Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef
I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I’m going to make it count. Doo Wop Eats opened a few months ago in downtown Denville and their fries are LEGIT. They are hand cut and taste the way fries should … like potatoes! I add a sprinkle of salt and dunk them in a side of their special sauce and they are pure perfection. You can order a small bucket or a large one (better for sharing!), or as a side item with one of their other delicious menu items like their cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches or cheesesteak. I do believe they’re the best fries in town. I said what I said. Doo Wop’s menu celebrates all your favorite Jersey shore boardwalk treats, including Fried Oreos, clam strips and milk shakes and has a fun vibe for kids and families. 😍
The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that takes all of your favorite ingredients from a grinder (or sub) sandwich and makes it into a delicious chopped salad. It’s as easy as putting everything in a bowl and chopping it up. Perfect for busy days and lazy nights, light meals and warm weather choices. Ingredient list below. Enjoy!

One bag or arugula
One container of cherry tomatoes 
Quarter pound of hard salami
8 Oz of fresh mozzarella
One small red onion
1/3 cup banana peppers 
Handful of fresh basil
Half cup Italian salad dressing
3 T Kewpie mayo
2 T red wine vinegar 
Sea salt and black pepper

Chop it all up, add a half box of ditalini pasta, cooked. Mix to combine.

Recipe from GrilledCheeseSocial.
We had a fun little board party this week and the We had a fun little board party this week and the delicious whipped Brie I shared earlier was front and center. If you haven’t heard of board parties, it’s when every guest makes a different type of food board and brings it - so much fun noshing ensues! With toasted baguette slices, cornichons and local honey, this was mostly a French-inspired board. So simple to pull together and totally my kind of meal.
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Press
  • Writing
  • Contact

Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Hoedown Letdown

September 16, 2005 · Narrative

I’ll get to the Hoedown Report in a second, but in the meantime, the rest of the day…

This is how Nicholas and The Girlfriend go to school every morning, hand in hand. As soon as she gets out of the car, she says, “Nick, hold my hand. Nick, hold my hand.” Like the dutiful boyfriend, he, of course, complies, and off they go. Young love … you saw it here first. When talking about him to other people, she refers to him as “My Nick.” Too cute.

On the way home from work today it was muggy and humid, rainy and sunny. Looks like Mother Nature couldn’t make up her mind, but look at this beautiful image she left us. Although you can’t tell in the picture, you could actually see the rainbow from beginning to end, which I’ve never seen before. And if you look real carefully in the top right, you’ll see there’s actually a second rainbow. Nicholas called The Girlfriend on the phone and told her about the rainbow, “Look in the sky. It’s SO GORGEOUS!” Certainly a nice way to end the work day. :)

OK, now for the Hoedown. Here’s how they advertised it: Southern Style Food, Country Line Dancing, Square Dancing, Bake Sale, Door Prizes, and a Magician. Sounds like fun, right? Something different to do. I thought the kids would get a kick out of watching the dancing, and in turn, since it was put on by Habitat for Humanity, we’d be supporting a good cause. Well, yes, there was food, but a very long snaking line went with it. The Magician didn’t come on until 9:30 — a little too late for kids, if you ask me. Needless to say, we didn’t stay for that as we were in and out within an hour. There were not enough tables and chairs for all the people, so we ate with the kids on our laps. We got to see one session of square dancing, but because they didn’t have the AC on and there were too many people in too small a room, they kept taking breaks, only 5 minutes after starting, because they were too hot. On the bright side, the Shredded Pork and Baked Beans were quite yummy. I and The Neighbor thought it would be more festival-like, and that was the way it was billed. Oh well. From a “cup is half-full” perspective, at least we did something in our community, got fed and supported Habitat for Humanity, and that’s that.

Rumor has it The Husband and Nicholas are off to the shore this weekend, leaving me another weekend to catch up. I’ve been going around collecting Halloween stuff this week, so think I’ll focus on that this weekend, shoveling out my home office and doing some MAJOR catch-up on my recipe filing.

Until tomorrow…

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPRINT

Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Joe says

    September 16, 2005 at 2:56 am

    Great rainbow picture – very clear!

    Reply
  2. Jeff says

    September 16, 2005 at 3:34 am

    Young love – there’s just no stopping it! Haha :) Beautiful double-rainbow.

