Balls to the Walls

It is hard to believe 4th of July is less than 4 days away... that means most of you are road tripping somewhere come Friday for a weekend filled with family, friends and of course, flag cake. 

Bringing some fuel for those traffic filled car rides is a MUST. Enter: no bake energy balls. My younger (and wiser) sister brought these bad boys to my attention and I am now a strong ball-iever. The best part is that they take less than 15 minutes to make and are filled with protein. Try them for yourself!

No Bake (Gluten Free) Energy Balls
Ingredients (makes about 36 servings)
-1/2 cup of honey
-2 cups unsweeted coconut flakes
-1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
-1 cup smooth peanut butter or almond butter 
-2 cups gluten free rolled oats
-4 ounces minature chocolate chips
-1  cup flax seeds
-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions
- Combine and stir all ingredients together in medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. 
- Cover bowl and let chill in refrigerator for about 15 minutes
- Once chilled, roll into balls of about 1" in diameter on to a baking sheet with parchment paper
-Get snacking!

CHEERS

We are just one week away from the official first day of summer which means outdoor happy hour season is finally HERE! Below are a few of my favorite spots broken down by occasion/vibe. Now get planning that #treatyoself Tuesday. Cheers.

I'm On a Boat // Island Vibe

1. Pier A Harbor House- both inside and out, views of the Statue of Liberty, great menu.
2. Frying Pan- perfect way to spend a sunny Saturday, anticipate long lines, average age of the crowd is 22.
3. Grand Banks- great for date night, order the oysters, go during off times can be long line.
4. Gilligan's at the Soho Grand- island oasis, order the watermelon margs, perfect way to spend a Sunday.

Swanky As F

1. Loopy Doopy in the Conrad Hotel- go for the Prosecco & Ice Pop cocktail, good views of the Hudson River, expensive. 
2. Soho House Rooftop- think Miami in NYC, large pool on the top of the roof with lounge chairs and couches surrounding it, good people watching.
3. PH-D Rooftop Lounge- throwback to an 80's penthouse, clubby feel, skyline views from Meatpacking, expensive drinks. 

Hipsters Only

1. Hotel Hugo Azul Rooftop- Cuban decor, order the frozen drinks and tacos, expensive. 
2. Mulberry Project Back Yard Patio- walls covered in street art, made to order cocktails, good for date night.
3. Wythe Hotel Ides Rooftop- Refurbished factory on the Brooklyn waterfront, amazing views of Manhattan, go during off times can be long lines.
4. Mr. Purple Roof at the Hotel Indigo- new hot spot with a trendy crowd, small pool, great views of city, inside/outside options.

Big Group Gatherings

1. Brass Monkey Rooftop- 90 draft and bottled beers to choose from, TV on the roof for watching games, views of the Hudson, not expensive.
2. Freehold- grassy outdoor space with ping pong and cornhole, good way to spend a Saturday, open space. 
3. The Jeffery- backyard beer garden, sports on TV, good place for day drinking.

Co-Worker Hang

1. Roof at Park South- good central location for after work drinks, overlooks the Empire State Building, good apps. 
2. Perfect Pint- Irish pub in the heart of Time Square, top floor rooftop is perfect for after work drinks. 
3. La Birreria Eataly- beer garden above Eataly, good for a Friday summer lunch, great apps. 

Where I'm Eating

Happy Friday and more importantly, happy (almost) summer! Summer in NYC means weekend trips away, but in the case that your stuck in the city, below are four restaurants I consider a city "escape". Check them out and get your zen on. Enjoy! 

1. Palma: 28 Cornelia St. New York, NY - 212-691-2223
Rustic 35-seat dining room. Serving Italian classics crafted from organic ingredients. Set in a beautiful a garden. Perfect for date night. Order the sea bass, cauliflower salad, or gluten free pasta. 

2. Maman: 211 West Broadway New York, NY - 646-882-8682
Chic bakery and cafe in the front and restaurant in the back. Feels like a country home in the South of France. Great for brunch with Mom. Order the chocolate chunk cookie, stuffed calamari with raisins, or roasted potatoes. 

3. Two Hands Restaurant & Bar: 251 Church St. New York, NY - No phone, email churchst@twohandsnyc.com
Light and bright Tribeca oasis. Filled with plants and beautiful, friendly Australians. Order the smashed-avocado toast, pickled-chili scrambled eggs, and cauliflower couscous. 

4. Pizza Beach: 167 Orchard St. New York, NY - 646-852-6478
Cali meets Montauk. Gluten free pizza. Good for big groups and kids. Order the heirloom carrots, sweet potatoes and avocado, bacon egg and cheese pizza. 

Tequila? More like... Te-kill-ya!

