Thursday May 23, 2013
Planning a Memorial Day bash? We've got your menu covered with the best BBQ fare pulled from the Seduction Meals archives and around the web. Fire up the grill!
Try jazzing up the traditional grilled steaks with this awesome sauce.
Classic American fare with a spicy twist.
Grilled oysters are a tasty and unexpected addition to your Memorial Day menu.
This cheesy treat is sure to become a summertime tradition after the first bite.
Round out your barbecue with some fiery, juicy fresh vegetables - check out your local farmer's market for the best produce around.
Happy grilling from your friends at Seduction Meals!
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 11:11AM on May 23 in
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Thursday May 23, 2013
by MK Burnell
There's more love than pollen in the air this spring! With flowers in bloom, trees bursting into greenery and sunshine melting away the last of the winter blues, this is the perfect time to spark up a romance to heat up your summer. So step outside, gather a gorgeous wildflower bouquet and surprise that special someone with an unforgettable date.
It's no secret that we love New York City. There's no better place to spend a romantic evening together, especially now that the season for sundresses and shades has returned. So why not grab your sweetie and...
Catch the sunset from the High Line
Chelsea's hippest park stretches along a length of abandoned raised subway tracks, offering a gorgeous view of the Hudson. Start your night off right - grab a couple foamy, creamy iced lattes and some front row seats to the end of the day.
Sip on craft beers at Eataly's rooftop Birreria
If you've never been to Eataly, Manhattan's Italian food market, you're in for a delicious surprise. Eataly is all about a love of outstanding food and fresh ingredients, and it's a fabulous place to browse for some specialty cheeses, oils and herbs to enhance your kitchen at home. The cherry on top is the rooftop Birreria, where artisan ales and lagers are brewed just feet away from where you sit.
This Greenwich Village underground hotspot has a reputation as an unpretentious place to get your groove on. Forget about waiting in line to be judged by the bouncer - all you need to be admitted to Sullivan Room is a small cover and a desire to dance the night away. For best results, show up fashionably late.
Grab a late night snack at Yaffa
Located on the far east end of St. Mark's Place, Yaffa is a 24-hour eatery that boasts eclectic decor, a romantically lowlit, caravan-esque atmosphere and both front patio and back garden seating - so you can choose to snuggle up in an indoor booth, watch the late night crowd meander through the East Village, or hole up together in a private corner of the garden. The food is perfect for a post-party pick-me-up; hearty, creative, delicious and reasonably priced.
New York is a different city after midnight, and with the right partner in tow, it can be irresistibly romantic. Don't just take our word for it, though... see for yourself!
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 11:11AM on May 23 in
Dating Tips,
romance & seduction /
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Thursday May 23, 2013
by MK Burnell
With spring underway and summer right around the corner, it's time to start planning your 2013 beach getaway!
You don't necessarily have to hop a flight to the south of France to spend a week by the sea. Anywhere with sun, sand and surf will do. Work on your tan closer to home in one of these charming East Coast vacation destinations.
Martha's Vineyard, MA
There's a reason Martha's Vineyard is synonymous with relaxing summertime retreats. Favored by generations of celebrities and politicians, the island is a fabulous place to forget your troubles - but you may want to avoid going at the height of the season if you'd rather not contend with the throngs of tourists.
Provincetown, MA
Known for its thriving art scene and LGBT community, Provincetown is sure to show you a good time. Explore Cape Cod and wander the beaches by day, and dance the night away in one (or all) of P-town's popular hot spots. It's the perfect getaway for fun-loving travelers.
Watch Hill, RI
The tiny village of Watch Hill boasts miles of sandy Atlantic coastline, most of which is open to the public for swimming, strolling and sunbathing. Best of all, it's still a relatively unknown vacation spot - walk up Napatree Point, and you'll always be able to find an empty stretch of beach for a private picnic.
Hamptons, NY
Despite their reputation as a playground of the rich and famous, the Hamptons offer something for everyone. Tour the vineyards, explore the beautiful nature preserves, and visit the villages for some prime boutique shopping. Whether you stay in Montauk, Sag Harbor or Amagansett, you'll be surrounded by beauty - and you might even spot a celebrity or two.
Pawleys Island, SC
If you've never seen South Carolina's beaches, you're missing out. Pawleys Island is the perfect spot for a laid-back week in the sun. It's set up to accommodate tourists, with dining, golfing, live entertainment and unique shopping readily available; but it's easy to sidestep the commercial district and just bask in the serene beauty of the beaches and gardens.
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 11:11AM on May 23 in
romantic travel /
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Tuesday May 21, 2013
Seen and Noted! I just stumbled upon this recipe and had to share it:
Avocado Cheesecake with Walnut Crust. Typically I am a cheesecake purist - NY Style Cheesecake - chilled, fork in hand, and I am a very happy girl. But this calls for a taste! I love cheesecake, I love avocados, and I especially enjoy walnut or almond based crusts. So here you go - I hope you enjoy this!
