#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

A Table for Three

July 14, 2005 · Narrative

First and foremost, happy, happy birthday to my Mom! We love you!!

Babysitter couldn’t make it tonight (bummer!), so we all went out on the town together, hence the “table for three.” Ever since Chef Joanna mentioned iHop a few weeks ago, I’ve been dying to go and get their Stuffed French Toast. I love having breakfast for dinner and The Husband, not so much. At least at iHop (or any diner, really), I can get eggs at dinner and he can have what he wants. Along with the Stuffed French Toast, tonight I had a supreme craving for nachos. In my mind, I decided I didn’t feel like spending the extra money for an appetizer, but then The Husband, completely on his own, asked if I felt like getting nachos. Great minds think alike, and, of course, I quickly changed my mind.

A weird combination of food choices on our table for dinner. I got the Strawberry Stuffed French Toast combo, which comes with eggs, hashbrowns and bacon. I also ordered wheat toast (better for egg yolk mopping). Nicholas got their Chicken Finger dinner with fries, and a side kid’s funnel cake with strawberries. Then, the Nachos, of course. The Husband started with a burger with fries, ordering it medium rare. When it came, it was well done, and we called the waitress over and explained the problem. She said they can only make them medium or well done. I said that they should tell the customer that when they order, because he would have ordered something else. We got the burger exchanged for Steak and Eggs, the only way he’ll do breakfast at dinner.

Everything was delicious … except the nachos. Straight-from-the-bag chips, not enough cheese, no sour cream, store-bought guacamole … it definitely did not satisfy our nacho cravings, so we’ll be making some homemade ones this weekend. Those are the best, next to Macaroni Grill‘s special nachos made with fried lasagna noodles, asiago cheese, sausage and banana peppers.

Anyway…

Also on tap this weekend at some point will be breaking in my new deep fryer. If you have any tried-and-true deep fried recipes, send them on over!

Forgot to answer the foodie question yesterday. You know you’re a foodie when … (one answer for me is…) you have an entire shelf dedicated to just salts and peppers. Grey salt, fine sea salt, kosher salt, mixed peppercorns, pink peppercorns, black peppercorns, ground pepper, salt from a grinder, pepper from a grinder, etc., etc. And your answer? Fill in the blank: You know you’re a foodie when…

Tune in tomorrow to see what’s on tap for the weekend. Between the deep fryer, the nachos, and a birthday celebration on Sunday, there will be some definite overtime on the treadmill needed this weekend!!

Until then…

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Stephanie says

    July 15, 2005 at 4:02 am

    A favorite for me is a recipe for Obfel Pufers (or something like that…), from an old Pennsylvania Dutch cookbook my late Grampa owned. They’re fantastic!

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    July 16, 2005 at 2:42 am

    I thought all restaurants refused to make hamburgers medium or less anymore.I thought that was regulated or something.

    Reply
  3. Cate says

    July 16, 2005 at 6:50 pm

    Stephanie – never heard of Obtel Pufers. What are they?

    Anon – most restaurants around here still make burgers/steaks medium rare. If they can’t, we’re absolutely fine with that, but then when the customer orders something they can’t make, they just need to say something, as opposed to taking the order that way, you know?

    Reply
  4. Stephanie says

    July 16, 2005 at 8:40 pm

    Basically, apple fritters. The PA Dutch were very close to Amish…

    Reply
  5. JoAnna says

    July 17, 2005 at 7:47 pm

    honey, just about anything you put in a deep fryer turns out good… sorry for your lousy ihop experience. but the husband should know. it’s call the int’l house of PANCAKES hich means youshould order the breakfast.!!! You wouldn’t go to KFC and order fish would you? (MEN!!)

    Reply
  6. Cate says

    July 18, 2005 at 2:48 pm

    I agree, Joanna — men!

    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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