Camera Obscura Madison Square Park and Bird Sculpture

SPRING BREAK NYC

This one is for NYC readers, or those who will be in NYC sometime between now and April 5, This exhibit is open from 10 AM-5 PM and is FREE.
Camera Obscura

The activity included can be done anywhere. I'm not going to include directions in this post, but the activity that would be fun for kids to do, would be to make their own camera obscura or pinhole camera with a shoebox or oatmeal can. There are numerous directions on the internet on how to do it. Just Google it. I want to do this activity, but would love for the kids to be able to actually be able to develop their pictures.

We spent some time in the Flat Iron District today. We went to a museum which I'd rather leave for a separate post. What I'd like to tell you about today is the Camera Obscura in Madison Square Park. I found out about this exhibit in TimeOut NY and while I didn't think we'd be able to see it, it definitely seemed interesting. Turns out the museum was right nearby and if I didn't have a younger sibling peering over my shoulder while I was trying to find something fun and inexpensive for hard to please ages (read 11 and up). I probably would have missed it, as I was overtired and had not realized they were both in the same area.

As we're heading back from the museum to the subway, said sibling pipes up, hey let's walk through the park. We didn't, but then he points out the exhibit, and we're not in any rush to get home, so I ask the others if they would like to check it out. They're okay with it.

We walk to this industrial looking cylindrical sculpture. There's a line. It's not very long. We wait. Around 7 people seem to be going in at a time. Some kids are confused, convinced it's going to be boring. One of the adults point outs that everybody comes out smiling, even the kids. I notice he's right. Sure enough those same kids come out smiling. Finally it's our turn to go in.

Bird Sculpture 
I'm not sure how long this sculpture is up for, but the kids found it interesting, it's a bird made out of both real and fabricated nails with rose hanging from it's beak. I thought it was a nice piece of art. The kids liked it enough to want a picture with. One of them wanted to know if a person would be able to sit inside it (theoretical question as the sculpture is a bird and not a chair.) I said Probably, I think it's strong enough.

Other things to take a look at in this area are: The Flat Iron building of course, there's real gold on top of one of the buildings. One of the kids actually pointed out that it looked there was gold on top of the building and a double decker bus comes along and starts talking about it. That's how I know it real gold. They did mention what KT it was, but I'm scared I may be remembering incorrectly. They also pointed out the Chrysler building for them and be sure to point out the Empire State building in the distance. Thank you double decker bus for coming along just then. They also liked the leopard in the window of the Flat Iron building. It was on the left side of the building, the building's left. Near the downtown subway station. Here's a link if you want to explore more of the neighborhood.
FLAT IRON WALKING TOUR BROCHURE


SPOILER ALERT STOP READING HERE AND COME BACK AFTER YOU VISIT:
SPOILER ALERT OUR EXPERIENCE!
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SPOILER ALERT!

We go in with another family. We squish together and the docent asks us what we see. The kids respond that they can see buildings and trees. She asks us about the up on top what do we see, and the kids say cars, people. She points out the Flat Iron building. Everything is upside down. She says if it wasn't so cloudy and overcast outside then we would be able to see colors. It was drizzling a bit while we were waiting. One of the kids is playing around with the hole. You can see she changes the aperture and the picture becomes more in focus when she does this, you see more branches and the image becomes sharper and more defined. She also told us about the artists making it so you have a panoramic view of what's happening in the park. She asks if anyone has any questions. I don't remember all the questions that were asked. I asked if anyone has ever taken photo paper in with them. She said not that she knows of. But someone could probably do it, just make sure you have a friend to cover up the hole because you can't expose the paper too long to light. It's really like a second. Then I see red, a bit of blue, some white and I point it out. I guess the sun came out. The red and white are people walking. When we come out we see a pair wearing red and white and realize it's the same people we saw when we were inside the camera. The kids and adults found it pretty cool. Possibly even cooler than the museum we went to, plus it was FREE unlike the museum!

Hamentaschen

The Purim Holiday is coming up and Hamantaschen are a treat that we eat on Purim, Hamantaschen is the Yiddish name for them, which means, Haman's pockets, the villain who was hung. In Hebrew they are called Oznei Haman which means Haman's ears. Despite these 2 translations, Hamantaschen are also said to remind us of Haman's 3 cornered hat. Some people will tell you that jam/preserves filling in Hamantaschen are a new thing, and the true traditional ones are made with prune butter or mon (poppyseed) filling. Which leads me to think that maybe the term Hamantaschen is a Yebrew (Yiddish+Hebrew) conglomeration which rather than being separated into Haman Taschen(pockets), they were originally called Ha- ("the" in Hebrew) Mon-the Mon ("Poppyseed" in German and Yiddish) Taschen ("Pockets" in Yiddish). That would make sense poppyseed pockets. Of course that's all speculation, but who knows-I might just be right. I do think poppyseed filling is either hate it or love it.

