A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

The Cucina Bella Gang Invades Sweetnicks

September 21, 2009 · Narrative

This weekend, we had a houseful of visitors as the gang from Sarah’s Cucina Bella came to experience a little bit ‘o Jersey life.  I gotta say, it was a lot of (fun) pressure to try and plan a weekend that would be enjoyable for the kids (she has two also) and speak to the foodie in her as well.  There’s, of course, no way I could possibly show her everything that makes New Jersey so grand, but I went for a nice cross-section with an itinerary that wouldn’t leave us exhausted.  At least that was the plan.  I think I may have succeeded on all counts except exhaustion, because by the time Sunday night rolled around, I was spent.  Totally and completely.  But in a very good way.

The Gang

We started off with a local flea market and then I introduced her to pasties.  When I mentioned pasties, our Google Talk conversation went something like this.

“I think we should get pasties over the weekend,” I suggested.

Silence.

“Pasties?  You mean like the things women use to cover up … um …”

“There’s more than one kind of pasties, woman.  Go on and go look it up.”

Then she starts copying and pasting the definition, and before she could finish, I told her to go look at the second definition.

“Yeah, yeah…” came the reply.  Good.  I’d be introducing her to something new.

So Rocky’s pasties for lunch in a local playground so the kids could run around.

Paige at the Park

Then nap time.  For the kids.  Unfortunately not for us.

Once they woke up, we packed them up and headed to Candyland Crafts so her mind could be slightly blown by the sheer sprinkle selection.  Which reminds me.  I’m pretty sure my own sprinkle bag is still in the car.

Dinner was at home after a quick stop at the grocery store.  On the way back from the store, Nick saw we were going to pass by Rita’s and started negotiating for a stop.  At first I said no, but when Sarah mentioned she had never been to Rita’s, Nick got lucky and I had to stop.  I mean, c’mon, let Sarah miss out on the fun that is Rita’s?

For dinner, we let the kids make their own pizza, and we made a more grown-up version (more on that tomorrow).

Pizza

Sarah made her delicious artichoke risotto studded with Kalamata olives.

risotto

Mom Juice to wash it all down.  Kids finally in bed, we sat down in the living room to eat and happened to catch the second half of Dirty Dancing.  Love.that.movie.

Sunday morning, we headed out early to the farmer’s market and then a local farm to feed the animals and do some apple picking.

Group Pick

Maddie Apple Picking

(What a difference a year makes – those cheeks!)

Back home for nap time and then another field trip to a new cupcake place that I discovered this summer (more on that later this week).

Cupcakes

I didn’t get to cram everything in that I wanted to, but it was sure fun trying – there’s always next time!  You can check out Sarah’s site for more details and pictures.

Tomorrow?  Pesto Shrimp Scampi Pizza with Melted Cambozola.

A year ago … menu planning.
Two years ago … a sad anniversary (didn’t realize it had been two years already) and a good dinner.
Three years ago … the debut of Rachael Ray’s talk show and a seven-minute dinner.
Four years ago … oh my gosh, the baby face!

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Starnesfam says

    September 21, 2009 at 11:30 pm

    Yes, if it was another kind of pasties, this could be a whole different post. :)

    Dirty Dancing. The best…..reminds me of my childhood…..saw it dozens of times in the theater. Literally.

    Reply
  2. Sarah Caron says

    September 22, 2009 at 12:17 am

    Psst! Thanks for having us! Will can’t stop talking about all the things we did (especially the last car ride … doesn’t that figure?). We’re happy to invade anytime!

    Reply
  3. unconfidentialcook says

    September 22, 2009 at 12:50 am

    Adorable!!! Thanks so much for stopping by and please come again….

    Reply
  4. Joanne says

    September 22, 2009 at 6:17 am

    Meeting up with fellow bloggers is always fun. It’s funny how much you feel you know someone after reading their blog religiously for a while.

    Reply
  5. Kris #40 says

    September 22, 2009 at 8:24 am

    Never been to Rocky’s although I’ve heard of it. I’m sure my hub would love these.

    Can’t wait to hear more of that pizza – my mouth is watering!

    I’m due to a Candyland run again. I need some green and yellow sprinkles, for my Morris Knolls treats and some black and light blue for some Blue Angels tailgating (which reminds me I have to make Oreo Truffles for this weekend – or possible some more cakeballs).

    Love the pics!

    And lastly, I’d be happy to share some mom juice with you anytime! Still haven’t made this – although I just found the recipe in a pile on my counter the other day.

    Reply
  6. The Neighbor (Wife) says

    September 22, 2009 at 8:54 am

    So funny, We were at the farm on Saturday afternoon!

    Reply
  7. Ramona says

    September 22, 2009 at 9:02 am

    Looks like ya’ll had a grand time. Bet everyone was tired!

    Ramona

    Reply
  8. Jaimie says

    September 22, 2009 at 11:47 am

    Sounds so fun! Those pasties sound wonderous!

    Reply
  9. Kalyn says

    September 22, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    I love it that you two got together. Last time I asked Sarah, you hadn’t met each other. Sounds like a fun time.

    Reply
  10. Michele says

    September 22, 2009 at 2:18 pm

    Where in New Jersey are you? I thought we lived pretty close. I never had a pasty before either and I never heard of that candy shop. In my defense I’m still fairly new to NJ! I plan on making artichoke risotto for the first time this week. I just bought baby artichokes at lunch so I’m off to check out your friend’s recipe to see if there are any tips I need to know! Great post!

    Reply
  11. Cate says

    September 22, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    Starnesfam – lol, you ain’t kidding! Re: Dirty Dancing — I’m totally there with you. I remember the first time I saw it in the theater — and the three times I went back just that first week alone. Can’t wait for Fame to open up this weekend!

    Michele – Morris County. Pretty sure we’re fairly close. Rocky’s is definitely worth a visit – it’s a well-kept secret. I know people who live in Wharton (and have for years) and didn’t even realize it was there. :)

    Kalyn – yeah, considering we talk many times a day, for the past few years, it was time. We met last year, and spent the day at a taping of Martha Stewart, and then speaking at a conference for The Voice of Mom. Next stop: BlogHer NYC! You going?

    Jaimie – total tummy-warming food.

    Ramona – completely exhausted, but in a good way. :)

    Kris – total guy food. As far as Mom Juice, you’re on. Maybe a Soup Night in the fall?

    Joanne – I know, right? Weird, but familiar.

    Sarah – lol, yeah that last car ride was a wild one!

    Reply
  12. mandy says

    September 22, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    Ritas has a special place in my heart. Sounds like a great visit!

    Reply

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A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻

Pinterest

A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍

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