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
I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I’m going to make it count. Doo Wop Eats opened a few months ago in downtown Denville and their fries are LEGIT. They are hand cut and taste the way fries should … like potatoes! I add a sprinkle of salt and dunk them in a side of their special sauce and they are pure perfection. You can order a small bucket or a large one (better for sharing!), or as a side item with one of their other delicious menu items like their cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches or cheesesteak. I do believe they’re the best fries in town. I said what I said. Doo Wop’s menu celebrates all your favorite Jersey shore boardwalk treats, including Fried Oreos, clam strips and milk shakes and has a fun vibe for kids and families. 😍
The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that takes all of your favorite ingredients from a grinder (or sub) sandwich and makes it into a delicious chopped salad. It’s as easy as putting everything in a bowl and chopping it up. Perfect for busy days and lazy nights, light meals and warm weather choices. Ingredient list below. Enjoy!

One bag or arugula
One container of cherry tomatoes 
Quarter pound of hard salami
8 Oz of fresh mozzarella
One small red onion
1/3 cup banana peppers 
Handful of fresh basil
Half cup Italian salad dressing
3 T Kewpie mayo
2 T red wine vinegar 
Sea salt and black pepper

Chop it all up, add a half box of ditalini pasta, cooked. Mix to combine.

Recipe from GrilledCheeseSocial.
We had a fun little board party this week and the We had a fun little board party this week and the delicious whipped Brie I shared earlier was front and center. If you haven’t heard of board parties, it’s when every guest makes a different type of food board and brings it - so much fun noshing ensues! With toasted baguette slices, cornichons and local honey, this was mostly a French-inspired board. So simple to pull together and totally my kind of meal.
Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We popped into Cafe Crevier downtown and I finally got to try one of their burgers. It was thick and juicy and cooked to perfection. Love that the lettuce was shredded, and that the bun was toasted and slightly crispy. If you’re local, pop in and give them a try - don’t miss the fries!
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

ARF/5-A-Day #46

November 22, 2006 · ARF/5-A-Day

I finally got a chance to sit down and decide on the menu for Thanksgiving Day and even ordered my groceries, so I’m starting to feel a bit more organized. Phew! Here’s the plan:

Pre-Dinner Munchies
Sweet Onion Tartlets
Sausage Cheese Puffs
Antipasto Platter

Overnight Turkey with Elsa’s Poulet Sauce
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Broccoli Salad
Apple and Onion Stuffin’ Muffins
Cranberry Conserve
Roasted Butternut Squash

Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie

Tried to keep the menu simple and manageable, particularly because last years’ feast went well and was relaxing – that’s a trend I’d like to continue! Hoping to get 3 or 4 of the recipes done tomorrow night, and then Thursday will be a breeze. Usually we do Thanksgiving here, but Mom isn’t quite ready to make the climb of 30 steps to our front door, so we’ll be bringing the feast to their house instead.

Tonight Nicholas and I made small goodie bags for his classmates, filling them with mini puzzles, super balls, a crazy straw, pencil and playdoh. He had a lot of fun coloring the turkeys on the tags and putting them together with me.

For dinner, I wanted to keep it simple, and went with a new recipe, Ziti with Tomatoes and Gorgonzola. The recipe comes from the Taste of Italia magazine and besides being perfect for the ARF/5-A-Day roundup, it’s fitting for a weeknight meal, hitting the table in just about 20 minutes.

Before I forget, I have put together and had printed a small desktop calendar (2007) that is now available for sale. Featuring 13 pictures of our lovable Eli, they are $7.50 (includes shipping). A portion of the profit will go towards a Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue Group. If you’d like to order one (or more), just drop me a line. Perfect for holiday gift giving!

OK folks, all for tonight. On with the ARF/5-A-Day roundup. Just a few participants this week; no doubt everyone is getting started on their Thanksgiving menu cooking.

Until tomorrow…

P.S. Now it’s your turn … what’s on YOUR Thanksgiving menu?

