Farewell, Harry: Pumpkin Pasties + Golden Snitch Cake Pops

Last week, fans everywhere simultaneously celebrated and mourned the last installment of Harry Potter. Encompassing ten years, seven books, eight films and spanning a generation, the series meant something very dear to me -- so much so that I spent all of last week obsessing, remembering, and writing about it. And then my friend Jessica thought of the perfect way to say goodbye - a booze-fueled, Harry Potter themed party. And just like that, I was off to San Francisco!

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Carbonara Nirvana (Iron Chef Potluck #1, Volume 3)

There are times when I chide myself for my constant out-pour of affection and appreciation for all things Italian. Sometimes I wonder if the ingredients and cuisine there are in fact better than what we have here in the US, as I often claim. This weekend was not one of those times.

Sure, it can be annoying to hear my undying love for Italian Parmesan or my quest to fine-tune my favorite Roman dishes. But such obsession lends to perfection, and on Saturday I think I finally reached carbonara nirvana.

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