Foodie Penpals

Clearly I have been in a blogging rut.

It is not so much that I have nothing to write about it; in fact I have plenty of stories about late night Gossip Girl-watching sessions to visits to U-Street to free Sprinkles Cupcakes (actually all stories from just one night!). Unfortunately, however, since coming back from spring break I have been swamped with more time sensitive and, arguably, more important priorities (i.e. homework) that has kept me from posting. And while I did promise once again to make a conscious effort to blog, things like my thesis proposal, papers about Kant and newspaper production have kept me a little preoccupied.

Recognizing a need for some motivation and commitment to lure me back into the blogosphere, I stumbled upon the Foodie Penpals program. The brainchild of Lindsay Livingston at The Lean Green Bean, the project aims to connect food bloggers and readers beyond the World Wide Web through the exchange of food-filled care packages.

Recreating Memories in the Kitchen

I can’t remember exactly when it was, but recently I learned an Italian phrase that I had never heard before: “fare la scarpetta.” Roughly translated “to do the little shoe,” the terms refer to the act of taking a piece …

An Old-School Italian Cook

My aunt is a stereotypical, older Italian lady. She won’t leave the house without lipstick. She yells at her husband whenever she teases him. And of course, she can cook a mean gravy. Most of my memories with my aunt …

A Well-Rounded Diet

I have to admit: going into this week I anticipated that my diet would be on carb-overload. Staying with my Italian relatives, I figured that most of my meals would consist of oversized portions of bread and pasta. Although I have nothing against these food items, especially since I shun the pasta bar at the school dining hall and D.C.’s Italian food scene is nothing like that grandma used to make, a part of me was relieved to see some diversity in my diet during my first few days of vacation.

Like most foodies, I go through periods of food obsessions, and right now my obsession is grapefruit. In the drawer of my aunt’s freezer is nearly half a dozen plump grapefruit waiting to be segmented and juiced. For the past few days, my morning meal has been as simple as cutting up the citrus, sprinkling with sugar and finished with a couple of slices of jam-slathered toast. Even if grapefruit has a reputation as a diet food, I don’t see anything wrong with enjoying it all the time.

Just What the Doctor Ordered

If you know me, then you know that I hate doing nothing. Although I might complain about my long to-do list with classes, meetings and homework, I would rather have lots to do than nothing to keep me occupied. I have an unhealthy obsession with checking for the blinking red light on my blackberry and keeping my Ical updated with everything from my workouts to nights out on the town; busy could be my middle name.

A Vacation Long Overdue

Of late, it seems that any break on the academic calendar could not come soon enough. Last winter, I had five papers and one sit-down exam standing between me and winter break, and this past week I had a to-do with countless things tasks and lots of added stresses making me extremely anxious for a vacation.

So Long Since Last We Met

“It’s been so long since last we met…”

While some readers might not get the reference in the opening sentence, I thought that the Georgetown’s Fight Song fit well in these circumstances. Yes, readers, it has been a very long time since last we met.

In my last post, nearly a month and a half ago, I wrote about my gelatin-wrecked vegetarian diet and my resolution to start anew. Since that time much has happened.

Like the fall semester, the spring term has been equally, if not more, busy. Once again taking a full courseload, I am also working my job at school, commuting to an internship and juggling various extracurricular activities. In light of this, I have come to the realization that 24 hours in a day are just not enough. WIth so much on plate, my resolution for weekly blogging became like the decadent dessert calling my name on the counter. Unfortunately, with so much else weighing me down, giving in to the temptation of blogging would have only put me behind on the things I actually needed to do.

Taking a Spanish Lover: Barcelona

First it was the ancient city of Athens, then it was off to the paradise island of Santorini. Next: Paris, the City of Light and Love. Finally, one week, two countries, and three cities later, it was off to the last destination of my global journey: Barcelona, Spain.

Feeling like a competitor on The Amazing Race, I left Paris on a dreary and cold Friday morning feeling both tired and anxious. Yet despite the gloomy conditions, the outlook was bright: the weather forecast for Barcelona promised clear skies, plenty of sun, and temperatures nearing sixty degrees. After two amazing, but cold, days in Paris, it was fitting that I conclude my break in a city with sun and sand.

Falling in Love with the City of Love: Paris

As I sat on the train from Versailles, my excitement could barely be contained. Behind me a little boy sat with his mother, and the two conversed in a language perhaps more beautiful than Italian. Suddenly, the Eiffel Tower came …

Santorini: A Bust at the Beach

Word of advice to those looking to visit Santorini: never go in February-unless, of course, you like relaxing vacations where you do literally nothing all day (and nothing in this sense does not include lying on the beach).

After two days exploring the ancient ruins of Athens and enjoying enough feta cheese to keep me satisfied for the next few weeks, I looked forward to the four days I would be spending on the beautiful Grecian island of Santorini. Santorini is located on the southeast of the mainland in the Aegean Sea and is one of the most possible destinations for tourists visiting the Greece. Since it was my spring break, I was excited by the opportunity to be someplace warm and to be able to walk along the red and black beaches, listen to the waves crashing on the sand, and mingle with other tourists who were eager to do the same.