Truth be told, these are my favorite types of meal Truth be told, these are my favorite types of meals… platters where you can just pick at them while sipping wine and catching up with a friend. Chances are, if you come over for a meal, you’re getting an assortment of things to nosh on, maybe a mix of homemade appetizers… but just an array of deliciousness you can snack on whilst enjoying the evening. 

I’ve been wanting to make a lox platter for awhile now, so here we are. I sprinkled some Everything But the Bagel seasoning onto smoked lox and then added sliced cucumbers and radishes to the platter along with sliced bialys and crackers. Dipping items are a must so I included hummus and tzatziki. A fun platter just to nibble from, but a bialys sandwich with everything stuffed in it was pretty perfect too. Hope that gave you a little bit of inspo for something you can easily whip up too!
I had planned another type of post tonight, but in I had planned another type of post tonight, but in light of today’s news, it just doesn’t feel right. Some days it can be hard to find the sunshine, especially a day like today. I can’t make sense as to why things like today continue to happen while people spend copious amounts of energy worrying about banning books and drag shows. Make it make sense. Just make it fucking make sense. It doesn’t. You can’t. Until it does, use your voice. Show up to meetings. Sign the petitions. Text ACT to 644-33 to get involved (I did). Be so loud that you can’t be ignored, until things change. Thirteen school shootings this year. When is enough, enough?
Weekend photos in review, old school edition. Cont Weekend photos in review, old school edition.
Context: 1) Lola has zero chill in the car, 2) fulfilling request for Chicken Parm Penne with Vodka Sauce, 3) Sunday vibes 4) my favorite porchetta sandwich 5) from @butlerandtheboard 6) affirmations, 7) the sun was out today
Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what phase you’re in. ✨ Got this one back in September and it’s one of my favorites. I sometimes forget it’s there until I get a random flash of it.
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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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Sweetnicks Mailbag, Part 2

June 14, 2010 · Narrative

Alright, time to answer a few more questions from the comments and e-mail inbox.  I try to get back to the comments section and answer questions there, but sometimes I miss a few.  If I forget you, just shoot me an e-mail.  I get distracted easily.

  • A few readers asked about making a chocolate version of my buttercream frosting recipe.  Start with 1/4 cup of cocoa and go from there, adding a little bit more as needed to get the chocolate intensity you’re looking for.  If you accidentally add too much cocoa, then add a splash or two of milk to thin it out.  Sometimes I even use chocolate syrup to flavor it.  And for a delicious maple version?  Maple syrup.  The real kind.
  • There were a few people who had some problems making the Homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups.  When I followed the recipe, I used one sheet pan.  As I mentioned in the review, my batch definitely took a little longer to thicken up in the pan than the recipe indicated.  Also, my oven only goes as low as 200 degrees, so that’s the temperature I baked the roll-ups at.  Darby has since added a follow-up post with some additional information on making the fruit roll-ups, which you can find here (scroll down a bit, it’s in the third paragraph).  Hope that helps!
  • I received several questions about the paint color for dining room (seen here).  It’s called Toffee Crunch and it’s from Behr.  I didn’t pick it by name, but love that it has a food-related name for the dining room.  Call it kismet.  Truth be told, as much as I love this color, I am still dying to go back to the color I painted in our dining room in the old house.  It was a deep rich, velvety dark chocolate.  Such an amazing color, but this dining room is too small for it, I’m afraid, so Toffee Crunch it is.
  • Also had a few questions on the necklace I mentioned that I wear here.  I bought it on Etsy from Mama Beth Bling and here is a picture of it.

    My Necklace

    Whenever I’m holding Madeline, she loves to play with it and find the tag with her name on it.  It totally needs a dip in the jewelry cleaner, but for now, we’re rockin’ the tarnished look.

  • The shoes in yesterday’s post are made by American Eagle and I bought them at Payless (this season).  They were $17.99 and are the most comfortable things ever.  Feels like you’re wearing slippers.  Or I’m wearing slippers.  You know what I mean.  They also have a grey/pink variety available as well.

I tried to get all the most recent questions, but if I missed yours, let me know. And now, my turn for questions. Just two today.

  1. Does anyone happen to have the Top Chef cookbook?  If so, I’m looking for the Shrimp Mousse recipe.  Please?
  2. I’m looking to find a retailer that sells these types of hats.  It’s similar to a beret, but has a bunch of space at the nape of the neck and is more floppier there.  Do they have an official name?  Have you seen them for sale anywhere?  Do tell!

Reese

Photo Credit: People magazine

Project 365
June 14, 2010, Photo #110

Pity thy Princess

This is how The Princess starts most mornings.  In exactly four days, The Prince will be able to start his days in much the same way.  Life is rough.  Don’t believe me?  Ask them.

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    June 15, 2010 at 6:15 am

    I wish I could start my mornings still asleep!

