The 2016 Mac & Cheese Bowl

Mac & Cheese.  Yum!  Honestly, who doesn't love macaroni and cheese?  So tasty!  This weekend, Chris and I were able to taste 30 different types of the delicious stuff.  It may (or may not) have been a tad TOO much, but for a worthy cause - the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York - you can't really say no.

Fortunately, we had the expertise of multiple year Mac & Cheese Bowler (our friend, Shannon) to help us craft a strategy and provide extremely helpful tips!  The #1 tip was to only taste one noodle initially.  If you like the sample, go for it.  If you don't like the sample, trash it.  There is too much good mac and cheese out there to waste stomach space on so-so samples.  Genius!

Ironically, our first stop - Wolff's Biergarten - turned out to be our favorite of the whole day.  They boasted a five cheese concoction topped with crumbled bacon.  It was as good as it sounds...and, subsequently, the only sample I tried a second time.  So good.

Most of the samples blended together after awhile.  Lots of pulled pork and sriracha found themselves in the mix.  The most bizarre of the day was a Big Mac version of mac and cheese - um, no thanks!  It was the only one where I totally recoiled at the taste.  The spicy versions weren't too high on my list either, but some of them weren't so bad.  Valente's Three Little Pigs gave samples that included three cheeses and three meats - surprisingly not terrible...and actually good enough for third-place as it turns out.

The longest line was for Druthers Brewing's fantastic creation - a chicken-and-waffles mac and cheese.  It featured a fried nugget of chicken and seven-cheese blend macaroni soaked in sriracha-maple syrup on a bed of country gravy with a red velvet waffle on the side.  It bested Wolff's by a mere 2% of the ballots cast for first-place at the competition.  Definitely a tasty sample with a fantastic presentation!  Besides judging the actual samples, Bowl attendees were also asked to judge the overall display at each booth. Mazzone Hospitality won the award for best display, but we thought that Elegant Touch (pictured below on bottom left) was most unique.

The second best tip of the day was actually given weeks in advance - arrive early!  We were there when the doors opened.  It really made a difference that first hour.  After that, the crowds became nearly unbearable.  The crowd was estimated at more than 2,500 people for the seventh annual event held inside the gymnasium at Siena College.  Thankfully, we hit most of the booths before the crowd became unmanageable.

What is your favorite type of mac and cheese?

Andrea :)

Health & Fitness in November

This month started strong with the running of my second NYC Marathon, but then it held some much needed rest!  I needed it desperately after the marathon.  However, I didn't want all of the efforts to get in running shape to disappear after the big race so I made the choice to sign up for a short 4-miler at the end of November.

I started back at the beginning the week before the 4-mile God's Love We Deliver run with one solitary mile.  I ran the entire mile...and it felt good.  Two days later, I ran a couple solid miles.  Still felt good.  Another two days, I gave it my all for three miles.  A bit more difficult for me to not take any breaks, but I did it.  I was ready!  My plan worked well because I ran for the entire time during the 4-mile race...finishing with my best time all year - 11:52 per mile!

Nov 16 - 1 mile run on treadmill

Nov 18 - 2 mile run on treadmill

Nov 20 - 3 mile run on treadmill

I gave myself another break for the Thanksgiving holiday, but I know I've got to get back to it for December.  I began tracking my daily steps with my new FitBit starting on December 1 so it will be interesting to see how I do with step counts all month!  I don't have any races on the books for the next couple of months so it will be more important than ever that I make time for the gym!

What are you favorite winter workouts?

 
Andrea :)

Health & Fitness in October

In September, I didn't manage to prioritize my fitness goals properly so I promised myself I would do better in October.  I am happy to report - I met that goal!

Not only did I complete a half marathon, but I also hit all my training runs.  I did modify when needed, but I was thrilled to be able to mark each and every one off my calendar!

As you are reading this, I am running my second NYC Marathon!  I shared my goals with you on Friday.  Most importantly, no matter what happens out there on those 26.2 miles I plan to be smiling at the finish line!  Thankfully, we are set to have beautiful weather!  I look forward to sharing my journey with you soon!!

Andrea :)

Health & Fitness in September

Honestly, this past month has been a major struggle on the marathon training end.  The month began with a long weekend visit as we hosted my out-of-town parents.  Straying from my routine for those five days wasn't so bad.  I could have recovered from that small deviance easily.  However, the day after my parents left, Chris and I boarded a plane for our west coast adventure.  We did manage a couple of days of significant hiking and walking the steep terrain of California, but I didn't run once during our 10 day journey.

