#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

ARF Readiness

May 9, 2006 · ARF/5-A-Day, Narrative

For those that have been following and joining in my ARF/5-A-Day weekly event, we have all been exposed to tons of new inspiration on getting ARFs (my slang for Antioxidant Rich Foods), fruits and vegetables into our diet. And heck, desserts have been made ARF-friendly and just a tad less sinful (right, Stacey?). The possibilities are really endless, and only limited to the confines of your own imagination. Eating your fruits and veggies doesn’t have to be a chore anymore.

ARFs on the go can be pretty easy too … grabbing a handful of fresh berries or raw vegetables as you dash out the door takes just a few minutes as long as you have a well-stocked kitchen. The folks at Arizona Tea are also helping us out a bit as well. A few weeks ago, I ran into a deli with my Mom and she pointed out this new flavor Arizona has recently added to their line, Antioxidant Pomegranate Chinese Apple Green Tea. Is this up our alley or what? Now, unfortunately, a word of caution – this baby is ridiculously hard to find. None of the grocery stores in our area carry it, just this little deli. The owner is very nice and now orders me a few cases every time he places an order (and even throws in a little discount), but it’s really worth seeking out.

It is all natural, has no preservatives, no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, and and is downright delicious. They also have a second flavor in their new Antixodant line, Blueberry White Tea. I haven’t been able to track this one down yet, but I’m on the hunt.

Speaking of fruit, I’ll leave you with the Banana Blueberry Bread recipe I made last night. I finally had a chance to try it this afternoon and it gets a thumbs up from the Sweetnicks house. Dense, moist and not too sweet. Only change I made was to add a little bit of banana extract.

OK folks, all for tonight. Tune in tomorrow for the ARF/5-A-Day roundup where we’re all making recipes from other food bloggers’ sites. I know what I’m making … do you?

Nicholasism for Today: “Mama, is he a good cooker?” Nicholas and I watched Emeril tonight, and I’d have to say Emeril is “a good cooker.” Haven’t had a bad Emeril recipe yet.

A year ago today… Soup’s on!

Blueberry Banana Bread
Recipe from Running with Tweezers who got it from the Very Blueberry cookbook

Makes 1 loaf

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 3 by 8 inch metal loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. (Note: Ovenproof glass conducts heat more than metal does, so if you’re using a glass loaf pan, decrease the oven temperature by 25 degrees). In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla, butter, and bananas and mix well. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add all liquid ingredients all at once. Stir only enough to moisten. Add the blueberries and gently fold in and turn into the prepared pan. Place in oven and bake for 1 hour 30 minutes or until top is golden brown. Bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

*Bottle picture courtesy of Arizona Tea.

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Posted In: ARF/5-A-Day, Narrative

Comments

  1. emily says

    May 9, 2006 at 10:12 pm

    My son would love this.He loves anything blueberry.My mom has a few bushes and freezes them each year.He’ll even eat them frozen when we are at her house.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    May 9, 2006 at 11:09 pm

    The Walgreens in our area (central Texas) carry a lot of the Arizona tea items.

    Reply
  3. Tami says

    May 10, 2006 at 9:11 am

    I love blueberries, so I will try this and let you know. I linked to your blog, because I think it is a great blog. I love the fact that you named it after your son.
    Thanks,
    Tami

    Reply
  4. Cate says

    May 10, 2006 at 11:58 am

    Emily – the bread is really good. I’m totally envious that your Mom has fresh blueberries like that. I’ve only been successful in growing herbs.

    Anon – that’s what Arizona Tea told me in an email as well, unfortunately, no Walgreens around here.

    Tami – thanks for dropping by!

    Reply
  5. emily says

    May 10, 2006 at 5:22 pm

    Cate,
    I went in the grocery today and right inside the door was a display of Arizona Tea!They were promoting ther new flavors and I picked up the Blueberry one.It is really,really good.

    Reply
  6. Cate says

    May 11, 2006 at 2:59 am

    Emily – maybe there’s hope! I can’t wait to find the blueberry one – maybe on our road trip tomorrow. :)

    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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