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
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.
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Miss Madeline – Nine Months Old

November 11, 2008 · Narrative

No Hands!Oh Madeline, my little cankled, raspberry-blowing mischievous Crazy Lady.

When she wakes up, her hair is sticking out from all sides, hence the Crazy Lady nickname.  It seems like so much has happened with her over the past month.  Let’s see…

— she has sprouted some teeth, four of them to be exact.  Sharp little suckers they are, especially when they’re digging into your finger for all they’re worth.  She grinds them mercilessly.  It amazes me, the noises that four little bitty teeth can make, but it’s enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end.

— she stands up, with feet solidly planted on the floor, without holding onto anything all the time.  Not wobbly, but instead, very aggressively and self-assured.  She cruises like a pro, skimming tables and anything else she can hang onto.  Nicholas walked at 10 months, and he is hoping that she doesn’t beat him.  I’ve explained that if she does, it’s only because she’s trying to keep up with him and wants to be like him.  So far, he’s ok with that.

— her top front teeth?  A serious gap in between them.  Both my mom and sister both have gaps, but I managed to escape that.  Doesn’t look like Madeline will though.  They say the bigger the gap, the more wealthy you will be.  Here’s hoping.

Snack Time— the girl can eat, and then some.  Her appetite is stronger than ever, and there are many times that she can outeat Nicholas.  Nothing is safe within her grasp.  She inhales food fast enough that it makes you wonder when she was last fed, and no matter how carefully covered she is, she ends up with specks of food in places that we only discover hours later.  Snacks for later, I’m certain.

— she responds to her name, or I should say, acknowledges it.  If she’s into something she shouldn’t be, and you say her name, she turns around with a gleam in her eye and makes a whining ehhh noise, as if to say “come on…”

— she is in this phase where she licks everything.  I was vacuuming the other day and caught her licking the vacuum behind me.  The oven door the next day while we were in the kitchen.  Almost like we would smell something to see how it would taste, she’s checking things out by licking it.  Wonderful.  Following in the footsteps of her brother, who famously licked my mom’s living room walls.  Who knew the color burgundy tasted so good?

— socks on the feet?  Still an issue. I have, however, found that she’ll keep them on if I put shoes on.   She has no interest in shoes.  Go figure.

Where's the BabyHer personality comes through more and more every day, and I can’t wait to see what the next month brings us.  And with Madeline now 9 months old, that means my niece, Sophie, is 13 months old today.  We spent some time together over the weekend, and she’s nearly as busy a bee as Madeline is, with quite the same appetite.   She’s starting to take a few tentative steps on her own, and saying a few words like Dada and banana.  It was funny to watch the girls playing together.  They were in the same room for about two hours, yet didn’t really play with each other.  They would practically be back to back, but still in their own little worlds.  The only time they interacted was when they fought over a toy, and poor Madeline, the smaller of the two, doesn’t stand a chance.  For now.  My mom says that my sister and I will be spending much time in the Principal’s office with the two of them growing up.  I’m not so sure she’s wrong.

Tomorrow?  Just Like Abuelita’s Cuban Black Beans.  See ya then!

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. The Sister In-Law says

    November 12, 2008 at 6:58 am

    What no pictures ?!?! I read through the post and was hoping for some great shots…. bummer :-(

    Reply
  2. Cate says

    November 12, 2008 at 7:46 am

    LOL, didn’t have pics on my laptop. Updated. :)

    Reply
  3. My First Kitchen says

    November 12, 2008 at 11:24 am

    I love that she licks everything. That’s so awesome. And, oh my goodness, teeth-grinding babies are the end of me. I did an extended bout of babysitting for a friend, and her kid would CONSTANTLY GRIND HIS TEETH. It was like walking around with a witch’s nails on a really old scratchy chalkboard, playing it like a washboard or something. Horrible. Props to you for being able to handle it!

    My First Kitchens last blog post..How to Cook a Quesadilla

    Reply
  4. The Neighbor (Wife) says

    November 12, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    I can’t believe how big she’s gotten. It’s making me sad to think about. She’s growing up way too fast.

    Reply
  5. The Sister In-Law says

    November 13, 2008 at 8:05 am

    Love it – thanks for posting the pictures.

    SIL

    Reply
  6. ttfn300 says

    November 13, 2008 at 10:17 am

    haha, love the update! how quickly time flies :)

    Reply

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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!

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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
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.

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