SEX AND THE CITY MOMENT #4

While being a typical NYC tourist and checking out the Statue of Liberty - was the fourth Sex and the City moment! There on the Staten Island ferry, Charlotte proclaimed, "You hear that New York, I'm getting married this year!"

While I didn't make the same proclamation - I couldn't help but take a snap aboard the Staten Island ferry, as the ladies did in the episode "Where there's smoke!"

SEX AND THE CITY MOMENT #3

It's been almost 2 weeks in NYC, and I haven't even stepped foot in a museum. Out of the hundreds of museums, I hit MoMA first! But that's not what this post is about...post MoMA, a casual stroll down West 54th street, there in the wall, so subtle I almost missed it, the MECCA for Carrie Bradshaw lovers, and shoe lovers alike.

MANOLO BLAHNIK ... "hello lover!"

SEX AND THE CITY MOMENT #2

I know what you're thinking. Given my obsession with Sex and the City, why didn't I go straight from JFK to Perry St? Well the simple answer is jetlag. But it wasn't long before the steps at 72 Perry Street were calling.

Before I left Sydney, I had found a vacant apartment next door! How perfect...but it wasn't meant to be. So, like all other Sex and the City fans, I walked to the steps where Carrie so often frequented, and took a cheeky snap!

OH SO SWEET

When I arrived in NYC, I felt like a kid in a candy store. So faced with another day of exploring, I headed uptown, to FAO Schwarz. And just like that, I felt like a kid again. Before jumping on the big piano, I was distracted by FAO Schweetz - kid in a candy store!

Trying to keep my self in-check and not blow out in my first two weeks of NYC living. I decided to buy the most amazing looking sweets there were. And trust me the options are endless.

My favourite (yes I'm still Australian, the U is staying) of all, a GIANT box of nerds. It was like the big corn flakes box at the supermarket. But since it was bigger than my head, I thought it probably wasn't the best idea!

But I hope you enjoy some of these delights!

SEX AND THE CITY MOMENT #1

So in my bid to find SJP, other than finding a job, it's my number 1 goal for living in NYC. I've decided to document my Sex and the City moments.

The first, hubby took this snap. It was our second morning in NYC and when he saw me with my laptop on the bed, he said that was the best way to start my SATC New York adventure!

Shooz Does Healthy Dessert

It might be hard to believe, but I've found a healthy and delicious mid-week dessert (the weekend should should be all about splurge). It came from a quick perusal of the fridge and cupboards, the beauty of this is, you can use what you have in your own cupboards.

The finished product, ticked everything on my "healthy dessert" checklist:

• Tasty
• Sweet  
• Filling
• Crunchy (a la MasterChef)
  ...and when on the table could pass for dessert without people screwing up their faces!

 So with a resounding yes (from the voices in my head) I give you... 

BERRY-HEALTHY TRIFLE.

Ingredients:

• Strawberry yoghurt (I use Barambah Organic)
• 4 x strawberries, sliced
• 1 tbs pumpkin seeds
• handful hazelnuts and almonds, chopped

Method:

1. Use a glass cup (I used Bodum), so you can see the layers & it looks great. 
2. Start with the yoghurt for the first layer, depending on the size of the glass, roughly 1 tbs will do. 
3. Cover the first layer of yoghurt with a few strawberry slices.
4. Sprinkle the nut & seeds over the strawberries. 
5. Add another layer of sliced strawberries. 
6. Repeat starting with the yoghurt again and finish with the remainder of the nut & seed mix. 

* You can use a variety of fruits, nuts and seeds. Depending on the season & your preferences. 

A sweet treat with NO GUILT, what more could you ask for?

ONE PAN WONDER!

During the week - there's no time for fancy dinners. But what if I told you that you could pull off fancy, using one oven dish, with minimal chopping and effort. Laugh if you must, but then promise you'll try it. There will be no laughing - just lots of mmmm's and yummm's. 

I came up with this recipe when we had only a few veggies in the fridge, and had bought the Turkey breast pocket to try it out. I didn't have the energy to cook the sprouts on the cook top, and roast the potato and Turkey separately. So one-pan-wonder it was! 

Lets begin! 

Ingredients:

• Turkey Breast Pocket (I buy from the butcher at Edgecliff, it comes with sage and butter, discard)
• 1 x sweet potato, cut into half moons
• 10- 15 x Brussell Sprouts, halved 
• 4 x garlic cloves, whole with the skin left on

Herbs:

• Ras El Hanout
• Dukkah
• Dry chilli flakes
• Salt and pepper

Method:

1. Pre heat oven to 220 degrees, fan forced. 
2. In an oven roasting dish, place the Brussel Sprouts, sweet potato & garlic on the left and the right side of the dish, leaving room for the Turkey in the middle.
   Sprinkle the roast veggies with dukkah, chilli, salt and pepper. 
3. Add a splash of good quality of olive oil over the vegetables. 
4. To coat the Turkey with the spices: roll out some baking paper on the bench, place the Turkey in the centre and sprinkle over Ras El Hanout and salt and pepper, rolling the Turkey around to cover all the areas of the Turkey.
5. Pick up the breast pocket with the baking paper, and slide into the middle of the roasting pan.
6. Cook for 40 minutes, checking every 5 minutes after that if it needs further cooking.

While the Turkey was in the oven, it gave me time to put a quick salad together as well! But you could do the washing, watch TV, enjoy a sneaky glass of wine. Let me know what you would do with your spare 40 minutes!