Hey There, It's Christa!

The Third Time's Truly the Charm in NYC...

Considering I grew up in a city with no stoplights and less than 4,000 people, a veritable behemoth like NYC can feel a little intimidating the first time around.

And when your first trip to "big city" coincides with Black Friday, well, multiple that by like a million. I was a fish out of water in the manner of Will Ferrell in Elf, minus those garish yellow tights and love of pre-chewed gum of course.

Even though it's been almost nine years now, I still remember being on the verge of a claustrophobic fit smack dab in the middle of an H&M. Simply put, I'd never been sandwiched between that many hungry bargain hunters before, and I was struggling to breathe.

After unsuccessfully navigating the sale racks (in oh-so-cute but nasty blister-giving shoes to boot), my friend Adrian took pity on me and decided to introduce me to all the touristy must-sees instead.

So for the better part of two days, we hit up Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Ground Zero and the Empire State Building, not to mention a holiday performance from those fierce kicking Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.

Basically, short of wearing one of those ubiquitous I ♥ New York t-shirts, I was every local's worst nightmare.

After checking all the iconic sites off my list, we then indulged my love of all things pop culture by  taking the "Seinfeld" bus tour complete with Junior Mints, a drive by the café that Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer frequented and a visit to the Soup Nazi's domain, where he almost denied me the bread to go with my minestrone because I didn't move to the left fast enough after ordering.

Last but certainly not least, I was given a crash course in the art of haggling for the best price on  Louis Vuitton knock-offs . While they looked anything but authentic, I simply had to have a purse since the real thing is like $1,400. But after I was labeled "much too eager," hence an amateur, by my street-savvy friend, I settled for a fuzzy pink winter hat instead (don't ask).

All in all, that late November excursion was a great introduction to all things NYC, but I still couldn't wait for the city to feel a little more like home the next time around.

Thankfully, my second journey to Manhattan two years ago went a whole lot smoother. I was in town for all of 48 hours for a movie junket, so there was no time for frivolity. Still, I had a few free hours to walk around and explore (and yes, I actually learned my lesson and wore quasi-sensible shoes), so I made sure to do just that.

Let's just say I think the Upper East Side and I got along just fine, and thanks to a cozy Italian meal at this cute little local bistro, the people watching was superb, too—always a total bonus when you're a writer in want of inspiration.

But of all my visits to NYC, the third time was totally the charm. Not only was it Will and my first time there together, but I actually (gasp!) felt like I belonged there...

More on that in the next blog post, I promise. Unfortunately, this post is already getting a little long, and I wouldn't want your eyes to glaze over from reading and reading and reading. It's Memorial Day weekend, after all, so consider that my gift to you. :)

Until next time...

:) Christa

When a Trip to Italy Isn't in the Cards, This Just Might Ease the Sting...

While Rome is just one of many cities I have Travelocity track the fares for, I know that short of winning the lotto, a trip back to Italy probably isn't in the cards anytime soon.

But when doing a little research for Will and I's upcoming pilgrimage to NYC, I did uncover something pretty spectacular (thank you, In Style for the fabulous tip)...a patisserie called Dolce Vizio that only has coffee and tiramisu on its menu.

Can I just say that whoever came up with that idea is nothing short of a genius?

I absolutely love tiramisu, which literally means "pick me up" in Italian, so this restaurant is basically right up my alley. In fact, I'm even willing to ditch the requisite visit to Serendipity and their to-die-for frozen hot chocolate just so I can sample some of the tiramisu bliss.

Really, the only problem will be choosing which flavor to indulge in. In addition to the regular cocoa/espresso variety, they also have limoncello, raspberry, orange espresso, mango and Nutella tiramisu, too.

In a word: Yum.

Expect a full update next month once we've returned...I'm guessing it'll be one of the highlights of the trip.

Adventures in Europe, Part 4: Viva Italia!

I intentionally ended yesterday's blog post with an ellipsis because I knew I had so much to say about Rome and didn't want anyone's eyes popping out of his/her head while I was yammering on and on and on...

Truth be told, I left for this trip longing for inspiration. It's not that I'm having a full-fledged case of writer's block or anything horrible like that. It's just when you write what I call "stylish copy on a deadline" for a living, well, you need a fresh jolt of creativity from time to time. And when you're writing your new novel, that spark is especially important—even if you're really excited about the story you're telling.

