#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

Weekend Dog Blogging #48

August 21, 2006 · Narrative

I have a few catering jobs this week, so it will be a good chance for me to revisit some old favorites, as well as try out some new recipes. For a few days this week, I’ll be providing breakfast and a cookie tray for a small group. For the breakfast portion, my eye is on keeping it simple and not messy, since the group is attending a course.

I ran through the Sweets category in the Recipes section of my web site and decided to go with Barbara’s Watch Hill Sour Cream Coffeecake for breakfast. I haven’t made this one before, but I had it back in November, when one of the women brought it to Supper Club. Coffeecake is ideal for breakfast meetings since it’s easy to eat, and not overly sweet or heavy. Since this recipe originate from a bed-and-breakfast, I knew it would be perfect. I also wanted to add fresh fruit and went with Champagne Grapes. I’ve never seen these before (have you?) and don’t know how they got their name, but it’s certainly quite fitting. They’re like tiny little bubbles of sweetness that burst in your mouth … so, so good, and they’ll look perfect around the coffeecake.

And for the cookie tray … I’ve been craving Oatmeal Raisin Cookies lately, and this was a perfect opportunity. I made a batch of those, and even have enough to send a small tray into Nicholas’ Summer Camp tomorrow. For the second cookie, I went with Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies, a new recipe. I happened to be going through some mail and came across an envelope of recipe cards, a free offering from Time Life. Described as the “giant cookies you can find at your local bakery or gourmet shop,” I knew these would be perfect. Slightly crispy on the outside, with a soft center, even though the recipe says it only yields 12, I got 18 out of it, and they are plenty giant.

I promised The Husband I’d include a salad tonight with dinner tonight, and when we were at the grocery store, he was petitioning for his new favorite lettuce, red leaf. He winced when I grabbed a head of iceberg. I promised he would like the salad, and whew!, it passed muster. I didn’t have any doubt, since we have had it plenty of times before … Chopped Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Salad. Both he, my stepdaughter and Nicholas gobbled up their portions. Hey, with crispy bacon as a main ingredient, you can’t go wrong. We finished out the meal with another tried-and-true, John Zaccaro, Jr.’s Penne with Vodka Sauce. This is a recipe I got from Karen Duffy’s A Slob in the Kitchen cookbook, and it’s one of my go-to recipes. Quick and simple, it’s perfect comfort food and my favorite penne with vodka sauce recipe.

OK folks, all for tonight. On with your Weekend Dog Blogging roundup. Until tomorrow…

A year ago today… Eli and a delicious pasta salad.

The tiny, not-even-five-pounds Rocco from Is It EDible? in sunny San Francisco, California:

Mr. Woofy from Kitchen Wench gave me my laugh-of-the-day with his trio of tongue shots (always my favorite!) – go check out the site for the other two:

The clan from Dispensing Happiness have the right idea … stay INSIDE to keep cool.

Looks like Ziggy from Soul Fusion Kitchen has been cheating a bit on his diet:

The pups from My Very Own Eating San Diego Blog spend some time at the beach:

And last, but not least, our camera-shy Eli:

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies
Recipe courtesy of Time Life

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package (11.5 oz) chocolate chunks
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 375. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars on low speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla and sour cream. Beat on medium-heat for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add chocolate chunks and pecans. Mix just until combined. Use 1/4 cup measure or medium sized ice cream scoop and fill the measure to heaping. Place 6 balls of dough 3 inches apart on each of the prepared baking sheets. Place baking sheets on two center racks of oven. Bake 14-16 minutes, switching the cookie sheets, top and bottom, halfway through. Cool cookies on baking sheets for 1 minute before lifting them off with spatula.

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Randi says

    August 21, 2006 at 12:43 pm

    I believe that champagne grapes are the ones used to make champagne, but I could be wrong. And yes, they are very cute and sweet.

    Reply
  2. Lexi says

    August 21, 2006 at 3:50 pm

    again…
    how do I join wdb???

    Reply
  3. Cate says

    August 21, 2006 at 3:54 pm

    Randi – LOVE them!

    Lexi – Sorry – didn’t see your first request. You find everything you need to know here … hope to see you next weekend.

    Reply
  4. Annie says

    August 21, 2006 at 4:03 pm

    Yum. Those cookies are calling for me!

    Reply
  5. Shaun says

    August 26, 2006 at 11:40 pm

    I am new to all things blog. I would like to add a pic for the dog-blog, cat-blog and herb-blog, all at their respective sites, of course. How do I add a pic to my comment? Love those yummy pics on your site…

    Reply
  6. Cate says

    August 28, 2006 at 1:13 am

    Shaun – to join in the Weekend Dog Blogging, read the info here. You can also find the links for the other Weekend events there as well.

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    August 28, 2006 at 1:28 pm

    Payton loves Champagne grapes. We jsut bought them again last night.

    The Neighbors

    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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