    I know that some of the street vendors in the city occasionally sell those hats…I’ll let you know if I see any. What color would you want?

    Reply
  2. Cate says

    June 15, 2010 at 11:59 am

    Joanne – totally one of the benefits of being in the city. Hmm, colors, grey, charcoal, black… thanks for keeping your eyes open for ’em!

    Reply
  3. April says

    June 15, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    I’ve never posted before, but I love reading your blog! I am in Alabama, and we call those hats beanies. Check this link and it might lead in you in the right direction:

    http://tinyurl.com/32xn3xl

    I hope that helps, thanks for blogging!

    Reply
  4. Melissa K. says

    June 15, 2010 at 8:59 pm

    The hats are technically beanies, but that’s a general term for most knit caps. Those are slouchy beanies (which are sort of mushroom-shaped when not on), and they’re really easy to find during the winter. If you’re a knitter, they’re also super easy to make.

    Reply
  5. Ramona says

    June 17, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    I’m sure the prince and princess have it very rough……..

    Reply
  6. Cate says

    June 30, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    April and Melissa – thanks for the info, ordered one from Etsy! :)

    Ramona – indeed!

    Reply

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Truth be told, these are my favorite types of meal Truth be told, these are my favorite types of meals… platters where you can just pick at them while sipping wine and catching up with a friend. Chances are, if you come over for a meal, you’re getting an assortment of things to nosh on, maybe a mix of homemade appetizers… but just an array of deliciousness you can snack on whilst enjoying the evening. 

I’ve been wanting to make a lox platter for awhile now, so here we are. I sprinkled some Everything But the Bagel seasoning onto smoked lox and then added sliced cucumbers and radishes to the platter along with sliced bialys and crackers. Dipping items are a must so I included hummus and tzatziki. A fun platter just to nibble from, but a bialys sandwich with everything stuffed in it was pretty perfect too. Hope that gave you a little bit of inspo for something you can easily whip up too!
I had planned another type of post tonight, but in I had planned another type of post tonight, but in light of today’s news, it just doesn’t feel right. Some days it can be hard to find the sunshine, especially a day like today. I can’t make sense as to why things like today continue to happen while people spend copious amounts of energy worrying about banning books and drag shows. Make it make sense. Just make it fucking make sense. It doesn’t. You can’t. Until it does, use your voice. Show up to meetings. Sign the petitions. Text ACT to 644-33 to get involved (I did). Be so loud that you can’t be ignored, until things change. Thirteen school shootings this year. When is enough, enough?
Weekend photos in review, old school edition. Cont Weekend photos in review, old school edition.
Context: 1) Lola has zero chill in the car, 2) fulfilling request for Chicken Parm Penne with Vodka Sauce, 3) Sunday vibes 4) my favorite porchetta sandwich 5) from @butlerandtheboard 6) affirmations, 7) the sun was out today
Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what phase you’re in. ✨ Got this one back in September and it’s one of my favorites. I sometimes forget it’s there until I get a random flash of it.

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Truth be told, these are my favorite types of meal Truth be told, these are my favorite types of meals… platters where you can just pick at them while sipping wine and catching up with a friend. Chances are, if you come over for a meal, you’re getting an assortment of things to nosh on, maybe a mix of homemade appetizers… but just an array of deliciousness you can snack on whilst enjoying the evening. 

I’ve been wanting to make a lox platter for awhile now, so here we are. I sprinkled some Everything But the Bagel seasoning onto smoked lox and then added sliced cucumbers and radishes to the platter along with sliced bialys and crackers. Dipping items are a must so I included hummus and tzatziki. A fun platter just to nibble from, but a bialys sandwich with everything stuffed in it was pretty perfect too. Hope that gave you a little bit of inspo for something you can easily whip up too!
I had planned another type of post tonight, but in I had planned another type of post tonight, but in light of today’s news, it just doesn’t feel right. Some days it can be hard to find the sunshine, especially a day like today. I can’t make sense as to why things like today continue to happen while people spend copious amounts of energy worrying about banning books and drag shows. Make it make sense. Just make it fucking make sense. It doesn’t. You can’t. Until it does, use your voice. Show up to meetings. Sign the petitions. Text ACT to 644-33 to get involved (I did). Be so loud that you can’t be ignored, until things change. Thirteen school shootings this year. When is enough, enough?
Weekend photos in review, old school edition. Cont Weekend photos in review, old school edition.
Context: 1) Lola has zero chill in the car, 2) fulfilling request for Chicken Parm Penne with Vodka Sauce, 3) Sunday vibes 4) my favorite porchetta sandwich 5) from @butlerandtheboard 6) affirmations, 7) the sun was out today
Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what phase you’re in. ✨ Got this one back in September and it’s one of my favorites. I sometimes forget it’s there until I get a random flash of it.
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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