I know what you’re thinking ‘ The time of year that you just totally neglect your blog?’  No.  And yes , because it’s that time of year that our weekends fill up with all sorts of parties and picnics where you’ll be expected to bring some form of baked good. [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/07/14/no-bake-chocolate-oat-bars/feed/ 0 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/06/16/happy-5th-anniversary-to-us/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/06/16/happy-5th-anniversary-to-us/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:45:43 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1542 Today, Kevin and I are celebrating our 5th Anniversary together!  To celebrate, tonight we will be heading to Toshi , where we had our second date (and where we now go every anniversary), and if we have room, we may even hit up J Fosters for some ice cream afterwards.  I also took a few days off [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/06/16/happy-5th-anniversary-to-us/feed/ 0 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/06/12/homemade-potato-chips-in-your-microwave/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/06/12/homemade-potato-chips-in-your-microwave/#comments Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:30:53 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1504 The other day, I came across a ridiculously simple recipe to make your own potato chips using your microwave.  It’s something that I just would have never thought possible and I, of course, couldn’t wait to try it out!  Also, it’s got to be healthier than the greasy fried stuff you get in a bag!

http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1497 A few nights ago… or okay, probably a couple of weeks ago,  it was really hot out – and also quite sweltering in our apartment – and I really didn’t feel like cooking at all.  When I got home from work I asked Kevin what he wanted to do for dinner and strongly suggested that we [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/06/10/the-corner-pug-west-hartford-ct/feed/ 2 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/05/23/lenny-joes-fish-tale-westbrook-ct/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/05/23/lenny-joes-fish-tale-westbrook-ct/#comments Sun, 23 May 2010 13:30:07 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1487 Last weekend, I did a little shopping and lunch with  my mom down at the outlets in Clinton and Westbrook and we had a couple of special guests with us.  My brother Dan and his girlfriend Angie came along to pick out her birthday gift from my mom…  a new Coach purse – and boy, is [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/05/23/lenny-joes-fish-tale-westbrook-ct/feed/ 1 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/05/15/penzeys-spices-west-hartford-ct/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/05/15/penzeys-spices-west-hartford-ct/#comments Sat, 15 May 2010 11:19:02 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1471 A couple of years ago for Christmas, our friends Tom and Heather gave me what I think is just the most awesome gift ever – a gift box from Penzey’s Spices.  I know, it probably doesn’t sound that exciting to most people, but the spices were really great – they were of an excellent quality and [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/05/15/penzeys-spices-west-hartford-ct/feed/ 1 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/05/10/happy-30th-anniversary-mom-dad/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/05/10/happy-30th-anniversary-mom-dad/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 01:10:20 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1460 Look at my mom making my blog twice in just two days!  Today is my parents’ 30th anniversary (wow, 30 years!) and Kevin and I went out to dinner with them on Saturday night to help them celebrate.  We were actually “mystery guests” as my father didn’t tell my mom that we would be joining them [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/05/10/happy-30th-anniversary-mom-dad/feed/ 0 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/05/04/make-your-own-frozen-yogurt/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/05/04/make-your-own-frozen-yogurt/#comments Wed, 05 May 2010 02:32:54 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1434 So I’ve been on a bit of a yogurt kick lately – mostly just plain Greek yogurt that I then like to top with various mix-ins. Sometimes I throw in some nuts or berries, a little honey, vanilla, once in awhile even a little chocolate syrup. It’s all good!

