#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

Just Sit Back…

June 9, 2005 · Narrative

Ever see the movie, The Net, with Sandra Bullock? Remember the opening sequence where she ordered a pizza online? That was back before such things were possible, let alone fathomable. But the time has come.

You can pretty much order anything online these days and have it delivered to your door. We have a milkman that comes every week — yup, they still exist! You can get groceries, DVDs, library books delivered. Yup, I said library books. A lot of libraries across the country have gone digital, letting you reserve and renew books online. And get this, some will even deliver your books to your front door! How cool is that?! Of course, mine doesn’t do this … yet, but I now have the next best thing.

Books Free is a lot like NetFlix. You pay a small monthly fee, and they will ship you books from a list that you compile. You read them and return them (free shipping both ways). Once they get them back, they ship you the next book(s) on your list. I was pretty enthusiastic when I heard about this, especially given the fact that I just shelled out $9 in late fees at our local library! With Books Free, there are no late fees. Keep the books as long as you want. If you want to buy the book (because it turns out to be THAT good), you can even do so at a discounted price. Thought you guys might be interested in checking it out. Besides cooking, they offer all sorts of other genres from self-help to suspense, and everything in between; but, of course, you know I went straight to the cooking section. I signed up and am going to try it out for a few months and see how it goes. And Jessica, if you’re reading this, they even have one of YOUR “cookbooks” available. Not too shabby, considering they only have 232 cookbooks!

Didn’t do any cooking tonight — just a clean-out-the-fridge kind of night, so no new recipes to report.

The UPS Man cometh and brought me goodies from Amazon, one of which was Amanda’s Hesser’s “Cooking for Mr. Latte.” I know, I’m probably the last person on earth who hasn’t read this yet, but it’s slated to be my weekend reading, along with finishing Ruth Reichl’s, “Garlic and Sapphires.”

Going down the shore for the weekend, so there won’t be any new entries for Friday or Saturday, but I’ll be back on Sunday with a few new recipes I plan to make over the weekend. Nicholas is very excited to be going down the shore to “Grandma and Grandpa’s Water House” (the easiest way to differentiate their “shore house” from their “regular house”). The Husband took Nicholas out shopping tonight to get him his very own fishing pole, so there might be a cute picture for you Sunday night.

Until then, please keep my blogging friend from White Trash BBQ in your thoughts. His wife, Johanna, was severely burned a few days ago doing something we all love to do … cooking. It could have happened to any one of us – count your blessings.

Until Sunday … happy cooking!

P.S. The Books Free site brings to mind a question … what fun things do you get delivered to your house? Am I missing out on something? Do tell!

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Stephanie says

    June 9, 2005 at 11:05 pm

    Hmm…I like getting retro candies and other hard-to-find products from Hometownfavorites.com, and of course anything wild and wacky from Mcphee.
    And I love the ‘world’ section of Overstock.com; we’ve found some pretty incredible things there.

    Reply
  2. Niki says

    June 10, 2005 at 4:27 am

    It’s virtually impossible to find Cooking for Mr Latte here in Australia. I know, because I’m still trying!!

    Reply
  3. shuna fish lydon says

    June 10, 2005 at 5:45 am

    hey I like the name of yer site! Please do tell about the Amana Hesser book. I like her more now that I can’t get my Molly O’Neill fix. And I sped through the first two RR books so I guess I’m really behind now.

    I like the books idea but I remain a library problem child, still, so I will stick to newly understanding Netflix.

    delivered? I have a thing for Garnet Hill sheets…

    Reply
  4. Ana says

    June 10, 2005 at 7:26 pm

    This is fun! I also got Cooking for Mr. Latte from the library this week! I started reading it yesterday and am really enjoying it!!
    One that I also got this week and liked a lot was a book from Rick Bailess and his daughter, very nice book with nice looking recipes from various countries! It was really cool to read her daughter’s coments! And I bet you have this one too, right?!! Hehehe!!
    I like your blog a lot! Thanks for sharing your recipes with us!
    Ana

    Reply
  5. farmgirl says

    June 11, 2005 at 6:35 pm

    Just discovered your blog through a comment you left on Becks & Posh. Books Free sounds very interesting–thanks so much for mentioning it. Am going to forward your site to a book fiend right now.

    One of the downsides of living in the middle of nowhere is that the selections at the libraries are so small. On the other hand, late fees are only 5 cents a day, and you can renew by phone (or yes, even online)!

    Fun things delivered? If you’re a cookbook junkie, I’m sure you already know about the wonderful deals at Hamilton Books. A box from them is too much fun. So many cookbooks, so little time!

    Reply
  6. Cate says

    June 14, 2005 at 12:10 am

    Stephanie – love Hometown Favorites too.

    Niki – do you want me to send you a copy of the book? E-mail me (sweetnicksplace@aol.com) your address – happy to help out a fellow foodie!

    Shuna – The famous Shuna! I keep meaning to put your blog in my listing — going to do it now, before I forget. Sweetnicks is named after my son – Nicholas. :)

    Ana – yup, I have Rick Bayless’ newest book, though have yet to delve into it. I’ll have to move it up in my pile a bit. Glad you stopped by.

    Farmgirl – thanks for visiting! Never heard of Hamilton Books, but as a confessed cookbook junkie, I will definitely check it out. Thanks for the tip!

    Reply
  7. Crystal says

    June 14, 2005 at 9:57 pm

    Just found your site from the Cooking Light boards (I’m a lurker). I’m excited about the Books Free thing, too…I’m always on some waiting list at our library for the newest books. I’m halfway through Garilc and Sapphires, and it’s so good…very entertaining.

    Another book I’m loving is The Language of Baklava by Diana Abu-Jaber. She also wrote Crescent, which is probably my favorite book of all time. Being a foodie, I’m sure you’d love it. And no, you’re not the last to read Cooking for Mr. Latte, I haven’t read it yet either!

    Reply
  8. JoAnna says

    June 14, 2005 at 11:38 pm

    I only get netflix delivered regularly… and my dog’s food (life’s abundance from healthypetnet.com is the best dog food ever, not that I’ve tried it, but my dog is healthy and beautiful and she doesn’t smell like a dog.) I do as much mail order shopping as I possibly can, but for some things, like food, I need to go to the store and handle, smell, and see the stuff before I’m satisfied that it’s good enough quality.

    I want to hear that you’re feeling better!

    Reply
  9. Cate says

    June 15, 2005 at 1:07 am

    Crystal – haven’t heard of either of those two books, but will definitely check them out.

    Chef JoAnna – thanks, I’m feeling a bit better today, but have a ways to go. I hate being sick – zaps all my cooking motivation!! Never heard of healthypetnet, but off to look. We feed ours Natural Balance – does wonders for the coat and it’s all natural. Thanks for the tip!

    Reply
  10. McAuliflower says

    June 15, 2005 at 5:32 am

    Yea! Thanks for the heads up about Books Free… I’m going to look into it now :)

    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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