So needless to say, when I got to Rome, I absolutely fell in love. As our cab driver drove us from the train station to our hotel (for the record, I'd never, ever drive here, there's absolutely no rhyme or reason to the zig-zagging cobblestone roads—just one of Rome's many charms), I quickly realized that I'd never been anywhere quite like it. Or even close.

After checking in to our lovely hotel, Will and I were starving something fierce. As absolutely luscious as café cremas are, they're still not a full breakfast, so we knew some lunch was in order—pronto. Lucky for us, right across the street (yes, a mere 30 seconds away) was the most incredible little pizza shop.

Considering the place only had two tables inside and a small counter that a couple more people could comfortably eat over outside, if it hadn't been for our hunger, we probably wouldn't have even noticed it. But I'm a firm believer that growling bellies give you even better eyesight, so it was destino that we discovered it.

I've never been that big of a fan of woodfire pizzas (in my experience, the crust is either too charred or downright soggy), but they officially won me over. The crust was perfectly crisp and buttery and simply adorned with the freshest, most flavorful toppings including smoked fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, caramelized onions, basil and the sweetest plum tomatoes.

It was so good, in fact, that Will and I went back for thirds (they sold them in large squares) and successfully tried every variety they had. Mmmm. Then with bellies full of deliciousness, we drug our sleep-deprived selves back to our hotel for some much-needed R&R.

After getting a few zzz's, we eventually ventured out to the Spanish steps, a 40-minute walk from our hotel, and I was immediately wowed by the city's intricate architecture and all those sidewalks cafés that were practically tailor-made for people-watching.

While I could go on and on just about the food alone (trust me, we didn't have a bad meal the entire time) and satisfying our daily "need" for gelato (stracciatella was our favorite, hands down), what inspired me most about Rome was the Italians' zest for living.

Whether it was the front desk clerk at our hotel who enthusiastically mapped out the places we absolutely, positively must visit while we were in town, the barista who made our café cremas or the couple enjoying a post-work glass of wine together, they seemed genuinely joyful about life. And something that's particularly rare in our Smartphone culture, I didn't see a single soul staring at their phone or updating their Facebook status either. Instead, they enjoyed life's simple pleasures—conversation (gestures are a must) and a great glass of vino.

Unlike, say, NYC or even London, the pace of life (save for driving) is so much slower, too. Especially since we were on vacation, that's something Will and I had no trouble getting used to as we admired the breathtakingly beautiful art in the Vatican, strolled through the Colosseum (so much cooler than I imagined, particularly since I'm not much of a history buff) and bravely plunged in our hands into Bocca della Verita (yes, all our digits are still intact).

My only complaint is that we didn't have more time there. In fact, I can still picture our sad faces as we sat on the rooftop terrace of our hotel, sipping coffee and eating pastries before heading to the airport. But even without throwing a coin into the famed Trevi Fountain, one thing's for sure: I know that we'll be returning to Rome one day soon. And just like I suspected it might, going to Rome has only made me more excited to see the rest of Italy, too.

So here's toasting to Italia and newfound inspiration for my writing now that I'm back home! Salute!

Adventures in Europe, Part 3: From Paris to Italy With Love and Claustrophobia

Maybe it's my insane love of pasta, parmesan and the perfect slice of crusty bread rubbed with garlic and topped with fresh basil, a drizzle of olive oil and the sweetest of tomatoes or all those repeat viewings of Roman Holiday, The Talented Mr. Ripley and Under the Tuscan Sun over the years, but I've alway dreamed of vacationing in Italy.

And unlike some experiences that can't possibly live up to your lofty expectations, well, Rome was even better (!!!) than I'd imagined. In fact, I've always said that London is, hands down, my favorite city on the planet. But after visiting Rome, I gotta say that London has officially dropped down a spot.

Sorry, London.

Continuing our whole planes, trains and automobiles experience, we traveled from Paris to Rome via an overnight sleeper train. Considering I'd never slept on a train before, let alone overnight, I learned quite a bit about myself on the 20-hour journey—namely that I wouldn't do very well as a prisoner.

