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

Comfort Food: Martha’s Meatloaf

February 16, 2010 · Narrative

Martha's Meatloaf

When it comes to meatloaf, it seems that the camps are quickly divided right down the middle.  You either love it or you hate it.  Being firmly ensconced in the “love it” category, but being in the minority in this house, I sometimes use company coming over as an opportunity to have it.  When I’m really desperate for a meatloaf fix, I make it and give half to The Neighbor Wife. What is it about meatloaf that gets everyone going?  I mean, seriously, it’s the same consistency and basic taste of a meatball, right?  And those don’t get everyone yelling “hate it!”  Enlighten me.

I usually don’t use a recipe for meatloaf, but decided to give a new one from Martha Stewart a whirl.  As most meatloaf recipes are, this one was super simple.  Mix a bunch of things in a bowl, shape the mixture into a loaf and bake it.  Dinner is done.  Her recipe included a lot of horseradish and, while I may like it, it sounded like a little much.  I scaled it back to just two teaspoons, instead of the one tablespoon plus two teaspoons that it called for.  You can definitely taste a hint of horseradish.  I think it could handle adding back in a bit more, but think the overall total originally called for in the recipe was a little steep.  And this coming from someone who loves horseradish.  Just sayin’.

It had a nice, mild flavor, was easy to make and perfect the next day with a little bit of light mayo, ketchup and smushed in between toasted slices of bread.

Hungry for more meatloaf recipes?
This one from my chef crush, Tom Colicchio, was another good one.
Sunny Anderson’s version of meatloaf got The Ex to clean his plate.

Project 365
February 15, 2010, Photo #45

Art Project

Our house is not a Play-Doh house. And it’s not a paint house. It’s a mess thing. I remember an episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8 (you know, before they became Jon & Kate Hate), where Kate was getting a little antsy about the mess the kids were making, and they weren’t even in the house. I can totally relate. With Play-Doh, it’s not so much the mess. Well, I do hate all the little bits that get tracked all over the house after play, but I also hate when the colors get all mixed together. Invariably, one session of Play-Doh, and you no longer have all the pretty, vibrant popping colors. You have the color of mud. I did relent and let Play-Doh in the house last year, but only because Jamie promised I wouldn’t have to give it a second thought. Even Nick knows it’s Grandma’s house that’s the Play-Doh house.  Since this is the house where we jump in puddles, dig for worms and play with bubbles (even in the winter), I feel good that it’s just a little trade-off.  For some reason, there is some sort of difference in the messes.  Don’t ask me what.  I didn’t say I always make sense.

As far as paint, I love the finished projects, just not the paint that tends to get all over. This picture was from an art project we worked on this afternoon. What can I say… I must be getting soft. Softer, I mean. But ask me again tomorrow when we do Madeline‘s art project. With paint.  I mean, come on, we know what the child can do with spaghetti.

Meatloaf
Recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food, October 2009

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, diced small
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1-1/2 pounds ground beef chuck (10 percent fat)
1 cup roughly crushed saltine crackers (about 15 crackers)
1 cup coarsely grated sharp cheddar (3 ounces)
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
Toasted country-style bread, lettuce, sliced dill pickles, and ketchup, for serving

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small skillet, heat oil over medium; add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until brick-red in color and fragrant, 3 minutes. In a large bowl, combine beef, onion mixture, crackers, cheese, eggs, horseradish, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper.
  2. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, use your hands to form mixture into a 9-inch loaf. Bake until cooked through, about 40 minutes. Let rest 15 minutes before cutting into thick slices. To serve, place meatloaf slices between bread, topped with lettuce, pickles, and ketchup.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Everyday Food, Jopn & Kate Plus 8, Martha Stewart, meatloaf, Project 365, Sunny Anderson, Tom Colicchio

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    February 16, 2010 at 7:15 am

    I have mixed feelings about meatloaf. I think its the ketchup that I don’t like (I can’t stand ketchup) and the crust:inside ratio. You get way more crispy crust on meatballs and that is probably my favorite part. This sounds like a good one though, I’ll have to give it a shot.

    My house was not a Play-Doh house either! My aunt’s was. My mom hated the mess as well, and it’s true – Play-Doh gets EVERYWHERE.

    Reply
  2. Kris #40 says

    February 16, 2010 at 8:37 am

    My family loves it, I like it. Last week I made mini’s in cupcake tins filled with cheese (these are their favorites).

    Growing up I didn’t like my mother’s, she made it in a dutch oven on top of the stove with a brown gravy served with egg noodles (made with the requisite “SPRY”). I think I would like it now – but none of her recipes were ever written down before she passed away.

    I think I will give this recipe a try – saltines sounds interesting – and it looks so nice and brown and crusty on top.

    My house has never been a Play-Doh house for the same reasons as yours. We also don’t have silly putty in it either (after a green container managed to get all over a comforter when my son was younger).

    Reply
  3. Cathy says

    February 16, 2010 at 9:37 am

    I love meatloaf – always have. And even better the 2nd day sliced up on a sandwich with loads of mustard and cheddar cheese.

    Reply
  4. Ramona says

    February 16, 2010 at 11:45 am

    I like it, hubby hates it. It looks good to me!

    Reply
  5. Josie says

    February 16, 2010 at 11:54 am

    For me, every meatloaf is so different, I cannot imagine deciding to hate them all. My mom’s meatloaf reminds me exactly of meatballs, and I love hers. But I also love everything from a Vietnamese meatloaf I recently made to our local restaurant’s, the Cap City Diner, which is full of mushrooms and slathered in a delicious bbq sauce. I love the idea of adding horseradish to meatloaf! I think this is going to get bookmarked to try in the future :)

    Reply
  6. 5 Star Foodie says

    February 16, 2010 at 12:07 pm

    The addition of horseradish for the meatloaf sounds fantastic!

    Reply
  7. Karen says

    February 16, 2010 at 2:21 pm

    I recently made Miranda Lambert’s mom’s meatloaf from the January 2010 Southern Living. It was really simple and really awesome! I think it was the touch of brown sugar that made it spectacular for me. But living alone doesn’t make meatloaf a viable choice on most nights. And for some reason meatloaf isn’t really dinner party food me – but I guess there is no reason why it can’t be.

    Reply
  8. Alicia says

    February 16, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    I love meatloaf too, but my family doesn’t care for it. I need to find a recipe they will all like!

    Reply
  9. Amanda says

    February 16, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    I am totally one of those weirdos that LOVED meatloaf. Well. Not traditional meatloaf. More like a hamburger shaped in a loaf kinda meatloaf. :)

    Blessings-
    Amanda

    Reply
  10. Bridgett says

    February 16, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    My husband would fall in love with me all over again if I made this for dinner. He adores meatloaf and yours has my mouth watering from the delicious looking photo.
    I am a meatloaf convert…but then maybe my mom’s wasn’t all that good! Yikes, you didn’t hear me say that….

    Reply
  11. grace says

    February 18, 2010 at 7:35 am

    i loved play-doh when i was a kid, but i suspect my mom hated it–the stuff inevitably wound up in the strangest places…
    meanwhile, meatloaf the day it’s prepared is useless to me–i always prefer the leftovers in a big fat sandwich!

    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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