Then a few days ago, I [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/05/04/make-your-own-frozen-yogurt/feed/ 2 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/29/jamie-olivers-ted-talk/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/29/jamie-olivers-ted-talk/#comments Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:47:30 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1427 Jamie Oliver speaks about our need to educate the public about the food we eat and shares some stories about his work in Huntington, West Virginia.  I saw this awhile ago and have been meaning to share it.   It’s exciting to watch him speak so passionately about a subject that he clearly cares a lot about. It’s [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/29/jamie-olivers-ted-talk/feed/ 0 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/21/smokin-with-chris-southington-ct/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/21/smokin-with-chris-southington-ct/#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:09:22 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1393 Think you can’t find good Barbecue in CT?  Then you clearly have never been to Smokin’ With Chris in Southington, CT.   Over the past couple of years, Kevin and I have visited the establishment many times ( I think we may be nearing “regular” status)  and we have never left disappointed.  This post is long [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/21/smokin-with-chris-southington-ct/feed/ 2 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/18/bellini-south-windsor-ct/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/18/bellini-south-windsor-ct/#comments Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:56:55 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1383 Last weekend, my mother and I headed up to Evergreen Walk in South Windsor, because she had a few items to return at LL Bean.  After we were finished with our returns, we wanted to do a little lunch.  We were originally going to eat at Ted’s Montana Grill, but the sun was out and  it [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/18/bellini-south-windsor-ct/feed/ 1 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/16/whole-foods-to-begin-wine-cork-recycling-program/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/16/whole-foods-to-begin-wine-cork-recycling-program/#comments Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:05:30 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1375 Whole Foods recently announced that they will begin a program to collect customers’ wine corks.  They have partnered with Cork ReHarvest to find various ways to recycle the used corks, which will be sent to several different manufacturers who will turn them into interesting household items.

I think this is a pretty neat idea, because if you’re [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/16/whole-foods-to-begin-wine-cork-recycling-program/feed/ 4 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/14/dinner-at-the-pond-house-west-hartford-ct/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/14/dinner-at-the-pond-house-west-hartford-ct/#comments Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:02:52 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1367 Before seeing Wally Lamb speak last week, my mother and I did a little dinner at The Pond House Cafe in West Hartford, CT due to it’s proximity to the venue.  The Pond House has long been one of our favorite lunch spots while dining in the area, but this is the first time either of [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/14/dinner-at-the-pond-house-west-hartford-ct/feed/ 1 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/10/sarah-palins-keynote-speech-at-wine-wholesalers-expo/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/10/sarah-palins-keynote-speech-at-wine-wholesalers-expo/#comments Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:47:53 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1343 So apparently, earlier this week Sarah Palin gave the keynote speech for the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America’s 67th Annual Convention… and, big shock, it didn’t go so well.  Number one, why would one invite Sarah Palin to give the keynote speech for a wine convention (besides the obvious assumption that most of us need [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/04/10/sarah-palins-keynote-speech-at-wine-wholesalers-expo/feed/ 7 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/03/27/wrapsody-bistro-lounge-southington-ct/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/03/27/wrapsody-bistro-lounge-southington-ct/#comments Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:27:07 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1292 As you may recall, I sort of owed Tom and Heather a nice dinner out after Tom rescued me from the IT hell that I was experiencing a couple of weekends ago.  As luck would have it, I had just been told by my mother about Wrapsody Bistro Lounge in Southington, CT , located right across [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/03/27/wrapsody-bistro-lounge-southington-ct/feed/ 0 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/03/06/training-your-wine-palate-with-gary-vaynerchuk/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/03/06/training-your-wine-palate-with-gary-vaynerchuk/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:33:27 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1275 The other day when I was checking out Wine Library TV, which is basically my main source for when I want to try out some new wines, I came across this video that’s a couple of years old in which the super knowledgeable, super entertaining Gary Vaynerchuk tastes a number of different random things that are [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/03/06/training-your-wine-palate-with-gary-vaynerchuk/feed/ 0 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/01/28/le-creuset/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/01/28/le-creuset/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:05:54 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1230 If you hadn’t picked up on it yet by reading this blog, I’m a bit food centered.  I’m constantly thinking about food.  I like to cook, I like to read about food, I like to write about it, I like to look at photos of it, watch it on TV, but most of all I [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/01/28/le-creuset/feed/ 2 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/01/24/happy-birthday-kevin/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/01/24/happy-birthday-kevin/#comments Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:40:30 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1224 Last night we went out with Tom and Heather  for Kevin’s birthday. Yes, I’m a day late with the  birthday wishes on the blog – worst girlfriend ever, I know, but I did make him a happy birthday breakfast involving bacon yesterday morning, so that must count for something, right?

