#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

The Kitchen is Open

November 20, 2005 · Narrative

Made a delicious dinner tonight, but I’ll get to that in a sec.

First, my entry for this weekend’s Cat Blogging event, hosted regularly by the lovely Clare at Eat Stuff. There are reasons why I try to stay away from visiting shelters and pet adoption days. Meet the newest reason:


Meet Sugar


Pucker Up!

I ran into a pet store last night and they were holding a pet adoption day. I was really drawn to one cat and after a little convincing, The Husband agreed I could go back this morning and adopt her. When Nicholas and I went back to the store this morning, I got a chance to meet her and hold her, and as cute as she was, it just didn’t feel right. Then they brought out this one. Instant chemistry. She’s seven months old and very, very similar to our Luke; so much so, that Nicholas needs to look carefully to tell who’s who. But there’s a few special things about this one. One, she’s a polydactyl, which means she has extra toes on her paws (my sister has two polys). Polydactyls by their very nature are not very common, and when they exist, they usually have an extra thumb on one or both of their front paws. Well, she’s definitely the exception, because all four of her paws have extra toes. Next her name. When we originally went to the store, I had planned on letting Nicholas name the cat we brought home, but when we chose this kitten instead of the one I had gone back for, and I heard the store’s name for her, it was kismet. She was named Sugar. Leave it to me to pick a kitten with a “food” name. Tonight when I was putting away her paperwork, I noticed that they included information on how and where she was found. She was a stray found at a NYC Fire Department. With The Husband being a fireman, just another confirmation that she was meant to come home with us. And there you have it.

Here’s Luke. You can see why Nicholas has to really look to tell them apart for now:


Luke

Onto dinner tonight. The Husband ended up being out most of the day and I seriously considered getting take-out, because the day got kinda screwed up along the way. I ended up dashing to the grocery store to pick up a few things and formed a quick meal in my head. I made Grilled Steaks with Brandy Cream Sauce, a new recipe for me and one I will definitely be repeating. I’ve never cooked steaks this way and it produced a very flavorful tender bite, and the sauce was divine. In fact, my mouth is watering just thinking of it again.

My herbs from this summer are still in abundance, so I made some Golden Crispy Herbed Potatoes to go with it (and also some Roasted Asparagus for me). Since I used a bunch of herbs for the potatoes, it’s becoming my entry for this weekend’s Herb Blogging event, hosted by Kalyn’s Kitchen. The potatoes could not be simpler to make. I used Yukon Golds and sliced them pretty thinly. I put them in a single layer on a greased cookie sheet and drizzled them with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and a smattering of herbs. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350 or until slightly crispy. Delicious, and a perfect complement for the steak. Dinner on the table in under 30 minutes – perfect.


Crispy Golden Herbed Potatoes

Tune in tomorrow to see what hits the table for The Neighbors Dine Over Sunday. If you haven’t sent in your pup picture for the Weekend Dog Blogging #10 round-up, there’s still time. Until then…

Grilled Steaks with Brandy Cream Sauce
(Serves 2)
2 12-oz steaks (I used rib eyes)
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup brandy
1 cup heavy cream
salt

Sear steaks on both sides in a pan on high heat until done. Remove steaks from pan. Pour stock and brandy into pan and boil hard, stirring, until reduced by half. Lower heat, stir in cream and cook for 10 minutes. Add salt to taste. Put steaks on plate, then pour over sauce.

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Wong PoKér Hu says

    November 20, 2005 at 12:27 pm

    Awwww cute. Haha ;-D Why wouldn’t want to abandon him.

    Reply
  2. farmgirl says

    November 20, 2005 at 3:21 pm

    Love the cat. Love the story. Perfect! : )

    Reply
  3. Clare Eats says

    November 20, 2005 at 11:58 pm

    Oh she is so cute Sweetnicks!
    She looks like she will be a real smooch too, Congrats :)

    Reply
  4. b'gina says

    November 21, 2005 at 2:11 am

    With all those extra fingers and toes, it looks like Sugar could learn to hold a pen…and write. Magic kitty.

    Reply
  5. s'kat says

    November 21, 2005 at 9:00 pm

    It certainly sounds like this little cat belongs safely in your home- she is adorable!

    Welcome back!

    Reply
  6. Laurie says

    November 22, 2005 at 1:47 pm

    What a sweetie! Our nightly dinner guest Sloopy is a polydactyl – I only know because of seeing her tracks in light snow. But I didn’t know that was the name for it. Thanks for teaching me something this morning!

    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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