Happy Cinco De Mayo everyone!!!! Any holiday that calls for margs, guac, and tacos is my kind of holiday. 

I am pretty picky when it comes to my margs because if they are not done correctly you can wake up with a head (and body) full of regrets. Which is why I try to stick with the “silver” varieties of tequila because the “gold” types are more likely to result in pain the next day. I have also found the mixing tequila with sugar mixers or other liquors is also a big time no-no. Lastly, I remove the salt because it makes my face feel a bit less “bloated” the next morning ;)

Below is a recipe for one of my favorite clean and skinny margarita. Try it for yourself!

Alexis’s Famous Skinny Marg:
Ingredients:
- 1 lime
- Silver Tequila (I like Patrón Silver)
- Agave

Directions:
- Squeeze 1 lime into a glass 
- Pour 1-2 shots (depending on how strong you want it) of SILVER tequila 
- Add 1 tablespoon Agave (or less if you want to make it more tart)
- Shake it all up for 10 seconds in cocktail shaker
- Pour over ice

Where I'm Eating

Living in New York City one of my favorite things to do is try new restaurants. Whether it be for date night, a birthday brunch or lunch with my parents I love to explore new places whenever I can. 

With that in mind, I decided that I am going to create a monthly post called "Where I'm Eating" to update you on some of my favorite food spots around the city. For this first post, I decided to focus on three of my favorite casual go-to spots that are great to add to your repertoire. Hope you find it helpful and bon appétit!

1. Mary's Fish Camp: 64 Charles St. New York, NY 10014 - 646-486-2185
West Village lunch time staple. Relaxed atmosphere. Sit at the counter and order the mussels and lobster roll. Kid friendly.

2. Joseph Leonard: 170 Waverly Pl. New York, NY 10014 - 646-429-8383
Great for brunch or date night. Trendy crowd. Rustic atmosphere. Long wait time. Order the bloody caesar, brussels sprouts, pork hock. 

3. Bubby's Tribeca: 120 Hudson St. New York, NY 10013 - 212-219-0666
Tribeca neighborhood staple. Family friendly. Bomb brunch. Order the market omelet, huevos rancheros, homemade pie, good & evil cocktail.

Call me Betty Crocker

Congratulations we made it through the first two weeks of 2016. And more importantly, we made it to a long weekend. Raise the ROOF!!!!!!!

One of my goals for Q1 was to cook//bake//do something beyond use a microwave or toaster once a week. My sister recommended I try her Paleo Banana Bread recipe because 1) I am Celiac and 2) it is tough for me to find gluten free baked goods that do not taste dense or gummy. 

Lets just say this is a game changer. If you are into soft, spongy goodness RUN don't walk to your oven to give this a shot.

Paleo Banana Bread
Ingredients
-3/4 teaspoon baking soda
-3/4 teaspoon baking powder
-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
-1 teaspoon cinnamon
-3/4 cup almond flour
-1/14 cup coconut flour
-2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
-2 large eggs
-3 ripe medium bananas
-1/4 cup maple syrup
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
-Preheat oven 350 degrees and prepare 9x5 loaf pan
-In a medium bowl, whisk together baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and flours.
-In a separate bowl, mix coconut oil, eggs, banana, maple syrup, vanilla
-Mix bowls
-Pour batter into pan and bake 45-55 minutes

Fa La La La

Can you BELIEVE Christmas is just four days away??!? Crazy. I have been decking the halls all month long for wedding, Christmas, birthday and engagement celebrations. Last night was my annual secret santa gift exchange and have included two fan favorite recipes below. #tistheseason

Jukes's Christmas Cocktail:
Directions:
-One cup Prosecco
-Add a splash of Ginger ale
-1/2 shot of Cointreau
-Mix together
-Garnish with frozen cranberries and a sprig of rosemary on top!

Taylor's Cheesy Pesto Pull-Apart Bread:
Ingredients:
- 1 baguette
-1/2 cup butter, melted
-1/2 cup pesto
-1 1/2 cups Italian five cheese blend, shredded

Directions:

1. Using a serrated knife, make 1" diagonal cuts across the baguette while leaving the bottom intact. Repeat by cutting it again in the opposite direction
2. Pour the melted butter in between the cuts of the bread and distribute evenly
3. Using a spoon of butter knife, spread the pesto along the cuts
4. Transfer to aluminum foil and generously stuff the cheese in between cuts
5. Wrap up completely in aluminum foil and bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes
6. Open up the foil to expose the bread and bake for another 10 minutes to make it crunchy
7. Remove from oven and let it sit for 10 minutes
8. Dish and serve hot

Hostess with the Mostesss

Gooble gobble! Hope you had a great turkey day! I spent the long weekend out in Wisconsin visiting family, drinking cider and overdosing on cheese..... when in Rome. 

