#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Thursday Wind-Up – Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

March 18, 2005 · Narrative

Two new recipes came out of my kitchen tonight … Asian Dumpling Soup and Preachers Gone Astray. One winner, one not so much. The Asian Dumpling Soup recipe was just ok. Since I’m the only one in the house remotely interested in even eating it, I ended up throwing away what was left, which I usually don’t do. This year, I decided to keep and repeat only WOW recipes, and this one’s not even close. That said, there was no way I was going get through that whole pot by myself. So like Scott Peterson … buh-bye!

Now the Preachers Gone Astray was another story. Yum-o! Supposedly a “Southern treat,” and perhaps someone can back that up for me, these are a quick, delicious, no bake chocolatey treat. A forgiving recipe, you can very easily swap out and change some of the add-ins. Experiment and take out the apricot and add dried cherries instead. Change up the nuts. Walk on the wild side with this one. Although a cinch to make, the recipe only yields 13, so you might want to consider doubling it. Happy Baking!

Preachers Gone Astray
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 to 1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa
1/2 cup quick cooking oatmeal
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped toasted walnuts
1/3 cup chopped dried apricots (about 8)

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil or waxed paper.

In a small heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring constantly, melt the butter with the sugar, milk, and cocoa. Bring to a full boil to dissolve the sugar. If the sugar doesn’t dissolve, the cookies will have a grainy texture and dull color. Cook at a full boil for a minute and a half.

Stir in the oatmeal and beat vigorously to combine. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the fruit and nuts.

Drop by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared pan. Refrigerate or leave at cool room temperature to set.

Yield: a baker’s dozen

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    March 18, 2005 at 4:46 pm

    The cookies look really good, thanks for sharing! I have an Asian Dumpling Soup in my “to-try” list, and was wondering if it was the same one you tried. Was it from Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food? If so, that’s the one I was wanting to try, but after reading your comments, I will probably remove it from my pile! :)

    Have a great day,
    Stacy

    Reply
  2. Cate says

    March 18, 2005 at 5:11 pm

    It’s from Everyday Food, but that’s also the name of a food column in the Houston Chronicle, the source of my recipe. My guess is it’s the same recipe … some of the ingredients are 8 oz mushrooms, 2 cans chicken broth, frozen dumplings/pot stickers/wontons, ginger, scallions, etc. Hope this helps! :)

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    March 18, 2005 at 6:57 pm

    Thanks sweetnicks! I bet it is the same one, same ingredients. I probably will just pull it out of my “to-try” pile. But these preacher’s cookies will be added, thanks again! :)

    Stacy

    Reply
  4. kima says

    March 19, 2005 at 2:15 am

    Loving your blog MISSINDI!!!

    Those cookies are very intriguing- think I might make them tomorrow!

    Reply
  5. Cate says

    March 19, 2005 at 2:35 am

    Hey Maureen – thanks for visiting! If you make the cookies, just make sure you double the recipe. Although it says it yields a bakers dozen, that would be a stretch, and since they don’t last long, better to have a few extras. Enjoy! :)

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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