#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Recipe: Fat-Free Refried Beans

June 2, 2010 · Narrative

Out of all the things I could miss about being married, you wouldn’t think The Ex’s cooking would be on the list.  But it is.  Of course it’s not the tippy-top thing, but he had a few core dishes that I definitely have a hankering for every now and then.  A wonderful yellow rice with green olives that he usually made with roast chicken.  I craved that a lot, particularly the olives, when I was pregnant with Madeline.  Cuban black beans.  The kids adore his black beans over white rice.  And when I was in the mood for it, picadillo.  And now?  I got nothing.  I think I can work out a trade though.  The yellow rice for a batch of his favorite mini cheesecakes.  What can I say?  Food is still a universal language, even through the twists and turns of relationships that end in divorce.

 

Fat Free Refried Beans

When I spied a recipe for black beans in a recent issue of Delish’s Easy Low-Cal Meals, I tore it out, knowing that even though it wasn’t The Ex’s version, the kids would eat it up.  It’s a crazy simple recipe, and while it isn’t identical (I have a few recipes that are a bit closer), it was close enough for a trial run.  I added cumin to it (force of habit since The Ex always did and most recipes call for it) and skipped the liquid smoke (mostly because I could swear I had some, but it seems to have disappeared).  I would do less onion next time because it saves Nick painstakingly picking them out of his portion.  And am personally not a fan of recipes that call for 1-1/3 cups of black beans, because that’s one full can and a little bit.  Seriously, why can’t they alter the recipes’ yield so that it calls for either one full can or two?  The little bits leftover, by the way, would be great in a quesadilla with melted cheese and some chicken.  But aside from all that, I would make the recipe again, and it was perfect alongside some tri-tip steak and roasted asparagus.  I might have eaten the whole bunch of asparagus myself.  Once I start, it’s so very hard to stop.  Good thing it’s uber-healthy.

Project 365
June 2, 2010, Photo #104

Radiant in Rerows
The hunt for rerows has been challenging at best. After checking a ridiculous amount of stores, I headed off to look for transfers or patches that I could put on plain shirts. We went to Michael’s, Wal-Mart, and A.C. Moore. Would you believe none of them sell rainbow appliques? Craziness. I swear I’m going to start making rainbow shirts and stock an Etsy shop.

The current issue of Parents magazine has a rainbow bathing suit featured on the cover, and I found that it is sold at Gymboree. After a visit to the store, they, of course, don’t have it, but they did have it in shirt form instead. While it’s not a *true* rainbow given the colors shown, it was close enough that Madeline would wear it. My mom has had some success recently at Kohls and TJ Maxx, finding her two pairs of pajamas and a short set, and in the meantime, I have bought a bunch of fabric and am going to attempt to make my own rainbow shirt. If I’m successful, you can bet I’ll let you know when the Etsy shop launches! Until then, the search continues.

Fat-Free Refried Beans
Recipe courtesy of Quick & Simple via Delish’s Easy Low-Call Meals

In a small bowl, mash 2/3 cup of black beans with a fork to a smooth paste.  In medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1-1/3 cup black beans with 1/2 cup water.  When heated through, stir in 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon liquid smoke.  Stir bean paste into whole beans.  Add 1 diced medium onion and cook 10 minutes, or until tender.

Makes 3 cups, 41 calories per serving, 3 g protein, 0g fat, 3g fiber.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: black beans, Delish magazine, Etsy, Low-Cal Meals, Quick & Simple, rainbows, refried beans

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    June 3, 2010 at 6:14 am

    The refried beans look awesome! I love them on a quesadilla with some sweet potatoes. Yum.

    And so the saga of the rainbow hunt continues…

    Reply
  2. Cate says

    June 4, 2010 at 8:10 am

    Wouldn’t have thought of pairing them with sweet potatoes, but I bet it makes a tasty combination.

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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