7 Things Your Friends in the Hamptons Can’t Do

by Mimi O'ConnorJuly 27, 2016

Hamptons, schmamptons! You know where it’s all happening this summer? NYC, baby! The city is hosting some one-of-a-kind art exhibits and happenings that are perfect for fun and super cool family outings. From dance parties and awesome sculptures to a room filled with balloons and beyond, you and the kids can hit up some amazing, ultra Instagram-worthy spots before school starts, no soul-crushing LIRR trip required. Click through to start planning!

Meridian (Gold)

Mika Tajima's Meridian (Gold) functions as both a lesson in commodities trading and contemporary art. (It's also really cool looking.) Located on the waterfront of Queens' Hunter's Point South Park, the piece is "an illuminated plume of water vapor whose color shifts between magenta and pale cyan. The color of the vapor corresponds in real-time to the global sentiment for gold, reflected in the price fluctuation of the commodity."

While it looks somewhat intimidating, the illuminated mist is surrounded by a spa-inspired seating zone that invites visitors to relax — and, if they so choose — "reflect on the fleeting materiality of contemporary life." The project was selected by participants in Public Process, an intensive program for high school students at the nearby Sculpture Center that uses New York City's rich public art landscape to explore the history and impact of public art and its community influence.

Free
44-19 Purves St.
Long Island City
718-361-1750
Online: sculpture-center.org

photo via: Hunters Point Sculpture Center Facebook page

What are you enjoying in NYC this summer? Tell us in the comments below!

—Mimi O’Connor

Today Is National Garlic Day

by rtstephenFebruary 19, 2016

Daily

Today Is National Garlic Day

We’re crushed.

Ignore garlic breath and cook up a storm using one of these garlic chicken dinner recipes we’re totally crushing on.

Yes, you can eat it, but did you know you could make glue with it?
Read up on a few fascinating facts about the stinking rose.

Try your hand at growing garlic year round in your windowsill.

{ Today’s ideas brought to you by Buffy the Vampire Slayer }

8 Frightfully Easy Halloween Cupcakes

by Erin LemOctober 22, 2015

Witches and ghosts and things that go bump in the night? If you have a taste for all things Halloween, you’ll eat up these cupcake ideas. We put together some creative (and deceptively easy!) designs that are inspired by the spooky season.

Ghoulish Graveyard

What you'll need: crumbled chocolate wafers, pumpkin shaped candy corn, vanilla wafers and chocolate frosting.

What to do: After covering her chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting, Erin crushed chocolate wafers and sprinkled them over the frosting as "dirt." She set a pumpkin shaped candy corn on top and wrote "RIP" on the vanilla wafer before planting it in the "graveyard."

Which cupcake is your favorite? Let us know in the Comments!

— copy by Erin Lem; photos by Christal Yuen; cupcakes decorated by Erin Feher and Christal Yuen

Just Opened!: The Crazy Cool Cereal Bar You Need to Visit

by Mimi O'ConnorSeptember 9, 2015

We’re not going to pretend this is anything but pure, unadulterated, porn-level, bordering on the irresponsible sugar consumption. This is not “breakfast”; it is a dessert (and activity) worthy of the designation “special treat.” That said: there’s this totally cool, admittedly ridiculous cereal bar in a high-concept menswear store that you owe it to your kids to visit. (You will also enjoy it.)

photo: KITH Treats

Excuse me: A what?
Yes! A cereal bar. As in: you saddle up to a counter in the front of the newly-redesigned and reopened super groovy, somewhat absurd KITH apparel store, review the LED-screen display of a surprisingly robust selection of breakfast cereals and order up a single, double or triple serving of the — mostly — sweet stuff. (Corn Flakes, Wheaties and Cheerios are among the choices, but if you or your kids want those, we suggest heading to your local supermarket instead.)

Go On
The 150-square-foot sweets dispensary (officially known as KITH Treats) is located at the front of the massive, high-end, sneaker and apparel retailer, and visitors can even utilize a small counter with bar stools to consume their purchases on site. The store itself, designed in cooperation with the firm Snarkitecture is a super-slick, gleaming, high concept urban retail experience, with an archive of Kith creator/designer Ronnie Fieg’s previous footwear collaborations with various brands displayed on backlit glass shelves, custom Carrera white herringbone marble floors and a sculpture of 750 cast Air Jordan II sneakers suspended from the ceiling.