Aside from my general disdain for camping, (yeah, me and the Great Outdoors aren't exactly the best of friends), I've always thought of myself as fairly low-maintenance when adapting to new sleeping situations. But that definitely all changed with this trip.

At first, I was sure the bottom bunk was my ticket since I was afraid of falling to my imminent demise from the top one, which was way too high for my liking. But once I tried settling in, well, I started getting rather panicky in those close quarters. I couldn't even read, let alone fathom how I'd actually fall asleep. So being the sweet, obliging hubby that he is, Will traded bunks with me.

For the record, there wasn't much more breathing room on the top either, but at least I didn't feel like I'd be swallowed up by claustrophobia. So after reading another 100 pages of The Paris Wife, a novel that was nearly impossible to put down once you got started, I tried giving my peepers a break. But the more that I hoped to get lulled into a deep, deep sleep, the more impossible it became. So I watched many, many hours tick by before eventually falling asleep for, oh, 45 minutes.

After our train came to a unexpected and rather jarring stop, however, I woke up again and was a big ol' mess to boot. In the dark, the already-close quarters felt even closer, and I was sure I was going to start hyperventilating—pronto. As I felt my breathing quicken, I opened the shade and that helped. But since I knew that resting was pretty much out of the question (I'll sleep when I'm dead, right?) I propped myself up on my elbows and watched the miles and miles of gloriously undeveloped land roll on by.

And then before I knew it, the sun was out, and we were officially in Italy.

In case you're curious, Italy looks just like the movies—all rolling hills, rustic homes and trees for miles. Unlike the States where there's a strip mall every few miles, I was overcome by how peaceful it all was here. And when I eventually spotted the sign for Parma, I started getting really excited for my first Italian meal since Parma is probably best known for its deliciously salty prosciutto.

With blissful thoughts of antipasto in my head, I drifted off for a couple more hours before finding out that because of several train delays, we'd be getting into Rome even later than I thought.

But a couple of café cremas later, Will and I didn't even care.

All in all, we were on the train for 20 hours because of the aforementioned delays, so we were more than happy to vacate the premises once we finally rolled in Rome. And once we stepped out from the train station to the taxi queue, Will and I immediately realized that we were truly in another world...

 

Book Comment: The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate

File under: Comfort food without all those annoying calories

While I wait with bated breath for my first trip to Italy (the countdown is less than a month now—woo hoo!), reading The Love Goddess' Cooking School has been the next best thing—even if the bulk of the story takes place in Maine, not the country shaped like a boot.

See, the old and new world collide when our newly single protagonist, Holly Maguire, inherits her Italian grandmother's cooking school in Blue Crab Island, Maine. Known for her mouthwatering creations in the kitchen, not to mention the ability to see the future, Holly knows her grandma's shoes won't exactly be easy to fill, considering she can't even boil pasta without making a big gummy ol' mess.

If Holly's new career as a chef wasn't already terrifying enough, her search for the proverbial Mr. Right hasn't been much more promising either.  Thanks to her grandmother's premonition when Holly was only 16, Holly knows the man of her dreams is a brave soul who actually enjoys sa cordula, a supposed delicacy with the starring ingredients of, wait for it, lamb intestines and peas.

So far, all the men in her life have bolted not long after trying the dish (not that she blames them for that), and Holly can't help wondering if true love, the sort of love that unfolded in the pages of her grandmother's journal, will ever come her way.

But Holly isn't not sulking too much in the meantime. After all, she's got a cookbook full of recipes to master and an Italian cooking class to teach. And as she starts really getting to know the people who regularly stop by Camilla's Cucinotta, well, Holly's life is never quite the same.

Ultimately, The Love Goddess' Cooking School is one of those delicious books you'll end up whipping through in only a couple of days. With relatable, compelling characters and storylines that'll tug at your heart (but not shamelessly so), there's a myriad of charms in Melissa Senate's writing.

But a word to the wise: Don't read while you're hungry. Whether she's describing the creamiest of risottos or the best pick-me-up of all, sumpteous layers of tiramisu, your stomach will growl, and you'll be craving Italian food—pronto. Really, the book should come with a warning...but I guess there are worse things than great comfort reading, right?