Anyway, we decided to head down to [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2010/01/24/happy-birthday-kevin/feed/ 0 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/08/25/rams-head-tavern-annapolis-md-savage-md/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/08/25/rams-head-tavern-annapolis-md-savage-md/#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:28:10 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/08/25/rams-head-tavern-annapolis-md-savage-md/ As planned, our first night in Baltimore was spent with our friends Jake and Elizabeth at the Rams Head Tavern in Savage, MD.  This really ended up being the perfect spot to catch up with some friends, relax and enjoy our evening.  We actually enjoyed there everything so much that on our last day in the [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/08/25/rams-head-tavern-annapolis-md-savage-md/feed/ 1 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/08/08/rams-head-tavern/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/08/08/rams-head-tavern/#comments Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:14:21 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1160 Kevin and I are heading down to Baltimore today for the weekend and, in typical fashion, we really have no definite plans other than where we will be eating and drinking, which is fine by me, because I’m pretty sure that’s the most important part of the trip.

Tonight we will be meeting up with his friends [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/08/08/rams-head-tavern/feed/ 3 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/07/07/prime-16-new-haven-ct/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/07/07/prime-16-new-haven-ct/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:35:57 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=1091 Recently, I have been less than enamored with the selection of beer bars in the area and, as a result,  have started reading lots and lots of reviews on Beer Advocate.  In my research, I came across a number of reviews for Prime 16, located in New Haven, and am I sure glad I did.

On Friday [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/07/07/prime-16-new-haven-ct/feed/ 1 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/06/27/toshi-japanese-restaurant-avon-ct/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/06/27/toshi-japanese-restaurant-avon-ct/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:34:22 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/06/27/toshi-japanese-restaurant-avon-ct/ I know it’s a little late, but about a week and half ago Kevin and I celebrated our 4th anniversary and that Friday we went to our usual anniversary spot – Toshi, in Avon, CT. 

Toshi offers everything one looks for in a great Japanese restaurant, or any restaurant for that matter.  The service is [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/06/27/toshi-japanese-restaurant-avon-ct/feed/ 2 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/06/22/chicken-stew-with-onions-tomatoes-and-dijon/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/06/22/chicken-stew-with-onions-tomatoes-and-dijon/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:29:11 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/06/22/chicken-stew-with-onions-tomatoes-and-dijon/

Remember not that long ago when I was talking about all the gorgeous Spring weekends we were having here in CT?  Well guess what?   Mother Nature must have a severe case of PMS, because all that has stopped and it’s been cool and rainy just about every day these past few weeks and it feels [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/06/22/chicken-stew-with-onions-tomatoes-and-dijon/feed/ 0 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/06/09/aunt-chiladas-hamden-ct/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/06/09/aunt-chiladas-hamden-ct/#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:00:09 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=970 It was another gorgeous weekend here in New England and my Aunt Annie and I decided to celebrate it Sunday afternoon with Mexican food and margarita’s out on the deck of my personal favorite Mexican restaurant (and I’m something of a connoisseur), Aunt Chilada’s, located on Whitney Ave in Hamden, CT.

I’ve been going there for a [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/06/09/aunt-chiladas-hamden-ct/feed/ 0 http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/05/24/sweet-potato-fries/ http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/05/24/sweet-potato-fries/#comments Sun, 24 May 2009 22:06:49 +0000 Kate Czlapinski http://worldaccordingtokate.com/?p=889 Last night my dear friend Jenn joined Kevin and I for dinner and drinks and overall good times. Jenn is a vegetarian and originally she had invited us to this great Chinese restaurant, China Pan, that has an extensive vegan menu. I, however, really wanted to celebrate this Memorial Day Weekend with burgers. Holiday [...]]]> http://worldaccordingtokate.com/2009/05/24/sweet-potato-fries/feed/ 0