One recent Friday afternoon, I found myself with an hour to kill and was conveniently located near Union Square and its fabulous greenmarket.  Normally I just rush about, wanting and craving everything I see, but either I have no cash, or don’t want to carry my bounty around town.  This time, while the fresh veggies, eggs, and meat tempted me, what really pulled me in was the goat stand.  For about 20 years, Ellie Hushour has owned and operated the Patches of Star Dairy in Nazareth, PA, and her goaty goods are found every week at the green market.  She sells goat milk, yogurt, and cheese, all packaged fresh, with no preservatives, and at reasonable prices.

Given that I had a bundle of beets at home, I instantly started craving roasted beet and goat cheese salad, one of the simplest things to make.  So, I strolled over to her stand and asked which cheese would go best.  Hushour recommended the honey chevre ($5 or $8 for two) and boy was she right.  When I got home, I whipped up my meal and marveled at how the light honey in the cheese complemented the sugariness of the beets.  Together they rounded off nicely and I ate the whole, healthy thing.

As a Colorado native, I really miss out on tacos here in New York.  Though the ones found in this Mexican heavy neighborhood certainly can contend with my beloved home state’s spicy, savory treats.  Bring me tacos or bring me death!  Ha.  But really, with all the new taco places opening up (I told you months ago that tacos would be the new bahn mi, which were the new cupcake), I am shocked more of them can’t get it right.  I won’t divulge my secret top taco spots yet…but in time you will know them too.

El Tequileno was everything a Mexican restaurant should be: cheap, spicy, big, and meaty. I got this shredded pork burrito in green chili sauce. Superb!  Right now, this is all I want, but know in New York, green chili doesn’t exist unless I make it.  Oh well, at least I have found decent tacos.

(On a side note, my grandmother was just tickled when the owner of the joint flirted with me, which resulted in 50 percent off my meal and a free margarita.  Now she wants to take me with her EVERYWHERE).

Here’s how I made these babies:

1.  Wash and dry scallops.

2.  Pre-heat pan with 1 Tbs of olive oil or butter.  Medium heat.

3.  Place scallops in pan.  Grind fresh pepper and salt on top.

4.  Cook each side about 5 minutes, using tongs to flip them.

5.  Squeeze a dash of lemon into the pan near the end of cooking.

After my dear friend Allan bought me my first bahn mi from Nicky’s in Cobble Hill, I became an addict.  Now, everyday, all the time, I want more bahn mi.  Yesterday, I happened to be by the other Nicky’s in the East Village, so I caved in and got one. Biting into the warm baguette, pickled carrots, bits of jalapeno, pate, roasted pork, cilantro, and sliced pork, my mouth and brain entered a happy place.  For a measly $5 my tastes were satisfied and I left with a smile on my face. Now, I want another one!