Rating: ****1/2 out of ***** stars

 

List #1: My Ten Favorite Restaurants (No Particular Order)

So I tried to get this going yesterday as promised, but Typepad was being finicky and uncooperative, so I thought I'd better try again today instead of wasting too much time trying to get my blog to do what I want. Success! (so far, anyway)...

My friend Lori, the one who got this whole crazy list thing started in the first place, began her 10 days with her favorite restaurants, so why mess with a genius move like that?

In fact, I'm all over it with one minor adjustment. I'm not gonna rank 'em. I know, I know, it's cheating a little, but it's just too hard 'cause they're all soooo good.

And now, with no further adieu...my 10 favorite restaurants:

Dos Caminos (Vegas)—Yep, that's the restaurant in the picture.

Now there's a lot of advice I probably wouldn't take from Jessica Simpson (her choice in men and clothing immediately springs to mind), but I gotta tell ya, there's a reason why she eats at Dos Caminos every time she's in NYC, and that's because it's absolutely scrumptious. Not only do they make their guacamole for you right at the table (and trust me, it'll change your life, I could just have that sans chips and be happy), but their cuisine (try the crunchy shrimp quesadilla, you'll thank me) is just so inventive and tasty. Now I've only been to the Dos Caminos in Vegas (and it's a must, whenever you're there), but I'm guessing the one in Manhattan is just as fab. I must say the last time I was in NYC, I was very, very tempted to eat there, but the hubby wasn't with me, so I couldn't do so in good conscience. What can I say? I loooove the guy.

La Grolla (St. Paul)—Anyone who's read my blog on a frequent basis already knows how much I love Italian food, and La Grolla totally rocks it every time. If you're dieting, this is totally the place you gotta avoid because while you can easily fill up on all the incredible antipasto, you simply gotta save room for their mouthwatering entrees (yeah, their penne alla vodka was my favorite), the dessert cart (yeah, the light as air mascarpone cheesecake changes with the seasons) and a cappuccino because if you don't, you're just missing out.

P.F. Chang's (nationwide)—I know, I know it's a chain, and it's not authentic Chinese takeout, but I absolutely love it anyway. The decor is chic, the lighting low, and everything I've ever ordered is downright yummy. In addition to the lettuce wraps (a virtually guilt-free must), I'm really lovin' the Dali chicken these days. Sure, it's sooo hot that you'll need about seven glasses of water, but it's totally worth suffering for.

Calypso Cafe (Nashville)—After I was hired at CCM Magazine back in 2000, the editor-in-chief, the illustrious April Hefner, had a brilliant idea for my first day of work lunch—Calypso Cafe—and I've been a huge fan ever since. I always order the same thing: a black bean salad with rice, two boija muffins (sweet cornbread with a toasted coconut top) and my drink de jour in Nashville, fruit tea, and I always leave happy. I liked the place so much, in fact, that I ate there at least once a week when I lived in Music City.

Mi Cocina (Dallas)—When Will and I were dating, he always raved about this Tex-Mex establishment, and I gotta say, he wasn't overstating just how good it is. Whenever I'm there I usually go for the cheese enchiladas, and trust me, you don't need any meat when they taste that good. Mmmmm....

Gino's East (Chicago)—It's hard not loving the place where you got engaged, but I'm not gonna lie, the pizza is absolutely, positively worth every minute of that 45-minute wait. As hungry as you are, don't even bother with appetizers because after eating this pizza, you'll be sooo full you'll immediately need a nap. But it'll be the best nap ever because your tummy will be full of all that deep dish love.

Bon Vie (St. Paul)—I'm still dreaming of their perfect omelets with caramelized onions and crispy hashbrowns.

Amerigo's (Nashville)—One word: Tiramisu. Yeah, they don't really do it the traditional way, but the homemade chocolate sauce makes it's worth every empty calorie.

Chick-a-Fila (somewhat nationwide, but mostly in the south)—I'm not usually crazy about fast food, but one of Chick-a-Fila's original chicken sandwiches with lettuce and tomato, waffle fries and lemonade always hits the spot.

Bread and Company (Nashville)—Whenever I had a bad day, Will would bring me their tomato basil soup, cranberry walnut bread and fruit tea, and everything would be okay. And whenever I'm in Nashville, it's an absolute must for lunch.