Avocado Cheesecake with Walnut Crust
Per Serving:
242 calories; 8 g protein; 13 g fat; 26 g carbohydrates
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup shelled walnuts
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed anise seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
- 1 lemon
- 1 1/2 cups skim milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 fully ripened Avocados from Mexico, halved, pitted, peeled and diced
- 8 ounces fat-free cream cheese, softened and cut in pieces
Directions:
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- In food processor, pulse walnuts until finely ground. Add graham cracker crumbs, 1 tablespoon sugar, anise seeds and salt; pulse just until combined.
- Add 2 tablespoons water; pulse until ingredients are thoroughly combined and resemble wet sand.
- Press into bottom of an 8 1/2-inch springform pan. Bake 20 minutes; cool completely.
- In measuring cup or small bowl, combine gelatin with 2 tablespoons water; let stand for 5 minutes.
- With vegetable peeler, remove strips of lemon zest (yellow portion only). In saucepan, combine milk, 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla and lemon zest; bring to boil. Add gelatin; simmer until gelatin has completely dissolved, about 1 minute; strain and discard lemon zest.
- In food processor, combine avocados and cream cheese. Pour hot milk mixture into processor; process until very smooth.
- Pour into baked crust; cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or until set. Remove side of pan; cut cheesecake into 10 slices.
- Serve with raspberry sauce, if desired.
Cheesecake is best when served the same day; any leftover cheesecake should be securely covered with clear plastic wrap and refrigerated.
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 11:11AM on May 21 in
sweet temptations /
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Saturday April 27, 2013
Be still my pounding heart! I found the perfect gourmet popcorn thanks to
Pop! Gourmet Popcorn. For someone who loves the pairing of sweet and salty here is a great combo; are you ready for this....
Chocolate Salted Caramel Popcorn made with hand-crafted caramel popcorn topped with rich milk chocolate and sprinkled with delicate gourmet sea salt. Yes please! And dare I say... LOVE is in the air!
You can choose from a variety of flavored popcorn ranging from White Truffle Bliss to Butter Toffee with Almond Roca (artisan butter toffee popcorn made with the original Almond Roca Buttercrunch and roasted almond) to Gourmet Cheddar and Maui Waui Popcorn with fresh macadamia nuts, sweet coconut flakes, blended with white chocolate on buttery caramel popcorn. Pretty enticing right?
Check it out for yourself. And let your imagination run wild as you can create your own Gift Tin with multiple flavors. But beware.... this can become an addictive secret pleasure!
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 11:11AM on April 27 in
obsessions /
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Wednesday April 24, 2013
Let's face it--sometimes we just don't have the time to spend in the kitchen whipping up a gourmet meal for a special rendezvous for two. And that's OK, it happens to the best of us. So let's examine the alternatives for still being able to enjoy a romantic evening together...from the most obvious--eating out to the oh-so-easy task of ordering take-out. But there is another option - having a special meal prepared and delivered to your home. A meal that has been shopped for, measured, packaged, and ships with a recipe and step-by-step directions.
Enter
19 Charles Street, a members-only gourmet meal provider for time-strapped New Yorkers. Months ago I signed up for their email after reading an article about them and was more and more intrigued as I read their weekly email listing their menu offering. Here's how it works:
New recipes are posted Monday mornings on their website and sent via email, for deliveries the following week. You have until Friday at 5pm, or until ingredients sell out, to place your order. Every Monday and Wednesday morning, the 19 Charles Street team visits their partner farms, Murray's Cheese, Raffetto's Pasta, and other vendors to gather and package your ingredients for that night or the following night, depending on your order. Same-day packaging guarantees the freshest possible meats, grains, and produce.
So needless to say I had to try this. I choose a dinner that fed into a pasta craving I was having - Grass Fed Lamb Ragu with Capers, Parsley and Mint over fresh Pasta.
Here's the scenario:
The door buzzes, a delivery. A perfectly packaged white bag is presented to me -19 Charles. Why thank you!
I move into the kitchen and place all of the items on the counter.
Clever; there is a check list attached to the outside of the bag:
Tagliatelle from Rafettos. (Fresh I might add) Check
Parmesan Cheese from Murray's Cheese Shop (big smile). Check.
San Marzano crushed tomatoes. Check.
Capers. Fresh Mint and Organic Parsley. Check.
Blue Ribbon Bakery Baguette. Check
Mixed Baby Lettuce. Check
Organic Yellow Onion. Check
Garlic (2 large cloves to be exact). Check
Everything is so fresh, perfectly portioned and ready to cook--I am loving this! Not time to shop? How great to have a gourmet meal picked out and shipped to you, AND you get to cook it for complete control of freshness and timing, as opposed to take out. Here is the recipe graciously shared by 19 Charles.
