Milkshake Genius (or, "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard...")

I have to give my boyfriend credit for this, because he is the mastermind behind this milkshake. He "invented" it, so he says. And I do have to admit that it is the best milkshake I've ever had in my life, and he makes it perfectly (except when he's teaching me how to make it--sabotage!) and the perfect amount every time. Now that he's gone I have to make them myself, and I think I've finally got it!



You can use any fruit or combination of fruit you have lying around.

Roughly, the proportions are thus:

for 1 serving...

1 cup milk
2 large heaping spoonfuls plain reduced fat yogurt
4 strawberries
1/2 banana
handful of blueberries (my friend picked them over the weekend! yum. super sweet)
2 spoons of brown sugar
1/2-1 tsp of ground cardamom
walnuts
pistachios

If necessary, add milk or yogurt to adjust consistency and blend again. Since I am not a milkshake genius, I often have to do this. And thus, I do not often make the perfect amount, so be forewarned, the above recipe will likely yield a little more than 1 serving.

The yogurt gives a wonderful tanginess and creaminess to this milkshake. The nuts also add protein and give the milkshake an amazing flavor and texture..as you will see from the green speckly goodness of the pistachios blended throughout. The cardamom is what really makes this drink a knockout. It's aroma and flavor transform this ordinary milkshake into something a bit more exotic and beautiful...like a non-Indian girl putting on a sari for the first time. Unexpectedly gorgeous. HAHA.

Anyway, this is a great way, if not the best way, to start my day...whether it's because I'm starving because I haven't had anything for lunch and dinner the day before after working the line all night. Or if I need a little boost but don't feel like eating anything before a heated yoga class...which, let's be honest, I haven't been to in over a month. : )



Enjoy!

Sunday, 7/25/10

My go-to summer veggies of choice (it appears it's all I cook..)

Roasted ratatouille veggies with thyme scrambled eggs, and a spoonful of ricotta cheese sprinkled with smoked paprika. Strong coffee with a dash of pumpkin pie spice, soy milk, and a drizzle of honey.



Breakfast on our last full day together. It was a great way to start the day.

I didn't end up taking many pictures, but we went to Crane Beach in Ipswich and it was gorgeous. And then we took a really really really long walk on the beach (2 hours?) haha, during which time I collected these:


They really were not that pretty at all, but I just liked how they looked nesting like that. I had half a mind to use the large one as a soap dish. Varun made me leave them at the beach though.


Wearing and loving my new hat! The material only allows 1/50th of the sun's UV rays to penetrate the fabric. (You learn something new everyday...)


Finally, he smiles with me : )

After the beach, we drove 10 minutes to Chef Frank's Apple Street Farm in Essex, MA to attend my restaurant group's company party. During which we got extremely wasted. Coming full circle is a beautiful thing.

It's been a great ride the past 6 months!

7 hours on the Franconia Ridge Trail

Franconia Notch State Park, 7/14/10



Falling Waters Trail, the 1st leg of our hike


View of Franconia Ridge from Little Haystack, the 1st summit out of 3


another view


Crossing the ridge..on the way to Mt. Lincoln


up close, little white alpine flowers


lichened rocks


These pictures don't really indicate how extremely hot and sweaty it was. I got incredibly sunburnt on my shoulders bc all of the sunscreen I applied, had basically melted off immediately.


cairns marking the trail on the ridge










the gorgeous valleys heading down Mt. Lafayette

I miss these little guys...

I wanted to be a curly haired girl...

And now I am.  I'm still not used to it, and I'm not sure it was worth it to pay someone $$ to make my hair less shiny and silky than it used to be. I was imagining shinier loose, tousled waves, but it's okay.  I like change...as anyone who's been around me the past 2 yrs knows...I like to switch up my hairstyles frequently bc I get bored very easily.

My new 'do:

Bad cam, can't help it.

I've been on a reading kick, and so far I've loved the books I've read.  I would highly recommend them to anyone who is interested in these subjects but ignorant. Not only are they highly informative, they're extremly well written and riveting.

Buffet: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein
I LOVED this book.  And a little in love with Warren Buffet as a result, haha. A fascinating man with extraordinary gifts.  

Mr. China: A Memoir by Tim Clissold
I didn't like Mr. China as much. It was very informative but a bit harder for me to read.  I got very frustrated as I read about all the obstacles the author faced and overcame in setting up joint partnerships with local businesses and factories in China.   I had to take breaks in between chapters frequently bc I was a little overwhelmed by the information and sometimes had to revisit previously read chapters just to fully absorb and understand what I was reading.  For anyone interested in entrepreneurial or business endeavors in China, I would highly recommend reading it.

Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis
Just started reading this.  Reading about Billy Beane, the manager of the Oakland A's,and his unfortunate career as a player and conversely his success as a general manager, was reminiscent of a character in one of my top 2 favorite books of all time: the father in The Brothers K by David James Duncan (fiction).  If you love to read about baseball or love the game, you'll love both of these books.

I don't know who reads this blog, but if any of my readers out there have any recommendations for good books that they love or have read recently, fiction or nonfiction, I'd love to get some suggestions for more books to read in the comments section.  I haven't been reading about cooking as much as I used to, but I think it's good for me to learn more about other areas of life since cooking dominates my daily professional life so much.

As a final recommendation (hahah since i'm on a "highly recommending" role..-.-) I want to add that I have been practicing yoga semi-regularly since last August and I love it.  It's not only an amazing, intense work out, it helps relieve all the stress, anger, and craziness (somewhat) that builds up from work and also just my own crazy personality.  I highly recommend yoga for everyone...especially if you love going to a traditional gym.  Yoga is perfect for cross training and building core strength and flexibility in ways you don't get by using machines or weights.  I go to Baptiste studio  in Cambridge, and I love it.  http://www.baronbaptiste.com/

Singing Beach

Apparently the only thing you can do at Singing Beach is be naked..haha

Beautiful blue water, wide expanse of sand.

First time wearing this fabulous dress I bought on sale from JCrew a few years ago before even the most basic dresses there became exorbitantly overpriced.  Bold floral print, floaty silk. Perfect for a beach day.

Flavor of the Moment at Captain Dusty's, serving icecream in Manchester (by-the-Sea) for 350 years!
Wild Cat: butterscotch ice cream with oreo cookie swirled in. Divine.

I love it when ppl cook for me!

My coworker came back home with me and we cooked the next day.  Well, she cooked for me and I helped..a little. Thanks, Shari!

Thin white noodles with broiled steak marinated in teriyaki, with sauteed fresh shitakes and baby shitakes, spinach, shallots, garlic.

Spring green salad with tomatoes, chevre, croutons brushed with butter and rubbed with garlic, raspberry vinaigrette.

 

Sparkling grape cider.