Cinco De Mayo Churros

Cinco De Mayo Churros

Friends! Happy Cinco De Mayo! Later tonight, a friend of mine is hosting a queso party. I thought, hey, that makes sense...It's Cinco De Mayo. So I decided to make a dessert for the party. The first thing that came to my mind was...churros. YUM!

A few years ago, I tried making churros, and they were pretty good. The only downside was the super complicated recipe and it took forever. So this time, I tried it again but with a different recipe. Turns out that it's pretty much the easiest recipe to exist to mankind. I made these in fifteen minutes flat and I had all the ingredients. Friends, that never happens. Ever. Not only are they super easy to make, but they taste even better! This fried dough is crispy on the outside but soft and doughy on the inside. The sweet cinnamon and sugar coating, makes this melt in your mouth. So go celebrate Cinco De Mayo and make some of these churros!

Simple Churros

(makes 20 little churros)

Ingredients: 

1 cup water

2/12 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or canola oil)

1 cup flour

2 quarts oil for frying (I only used about 2 cups in a very small pot)

1/2 cup granulated sugar 

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, salt, and 2 tablespoons oil. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in flour until mixture forms a ball. 
2. Heat oil in deep-fryer, deep skillet, or a small saucepan (I used a small saucepan, because I definitely didn't have that much oil) to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Pipe strips of dough in hot oil using a pastry bag with a star tip or you can use a gallon ziplock bag and just cut a hole out of one of the corners. I also used scissors to cut the pieces from the tip of the bag. Make sure the oil covers the strips of dough. Fry until golden; drain on paper towels. 
3. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon. Roll drained churros in cinnamon sugar mixture.
4. Eat them all. 

For more about more authentic Mexican food, check out my good friend Andrea's blog here!

The Weekly Arrangement 5.1.15: Million Trees NYC

The Weekly Arrangement 5.1.15
Million Trees NYC

This weekly arrangement comes from the woods! This, my dear friends, is garlic mustard. During a service project with Million Trees NYC in Manhattan, my group was assigned to weed up the garlic mustard because it can inhibit the growth of the little trees we would be planting. BUT garlic mustard isn't fully a villain, turns out you can cook with it too! I really wanted to take some home and try making pesto with it, but I didn't. Oh well, maybe I'll grow it in a garden one day. Read more about garlic mustard here! 

Side note, Million Trees NYC was definitely one of the best organizations I've volunteered with thus far. I was helping to plan a service project for a group of twenty school friends. My friend Cassidy said that every time she emailed Janelle from Million Trees for information, she would respond within five minutes answering all of Cassidy's questions. Even if she did not respond within five minutes, she would respond within the next day and apologize for lack of timeliness. Not only were they very prompt, but they were extremely kind and organized. So organized. Even that is an understatement. 

We showed up for the Stewardship Day project at 9am sharp. We were broken up into groups with a Million Trees NYC leader for each group. They kept us busy the whole time, and it was so much fun! At the end, it was nice to take a step back and see the product of your day's work--planted trees, weeded ground, and a very hungry stomach! Afterward they provided lunch, a souvenir water bottle, and a reusable tote. Million Trees is a great organization. They certainly have their act together! It was an honor to be a part of their goal of planting one million trees in NYC. They will plant their millionth tree this fall! Help them out and go volunteer here! 

Fun fact: It actually smells like garlic.

I just liked this picture. 

This was one of the many trees that was planted. Million Trees NYC is a great organization and you can volunteer in all five boroughs! It was a whole lot of fun--so if you're interested, you should definitely sign up. (Picture featuring: the one, the only, Kirstyn.) 

Top 9 Best Desserts in NYC

Top 9 Best Desserts in NYC

1. Peter Pan Donuts: 1 for $1.10 or 12 for $11.49. Peter Pan donuts are quite the steal. With a wide range of flavors and items, you can't go wrong with these scrumptious and sweet treats.

2. The Spot: desserts range from $3-$15. Their desserts are fun, unique, and finger licking good! If you go with a friends and split some desserts, it's perfect! Featured here is the Golden Toast with sweetened condensed milk ice cream. I also recommend the Green Tearamisu. 

3. Levain Bakery: Aka THE BEST COOKIE ON THIS PLANET! These cookies are also massive--and massive is an understatement. One cookie= $4.Well worth it. Featured below is the Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie. Watch them make these cookies here!

4. Ferrara's: anything from cookies, cakes, cannolies, and gelato. The prices are varied. But just about everything is amazing-I mean look at those cookies and tarts! 

5. Chatime: Questionably dessert, but delicious nonetheless. My friends and I always go here after we eat a meal in Chinatown. For $3, you can get the best Pearl Milk Bubble Tea out there (the smoothies are pretty yummy too!) If Chatime was any closer to where I live, I would be broke. 

6. Brooklyn Farmacy: the most retro a cute, little restaurant can get! Every thing here is great. That is all. (My personal favorite is the Banana Chocolate Chip Ice Cream!) 

7. Brooklyn Bridge Ice Cream Factory: For $4-7 you can get some of the creamiest, homemade ice cream on this planet. Also, the view is spectacular. I like to run down by this area just to have an excuse to get ice cream (I mean, I just burned off all those calories from running anyway, right?)

8. Serendipity 3: Featured here is the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, which can be purchased for $8.95. It is probably the best frozen drink you will ever have. Also, it's very large--so either 1) bring a friend to share a meal and dessert with because there is a $8 per person minimum or 2) bring an appetite and beware of the brain freeze. Yes, I have finished one of these puppies on my own. No shame. 

9. Schmackary's: Each cookie is $2.75. This cookie bakery takes a twist on the classic cookie. Some of my personal favorites are the Classic Chocolate Chip made with sea salt and apple-wood smoked flour and the Maple Bacon made with bacon, maple syrup, toffee, and sea salt.