Honorable Mentions: While they aren't quite Top 10, I still love me some Chipotle (nationwide), Carrabba's (nationwide), Bronte (Nashville), Cossetta's (St. Paul), Gallagher's (Vegas), room service from the Four Seasons hotel on Doheny (Los Angeles), Brio (Dallas), SATCO (Nashville) and Pizzeria Uno (Chicago).

Win Awesome Stuff from Jenny Nelson!

When you order Georgia’s Kitchen the week of the book’s release (Aug 3-6th), and email your receipt to jennynelsonauthor@gmail.com, you’ll be entered to win this fantastic giveaway.

What are the prizes, you ask? Well, let us tell you!

A basket full of books! Everyday Italian by Giada DeLaurentiis, After You by Julie Buxbaum, Super in the City by Daphne Uviller, She’s Gone Country and Flirting with Forty by Jane Porter, Girls in Trucks and Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch , I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci and Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert!

Magazines! You’ll also be entered to win a one year subscription to the food magazine of your choice: Food and Wine; Bon Apetit, Fine Cooking or Everyday with Rachael Ray!

AND a $50 gift certificate to Crate & Barrel!

So what are you waiting for?  Head on over to Barnes & Noble RIGHT NOW and get your copy! Want more details?  Then head on over to Jenny’s facebook page!

Escaping to Italy With Jenny Nelson's "Georgia's Kitchen"

Given that I've always been more of an "inside, please" girl, summer and reading have always gone together like caramel and whipped cream over a fantastic cup of strongly brewed espresso. Sure, I like the sunshine and fresh air like everyone else, but given my pasty white skin and serious aversion to mosquitoes, the great indoors suits me far better as long as the air conditioning is blasting.

In fact, I remember spending many, many Wisconsin summer afternoons in the chilly confines of the local library's basement. It was there where I discovered Judy Blume's Blubber, and later, Deenie and journeyed to far-off places with all of Austen's leading ladies. In a word: heaven.

And while I have a sizable stack of novels I was hoping to plow through this summer, our big move to Texas (and all the shenanigans of getting settled in) has seriously cut into my reading time. It's already August 4, and I've read exactly one and a half novels—Jenny Nelson's superb debut Georgia's Kitchen and half of Jennifer Weiner's latest Fly Away From Home, which I'm also totally loving and can't wait to finish.

Now I have to say, I was pretty sure I was going to love Jenny's book given my love of all things Italian (especially the extraordinary cuisine) and was thrilled beyond belief to score myself an advanced copy. What I didn't anticipate what not being able to put it down once I started. With a winning protagonist, a gorgeous backdrop, and of course, the luscious descriptions of food, I was hooked immediately and finished in about a day and a half (a girl's gotta get her beauty sleep, after all, right?).

And now in celebration of her debut hitting store shelves yesterday, I just had to chat with the author herself. So with no further adieu, here's our illustrious Q&A...turns out, we'd both love to cook with Giada and share many of our earliest influences (like the aforementioned Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary). Very, very cool.

CB: So how amazing was the research for your novel? How did you go about suffering for your art?

JN: Let’s just say that eating at incredible restaurants and calling it research was very easy on my taste buds and my mood, harder on my wallet, and hardest on my waistline. To repent for all of that indulgence, I logged some serious miles on my treadmill! That said, enjoying good food and wine is part of my life and by virtue of that, so is running. It’s not a bad tradeoff.

When you frequent your favorite Italian restaurant (name and location please), what’s your order of choice (including antipasti, cocktails or wine)?

My favorite Italian restaurant is Mercato, in Red Hook, NY, where the chef/owner is Francesco Buitoni (as in the pasta), who’s from Rome and whose pedigree includes stints at several Mario Batali restaurants. As my husband says, Francesco’s the real deal.

I’d start with a glass of prosecco, share an antipasto plate with my husband, work my way into the kale, pecorino and pine nut salad (my fave, plus it makes me feel somewhat virtuous), and a glass of Roero Arneis (I much prefer white wine to red, sacrilegious but true), then either a simple pasta al pomodoro (his is amazing) or maybe the seared scallops or orata, if it’s on the menu. For dessert, a few sinful bites of Francesco’s tiramisu, which my husband orders no matter how stuffed he is and which I eat, no matter how stuffed I am.

