TV. Food. Pop Culture.
For some reason, I found myself baking a lot of birthday cakes this summer. Specifically, I made two carrot cakes and two red velvet cakes. Based on this staggeringly high output, I now consider myself an expert on the subject, which means nothing really, but any chance I get to call myself an expert on …
Continue reading “ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Of Cakes, Carrot and Red Velvet Edition”
Calling all “Barefoot Contessa” fans. This week’s “Banter Blender” is devoted 100% to Ina Garten — from her recipes to her friends and everything in between. Ben Mandelker (bsideblog.com) and Andrea Nawalanic hash it all out as they share their favorite meals, their fondest memories, and some of their most honest criticisms about the Food …
Continue reading “BANTER BLENDER #98: Forty-Five Minutes of “Barefoot Contessa” Chat”
This past weekend, my friend Sly celebrated a birthday, and in her honor, I baked Ina Garten’s impeccable Carrot and Pineapple Cake. It was actually the second time in three weeks that I’ve made the recipe for a birthday, which is significant only because the first time around, I couldn’t help but feel like Ina’s …
Continue reading “The Only Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe You’ll Ever Need”
Why should you follow me on Instagram? Because every now and then I do something stupid like the video above, which serves as my latest ode to Ina Garten. (The last few notes of the medley are frustratingly cut off. Use your imaginations…)
My friend Guy recently turned the big 4-0, and in honor of his birthday, we all threw him quite the fête. This involved cocktails and nibbles, two of my favorite things. So what to make? The answer was pretty easy: Ina Garten’s Tuscan Mashed Chickpeas. This dip, which my friend Andrea initially made for me …
Continue reading “ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Chickpea Mash Edition”
This week on Banter with Ben and Lisa, Ben and Lisa tackle some of the most important subjects of all time: Magic Mike, humidity, and Occupy LA. Yes, we’re keeping it REAL. Expect lots on Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey, and naturally, Rene Russo. Wait, what? Rene Russo? Just listen. Oh, and if you haven’t watched …
Continue reading “BANTER WITH BEN AND LISA: Ep 38 – Magic Mike, Humidity, and Occupy LA”
For years I’ve loved the Entenmann’s family of products, particularly the chocolate-frosted doughnuts (best when dunked in milk), the devil’s food cake doughnuts, the cupcakes, the chocolate chip cookies, and of course the chocolate fudge cake. I therefore was thrilled when Entenmann’s offered to send me a box of bakeware as well the company’s new …
I may be in New York, but thanks to modern technology, Lisa and I were able to podcast from opposite ends of the country! On this latest episode, I talk about my weekend in The Hamptons, and Lisa weighs in on The Biggest Loser (I swear, that pun was not intended). We also discuss Young …
Continue reading “BANTER WITH BEN AND LISA: Episode 24 – Live From The Hamptons!”
I didn’t really know what to write about this afternoon; so I thought I’d maybe whine for a little bit since I seem to do that well, and it’s been a while since I’d bitched about anything in particular. Back in the early days of this blog when I was under a non-compete with TVgasm, …
‘Barefoot Contessa’ isn’t as good as it used to be. Here are some friendly tips on how to improve it…