December 1st is this week which means its time to break out the twinkle lights, ugly sweaters and peppermint bark. 

We all know how crazy the month of December can be, so in the spirit of thinking ahead, below are some of my favorite hostess gifts for all of your upcoming holiday party needs. 

xo

Santa.

1. For the friend with a sweet tooth
2. For the cook
3. For the party boy
4. For the ugly sweater party
5. For your Martha Stewart friend
6. For the pumpkin spice latte girl
7. For the health nut
8. For your trendy friend
9. For the photographer
10. For the bartender

Hair of the Dog

I have always been a big bloody mary fan.

Yesterday my world was changed after hitting up one of my favorite NYC brunch spots Bubby's in Tribeca and trying out their "Good and Evil" cocktails which combine homemade cold pressed juices with booze. I know, I know, it sounds disgusting but trust me on this one. Not only are both cocktails delicious but the vegetable goodness seriously helps limit your chance of waking up with a hangover the next morning. Try it for yourself!

Green Giant:

• Vodka (Titos)
• Celery
• Kale
• Green Apple
• Lemon juice

Beet It:

• Gin
• Beet
• Carrot
• Grapefruit
• Lemon
• Ginger

I'm back, back in the New York Groove

Hey there stranger! 

I am going to apologize upfront for my two month posting hiatus. I know, I know poor form on my part. I promise to be better.

ANYWHO. After a pretty crazy two months of travel I was finally able to spend this past weekend enjoying fall in NYC and as always, it didn't disappoint. The highlights included trying a new gluten free restaurant By Chloe, posting up for the Giants game at Fools Gold and taking a cocktail making class at Havens Kitchen. This is the third class I have taken at Haven's Kitchen and highly recommend checking it out if you haven't been yet-- the classes also make for great wedding gifts :) Below is a step-by-step guide for making a Whiskey Sour. Enjoy!

WHISKEY SOUR

Ingredients:
1. Bourbon
2. Lemon
3. Simple Syrup
4. Egg White

Directions:

1. Crack an egg and pour in only the egg white
2. Pour in 3/4 of an ounce of simple syrup
3. Pour in 3/4 of an ounce of lemon juice
4. Pour in 2 ounces of bourbon
5. Shake with a shaker tin
6. Add ice cubes to the top of the cup
6. Shake with a shaker tin
7. Use a hawthorn strainer and pour into a rocks glass
8. Add orange slice and cherry garnish
9. Enjoy!

YOU'RE WELCOME SAN DIEGO

Over the last year I have been lucky enough to spend eight weekends out in San Diego and can honestly say I understand why locals say there's San Diego... and there's everywhere else. It is a tough place to beat and here is why:

1) Near perfect weather. On one of my first visits out West a local cab driver told me he had moved from Philadelphia to San Diego about 20 years ago and would never go back because "it's always 75 degrees" and I have to say he's right. 

2) Outdoor Activities. Pick your poison. The San Diego area has tons of hiking and biking trails that make for a fun way to spend a Saturday with friends. So far the 3 Sisters Waterfalls and Devil's Punchbowl are my favorite hiking trails. I would also recommend renting a bike from Holland's in Coronado to explore the island and waterfront trails. If you are looking for water activities Stand Up Paddle Boarding is always a good idea.

3) Surfs Up. This almost goes without saying but San Diego has some of the best beaches in the US. If surfing is your thing I would recommend heading to Pacific Beach to find the best waves. For any beginners I would highly recommend Pacific Beach Surf School I took a semi private lesson there and had a blast!

I would also highly recommend spending a day in Coronado on the beach in front of the Hotel Del. If you are visiting around the holiday's you will most likely find an ice skating rink on the hotel property right in front of the beach.... only in San Diego. 

Lastly, checking out the beaches in La Jolla is a must. If you have some time you can hike down to Black's Beach which is known to many as San Diego's nude beach.... you have been warned. Scripps Pier is also a La Jolla must see, I like to call it the tunnel into the pacific. ALSO go see the seals and sea lions lounging in the La Jolla Cove-- it your feeling really adventurous kayak through the sea cave.

4) Dinner with a view. From the more formal George's in La Jolla to the super causal Wonderland Ocean Pub in Ocean Beach you can almost always find a restaurant with a view. I celebrated my 26th birthday at The Prado which is a restaurant in the middle of Balboa Park. For those of you who are looking for a more liquid dinner the Pacific Beach Shore Club and The Wood have a great happy hour view.

5) Guac guac guac. There are as many Mexican restaurants in San Diego as there are sunny days in the year. If you love guacamole you are in the right place.... As of now Oscars is my favorite.

6) The people. San Diego is full of attractive, fit, low key people looking for a good time. Need I say more?!?? Time to book your ticket.

xo.