Ok, But What About the Cereal?
Customers can choose from 24 different flavors of cereal and have the option of ordering one to three servings of cereal, with orders of two or more being served in collectible, custom-designed mini shoeboxes. (Brands and individuals will collaborate on the design of the boxes, with new designs rolled out every six weeks. The inaugural box featured a design from Nike under the creative direction of Andre Agassi in anticipation of the U.S. Open.)

A small sample of the cereal selection includes Apple Jacks, Cap’n Crunch, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Fruit Loops, Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms, Rice Krispies and Special K. In what some might describe as “gilding the lily” or just plain overkill, for 75 cents each you can then add toppings such as brownie or cheesecake bites, cookie dough, cotton candy, crushed Oreos, marshmallow charms, Kit Kat, Snickers Bar and s’mores crunch crumble. (It should be noted that Fieg readily admits that he was not allowed sugary cereals growing up and that he’d sneak them at friends’ houses after school. Food for thought.)

If you and the kids are feeling extra adventurous, you can try one of the Kith Treats “Specials”, which are custom blends of various cereals created for the bar by friends of the brand such as Action Bronson, Don C and Maxwell Osborne. (Feig’s concoction, “The Fiegster,” for example, is a mix of Frosted Flakes, Cocoa Puffs, Mini Marshmallows, Crushed Oreos and Whole Milk.) All orders come with the customer’s choice of milk (whole, skim, almond, hemp or chocolate) in a KITH-branded glass bottle, and cereal comes with a KITH-branded spoon-straw.

photo: KITH Treats

But Wait, There’s More
If cereal is not your family’s thing you can still find a way to overindulge at KITH. The cereal bar also offers “The Ice Cream Cereal Swirl”, which is essentially vanilla ice cream infused with the cereal of your choice and one topping. (We opted for Cap’n Crunch ice cream with Crunch Bar bits. It was horrible. Kidding! — it was sensational.)

In one nod to sanity, KITH Treats does sell La Colombe Coffee, iced coffee, tea and hot chocolate, and the store even has a walk-up window where you can get your cereal and more to go.

So How Much Will All of This Madness Set Me Back?
The Build Your Box is $6 for up two cereals and $7 for three; the Ice Cream Swirl is $5.50

An Important Parent FYI
Believe it or not, the elementary set is not KITH’s target market, and the store features a booming, hip-hop heavy soundtrack that can at times be liberal with the profanities. (At least that was the case when we stopped by. You’ve been warned.)

KITH Treats
233 Flatbush Avenue
Prospect Heights
347-889-6114
Online: http://kithnyc.com

Have you visited KITH Treats? What did you think? Tell us in the comments below!

—Mimi O’Connor

Healthy Asian Lettuce Wraps

by writerredtriAugust 31, 2015

As long as you are comfortable with the term “browning meat” and know how to chop veggies this recipe from the food blog, Our Family Eats is a breeze to make. You may want to cut the Poblano pepper if you are serving this dish to little ones, though it is not overly spicy.

Ingredients:
1 head iceberg lettuce
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1 small onion, diced
1 small Poblano pepper, diced
1/4 cup grated carrot
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1 pound ground turkey
salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 cup soy sauce (use San-J to make this dish gluten free)
2-3 green onions, sliced
Cilantro, if desired

Method:
1. Cut the stem from the head of lettuce and gently separate leaves. Set leaves aside.

2. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion, pepper, and carrots to skillet and sauté for about 3 minutes, until they begin to soften. Add ground turkey to skillet and cook until no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add red pepper flakes, chili powder, cumin and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.

3. Pour in soy sauce and continue cooking about 3-4 more minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed.

4. Place one or two lettuce leaves on a plate and spoon about 1/2 cup of the turkey mixture into them. (If the leaves seem too brittle you can double them up.) Sprinkle with green onions and cilantro. Serve immediately.

Serves 4

Note from the Chef: If you are sensitive to spicy foods, or are making these for young children, you may want to reduce or eliminate the Poblano pepper and the crushed red pepper from the recipe.

Did you sub anything in or out of this recipe? Tell us below!

Susan Schuman is a working mom with two small kids and a hungry husband. She writes Our Family Eats to share ideas for fun, wholesome meals that anyone can fit into their hectic schedule. You can connect with Susan on Twitter @ourfamilyeats.

photo: Crystalflickr via flickr

Shrimp Scampi That is Oh-So-Easy

by Christal Y.July 17, 2015

Prepare a restaurant quality dish with everyday ingredients. This shrimp scampi dish by the food blog, Honest & Tasty is all about flavor and isn’t strict on measurements and ingredients either. The veggies and portions listed below are pure suggestion to get your inner chef inspired. Throw in broccolini or roasted peppers! Wherever your palate desires!

