Cupcakes by Melissa.

Thanks to work, I got to try Cupcakes by Melissa. They are this cupcake shop in NYC that was trying to win the record for making the itty bittiest cupcakes alive. She's got some really neat flavor that are super tasty and leave you want more. Being bite size doesn't really deter you from eating less, if anything you probably eat more because they are so easy to pop in your mouth. The beauty of the size is that you get to try multiple flavors! For an event you can buy a pizza box full of 100 cupcakes! My favorite flavor, I highly recommend you trying are: Tie Dye, (just a plain vanilla on vanilla jazzed up with food coloring for the kid inside you!) chocolate chip pancakes, (they cake has maple syrup in it, so you really feel like you are eating pancakes; it is to die for!) and last but not least cinnamon! They are also some popular flavors of the chocolate persuasion you would probably enjoy!

Pour a glass of milk for this one.

As with lots of food discoveries I have, I learned this one from the Food Network. After seeing an episode of Bobby Flay's Throwdown, I knew I just had to go get my hands on one of these Levain cookies. Conveniently located on the Upper West Side, my mom and I paid a visit on this lovely afternoon.

This is hands down the best chocolate chip cookie I've ever had. They are huge! Each cookie weighs 6 ounces so they are good for sharing or for overindulging yourself! I despise hard crunchy cookies. These have just the right amount of crunch on the outside paired with a soft moist inside. They have full walnuts inside them. I usually would prefer my cookies sans nuts, but these didn't bother me at all. I almost didn't notice they were there. Walnuts are such a soft nut they weren't too much. I also feel the nuts really help the cookie to stand tall and not end up flat like a pancake.

The owners are triathletes that loved baking and have huge sweet tooths. I can TOTALLY relate, want to be their friends, and follow suit. Oh and of course they won the throwdown. These cookies will never be beat!

Las Paletas

The treasure of Nashville.

Las Paletas is a small popsicle shop, which provides the people of Nashville with fresh homemade Mexican popsicles. They are literally the best popsicles I’ve ever had, jam packed with so much flavor. They really hit the spot when you are sitting in steamy 100 degree weather starting to melt away. They are so tasty that I had three while I was in town! I tried berries, kiwi, and creamy lime. They were all amazing and there were even more I just didn’t have time to try.


They have a fruit variety as well as a creamy variety and also some out of the norm flavors like avocado, rose petal, and hibiscus. You can find them at their shop and also at many other local restaurants like Fido on 21st Ave!

My friend Adrienne is living the life, eating las paletas daily!

Welcome!

I am officially moving from Greenebee over to Fuel for the Distance. You can still visit my old blog at greenebee. I am no longer living as a nomad and have settled down. I will be writing about foods I love, interesting recipes, delicious restaurant, etc. etc. Hope you enjoy!

PR!

One of the greatest accomplishments and experiences of my life thus far is the Boston Marathon. In the running community, this event is put up on the highest pedestal. In the Boston community, this day has such significance and meaning. I grew up thinking that everywhere people had no school or work on Patriots Day…….Later in life, I came to learn not all our such lucky souls.

I grew up hearing all the hype about this event. I can’t say I always thought “One day I want to do that,” but after finally warming up to the idea of running for a ridiculous length of time, I couldn’t wait to be a part of Boston. In the fall I had run NYC. I would have to say in comparison it felt as if no one was watching NY, because the crowds for Boston were just that good! Boston is a tough course and the second half was hard, but thanks to the yelling and support of the onlookers I was carried right through to the finish.

I guess I ran a really smart race. I didn't even intentionally do this, but my half marathon time was a minute slower than NY and in the end I was more than a minute faster. I had some other friends running, but ended up flying solo this day. I was sad to be running alone yet again, as I had done all my training and NY alone. It would have been nice to have had someone to share the experience with, but I still was smiling and laughing the whole time……by myself I guess this may have just made me seem like a big weirdo!

A friend had warned me “After mile 12 your legs will kill” because the first half is a constant downhill. I kinda didn't totally believe her because I have always loved downhills in races. But I’m talking like a 50m downhill, not 12 miles one! So yea she was somewhat right, but it was more my legs just felt tired. It was a little bit worrisome, but it wasn't a bad pain or anything, they just felt tired. If I hadn't been running in Boston with those crowds, I would have not run as good a time.

The second half includes the legendary Heartbreak hill, which is supposed to be a killer of a hill that hits you right in the worst moments of the race as you are hitting the wall. I’d have to say it really wasn’t as bad as they all say. Of course my legs were tired, but it wasn’t a constant incline it had lots of gradations and my legs actually were liking the change from going up to down. The last 3 miles the crowd was just so loud and excited me so much, it was easy. Also when I spotted the big citgo sign I got so pumped inside. My goal was 3:17 for NY. I never told anyone really, but that was my goal again. I knew Boston was harder, so that would make my goal more ambitious. If I had run anything under 3:20 I was going to be psyched.

My time was 3:16:56. How bout that for obtained a goal and new PR!

Cupcake Taste Test.

I love sweets; especially cake.

At social gatherings when cake is passed around the room, after, many plates will have an L shape of frosting leftover. People have told me they just think frosting is too sweet?!??!?!?! I'm sorry, but I just can't comprehend this notion.

We have proof of my love for cake thank to uncle Paul videotaping my fourth birthday. Most children at parties will take a few bites, then grow bored and run away to play. Well not me; while all my friends had scampered away, I sat alone at the table finishing my slice of amazing cake from Connors Bakery.

In New York City, there are two very popular cupcake houses: Magnolia and Crumbs. This past weekend I conducted a taste test to see which was better. I purchased one of each and brought them home to eat them simultaneously, so I could fully compare and contrast.

I purchased the standard vanilla frosting, yellow cake from each. The winner: CRUMBS!
Crumb's cake is much lighter and fluffier. Magnolia's cake is more dense like a pound cake. Both cakes were moist, which was good because there is nothing worse than dry cake. No amounts of good frosting can make up for bad cake. Crumbs also get kudos in the frosting dept. I feel there was a more sugary taste, while Magnolia's was a buttery taste.

Before I had even tasted, I have to say I was more impressed in the Crumbs store. They have tons of different flavors and brightly decorate all their different concoctions. I do have to say they play in on the supersized American style. All the fun flavors come in the jumbo size while the standard size come in basics. They do sell a mini variety pack which is kind of fun.