I had planned another type of post tonight, but in I had planned another type of post tonight, but in light of today’s news, it just doesn’t feel right. Some days it can be hard to find the sunshine, especially a day like today. I can’t make sense as to why things like today continue to happen while people spend copious amounts of energy worrying about banning books and drag shows. Make it make sense. Just make it fucking make sense. It doesn’t. You can’t. Until it does, use your voice. Show up to meetings. Sign the petitions. Text ACT to 644-33 to get involved (I did). Be so loud that you can’t be ignored, until things change. Twenty-one school shootings this year. When is enough, enough?
Weekend photos in review, old school edition. Cont Weekend photos in review, old school edition.
Context: 1) Lola has zero chill in the car, 2) fulfilling request for Chicken Parm Penne with Vodka Sauce, 3) Sunday vibes 4) my favorite porchetta sandwich 5) from @butlerandtheboard 6) affirmations, 7) the sun was out today
Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what phase you’re in. ✨ Got this one back in September and it’s one of my favorites. I sometimes forget it’s there until I get a random flash of it.
Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Press
  • Writing
  • Contact

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.

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPRINT

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

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Storytelling…
Through photos.
Words. And recipes.

Archives

Categories

Instagram

I had planned another type of post tonight, but in I had planned another type of post tonight, but in light of today’s news, it just doesn’t feel right. Some days it can be hard to find the sunshine, especially a day like today. I can’t make sense as to why things like today continue to happen while people spend copious amounts of energy worrying about banning books and drag shows. Make it make sense. Just make it fucking make sense. It doesn’t. You can’t. Until it does, use your voice. Show up to meetings. Sign the petitions. Text ACT to 644-33 to get involved (I did). Be so loud that you can’t be ignored, until things change. Twenty-one school shootings this year. When is enough, enough?
Weekend photos in review, old school edition. Cont Weekend photos in review, old school edition.
Context: 1) Lola has zero chill in the car, 2) fulfilling request for Chicken Parm Penne with Vodka Sauce, 3) Sunday vibes 4) my favorite porchetta sandwich 5) from @butlerandtheboard 6) affirmations, 7) the sun was out today
Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what phase you’re in. ✨ Got this one back in September and it’s one of my favorites. I sometimes forget it’s there until I get a random flash of it.
Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.

Pinterest

I had planned another type of post tonight, but in I had planned another type of post tonight, but in light of today’s news, it just doesn’t feel right. Some days it can be hard to find the sunshine, especially a day like today. I can’t make sense as to why things like today continue to happen while people spend copious amounts of energy worrying about banning books and drag shows. Make it make sense. Just make it fucking make sense. It doesn’t. You can’t. Until it does, use your voice. Show up to meetings. Sign the petitions. Text ACT to 644-33 to get involved (I did). Be so loud that you can’t be ignored, until things change. Twenty-one school shootings this year. When is enough, enough?
Weekend photos in review, old school edition. Cont Weekend photos in review, old school edition.
Context: 1) Lola has zero chill in the car, 2) fulfilling request for Chicken Parm Penne with Vodka Sauce, 3) Sunday vibes 4) my favorite porchetta sandwich 5) from @butlerandtheboard 6) affirmations, 7) the sun was out today
Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what phase you’re in. ✨ Got this one back in September and it’s one of my favorites. I sometimes forget it’s there until I get a random flash of it.
Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef

Copyright © 2023 Sweetnicks · Theme by Vicki Harrison Design