New York, the state that brought us Buffalo Wings- from the city of Buffalo.  Although they originated up North, here in the city and around the world for that matter, glowing orange, spicy Buffalo Wings can be a sort-of religion!  You know the scene, you let them cool off enough to handle them, you pick one up, dip it into the blue cheese dressing, wiggling it around so that an actual chunk of blue cheese remains on top and then straight into your mouth!  HMMM spicy, creamy, juicy, yum!  In honor of New York and our Yankees possibly clinching the Series in five, I decide to make them at home.  Not only are they the perfect meal with baseball, making them for dinner would also make me a “Super Star” wife!  

I did all the research, prepped everything and gave it a go!  Monday night I baked the wings perfectly, did my best with the sauce and made the crudite’ with blue cheese dressing.  We had loads of napkins and a 52” screen T.V.  And then… wah, wah, wah.  Just as our team was in for a loss, so was my “Super Star” status.  Rather than feeling dissappointed, I became enlightened!  I realized, sometimes it is best to leave some things to the professionals!  It’s like pizza, we’re all trying to find the best in town, so why compete with the professionals when even they struggle?  So I’ve scratched Buffalo Wings off of my list of recipes for my “Seduction Cookbook” and replaced it with this recipe: 

1. Invite significant other to watch game 6 of World Series.
2. Have him meet at your place an hour before the first pitch.
3. Wear something very low cut, with a super push-up bra- a pair of jeans and some form of heels.
4. Drive, walk, take a cab or subway to the nearest Hooters.
5. Order two draft beers and wings- Hooters Buffalo Style Wings are called Naked Wings- but it really doesn’t matter does it?  Just make sure they serve up enough punch that you will be inclined to drink lots of beer to put out that fire.
6. Lick your fingers often, smile, laugh a lot and flick your hair- remember you are in the Hooterzone- you might think this is a bad idea, but it is not!  With all the fleshy stuffed t-shirts, orange covered ass and poufy hair- your man will be on stimulation overload!  And who will he reach out to touch? His awesome date that had the great idea to bring him there!  (Seduction Achieved!)
7. Cheer on The Yankees!

Follow steps 1-7 and you too will win the title of “Super Star”!

For the first time in years I am celebrating Valentine’s Day with an actual, real life, Valentine. Many people have come to believe that it is a day exploding with commercialism and a poor excuse for celebrating one’s love for another. I do admit, I am the first to promote romance any given day and a big fan of Vday, but this year I feel different. I’m not against it, not by any means, but I am celebrating (with my love) through a new color of lenses.

This Valentine’s Day I’m honoring the life I’m living. What I’ve learned in the past few years is that the person one must love the most, each and every day is himself or herself. So, on this Valentine’s Day, I’m partaking in everything that I love! I want to experience the things that make me feel alive! I hope that you take one day to do the same for yourself.

The day begins by opening the shades, breathing in the fresh air and blasting Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4″ (it’s an oldie, but check it out on youtube!) immediately followed by Sergio Mendez “Mas que Nada”. My blood is pumping and I’m ready for breakfast. A key to my pleasure and the one thing that makes me feel SO alive is the smell and taste of a rich, full-bodied cup of coffee. OOH, things are looking good and I can hear Tom Jones in the background swooning “It’s Not Unusual”. Since it’s Vday, I want to travel in my mind to the birthplace of sexy lingerie and Moulin Rouge in “Gay” Paris. The perfect compliment to my huge cup of coffee is a darkly toasted baguette with cold sweet butter and organic peach preserves. As my love awakes, breakfast is served to the tunes of Barry White’s “Just the Way You Are”.

Thanks to the music, sun and caffeine, there seems to be true signs of life. Our next step is sun and water. After an exhilarating romp in the ocean, only a lunch guaranteed to keep my engine revved up will do. I would like to introduce to you “Tortas Ahogadas”. This is a hard and crispy salted roll filled with carnitas (savory tender pork), a very healthy dose of super spicy arbol chili salsa all drowning (ahogada) in a thin, room temperature, tomato sauce. This sandwich (torta) is so spicy that it turns on every switch in your body like a 100-volt electrical shock. I am now alive and screaming! Thank goodness for Corona! When one experiences extreme situations (as trust me this is) our reaction will be either to panic or laugh. If you yourself don’t laugh, the person with you will. In addition, the pain the chili causes releases so many pain fighting endorphins that you get the added fun experience of feeling light headed, dizzy and the sensation of flying.

My day of feeling alive has so far been filled with music, strong coffee, sun, swimming, travel, spicy food, cold beer, laughter and French kissing. (that is a secret story).

What is missing? A gourmet, multi course dinner with an hour of cocktails, bottles of wine and a bunch of friends to share in the fun. Dessert is some kind of decadent, dark chocolate extravaganza! (Such a fun word!) The cherry on top of this lively day is initiated with a shot of tequila preceded by a heartfelt toast, followed by DANCING!

Ladies and Gentlemen, now I am truly alive! The bass is pulsating through my veins and the percussion is tickling the bottoms of my feet, my hips sway as if they are absorbing and releasing the energy the DJ is cultivating. I’m smiling like I just won the lottery. My love grabs my hand and pulls me towards him. As our bodies take our first steps together, his smile is full of sparkling teeth and he whispers into my ear “let’s show them what it’s like to be alive!”