#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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Food and Life

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April 18, 2006 · Narrative

Nicholas has been very carefully saving his money for a swing set for the past few months now. We told him that if he saved half the money, we would buy the set, and slowly but surely, he managed to do it. Through babysitting my parents’ dog, Beauregard, to chores around the house, and foregoing stuff when we were out (i.e., getting ice cream when we have it at home, etc.), we finally placed the order for the swingset a few weeks ago.

We were trying to teach him the value of money, and I think he has definitely learned the lesson, even if it meant cleaning out Grandma’s desk drawer when he went to visit her at the office! Quite the enterprising little kid! The swingset finally came tonight, and The Husbands got to work on putting it together … losing daylight fast, by the time they got all the pieces unloaded and inventoried, they managed to get one ladder put together before calling it a night. I think they’ll be able to get it done by Wednesday, ‘specially with all the nagging from the little ones.

In exchange for The Neighbor Husband’s help tonight with the swingset, I, of course, promised to feed him. Fair trade, I’d say, right?

In about 45 minutes, I managed to bang out three new recipes, producing Baked Spaghetti for dinner with delicious Frozen Strawberry Daiquiris as a side libation (though me and The Neighbor Wife were the only partakers – s’ok by us!). I also made a Carrot Cake to take to the office tomorrow, using a box mix I had on hand, adding a few little extras as well. Jury is still out on that one as it won’t be tasted until tomorrow morning, but the Baked Spaghetti and the Strawberry Daiquiris were both declared winners and will definitely be repeated.

In cookbook news today, Mario Batali released his newest cookbook, Mario Tailgates NASCAR Style. In sounds like a complete departure from his usual style of cooking, featuring recipes for items like Queso Fundido (a “Mexican cheese concoction”), Thai Flank Steak, Grilled Tequila and Chipotle-Rubbed Lamb, Soft-Shelled Crab Sandwiches with Spicy Tartar Sauce, and Corn and Sweet Onion Salad, among others. I happened to hear a radio interview with Mario this morning, and he was talking about a rib recipe that was included in the cookbook. The recipe calls for both a dry rub AND a wet basting sauce during the cookbook … when my mouth is watering for ribs at 8:30 in the morning, that’s got to be good sign! Looking forward to checking this one out.

Anyone else watch The Next Food Network Star with me last night? For me, now that the last two are Guy and Reggie, it’s an easy decision. I like Reggie just fine, but I like Guy more. Out of all the contestants, he has been the most consistent throughout the entire competition; Reggie seems nice and the recipes workable, but sometimes his schtick appears a little forced and comes on too strong. Guy seems like a natural. It’s him and his personality, through and through. Had the last two included Carissa or Andy, I would have had a tougher time making the decision. Carissa didn’t do anything for me in the beginning, but in the last couple of episodes, she has really pulled it together. Given she has a background in cooking already and has her own web site, I think she’ll do fine. Now for those following the show, this time around viewers get to decide who wins. You have until Thursday, April 20, to get your vote in. Got mine all done.


Alright folks, that’s a wrap for tonight. Until then… don’t forget ARF/5-A-Day is tomorrow.

P.S. The recipe for the Italian Ricotta Cheese Cake from yesterday is down below. Keep in mind my notes from yesterday … the recipe has the cooking time at 45 minutes, but mine took nearly an hour-and-a-half, so keep a close eye on that.

A year ago today … it was homemade mac and cheese and Cookie Monster!.

Italian Ricotta Cheese Cake
1-1/2 lbs ricotta
2 tablespoons sour cream
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 whole eggs

Butter and refrigerate a 9-inch springform pan ahead of time. Preheat oven to 300. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and place in the springform pan. Bake for 45 minutes, remove and cool to room temperature. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick and if it comes out clean, the cheese cake is done.

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. stacey says

    April 18, 2006 at 9:45 pm

    Oooh, that carrot cake looks good! Where do you work so I can come over every Monday and get fat! I’m right near NJTrans, my office would never miss me!

    Reply
  2. Cate says

    April 22, 2006 at 12:51 am

    Stacey – a hop, skip and a jump from the train … one of these days, we’ll have to get together… and the carrot cake was SO moist — you would have loved it.

    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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