Do you enjoy cooking all things Italian as well? What’s the best dish you make?

I love cooking Italian, which to me is very forgiving – it’s hard to really mess it up (although I’ve managed!). My favorite dish to make is risotto, all kinds, but I’ve been told my shrimp and fennel is pretty tasty and everyone is shocked to learn there’s no cheese in it.

As someone who’s about to finally make it to Rome next year, any recommendations for out-of-the-box dining, sight-seeing and the like?

You’re in for a treat. I’m sorry to say that I used to have the Rome list to end all lists and I can’t find it anywhere. I’m better on Florence.

You had Giada DeLaurentiis, one of my favorite chefs, endorse your book, just how cool are you?

I am beyond thrilled that Giada wrote that blurb. I love her food and her spirit – she’d be so fun to cook with!

Now talking Georgia's Kitchen, how much of yourself makes its way into Georgia’s character?

In a word – none. Well, maybe her dry sense of humor is sorta similar to mine, but that’s about it. Swear. Oh, and I love jeans almost as much as Georgia.

How long did it take you to write your novel, and what inspired the decidedly Italian feel of it?

It took me about two years to write it, then longer to revise it, sell it and now, finally, publish it! It’s been a long process, but well worth every step and setback along the way.

As for the Italian slant, I am an Italia-phile. I love Italian food, fashion, design, wine, people and above all the country itself. My husband and I have traveled extensively throughout Italy and were married in Florence ten years ago. Part of my rationale behind making Georgia a chef was so I could send her to Italy and revisit (if only in spirit) some of my favorite places in the world.

What are a few of your favorite novels of late, and for the uninitiated, why should everyone read Georgia’s Kitchen prontissimo?

Not a novel, but a collection of stories: Unaccustomed Earth, by Jhumpa Lahiri, which ranks right up there with my favorite books of all time. Other recent favorites include The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout, Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin, Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch.

As for why everyone should read Georgia’s Kitchen...at its essence, Georgia’s Kitchen is the story of a woman determined not to give up on herself or her dreams. Her journey takes her from the chic cityscapes of New York to the charming hill towns of Italy and back again. Along the way, she meets amazing people, finds herself in incredible places, eats and drinks like a culinary queen, turns up the heat with a sexy Italian winery owner, and embarks on a crash course in self-discovery. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to be a top chef, or make it in New York, or what really goes on in a professional kitchen, or dreamed of chucking it all and moving to Italy, Georgia’s Kitchen is for you. It’s packed with heart and humor, glamour and guts (not to mention food porn galore!) and a heroine you’ll root for to the very end.

Team Edward, Team Jacob or don’t care?

Took me a while to figure out who you meant (saw the first two Twilights but haven’t yet seen Eclipse and haven’t read any of them), but I’d say Team Edward all the way. He is gorgeous and I’m a sucker for that pale, otherworldly kind of beauty.

Who'd play Georgia in the big-screen rendition of Georgia's Kitchen and who'd portray the oh-so-smooth Gianni?

All along I’ve thought Drew Barrymore would be a terrific Georgia, but then I met Parker Posey at a film festival and started thinking she’d be a great too, in a totally different way. Anna Kendrick or Amy Adams too! Gael Garcia Bernal would be perfect for Gianni, but maybe too gorgeous. How would Georgia ever turn him down? James Franco would be terrific.

When did you know that you wanted to write a novel?

In high school, when I enrolled in a summer creative writing program taught by Michael Cunningham. This way well before he wrote The Hours and won the Pulitzer prize, and he was a terrific teacher and a super cool guy to boot. By the end of the program I’d caught the writing bug in a big way.

Who were some of your earliest writing influences, and who is your writer crush?

Laura Ingalls Wilder, Beverly Cleary, and Judy Blume were my three biggest early writing influences. I was the kid under the covers with a flashlight and a book. As for a writer crush, I think I’d have to go Sebastian Junger. There’s something about a man who’s drawn to danger AND able to string together a mean sentence that does it for me.

What’s a book you love so much that you wish you’d written it?