Ingredients:
1 package linguine pasta
1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp, rinsed (if frozen, thaw in a colander by running cold water over the shrimp)
2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
½ tsp paprika
1 head of garlic, cloves chopped in half
½ tsp crushed garlic (mine is from a jar) for extra garlic flavor
one package sliced mushrooms
one package cherry tomatoes, rinsed
3 tbsp butter
juice of 1 whole lemon
4 tbsp heavy cream
1 bunch chopped fresh chives

For the Pasta:
Boil water in a large pot. Add plenty of salt once boiled. Add in pasta and give it a mix. Cook for about 8 min or until just al dente. Don’t overcook the pasta because it will cook a little longer later when combined with the shrimp mixture. Plus, no one likes mushy pasta. Once cooked, drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside until ready to combine into the shrimp scampi mixture.

For the scampi:
In a large nonstick pan, mix shrimp and 1 tbsp olive oil on medium heat. Once all the shrimp turn pink, mix in mushrooms, salt, pepper, and paprika. After all the liquid has evaporated (about 5 minutes later) add butter and all the garlic. Saute shrimp for 2 minutes on high heat, mixing occasionally. Add tomatoes and saute for another minute. Turn burner to med-low and mix in heavy cream, lemon juice, pasta, and 1 tbsp olive oil. Turn off burner and mix in chives. Serve and enjoy! Add some extra salt to your own dish if you feel like it would bring out the flavors even more and maybe even some crushed red chili flakes for a little kick.

How did your Shrimp Scampi turn out? Share the results with us in the Comments below!

This recipe and photo is courtesy of Honest & Tasty, a wholesome food blog about healthy and well-balanced meals. Her recipes are simple, easy to make and some even come with video tutorials! Stay up to date with her food diary through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders

by rtnatashaartaviaMarch 16, 2015

Whether your chicken is baked, pan fried or slow cooked, you don’t have to sacrifice flavor to satisfy your picky eaters. In this recipe from Rachel Matthews of A Southern Fairy Tale the chicken tenders are baked with a crust of Corn Flakes and parmesan cheese, which adds a new element of texture and flavor to this kid-favorite classic.

Ingredients:
6 Tbsp low-fat mayonnaise
1 Tbsp Honey Mustard
1 lb, boneless skinless chicken tenders
1 1/2 C cornflakes, finely crushed
1/4 C grated Parmesan Cheese

Method:
1. Pre-heat Oven to 425°F

2. In a small bowl, combine low-fat mayonnaise and Honey Mustard – whisk and divide in half

3. Place one half of the Honey Mustard/Mayonnaise mixture in the fridge (covered, for dipping)

4. Crush the cornflakes (in a food processor, a plastic bag with a rolling pin, however you get them crushed/processed) and mix them with the Parmesan Cheese and place in a shallow dish.

5. Toss the chicken tenders in the Honey Mustard/Mayonnaise mixture to coat and then dip them in the cornflakes/parmesan mixture until fully coated.

6. Place on a wire rimmed/vented broiler tray over a baking sheet.

7. Bake for 10 minutes (or until chicken is fully cooked, do not overcook)

8. Serve with the other half of the sauce for dipping.

Rachel Matthews is a proud mother of two eight generation Texan children. She is the founder of Southern Fairytale which acts as a food blog and journal. For more information on Rachel and her blog, visit ASouthernFairytale.com

Turkey Bolognese

by Erin LemNovember 30, 2014

If you’re looking for a hearty meal that you can heat up for leftovers throughout the week you’ve found it. Courtesy of Sundays with Jennie, this recipe features turkey, but use whatever meat your kids are most fond of (chicken, beef, you name it). And, if you want to give it a healthy boost, Jennie suggests throwing it over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles.

Ingredients:
3 garlic cloves
1 yellow onion
3 carrots, peeled and diced
1/2 cup of mushrooms, diced
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 lb extra lean ground turkey
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Method:
1. Prepare all veggies – by hand or food processor dice garlic, onion, carrots and mushrooms into small pieces.

2. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in large saucepan over medium high heat and then add diced vegetables to pot. Sauté vegetables for 5-7 minutes

3. Add the dry white wine to vegetables, continue stirring until wine dissolves.

4. Mix in ground meat, and stir occasionally, until meat is cooked through (about 5 minutes)

5. Add crushed tomatoes, red pepper flakes and dried basil and parsley and mix well.

6. Add in bay leaf, and simmer sauce for 30 minutes ( less if you’re short on time) stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Jennie over at Sundays with Jennie. Hop on over to her blog for more great dinner inspiration.