Here's a really easy recipe for when you're short on time:

1 cake mix-any flavor (I used a Duncan Hines Butter Golden)
1 C. flour
2 eggs
2 Tbsp water
Apricot or Raspberry Preserves

Preheat oven to 375, Mix all together well.

If it's still too sticky, you can add more flour as a lot of times in baking it depends on the weather. I posted the original amounts, but I did have to add flour.

Roll out your dough-you want it a little bit thick-so if you usually make your cookies thin make them a little thicker this time.

Take a circle cookie cutter or a glass if you don't have a circle cutter. I used a glass because the only circle cookie cutters I have, have fluted edges. In my opinion Hamantaschen, should not have fluted edges and do not look as nice as ones without fluted edges. But, if it will make you happy go for it.

Once you have a bunch of circles, take some preserves-flavors usually used are apricot and raspberry, put a small amount on, if you use too much it will pop open. I used strawberry, don't ask why. But that's almost never seen in a hamantaschen, it's good, but raspberry is better. In the pictures are strawberry preserves.

Fold up the sides and then the bottom, it should form a triangle.

fold sides

close-up

even closer-up and not as blurry

Pinch the corners to help seal

Pinch the corners and then put egg white on to seal

Bake for 6-8 minutes.

The parts that have egg white are more of a golden color after baking
You can tell thatI did more than just the corners on some of them

Single Hamantaschen

Yep, I wasn't really in the mood to make them look very pretty

Please do not eat these straight out of the oven, however tempting it may be. The jelly will be extremely hot and may burn your mouth. Just wait for them to cool off a bit



Other fillings I used:
I ended up making a few different types, I also used spice cake mix. I filled some with a pumpkin filling, that I flavored a bit, used apple pie filling and caramel filling, as well as custard.

Play around with combinations, and see what you like best.

If you come up with anything interesting, let me know.

Piroulines with Cheese Filling

Piroulines with Cheese Filling

I was asked to make something for a party specifically a dessert type item, but didn't really have much time. So cookies was out. Not saying that these were didn't take any time, but it was less time and easier than making cookies in some aspects.

I bought these Jumbo Piroulines also known as Presidor Cannoli 

I used approximately 2 (maybe 3) boxes for one recipe, I bought 4 boxes not knowing how much the recipe would make.

2 lbs ricotta cheese-drained-you want it really dry, I squeezed it through a cheesecloth, then switched it to colander and let it drain for approx. 48 hrs in the fridge and then dried some more wet spots with a paper towel. Original recipe says to put in colander and drain overnight-mine wasn't dry yet, so I left it in longer, so more water can drip out. 

Put cheese in bowl, add confectioner's sugar-no amount-it's too taste-some ppl like sweeter and some less sweet. Recipe calls for 1 Tbsp vanilla extract and/or amaretto liquor. I just put in vanilla. Optional: orange zest or lemon zest. Beat until creamy. Mix in some chocolate chips-also doesn't have an amount, you want to put in enough that there should be about 2, but no more than 2 chips in each shell. 

Fill the shells, I used a spoon and the handle of the spoon to push it in, to eliminate air pockets.

I originally was going to pipe them in and make them look all fancy, but I realized they would get messed up on travel and I was running behind schedule as it was. 

Optional: You can dip the ends into chocolate and sprinkle on nuts or other toppings. This is totally unnecessary, but just sharing the options.

They were plated nicely by the party,
this was for transportation purposes
I lifted the aluminum foil to give you a peek

These were all gone, not one left, my family didn't even get to taste, and it wasn't a huge party. I heard many people ask for these, and then for another one and yet another and another.

Fun Pizza Bites

Fun Pizza Bite

A little while back, I posted about pizza pockets. Here's a fun take on those. Get out your cookie cutters,  and cut two of the same shape out. Spread one with sauce and then put on toppings. I would roll the dough out thinner next time, I was a bit rushed that day and also would use mozzarella cheese rather than American, hey I was using what was in the house. Top with the second shape using a fork to seal the edges. Bake until  a light golden brown, time will vary depending on your pizza recipe.  Yummy! Great for picky eaters.