Grass Fed Lamb Ragu with capers and mint over fresh Pasta
Prep: Dice the onion. Mince the garlic. Grate the Parmesan. Trim the lamb and cut into 1 inch cubes. Chop the parsley and mint. Set aside
Cook: Heat olive oil in a large pot and cook the onion until translucent. Add the garlic until fragrant (about 1 minute). Add the lamb and cook until browned. Add the tomatoes and simmer for 45 minutes or until meat is tender. Add parsley, mint, salt and pepper to taste. (Be careful not to over-salt since the capers are salty). Meanwhile cook the pasta for 3-5 minutes for al dente.
Serve: Dress the salad as desired. Serve the pasta with sauce, capers and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Stir together right before eating. Enjoy the baguette on the side.
Editors Note: And of course pour yourself and your date a generous glass of a full bodied red wine to perfectly compliment this beautifully simple romantic meal for two.
Thank you for making my life easier, healthier and making my very special guest wanting more!
More About 19 Charles Street
Whip Up a Gourmet Meal at Home with Recipe, Fresh Ingredients and Easy Instructions
The idea for 19 Charles Street was born: It's a gourmet grocery and farmers market delivery service where you order by recipe and number of servings. The goal is to minimize waste (you'll receive as close to the exact amount of whatever you need) and provide the best ingredients available in NYC. The legwork is done for the customers. The philosophy is a lot like European grocery shopping -- ingredients come from specialty stories as well as the market. Deliveries take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays because the produce is sourced from the Greenmarket that morning.
The recipes include new spins on classics, healthy versions of comfort food, and simplified high-end dishes. 19 Charles Street has also featured guest recipes from blogs like Not Without Salt and restaurants like Bell Book and Candle.
The founders are not chefs--they are avid home cooks, and that's the target market. These recipes are refined but not too difficult, and everything takes under an hour. The hope is that people will stay in and cook together, eat healthier food, and do their best to respect the planet. 19 Charles Street provides them with a product that can help them fulfill this goal.
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 11:11AM on April 24 in /
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Monday April 22, 2013
While I love baby arugula and mixed green salads and all the different types of salads you can create using these soft greens, there is something about a romaine salad that is more filling and robust, not to mention its great "crunch". For a chopped romaine salad you could add a mix of whatever you have on hand such as: sliced endive or celery, apples, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, walnuts or pecans, avocado, and sections of grapefruit or oranges. Have fun with it...and of coure it is a pretty healthy dish!
Chopped Romaine Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 head of Romaine Lettuce, bottom chopped off
- 1 apple, peeled, cored, and cut in 1/2 inch chunks
- 1/4 cup of walnuts
- 1 cucumber, peeled and sliced
- 1 avocado, thickly sliced and then cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 endive, cut into 1/2 inch rings
- 8 cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh dill
Place all ingredients in a large bowl, prepare salad dressing and pour over greens and mix well.
Dressing:
- 1/8 cup of olive oil
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/8 teaspoon of dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon of tamari soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon of fresh dill, chopped
Mix together all ingredients and then whisk together to emulsify
Pour over salad and serve
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 11:11AM on April 22 in
salads /
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Thursday April 18, 2013
Spring time was in the air while shopping at the farmers market this weekend. Finally sunshine and blue skies. Daffodils, Narcissus, and Hyacinths. And luscious spring vegetables like ramps, asparagus, baby artichokes and fresh peas. So to celebrate I happily picked up two dozen Narcissus flowers-pale yellow with bright orange centers that put a smile on your face; they look so lovely. For my springtime meal I whipped up a quick but simply delicious dinner: pan fried lamb chops, boiled baby red potatoes, and fresh peas garnished with mint. Yum!
Pan Fried Lamb Chops for Two
Ingredients
- Six lamb chops, about 1 inch thick
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon of dried, crushed Rosemary
- 1 teaspoon of country style dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- garnish: 4 mint leaves, roughly chopped
Directions:
- Place lamb chops on a cutting board and salt and pepper both sides
- In a small bowl add garlic, rosemary, mustard and 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- Brush this mixture all over the top of all lamb chops
- In a deep skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil, when hot, add all lamb chops - garlic mixture side down, and cook for 3 minutes
- Turn chops over and cook for 3-4 minutes for medium rare chops, test to ensure doneness by cutting one chop in the center
- Place three chops on each plate and garnish with mint
Peas with Fresh Mint
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 small white onion, cut in half, thinly sliced
- 2 cups of fresh peas, shelled
- 4 tablespoons of water, enough to cover bottom of pan
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon sweet butter
- 8 mint leaves, roughly chopped
Directions:
- In a small skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until translucent.
- Add peas and water, cook for three minutes
- Add mint leaves, salt and pepper
- Lower heat to medium, cover the skillet, and cook until peas are tender, about 3-4 minutes.
- Serve as is, or add a tab of sweet butter if you prefer.
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 09:09AM on April 18 in
main dish: lamb,
side dishes /
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