (approximately 2 cups)*
Aruguala (approximately 2 cups)*
    (the amount really depends on how big you want your salad to be).
1 Granny Smith apple, sliced
1 avocado, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped scallions or red onion
  
Combine greens. Toss with Vanilla Vinaigrette - just enough to coat the greens.
Put greens on a plate, and top with slices of apple and avocado.
Sprinkle scallion or red onion on top.
Add a drizzle of dressing over the apple and avocado.

Kale, Avocado and Apple Salad: Avocado and apple are a delicous combination! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #salad

The moral of the story is that 
every once in awhile, being driven crazy yields good results...
a fabulous meal,
a great restaurant find,
and new recipe for the blog.
Thank you (sort of) Junior Goo Shoes for changing your plans, 
because this time, it all worked out for the best.
Just don't make a habit out of it. 

Friday, January 22, 2016

Best of the Weekend...and Winter Is Coming!

 

How many of you are in the midst of -- or bracing for -- a major snow storm this weekend?
They're talking about blizzard conditions here in the NY area,
but the weather models are sketchy enough that we may end up with just a few inches.
If you're snowed in (or even if you're not), 
grab a mug of hot chocolate and peruse all of the amazing link ups below.
You're bound to find something to inspire you!

  
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 A few of my favorites this week are

Cowboy Quesadilla - Moms and Munchkins



DIY Twin Headboard Bench Tutorial - H2O Bungalow



25 Markets of the World - Reflections Enroute


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Let's link up!