Oh, boy. There are about a zillion books I wish I’d written! How about The Great Gatsby, for starters? The House of Mirth? Persuasion? Great Expectations?

What’s your favorite guilty pleasure movie and/or TV show?

I love Top Chef, but have convinced myself it’s part of my research so I don’t feel even a twinge of guilt watching it. A true guilty pleasure is Real Housewives, the New York version, though I’m looking forward to checking out the DC wives too. Another is, gulp, Bethenny Getting Married and The Rachel Zoe Report (yes, I love Bravo). As for movies, I’m a sucker for a good teen movie. 10 Things I Hate About You is still one of my faves.

If we peeked in your purse right now, what would we find?

Hello Kitty band aids (at least two, one for each of my daughters), two hair bows, same, Bobbi Brown lip gloss (I’m addicted), my Blackberry (ditto), Coppertone Babies sunblock stick, which I swipe across my forehead whenever I remember, Lorac powder and a Sephora retractable brush I adore, a tin of peppermints, a small Kleen Kanteen filled with water, because I basically live my life dehydrated, a wallet strangely devoid of cash but stuffed with credit card receipts, and tissues, all of which look a little worse for wear.

Lastly where can people keep up with you online?

At my brand-new website: www.jennynelsonauthor.com, on Facebook and Twitter.
 

7 Things I'll Actually Miss About Minnesota

Now that Will and I have started the oh-so-fun process of packing, this big summer move to Dallas is actually beginning to feel a little more real.

And as much as we've both complained about living in Minnesota (6+ months of winter will do that to you), there are a few things we'll definitely miss about the place.

After all, when you've lived somewhere for almost four years, you can't help but get a little attached.

So now, with no further adieu, here are seven things (in no particular order) that I'll miss about living in the land of 10,000 lakes.

My pal Krista B. (a.k.a. the "other" Krista)—Back in college days, I liked listening to my Brit rock loud—very, very loud. So while I was getting my dorm room in order, this girl walked by and had to see who the freak was with the loud music and all the green and gold Green Bay Packer memorabilia. Turns out, she was a fairweather Vikings fan, but she didn't hold my Cheesehead devotion against me since we had the same name and all. Cue: lifelong friendship.

The best thing about hangin' with Krista is that even though I've moved around quite a bit, (and she moved to Africa for a year, right when Will and I moved back to Minnesota—yeah, I wasn't bitter, ha ha) we've always managed to stay in touch and had absolutely no trouble catching right up (there's a reason Krista's dad calls us "Chatty Cathys") whenever we hang out.

And since we're both big fans of cooking, she's practically the only person who truly gets the undeniable importance of walking languidly through a Williams-Sonoma. Yep, she understands that you'd never want to miss out on any of the fantastic spice rubs or cool new kitchen gadgets, so every corner most be explored thoroughly. It's funny because every time we're there, we basically want the salespeople to box up the entire store and send it home with us because we want, well, everything they've got...

Caribou Coffee—I'm mostly a Starbucks girl, but I love absolutely love having Caribou as a delicious coffee back-up. In fact, most days that I'm writing at home, I'll walk through the skyways just for a Caramel Hi-Rise just the way I like it (skim, with the smallest cloud of whip on top). Plus, the baristas at my favorite Caribou (you know who you are, Jessie and Ashlee) not only whip up a great cup of joe, but keep me properly connected to the outside world.

All the Minnesota-isms—I love how everyone says "bag" like it's actually "beg." I also love how almost every time I tell someone who's not from Minnesota that I'm from Minnesota, the "yeah, you betcha" Fargo quips inevitably follow, even though Fargo is technically in North Dakota.

People also routinely inquire on whether I know Garrison Keillor personally and if I can score tickets to see him (I don't, and I can't). Equally intriguing is when I'm asked if I think Brett Favre will actually return and play for the Vikings this year (I'm not clairvoyant, but I think he will. Naturally, he won't actually decide until the night before he needs to make an announcement).

Saturday Breakfasts at Bon Vie—Since I haven't been to Paris yet, I gotta live vicariously through delectable French cuisine on occasion, and Bon Vie, an adorable little Parisian café in Cathedral Hill, does breakfast just right. Not only are the omelets simply out of this world, but the hash browns, well, I could go on about those for days. What's fun, too, is that the chefs are always switchin' up the menu, so you never know what treasures you'll find that particular weekend. In a word: Yum.