Baked Penne Pasta with Roasted Chicken

by Jacqui BolandSeptember 19, 2014

Baked pasta can be a welcome change of pace from the usual pasta prep. This recipe still asks for cheese, but also mixes in roasted chicken and tomatoes for a dish that’s easy to make and great any time of the year. For the more adventurous palates, try substituting the chicken with leftover meatballs or sauteed shrimp. Serves 4-6.

Ingredients:
1 pound of penne pasta
1 pound of chicken, breast
2 tablespoons of olive oil
3 cloves of garlic
1 – 16oz. can of crushed tomatoes
1/3 cup of heavy cream
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of fresh basil
8 ounces of fresh mozzarella

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a baking sheet, coat chicken breast with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake chicken for 20 minutes, or until cooked through.

2. Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of salted water for 3 minutes less than package instructions.

3. In a large saute pan, saute garlic on medium-low in olive oil for 1-2 minutes. Add in crushed tomatoes, sugar and salt. Simmer for 10 minutes.

4. When chicken is cooked through, cut it into 1 inch chunks and add it to the sauce. Add pasta and fresh basil. Toss and coat.

5. Divide into individual oven-safe bowls and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 400 for 5-8 minutes until the cheese has melted.

Recipe courtesy of Jenny Steffens Hobick of Everyday Occasions

3 New Craft Kit Subscriptions to Try

by Kelly AiglonSeptember 15, 2014

Signs of a successful craft project? Paint-smudged cheeks, glitter-dusted fingers and smiles all around. Make the journey to craft bliss even easier by getting kits delivered to your door. They come packed with everything you need to make a Pinterest-worthy project — easy-to-follow directions included. Here are a few of our new favorite subscription services that leave even the littlest of crafters with a sense of accomplishment.

photo: Darby Smart

Darby Smart

The Scoop: Maybe you’ve cruised this site to buy craft supplies. Now tear into their bright turquoise boxes to find a whole delightful how-to. The new all-inclusive craft kits for kids are developed in collaboration with Amanda Kingloff, who wrote the book Project Kid: 100 Ingenious Crafts for Kids and is the former lifestyle director of Parents magazine. Projects have a modern, artful bend (imagine a chandelier-like mobile made from colorful plastic zip ties) that you’ll want to show off, not shove in a corner.

Craft We’re Crushing On: For Dolly’s Sleeping Bag, a terry cloth oven mitt morphs into a cute little portable bed for your child’s favorite plushie.

Ages: 5-10.

To Order: $16.99/project online at darbysmart.com. There’s also a “mystery box” subscription service geared to all ages; every month, you get a new kit for $19/box.

photo: Artsy Fartsy

Artsy Fartsy

The Scoop: Think of your favorite summer-camp craft, add some bells and whistles, and you have a project by Artsy Fartsy. Their unpretentious and nostalgic-feeling crafts have fun new spins — for example, there’s a “summer snow globe” in which a mini sand bucket and surfboard hang out. Themes vary by month and are usually tied in with holidays or major events (think Olympics, Halloween, summer fun). Materials are non-toxic and eco-friendly.

Craft We’re Crushing On: The Monster Sock Puppet puts to use a sock, google-y eye, pipe cleaners, pompons and more to create a wacky friend that you’ll love for impromptu puppet shows.

Ages: Choose from kits for ages 2-5 or 6-10.

To Subscribe: $24.95/month (includes one kit) online at artsyfartsybox.bigcartel.com.

photo: Kreation Krate

Kreation Krate

The Scoop: Each box comes with a project idea, all of the needed supplies, and a big warm-fuzzy. Why? There’s a bonus craft kit in every box that you are encouraged to make and then give to others, either as a random act of kindness or straight to a charity organization. One recent kit included everything you need to make greeting cards for hospitalized kids. Your littles will need adult supervision to complete most Kreation Krate projects; they are tailored to beginning and intermediate crafters and can include fussier materials like chalkboard paint and bakers twine. Make it a group effort, enjoy bonding time and create something you can all feel good about.

Craft We’re Crushing On: Seeds of Kindness are clay pots that you spray-label and use to pot basil, cilantro and other herbs that can grow on your windowsill.

Ages: 5 & up.

To Subscribe: $26/month at kreationkrate.com.

Have you tried a craft kit that you loved? Shout about it in the Comments!

— Kelly Aiglon

ML Interest Tag: crush

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