My Favorite Meal...From Someone Else

This morning I feel like I got hit by a truck. It's not fun. I got home very late last night from the Yankees game (which they lost...boo) and I'm feeling the after effects of Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred workout from yesterday morning. Let's just say that if your quads are in excruciating pain when simply rolling over in bed, I don't take it as a good sign for doing other things today. Like walking down stairs. Or getting into a chair. Or basically any movement whatsoever. Sigh.

So for today's What About Me Wednesday, I'm answering one simple question. When Lauren at The Spiced Plate asked me what my favorite dinner would be for someone else to cook, the wheels started turning as I thought of all the delicious and wonderful food that I've ever enjoyed.

Although I may be a control freak in general in the kitchen, there is nothing better than someone else cooking dinner...or any meal for that matter. I'm so lucky that Shaun also likes to cook and takes the reigns every now and again to whip up something fantastic. Like this past weekend. He offered to make breakfast (I shouted hooray!) and cooked up a breakfast quesadilla and burrito for us to share.

 

Eggs, turkey bacon and salsa in whole wheat tortillas made this a fantastic, filinng breakfast that was the perfect fuel to get me through a 3.5 mile run a little while later.

But while I'm thrilled to eat anything that Shaun makes, I got thinking about my all-time favorite meal made by another.

My mom’s Italian dinners.

 Mom, Kimberly + Me at San Gennaro Italian Festival, 2009

This includes meatballs (literally the best ever! EVER!) that are so flavorful and just melt in your mouth, crispy chicken parmesean coated in tomato sauce and bubbly cheese, lasagna filled with moist ricotta and ziti, mixed with Italian sausage.

Mamma mia, I could eat these every day of my life and be happy. This is a cheat because it’s more than one thing, but all I can say is that to me, there is simply nothing better in the entire world. Somehow I do not have any photos of her wonderful dishes and will be sure to change that the next time she makes it!

She of course makes her own sauce like any good Italian mother and I’ll fight anyone who says their Mama makes it better. Kidding. Sort of. But her wonderful food has absolutely turned me into a sauce snob and I am extremely selective about Italian restaurants. Most of them just don't measure up. Oh and I learned early on to never order meatballs at a restaurant, since I always find them disappointing compared to Mom's.

Mom making her famous gravy on Thanksgiving

So there you have it. My favorite, most comforting dinner. In my ideal situation, I'd have all of these things on one giant dinner plate and enjoy it all together, drizzled with extra sauce and parmesean cheese. Oh and some of her Grandma Mary apple pie with whipped cream for dessert. Mmmm-mmm. I'm pretty sure this would ease my sore legs and arms. Just sayin'.

So what do you think? What is your favorite meal for someone else to cook for you?

Got a question for me? For Shaun? Ask away in the comments or send me an email!

Some Things You Should Know

Good morning! I'm recovering from a great night! I went to see Jersey Boys with Shaun, my sister Kimberly, my cousin Alyson and my Aunt Janet. I had seen it once before a few years ago and it's still my favorite Broadway show right now. The songs are fantastic and the story is just fun. Four Seasons on loop will now commence...

So for today's What About Me Wednesday, I'm bringing you just a few things about me. There's been a lot of new readers commenting and finding the site, so I thought it would be fun to give some basic info. If you've been hanging around the blog for a while (love you!) then you may know some of the below...but stick around for the photos at least :)

6 Things About Me

Shaun and I live in Jersey City. We rented an apartment on the waterfront (holy views!) for 2 years when we were first married.

The Avid Appetite was born in this little kitchen...linoleum and appliances circa 1985 and all.

In 2010, we purchased our first home (!!!) a loft-style condo further inland in Jersey City. We lost the views {sad face}, but gained lots of space and a terrace.

and a sweet, avid kitchen to boot.

I have a Bachelor’s and Masters Degree from NYU. When I was 14 I decided that NYU was the place for me after my dad brought me with him to work on a bright and sunny spring day. At the time, his office was on East 4th St and Lafayette. We took the Path from Jersey City to 9th Street and walked through Washington Square Park to get there. I was instantly smitten and my love has never wavered.

Dad & me at one of many pre-graduation celebrations, NYU circa 2004
In my ‘day job’, I work in brand licensing. I began my career in Global Toys at Sesame Street (yep, it kind of was just like Big!)

Sesame Workshop holiday party, circa 2006 (I think)and moved onto working for a brand licensing agency in 2009, where I also get to do quite a bit of writing (score!).

My family vacations in Aruba every summer.

It was also the home of our 2008 beach wedding where 80 of our closest friends & family joined us to ring in the occasion. It was by far the best week of my life.

Who’s Who. In addition to Shaun, my husband, best friend, ultimate TAA taste tester and champion of the blog, my writing and me in general...

I am super close with my amazing parents and my 2 sisters, Kimberly & Christine, are my best friends in the world. You’ve probably heard me mention them a lot on here, and if not, well you will :)

Shaun and I have been to 6 European countries. We've traveled to Germany, France, Czech Republic (Prague), Hungary (Budapest), Sweden (Stockholm) and Estonia (Tallinn). We plan to add 2 more spots to our roster this May...we're going to Spain (Madrid) and Switzerland (Zurich)!

Charles Bridge, Prague

Medieval Tallinn, Estoniaat the World Cup in Germany, 2006

So there you have it. Just a bit about me. Now it's your turn. What about you? Share some details with me in the comments!

7 Things

I was very excited when Jenn over at Pea & Crayons tagged me in her Stylish Blogger Award and asked that I share 7 things about myself. Yay! It's my first fellow blogger award! Obviously I love talking about myself (you know you're a blogger when...), so this award is extra fun :)

Here's how it works:

1. Make a post + Link back to the person who awarded you this award - Donezo!

2. Share 7 things about yourself - Don't mind if I do!

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers so we can share the love - On it!

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them they've won!

So without further ado, here's 7 random things about me!

1. Aruba never gets old to me, even though I go every summer. Sometimes I cry when it's time to come home.

 

2. I've seen You've Got Mail many more times than I can count. And still look for it on TV every so often. (Did I mention that I own it, too?)

3. I had a crush on Shaun for almost 3 years before we started dating. He was my high school crush who I admired from afar! Who knew 10 years later we'd be very happily married?

4. I use all Lush hair & body products (that's all-natural, organic people, and it works!), thanks to my sister Christine. This includes a shampoo bar, conditioner bar and alternating between Happy Hippy & Olive Branch body wash.

5. My entire sock drawer needs a major overhaul. Each and every sock in it needs to be thrown away and updated, from boot socks and athletic socks to tights and knee highs. It's just one of those things that I never think to spend money on!

6. I own no less than 10 different blue and green shades of nail polish. Obsessed much?

7. Each and every comment that I get on the blog leaves me perma-smiling all day long. Thanks to everyone who has been commenting lately, I hope you are enjoying the site!

So there you have it. 7 random things about me! What are some random tidbits about you?

And to pay this fun forward, I'm selecting some more fab bloggers to participate! These are all blogs that I'm loving right now - keep up the great reads ladies! Hope you'll all accept :)

Baking 'N Books
Bites and Bliss
Black Book Kitchen Diaries
Delish Living
For Sweets Sake
Haute Apple Pie
Healthy Eating for Ordinary People
Keep it Sweet
Like Mother Like Daughters
OliePants
Pretty Good Food
The Cookie Battle
The Healthy Apron
The Ketchup Diaries
What Megan's Making

Take it away girls!