#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

Sugar High Friday #8 – Citrus!!

May 21, 2005 · Narrative

In the blogging world, today is Sugar High Friday #8 (SHF), and the theme this month is Citrus. Hosted by Alice at My Adventures in the Breadbox, it’s a theme that normally would have been a slight challenge for me. Like Stephanie at Dispensing Happiness, I don’t often cook or bake with citrus, and usually just eat it right from the peel. However, a few months ago, I stumbled on a really fantastic dessert from Jamie Oliver, that qualified as an OMG dish for me. This is one of those recipes that the sum is greater than its parts (or however that saying goes!), as it is really simplistic both in ingredients and preparation, yet packs a WOW in terms of flavor. Elegant enough for company, ya gotta try Cheat’s Dessert, my submission for SHF #8. As Jamie describes it, “this is a dessert which is absolutely great for getting you out of trouble at the last minute if you have friends descending on you for dinner,” and that’s a very apropos description. I made some slight changes to it myself, and the recipe below includes those modifications.

Cheat’s Dessert
Serves 4
4 almond biscotti
4 clementines, plus the juice of 2 oranges
4 scoops of vanilla ice cream
55g/2oz caster sugar

Smash the biscotti up into crumbs using a pestle and mortar, or place them in a clean Ziploc bag and bash with a rolling pin. Put them into a dish. Peel and slice the clementines, making sure you remove any pits. Bring 55g/2oz of caster sugar to the boil with 6 tablespoons of water on a medium heat until you have a golden caramel. Remove from the heat, add the juice from the extra 2 oranges and stir it in to loosen the caramel syrup slightly. Pour this over your sliced oranges so they marinate in the caramelized juices. Divide the biscotti crumbs between 4 plates and top with a scoop of ice cream and divide up the slices of caramelized orange.

We refinanced our house today, and I celebrated by getting out to the bookstores tonight to do a little retail therapy. Perfect timing, since the June magazines are starting to come out. I bought the new issues of Olive, Eating Well, BBC Good Food, Donna Hay and a few others. Barnes & Noble was having a “buy 3, get 1 free” sale on their books and I also picked up two books by Ruth Reichl (Tender at the Bone and Comfort Me with Apples) and The Lobster Chronicles by Linda Greenlaw (loved her other books). Amanda, if you’re reading this, a copy of your very own will be winging its way to you! And lastly, Food & Wine released Chef Recipes Made Easy, featuring recipes from Mario Batali, Alice Waters, Bobby Flay, Jacques Pepin, Jamie Oliver, Wolfgang Puck and more AND Weber released Grilling with Family and Friends, which I also snagged. These last two are sold with the magazines, but lean more towards “books” with their $10/each price tag. So, a very, very good night in the literary sense.

That’s all for now … tune in tomorrow to find out what celebrity chef I get to meet this weekend. Until then, have a happy one!

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Stephanie says

    May 21, 2005 at 5:16 am

    Don’t you just love the way Jamie Oliver writes up his recipes? I can’t help but smile when I read them.

    Man, I wish I could pick up new books and mags the way you do. Matt would kill me, not to mention we’d run out of usable living space if I did!

    You’re meeting a chef? Very neat.

    Reply
  2. Emilie says

    May 21, 2005 at 12:40 pm

    That recipes sounds wonderful! I am in the middle of Tender at the Bone right now and have Comfort me with Apples waiting. She also has a new one out called Garlic and Sapphires that I have heard really good things about too. She has lived quite the life!

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    May 21, 2005 at 4:56 pm

    I agree with you Stephanie. I am very envious of Missindi’s shopping sprees. I love hearing about them!!
    Can you tell me how tablespoons the sugar would be? I have caster sugar too!! (it is called berry sugar here in Canda- go figure!)
    You are a real inspiration and a might fine person!
    have a great weekend.

    Maureen (kima)

    Reply
  4. Cate says

    May 21, 2005 at 6:48 pm

    Stephanie – Jamie AND Nigella. I really love her way with words as well – quite poetic.

    Emilie – I heard about the Garlic and Sapphires one, and it’s definitely on my list next. If you beat me to it, you’ll have to let me know how it is. How is Tender at the Bone so far? I love reading the behind-the-scenes stuff of food critics, restaurants, etc.

    Kima – I believe it loosely converts to 4 tablespoons (it definitely does on a liquid basis at least, so try that first).

    And Kima and Stephanie — really, I don’t spend as much as it sounds!! I am actually quite frugal in all other aspects of my life, trust me!! I get all my magazine subscriptions for pretty much under $5/year (many even free!!). Cooking stuff just happens to be the one area where I spend a little bit of cash. No spendthrift here. :)

    Reply
  5. Emilie says

    May 21, 2005 at 9:42 pm

    I think that Garlic and Sapphires is the one that focuses on her life as a critic – Apples might touch on it as well. I am 3/4 of the way through Tender and so far it is her childhood into the early years of her marriage. No critic stuff yet but lots of recipes. I am sure you have but have you read The Making of a Chef and Soul of the Chef? Great books as well.

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    May 21, 2005 at 11:08 pm

    Do not click om the meassge from chaudes as a quick glance seems to show that it is pornographic in nature!!!

    Reply
  7. Cate says

    May 22, 2005 at 12:57 am

    Anon – thanks for the heads up on that one. Comment removed. :)

    Reply
  8. kima says

    May 22, 2005 at 9:53 pm

    That was me (kima). I also sent you an email.

    Never saw that coming!!!!!! :)

    Reply
  9. Alice says

    May 22, 2005 at 10:01 pm

    Mmmm, sounds good and I sure can’t argue with easy! Thanks for participating.

    Reply
  10. Cate says

    May 23, 2005 at 1:52 am

    Thanks, kim a– much appreciated!!! :)

    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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