Landmarks, Parks and Those Walks on Grand Avenue—Thanks to living in downtown Minneapolis during my college years, I had plenty of time to explore all the sights...the Mary Tyler Moore statue on 7th, the cherry on the ginormous spoon at the Sculpture Gardens, the purple house where Prince used to live and lots, lots more.

But my latest chapter in Minnesota was in St. Paul, so it felt like I was living in a completely different city,  a welcome change of pace. I loved St. Paul for a lot of reasons—strolling by F. Scott Fitzgerald's place, checking out the very Euro-esque parks, not to mention the gorgeous St. Paul Cathedral and walking with Will on the always-picturesque Grand Avenue with all those fantastic houses that you make you downright envious on anyone who lives in them.

The Cooks of Crocus Hill—After I graduated from college, I was pretty sure I'd never step inside a classroom again. But since I've been back in Minnesota, I have absolutely loved taking cooking classes at The Cooks of Crocus Hill. Not only is the "homework" so incredibly fun, but I've learned things I never would've otherwise like making delicious fettuccine from scratch (yes, the actual pasta, not just the sauce) and whipping up delicious buttercream frosting that wasn't prepared by Duncan Hines first.

Noshing on Italiano at La Grolla—It's impossible to talk about our time in Minnesota without mentioning our favorite Italian restaurant, La Grolla. Not only is the atmosphere straight out of a Manhattan restaurant with  tables so close together that it forces you to get to know your neighbors, but I'm convinced that it's impossible to have a bad meal there.

Chances are, you'll be even more full than you ever thought possible, thanks to an array mouthwatering antipasto, to-die-for pasta dishes and a dessert tray that's out of this world. Who knew that using mascarpone instead of cream cheese would produce the lightest, most heavenly cheesecake you've ever sampled? I sure didn't before I tried theirs...and a meal there isn't complete without that—and a good cappuccino—to end things on the most exquisite of notes.

Three Cheers for Dining In...

I don't know how it happened, but Valentine's Day sort of snuck up on me this year. So instead of doing the whole crazy restaurant thing (one year, the only reservations available were for 4:30 p.m. or 10:00 p.m., neither very desirable options), I decided to cook for Will and I instead.

Now anyone who knows me well knows that I love making big meals...for me, it's so fun planning the menu, buying the ingredients, and then cooking for hours on end.

I hadn't done that since Thanksgiving, so I decided to go all out...comfort food for a chilly Minnesota night.

And my, my, my was the low-key night fun—and delicious. Plus, I figured out that even with a bottle of good prosecco, the whole meal cost about $30 to prepare, a veritable bargain compared to ordering out.

Like most people who call an apartment home, my kitchen wasn't exactly made for cooking a three-course meal, but like Tim Gunn regularly says on "Project Runway," I made it work. And I'm pretty sure I used every prep dish I own in the process...thank goodness, Will volunteered to do the dishes, right?

As for the menu...one of my all-time favorite pasta dishes is penne alla vodka, especially from La Grolla, our go-to Italian joint, so I decided to whip some up myself. I'd never made it before but figured it couldn't be too difficult—and thanks to a good recipe and some sweet San Marzano tomatoes, it worked like a charm.

To start our V-Day feast, I made a mixed greens salad with homemade vinaigrette and peasant bread with garlic butter and fresh mozzarella melted on top. And then came the pasta...all yummy and creamy and calorie-laden (but who's counting when it's Valentine's Day, right?). I'm pretty sure I'll be making that for another special occasion sometime soon...even without chicken or shrimp, it was pure bliss.

Of course, Valentine's Day wouldn't be Valentine's Day without a chocolate dessert of some sort, so I ended the meal with homemade molten lava cake with a drizzle of caramel and homemade whipped cream. After downing that, neither Will and I could move, so we settled into our carb-imposed stupor and watched The Thomas Crown Affair with a belly full of pasta, chocolate and love.

By the way, nearly three days after the fact, I think I'm still feelin' those carbs, but that's nothing some treadmill time can't fix, right? Let's hope so anyway.