September 1 - 4 mile run

September 3 - 5 mile run

September 10 - 2 mile run; 6 mile bike

September 22 - 4 mile run

September 24 - 7 mile run 

September 26 - 16 mile bike

September 29 - 5 mile run

So...you can imagine my trepidation when I returned on September 21 with only a handful of short runs under my belt for the whole month.  I expected to be in real trouble.  And maybe I am, but I also think the rest gave my legs a much needed break.  I felt strong in those first two runs after the trip.  I am working hard to attempt to return to a reasonable level of endurance in the long runs.  My true test will come next weekend when I try my hand...or rather legs...at the Brooklyn Rock-n-Roll Half I'm signed up to run.  It is sure to give me an indication of how this marathon will pan out since I'm just under a month away now!

Here's hoping for a quality October in the training department!

Andrea :)

A Perfect End to Summer: Baseball & Ice Cream

Sadly, summer is coming to an end.  Everyone is headed back to school, and fall is just around the corner now.  I couldn't think of a better way to close this fun-filled few months than a trip to the ball park!  My parents have been to the city to visit numerous times, but had never ventured up to the Bronx to check out the Yankees.

We caught a great game over Labor Day weekend.  The Tampa Bay Rays were in town.  The game went back and forth with the home team finally pulling out the victory.  We saw at least three home runs that I can recall so there wasn't much of a lull in action at this game!

We enjoyed seats in a shady part of the ballpark, but that didn't mean it wasn't hot.  The weather had been fairly mild, but really peaked over the holiday weekend!  Guess that was summer's way of saying she wasn't quite ready to turn in for the year!

And when it's hot and humid out, there's only one treat that truly satisfies - ICE CREAM!!  We really got our money's worth at a unique ice cream shop in Chinatown!

We loved being able to watch our ice cream come to life before our very eyes at 10 Below.  We all selected a different flavor...and I managed to get photos of each being made despite the tight conditions in the small shop! #bloggerwin

Complete process of making Strawberry Shawty...YUM!

I tried three of the flavors we ordered and each was delicious!!  I don't think it is possible to go wrong with the ice cream combos at 10 Below!  We enjoyed Monkey Business, Cookie Monster, Strawberry Shawty, and Key Lime Pie (pictured going clockwise below).

The shop is hidden in the depths of Chinatown and not very close to the subway, but you better believe Chris and I will be back before too long!

How did you spend Labor Day weekend?

Andrea :)

Exploring LIC with Mom and Dad

Christopher and I have lived in Long Island City for just over a year now. After our first summer in LIC, it is safe to say this little pocket of Queens really comes alive at this time of year. The two big recurring weekend events are Smorgasburg and LIC Flea. We've been to both a handful of times. And really enjoyed introducing my parents to the area with these two events over Labor Day Weekend.

You can't really say you've experienced Smorgasburg unless you try the Ramen Burger. It really hits the spot. A little salty, a little savory, a little tangy. Somehow, it just works. Mom and Dad gave it a shot though Dad was a bit more skeptical than Mom. In the end, they gave it a thumbs up!

We opted for cold treats at LIC Flea & Food since it was such a hot day! The gelato macaroon sandwiches are absolutely delicious. We ordered a passionfruit and vanilla one...and neither disappointed! While debating on our treat selection, we browsed the market style booths and a couple really caught our eye. Chris and I couldn't pass up the creative sign of Queens with our first home of LIC designated on the upper left side.

We spent a bit of time walking along the water at Gantry Plaza State Park, too. There are great views of Manhattan and the Queensboro Bridge, lots of unique benches, and, of course, the Pepsi Cola sign! Mom and Dad also enjoyed the scenery from our apartment rooftop. LIC is the perfect spot to watch the sun set over Manhattan's east side. Stunning views!

Andrea :)

Health & Fitness in August

I'm one month into marathon training.  It's going well.  It started off rough though.  Really rough.  But after a month, I'm good.  Well...as good as I could have hoped at this point! Surprisingly, I stuck with my schedule of running (sometimes in more of a walk/run pattern) four days a week.  It was great in the beginning.  I felt like it really helped me to get back into the swing of things.  However, as the month progressed and my body got used to running those short(er) runs during the week, it started to feel a little repetitive to run back-to-back on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Given that and a number of other reasons, I decided to make a switch for September.  I am going to cut back to three runs per week.  As the mileage increases both during the week and on the weekend long run, I want to ensure I give myself a proper amount of time to recover between runs.  We'll also be gone for a portion of the month and I know it won't be realistic to keep up with all the runs then so I am attempting to keep things somewhat attainable.

My only other update to the schedule is the addition of a half marathon the second weekend in October.  Originally, that was scheduled to be my final long run (20 miles), but after further reflection I think a timed race at that point will be more beneficial for me.  Mostly, I feel it will give me a realistic idea on my pace for the marathon itself.  Either way, I am looking forward to the challenge/test!

Andrea :)