The Chocolate Lady from New York City gets in the spirit with Pumpkin Pie and mini pies:

A Transition to Vegan picks up the Thanksgiving theme with her Cranberry Sauce:

From Up A Creek Without a PatL, we have Honeyed Walnuts:

Cucina Bella is back, this time with her Olive Pesto Hummus Dip:

Mixed Salad Annie joins in the fun with
Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower dish:

Newcomer A Foodie in Lowcountry joins us with a hearty tummy-warming Chicken Soup:

And lastly, Cooking is Medicine from Mississippi shares her Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers:

Ziti with Tomatoes and Gorgonzola
Ziti con Pomodori e Gorgonzola
Serves 4

1/2 pound ziti
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons pine nuts
4 garlic cloves, chopped
4 Roma tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup basil leaves, packed

Cook ziti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, combine olive oil, pine nuts and garlic; cook for 5 minutes on medium low. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes with olive oil mixture, stirring to mix well (I skipped this step and added tomatoes to skillet instead, to soften them a bit). When pasta is done, drain and add to bowl. Add cheese, salt and pepper, stirring to coat well. Add basil leaves and serve.

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Posted In: ARF/5-A-Day

Comments

  1. Merry says

    November 22, 2006 at 7:02 pm

    Any chance that you could post the recipe for your cranberry broccoli salad? Thanks in advance. :)

    Reply
  2. The Home Cook says

    November 22, 2006 at 7:55 pm

    We’re doing dinner at my mom’s, but I’m helping her cook. The menu is the exact same every year (we’re big on tradition):

    turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, steamed green beans, carrots roasted with the turkey, baked sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce (the Ocean Spray from a can), rolls and homemade gravy.

    Reply
  3. Cate says

    November 22, 2006 at 11:04 pm

    Merry – absolutely! Here it is:
    Cranberry Broccoli Salad
    1-1/4 cups fresh cranberries, chopped
    1/4 cup sugar
    4 cups broccoli florets
    4 cups coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage with carrots)
    1/2 cup chopped walnuts
    1/2 cup raisins
    1/3 cup finely chopped onion
    6 slices of bacon, crisp-cooked, drained and crumbled (I double the amount of bacon)

    Dressing:
    1 cup light mayonnaise
    1/4 cup sugar
    1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

    In a small bowl, combine the fresh cranberries and sugar; cover and chill in fridge until serving time (berries will juice out). In a large bowl, combine broccoli, shredded cabbage, walnuts, raisins and onion. To make dressing, combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over the salad and mix. Chill covered at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Just before serving, gently fold in bacon and cranberry mixture.

    Reply
  4. Cate says

    November 22, 2006 at 11:05 pm

    The Home Cook – tradition is wonderful, and your menu looks delicious!

    Reply

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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

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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
I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I’m going to make it count. Doo Wop Eats opened a few months ago in downtown Denville and their fries are LEGIT. They are hand cut and taste the way fries should … like potatoes! I add a sprinkle of salt and dunk them in a side of their special sauce and they are pure perfection. You can order a small bucket or a large one (better for sharing!), or as a side item with one of their other delicious menu items like their cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches or cheesesteak. I do believe they’re the best fries in town. I said what I said. Doo Wop’s menu celebrates all your favorite Jersey shore boardwalk treats, including Fried Oreos, clam strips and milk shakes and has a fun vibe for kids and families. 😍
The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that takes all of your favorite ingredients from a grinder (or sub) sandwich and makes it into a delicious chopped salad. It’s as easy as putting everything in a bowl and chopping it up. Perfect for busy days and lazy nights, light meals and warm weather choices. Ingredient list below. Enjoy!

One bag or arugula
One container of cherry tomatoes 
Quarter pound of hard salami
8 Oz of fresh mozzarella
One small red onion
1/3 cup banana peppers 
Handful of fresh basil
Half cup Italian salad dressing
3 T Kewpie mayo
2 T red wine vinegar 
Sea salt and black pepper

Chop it all up, add a half box of ditalini pasta, cooked. Mix to combine.

Recipe from GrilledCheeseSocial.
We had a fun little board party this week and the We had a fun little board party this week and the delicious whipped Brie I shared earlier was front and center. If you haven’t heard of board parties, it’s when every guest makes a different type of food board and brings it - so much fun noshing ensues! With toasted baguette slices, cornichons and local honey, this was mostly a French-inspired board. So simple to pull together and totally my kind of meal.
Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We popped into Cafe Crevier downtown and I finally got to try one of their burgers. It was thick and juicy and cooked to perfection. Love that the lettuce was shredded, and that the bun was toasted and slightly crispy. If you’re local, pop in and give them a try - don’t miss the fries!

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