Gotta Make the Donuts

I won't mention which movie I'm on now because it's a girly movie, and I'm slightly offended by the themes and plot. But beggars can't be choosers and things are slow because of the season and the strike. The best part about the movie is the crew includes a lot of my favorite people, including my desk mate. We share a desk since I'm just a dayplayer, and she's running around Connecticut as the Production Designer's Assistant. Yep, we're in CT. It kinda sucks, but there are some perks. Namely these donuts that said PDA pick up from the Lakeside Diner in the morning if they come into the office. Because they are freshly fried, the donuts are often still warm. Since PDA is a VIP, she asks to get these delicious babies hot out of the fryer. When bitten into, the cake interior has a soft crumb that feels like sinking your tired and achey head into a memory foam pillow that magically relieves the fatigue of life. This sensation contrasts subtly with the gentle crunch of the golden exterior that reminds you that life isn't all that bad. Crunch because of the sugar and tiny bit of cinnamon, but mellowed by the heat of the freshly fried status. They are sublime and oh so addictive. The smaller size makes it feel guilt free and the wisp of oil on your lips not only moisturizes dry winter lips, but serves as a beautiful memory of a lovely donut experience.
The video was supposed to be about the experience of ordering the donuts (50 cents for 1 ; $6 per dozen) as she had just told me the story, but PDA was delirious from picking up the PD at the crack of dawn and I forgot to direct her. Plus we were supposed to be working.

Wontons at Deluxe Food Market

Dumpling houses are a dime a dozen in Chinatown, but these days Deluxe Food Market (79 Elizabeth St.) is my go to place for dumplings. I like Deluxe's dumplings because they use thin wonton wrappers, just like my mom does. Don't they look like flappy brains in the picture? They are filled with pork, green onion, and I suspect a bit of sugar in the mix. Though pork does indeed have its own natural sweetness, so maybe I'm wrong. Of course, I prefer my mom's mandoo because she uses a mix of meats and/or tofu, those tiny noodle threads, bean sprouts, green onions and sometimes carrot. And they're free for me, but in a pinch, Deluxe does the job. At five for five quarters, it's not literally a dime a dozen, but it's close.
Deluxe is a unique one stop shop that's all about choice and convenience. They should rename it Deluxe Food Center though. Sure, it's a grocery store where you can buy the wonton wrappers to make your own. But you can also buy dumplings freshly made in the store but not cooked; they also have them then frozen, either made by the staff, or a commercial brand. If you need to eat dumplings right there, you can just eat them hot off the dimsum counter. The dimsum counter isn't alone, it's part of a food court that includes sushi which is ridiculously cheap, and fresh because the grocery sells fish with high turn over. In the summer, I often buy fish here since it's in a building, the place is air conditioned. Deluxe also sells freshly roasted Peking ducks, soy sauce chicken and all your favorite Chinatown meats displayed in the window. There's so much great food here, I often run through the store because it's a shortcut from the middle of the block of Mott St. to mid block of Bowery between Grand and Hester, but then I'll get a pork bun for 70 cents if I'm in a hurry and the dumplings if I can stop. Eel roll if I need a bigger snack. I'll tell you about another snack from Deluxe Food Market the next time I post.

Old Mother Hubbard Cornbread

Doesn't this cornbread look pretty? Wish I could say it tasted as good as it looks, but it was tasted like cardboard. I made cranberry sauce with some cranberries and Trader Joes ginger spread and needed something to put it on. So, I thought cornbread. It will match my table and big mug. Of course, I didn't have any eggs. And not much milk. And no butter. No problem, I'll make it vegan! All the vegan recipes called for maple syrup, for some reason. I didn't have any of that or any soy milk for that matter. So I used honey, olive oil and milk mixed with yogurt as substitutions. Seriously, it didn't taste terrible if I dipped it into olive oil and sea salt. This little snack of farmer's cheese and cranberry sauce wasn't terrible either because the other elements turn the bread into just a vehicle for the cheese and sauce, though the texture was kind of rubbery and overly dense. The half loaf ended up in the freezer. Maybe I'll make cornbread stuffing someday. Or maybe I'll just pitch it when my frugal self isn't looking.

Treats Truck

When I went to see Margot at the Wedding, I really wanted a home made Rice Krispie treat, but I wasn’t going to pay $4.75 for a not very marshmallowy looking one from the movie theater. I settled for a $3 fig bar. It sported a tasteless pie like crust and surprisingly tasty fig filling. Still, it didn’t fulfill my craving.
The next day as I was walking to the main library, I saw the Treats Truck. Have you seen Treats Truck Lady and her truck named Sugar? I’ve only seen her in at night in the Lower East Side, so I was excited to see her during the day at 5th ave and 38th St. on Tuesday. She’s really nice and gives out loads of samples. As I was perusing my choices, some guy came up in front of me and started babbling about something while eating all the samples of butterscotch and chocolate brownies. When he left (after dropping the napkins on the ground) she said to me. “I had no idea what that guy was saying; something about lunch?”
I replied, “Maybe he thought you were a hot dog vendor.”
She said, “I’ve actually had that happen!”
We laughed and I got the cran almond crispy for 2.75. It seems healthier than the classic crispy treat $2 with all its almonds and dried cranberries. The website says there were flax seeds and wheat cereal in that marshmallowy treat, too. I didn’t even notice the health because it tasted so good. No picture because I ate it despite it being cold outside. But I did get a picture of this baking related Christmas window at Lord and Taylor. That creepy doll is squeezing a pastry bag and the man is giving out samples!
To find out the daily locations for the Treats Truck call (212) 691-5226 or check their website. It's worth it.