#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

Weekend Dog Blogging #44

July 24, 2006 · Narrative

So The Neighbor has finally joined our Elite Hospital Club, closing the circle with her very own visit to the hospital this morning. An asthma attack, she’s fine now … the Jersey humidity is horrid on asthma. We’re all going on vacation a little over two months from now, so we’re just glad she got her hospital visit over with now. ;)

Louis L’Amour is known as one of the greatest cowboy writers ouever … but known for his cooking? Not usually. I received The All-American Cowboy Cookbook as a gift last year and turned to it tonight to find dinner inspiration. I ended up making Mamu’s Baked Chicken, a Louis L’Amour specialty. The chicken marinates overnight in a sour cream mixture. Simple to make, it produces a very tender dish that’s a snap to assemble.

Nicholas has been craving salad a lot lately, and who am I to argue with that? Tonight I went with Pear Salad with Bacon and Honey Vinaigrette, a favorite recipe that I’ve made before. The original recipe comes from this wonderful cookbook, Everything Tastes Better with Bacon, although I’ve modified it a bit. The dressing is light, and just enough to coat the salad greens; a nice salty crunch from the bacon, coolness from the pears and a bite from the Gorgonzola – yum!

And lastly, I’ve had a hankering lately for couscous, and went with a tried-and-true that we haven’t had in awhile, Zesty Couscous Salad. All in all, a perfect meal to keep the kitchen relatively cool and make use of the fresh vegetables I picked up at the farmer’s market this morning.

Alright folks, all for tonight. Until tomorrow … on with the Weekend Dog Blogging roundup.

A year ago today… Fatburger and Indian food.

Mr. Woofy from Kitchen Wench spends a day of leisure with his Mom. It’s funny how much pets’ routines get thrown off if someone is unexpectedly home all day.

Sammy and Stumpy from Culinarily Obsessed are back with us.

Simba from Up a Creek Without a PatL sneaks in a snooze:

Piggy from Something So Clever in Montana pops in with a smile:

Ditters from A Little Bit of Everything in Indiana assumes the position:

And for the next sleeping pup, it’s Pucci from What I’m Cooking Now in Georgia:

The trio from Dispensing Happiness in Tennessee is back from vacation:

Tippy from Tartelette strikes a pose:

Little Willie from Eating for One in Kansas:

Ziggy from Soul Fusion Kitchen keeps his cool in LA:

The adorable Bailey (love the tongue!) from The Savory Notebook drops a subtle hint:

The beautiful Lola from Alice Q. Foodie:

And lastly, Nicholas and Eli. Nicholas knows that Eli now disdains posing for pictures, so he offered to sit with him, knowing he could hold Eli down. Nicholas is getting so nice and tan – how cute is he?! He definitely has The Husband’s complexion … that definitely doesn’t come from me!

Pear Salad with Bacon and Honey Vinaigrette
(recipe has been modified by Cate)
Serves 4
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon coarse (kosher) salt
pinch of freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon of white vinegar
2 ripe but firm pears, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
4 crisply cooked pieces of bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2-1/2 cups loose packed mixed greens
1-2 oz. crumbled Gorgonzola

In a small bowl, mix together the oil and honey. Whisk in the mustard, salt, pepper and vinegar. In a medium bowl, gently toss together the pears, bacon and mixed greens, lifting and blending the ingredients. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad, toss again, and divide among 4 chilled salad plates. Garnish each salad with crumbled cheese and serve immediately.

Mamu’s Baked Chicken
Recipe courtesy of Louis L’Amour
6 chicken breasts, boned and halved (may be skinned)
2 cups sour cream
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
4 teaspoons celery salt
2 teaspoons paprika
4 garlic cloves
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
salt to taste
1-1/2 cups bread crumbs
1 stick butter

Wipe the breasts and put them in a large bowl. Mix the sour cream, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, paprika, garlic and pepper. Add salt to taste. Coat the chicken well with the sour cream mixture, being sure to use all of it. Put in refrigerator, covered, overnight. Preheat the oven to 350. Remove the chicken from the sour cream and coat evenly in the crumbs. Arrange a single layer in a shallow baking pan. Melt the butter and spoon over chicken. Bake approximately 45 minutes, or until chicken is done. Makes 6 servings.

Zesty Couscous Salad
Recipe courtesy of Near East
1 package (10 oz.) NEAR EAST Couscous Original Plain
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1 medium zucchini, halved and thinly sliced
1/2 cup fresh basil, cut into strips
1/3 cup green onions, sliced
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Prepare Near East couscous according to package directions, except omit butter or olive oil and add black pepper with water. In large bowl, combine prepared couscous, lemon juice and olive oil. Add tomatoes, zucchini, basil and green onions. Chill 4 hours or overnight. Stir in cheese just before serving. Serve over lettuce, if desired.

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Ellie says

    July 24, 2006 at 9:00 am

    Aww, Nicholas and Eli are very cute – but I’m not quite sure about how Eli feels about the photo ;)

    Reply
  2. wheresmymind says

    July 24, 2006 at 12:33 pm

    Now this I appreciate…I heart dogs…everyone does catz (which I don’t heart all that much) on the weekends.

    Reply
  3. Alicat says

    July 24, 2006 at 2:00 pm

    yum your dinner is so pretty! thanks for hosting! ;)

    Reply
  4. Patti says

    July 24, 2006 at 6:27 pm

    As usual, great roundup!

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    July 24, 2006 at 7:56 pm

    Thanks for the well wishes. I feel so much better today.
    Thank you for sending dinner over. It was all great. I think I’m hooked on the salad.

    Thanks again, you guys are the best! We love yous guys! (Jersey thing)

    Reply
  6. Cate says

    July 25, 2006 at 2:34 am

    Ellie – anything for a bone. ;)

    Wheresmymind – glad to give you something fun to visit. :)

    Ali – it was delicious; Nicholas wolfed down two helpings of the salad, and I hear, ahem, The Neighbor Wife ate it all before The Neighbor Husband could get a bite. ;)

    Patti – I agree!

    The Neighbor Wife – glad you’re feeling better!

    Reply
  7. Annie says

    July 25, 2006 at 3:46 am

    I was just talking about a pear & gorgonzola salad I had years ago! I so glad you posted 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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