Wilton 2304-1050 101-Piece Cookie Cutter Set

Simple, triangle turnover-no cookie cutter

Yummy !

Hasselback Potatoes

Hasselback Potato

These potatoes are are awesome and look so pretty. The options are endless. Choose your herbs and mix on, go with whatever toppings strike your fancy. I will admit that I had a bit of a hard time, cutting the slits in the potato and making sure it didn't come apart. I've seen some tips that included holding a wooden spoon next to the potato, not under it when cutting, but the rest wasn't clear, so if anyone has any tips on how to cut it and keep it looking nice. Please share. Another tip, I saw included rinsing the potato under cold water to help it fan out. This possibly was helpful. Not sure though.

Thinly slice scrubbed potatoes making sure not to cut all the way through. I kept mine simple and brushed olive oil onto all the exposed potato and then sprinkled on salt. Bake at 350 for 1 hr.

Scrubbed Potato

Bit hard to see, but there's narrow slits in the potato,
 left side looks thick, but has multiple thin slits

After rinsing under cold water and putting on Olive oil and salt

All Baked Crispy and Toothsome

I added some cheese when it came out and the heat of the potato melted it. Yep, that's how you do it, when you don't want overdone cheese.

Forever Red Exclusively at Bath & Body Works

At first I told you I couldn't quite place the smell of this perfume, but the description says it's a "luxurious blend of pomegranate & red osmanthus with a sexy surprise of vanilla rum, for a forever enchanting way to fragrance."

I still like the smell, still can't identify those smells, now that I know what's in it. I do like it though.

I sprayed it on my wrist and rubbed my wrists together. When I walked by my little brother, he asked if I was wearing perfume?

I responded "Yeah, why you don't like it?"

He responded back "Actually, I do."

Ultimate compliment.

I liked it and it doesn't irritate others, you know those obnoxious smelling perfumes, or the ones that close up your airways. That noxious stuff should be illegal.

Other reviewers did say that the smell wore off pretty quickly, mine lasted all day, I didn't have that problem.

I definitely recommend this perfume.


This perfume is sole exclusively at Bath and Body Works
http://www.bathandbodyworks.com

I received this perfume complimentary from Influenster as part of the Cosmo VoxBox program, all opinions are mine and are completely honest.

Influenster Cosmo Vox Box

A small box came in the mail recently filled with wonderful surprises.



Frixion by Pilot Pens: $4.50 for a 3 pack/ $11.00 for a 8 pack

Pens always come in handy, but these pens are even more amazing, they have a rubber tip which erases using friction. They sent me one with purple ink and one with blue ink. I have used erasable pens in the past, and wasn't very happy with them. I was pretty happy with this one though. The ink is not as consistent as regular ink, meaning there will be parts where it's lighter. Also sometimes you may have to erase a little harder to completely erase. I also wish they had put the eraser on the cap because when I'm writing, I cap my pen with the pen cover and don't want to have to take the pen cover off, in order to erase. That being said, I would still recommend these pens.

My notes with the erasable pen, click on picture to see it bigger.

Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk Sea Salt Escape: $2.79

Unfortunately, due to dietary restrictions this chocolate was a tease for me. I have heard Ghiradelli makes fabulous chocolate. I shared this with friends and this is what they said:

"It's so good!"

"A person can never have to much chocolate! Of all the chocolate i have even eaten, Ghirardelli Chocolate takes the cake. Their Sea Salt Escape chocolate felt so smooth on my tongue as it slipped down my throat. The smell was strong cocoa aroma and the taste was salty sweet. As i chewed the almonds the crunchiness of the nuts and the smoothness chocolate melted together. I enjoys licking my fingers as I finished the chocolate in  my hands." 

Venus Razors $3.50-$4.50 per month for blade refills

Gillette Venus Embrace: These razors have the closest shave and minimize nicks.
Gillette Olay Razor: These lock in moisture and glide very smoothly.

Forever Red Eau de Perfume Exclusively at Bath & Body Works: $10.00 for .25 fl oz/7 ml /44.50 for Full Size

I'm not really a perfume type of gal, but was pleasantly surprised by the light, non-overbearing pleasant smell that I can't quite describe from Forever Red by Bath and Body Works. I would totally recommend this scent.

Disclaimer: While all opinions are completely honest. I received these products complimentary from Influenster.