New York New York what a wonderful town?

After being up very late cleaning up from that fabulous party, the girls and I hit the road to New York City.  If I didn't think about that lengthy highway run, I actually was looking forward to going to see Jocelyn's apartment and meet her friends. Just the girls and me, how fun can that be? Well, it was fun. Her apartment is so terrific and her friends are marvelous.  It is always the best feeling to get to see your children get to a place that you have dreamed for them, and that was what this trip was about. 

The three of us pulled off another party for her friends.  It was a pretty good feat considering I had to create salmon, salad, roast veggies,  couscous, and lemon sponge without the equipment that I am used to, not to mention a small apartment kitchen.  Alas, Jocelyn and Ashley were their usual selves, confident that we could again produce a dinner for ten with no problem. They were right, again, and as incredibly helpful. I really got the feel for what it takes to live in the city. The functionality of life, and how much energy that it takes. 

If you need to make a great dessert that people will love,  make lemon sponge:

set oven to 350˚ butter ramekins or 7 inch high baking dish

zest one lemon,  juice  1/3 cup of lemon juice set aside

separate three eggs and beat the whites to be stiff but not dry set aside

cream 2 tablespoons of butter

3/4 cup of sugar and lemon zest

add the egg yolks one at a time until mixture is light and fluffy

add 3 tablespoons flour alternately

lemon juice  and 1 cup of whole milk

add 1/4 of the egg whites and hand stir.  The batter should be light. then add the rest of the whites (fold in with a spatula until all whites are incorporated into the batter). 

Place in the cups or dish and place in water bath or you can just do in a dry oven but watch it. Bake for about 45 min. for single dish or shorter in smaller cups. It should be done like a cake  light browned on the top. This dessert can be served warm or cold.  Bump it up with  raspberries puree´ or just whole berries and whipped cream on the side.

Obviously I am not a city person, or I would have chosen to live in one.  Instead, I live in a small community of like-minded people for the most part, not much diversity. When we chose this place, when the children were small, the lack of racial diversity was a big con on the list of pros and cons. Being in New York certainly makes me realize the greatness of diversity.  It occurred to me, however, that New York too has medium- sized communities made up of people of like-mindedness as well.  Just in the process of riding the subway we would go down in one community which had its own culture and come up in an entirely different one.  This was comforting in a way.  However, there are a few things that I had such a hard time with. 

The city person spends so much time creating his or her own space that you miss what is your space. being plugged in with ear phones, not looking at people, closing their eyes on the subway train.  Not that I don't get it. I understand the constant bombardment of humanity; it is exhausting.  I was good for about four days. Then there is the  smoking on the streets outside every building. Really, people! I am so tired of walking through someone else's dirty habit.  I know that this is a problem everywhere, not just New York, and I applaud  New York for raising the tax so now they are ten dollars a pack.  It is time for people to stop smoking. 

Then you can not forget the cost of things. My line is just take your wallet and bank account and empty them on the street.  My dream was to get some real pizza (a cheaper meal I thought). We went to this new place call Co.  a pizza place coming from a bakery background. They described their pizza as small individual size.  My cheap meal ended as a$250. meal for four. I must say that the pizza was good, but not that good. I have yet to find a pizza that compares to Pizza Shoals in Portland, OR.  I would even say that Flatbread Company is better. With all that being said I would still say it is a great place to visit and hats off to those who choose to live there. The best thing and most important to remember is I was there with my two girls and had a great time just being with them and their friends.  And that is, as they say, priceless!