    Reply
  3. kitchenmage says

    September 16, 2005 at 7:23 am

    That’s about the cutest thing I’ve seen today….and since I just got back from playing with kittens so that’s saying a lot.

    Reply
  4. kitchenmage says

    September 16, 2005 at 12:51 pm

    this made me think of you, well of nick… this thread on eGullet has a lot of Noah (a 4 yr old who will remind you of another N-child) in it… find posts #105 and #199 (sorry, i can’t figure out how to link directly)…

    can you say, “ahhhhhh!”? i knew you could…

    ~km

    Reply
  5. joey says

    September 16, 2005 at 5:14 pm

    That shredded pork sandwich looks right up my alley :) And the I LOVE the “young love” picture!!!

    Reply
  6. Ana says

    September 16, 2005 at 6:47 pm

    The Hand in Hand picture is so cute!
    I also have a 3 year old son, and everytime he sees your blog (sometimes he stays around while I am in the computer) he says “look mommy, that boy looks like me”! I have got to show you a picture of Matheus sometime.
    I enjoy visiting your blog a lot, and now I created one for me! It is new, and only has a couple of posts… http://kitchenspace.blogspot.com/
    I hope you visit me sometime!
    Ana

    Reply
  7. Alicat says

    September 16, 2005 at 9:20 pm

    Cute kiddy picture…Here in Montana I saw once 4 or 5 rainbows ontop of each other, and once about 3 or 4 rainbows that sat DIRECTLY ontop of eachother, with no spaces in between, and they made this huge rainbow. It was nuts to say the least.

    Sammich looks tasty..by change that’s what I was having tonite for dinner! :)

    Reply
  8. violet says

    September 17, 2005 at 1:01 am

    oh.. that is too too cute. things like this make me want babies!

    that’s too bad about the slight dissappointment for the hoedown. but you’re painting it in the right light. donating to charity is never a bad thing. and neither is eating ;)

    Reply
  9. Cate says

    September 17, 2005 at 2:56 am

    Joe and Jeff – thanks. I’ve never actually had the good fortune of having a camera with me when there’s been a rainbow, and sharing it with Nicholas just made it even sweeter.

    Violet – it just makes me want MORE babies! ;)

    Alicat – thanks for visiting. Four/five rainbows on top of each other must’ve been a sight to see!

    Joey – The Husband LOVES shredded pork, so I’m on a mission to find a good recipe for it.

    Ana – I love the color of your kitchen; it’s actually very similar to the color of one of the rooms in our house!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Storytelling…
Through photos.
Words. And recipes.

Archives

Categories

Instagram

Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!

Pinterest

Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef
I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I’m going to make it count. Doo Wop Eats opened a few months ago in downtown Denville and their fries are LEGIT. They are hand cut and taste the way fries should … like potatoes! I add a sprinkle of salt and dunk them in a side of their special sauce and they are pure perfection. You can order a small bucket or a large one (better for sharing!), or as a side item with one of their other delicious menu items like their cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches or cheesesteak. I do believe they’re the best fries in town. I said what I said. Doo Wop’s menu celebrates all your favorite Jersey shore boardwalk treats, including Fried Oreos, clam strips and milk shakes and has a fun vibe for kids and families. 😍
The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that takes all of your favorite ingredients from a grinder (or sub) sandwich and makes it into a delicious chopped salad. It’s as easy as putting everything in a bowl and chopping it up. Perfect for busy days and lazy nights, light meals and warm weather choices. Ingredient list below. Enjoy!

One bag or arugula
One container of cherry tomatoes 
Quarter pound of hard salami
8 Oz of fresh mozzarella
One small red onion
1/3 cup banana peppers 
Handful of fresh basil
Half cup Italian salad dressing
3 T Kewpie mayo
2 T red wine vinegar 
Sea salt and black pepper

Chop it all up, add a half box of ditalini pasta, cooked. Mix to combine.

Recipe from GrilledCheeseSocial.
We had a fun little board party this week and the We had a fun little board party this week and the delicious whipped Brie I shared earlier was front and center. If you haven’t heard of board parties, it’s when every guest makes a different type of food board and brings it - so much fun noshing ensues! With toasted baguette slices, cornichons and local honey, this was mostly a French-inspired board. So simple to pull together and totally my kind of meal.

Copyright © 2023 Sweetnicks · Theme by Vicki Harrison Design