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.
Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We popped into Cafe Crevier downtown and I finally got to try one of their burgers. It was thick and juicy and cooked to perfection. Love that the lettuce was shredded, and that the bun was toasted and slightly crispy. If you’re local, pop in and give them a try - don’t miss the fries!
I haven’t had a snow pic on my feed all winter b I haven’t had a snow pic on my feed all winter because, well, it’s been a weird one. Despite living in the Northeast, our Winter has had hardly any snow. Not to worry though, we’re going to be having snow in the Spring at this point. 😂 End of the week has a high of 50 degrees, today we lived in a snow globe with awful wind. I don’t even care what freaking season it is, just PICK ONE. And for the love of all things holy, I desperately need sunshine.
Grey days, perpetual rain, delayed opening tomorro Grey days, perpetual rain, delayed opening tomorrow … all the perfect setting for a cozy night at home and #candleoclock.
Weekend Photos in Review, old school. ✨ Weekend Photos in Review, old school. ✨
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Food and Life

Eat. Live. Be. #16: What We Can’t Live Without

April 25, 2011 · Eat. Live. Be., Narrative

Inside Out Griddled Ham, Gorgonzola and Mushroom Onion SandwichThat picture is for Sarah.  It has nothing to do with today’s topic, except for serving as a promise that the breakdown of this Griddled Goodness Sandwich is coming tomorrow.  Swear!

This week’s Eat. Live. Be. topic is sharing what we can’t live without.  I know my answer isn’t going to be popular.  Both in terms of what other people may have chosen or in favorable opinion.  But I’m ok with that.

I headed out of town a few weeks ago, and as I packed my bag, a friend gave me strict rules.  “Cut loose.  No exercising.  No hard-and-fast clean eating.  And no scale.”

I promised I would do my best.  And I did.  I did eat pretty cleanly, but I did indulge too.  I didn’t exercise in the traditional sense, but I walked.  A lot.  Miles and miles and miles.  Every day.  And the scale?  Well, I didn’t bring it with me but that was certainly the hardest task he gave me.  It was all I could do not to throw down my suitcase when I came home and jump on it.

I can’t live without my scale.

I weigh myself twice a day, once in the morning, once again before bed.

I completely understand how weight fluctuates.  Between water weight gain, stress, heavier meals, later meals, more exercise, less exercise, it fluctuates.  All over the place.

But I want to be accountable.  I want to be hyperaware of the little changes and the big ones.  As in…

… now that I see that number, I know I shouldn’t eat dinner quite so late.

… or wow, that extra hour of exercise yesterday really paid off.

… or what the heck did I eat yesterday to see that big a difference in the scale today?

I’m all over it.  And for me, it works.  I have it in check.  I’m obsessed.  But not obsessed. And now some 16 months into Cate Version 2.0, I know it’s an obsession in a good way, for me, and it’s worked.

Now for what other ELBers can’t live without, go check ’em out:

  • Sarah from Sarah’s Cucina Bella
  • Joanne from Eats Well with Others
  • Chris Arpante – Melecotte
  • Jenna – Stop, Drop and Blog
  • Casey – The Starnes Family
  • Patsy – Family, Friends and Food
  • Claire – Cooking is Medicine
  • Jen – NJ Epicurean
  • Rivki Locker – Healthy Eating for Ordinary People
  • Jennifer Schulz – Lick-a-Plate
  • Sarah Rogers – Sarah’s Sweet Creations
  • Gwen – Simple Healthy Family

Project 365
April 25, 2011, Photo #114 (and a few bonuses)

New DiscoveryI discovered this little gem yesterday at Trader Joe’s. If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, go buy this. I think this might be my new favorite yogurt. So creamy. And light. And so darn good, I would make a special trip just to stock up on it (and the other two flavors I didn’t get).

FAILThis, on the other hand, was an epic fail. Like in Charlie Sheen proportions. It caught my eye and I added it to my cart yesterday. I’ve heard good things about roasted kale as snacks. Why wouldn’t this be good? I wanted to like it, I really did. But it was so bad I actually spit it out. Couldn’t even bring myself to swallow it. Gave the rest of the package to my mom. Jury is still out on her opinion.

Still FAILNope, still terrible.

New ObsessionI can’t remember the last time I ate mortadella. Well, aside from the past few days. I rarely eat cold cuts, but had a piece last week and got hooked again. Slightly salty and too hard to resist. Craved it all weekend. Succumbed again today.

Soft ButterGrowing up, we always had soft butter in the kitchen cabinet. The perfect thing to spread across warm toast or pancakes. I hate how cold butter tears into your bread. Of course we always have soft butter in our cabinets here too. I blame my mother.

Comfort FoodRice with butter. Total comfort food. Another carryover from childhood.

So SweetI was trying to get dinner ready and Nick yelped behind me, and promptly started whining about a canker sore, blaming it on his dentist visit last week. I gave him the “man up!” speech, explaining that no one has ever died from a canker sore. His response was that I had never had one and didn’t know the pain he was in. Quite the contrary. Canker sores sometimes come from stress, and believe me, I’ve had them. I said I don’t whine when I have a problem and sometimes we just have to suck it up, put on a brave face and deal with it. I said, for example, that I had a headache, was tired, and I still had more work to do after dinner, bath and bed. He looked at me for a moment and asked if that was true. Yes, of course. Then he kicked me out of the kitchen and finished getting dinner himself. Of course, he didn’t serve what I was cooking, but he told me to go finish my work while he took care of the food. So incredibly touching. As I was working, he brought me this basket, lined with a cloth napkin, making sure to remember the straw and the requisite piece of fruit with dinner. Made the sandwich himself.  He said he knows I don’t like Coke, but thought I deserved soda. Best kid ever.

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Posted In: Eat. Live. Be., Narrative · Tagged: Charlie Sheen, Eat., Trader Joe's

Comments

  1. Sarah Caron says

    April 25, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    I love the Roasted Seaweed Snack. SO yummy. I think. ;)

    And a scale? Really?

    Reply
  2. Casey says

    April 26, 2011 at 2:25 am

    I love Cate 2.0. And, I think she’s fabulous.

    I’m sorry I’ve been a slacker with the ELB’s. Still reading and still inspired. And, I’ve lost 15 pounds! :)

    Reply
  3. Joanne says

    April 26, 2011 at 6:19 am

    When I first lost weight a few years ago, I was all about the scale. It drove me crazy not to be around it…but I became obsessed in the bad way so I’ve had to mostly give it up. But for some people it definitely works!

    Reply
  4. Jackie says

    April 26, 2011 at 7:22 am

    I am so sad to hear you didn’t like TJ seaweed!! It is a favorite of mine since it is cheap, salty and hardly any Weight Watcher points. It’s all in what you prefer I guess :)

    Reply
  5. Ramona says

    April 26, 2011 at 9:48 am

    A good kid. Yes, those things hurt really bad.

    Reply

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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.

Pinterest

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.
Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We popped into Cafe Crevier downtown and I finally got to try one of their burgers. It was thick and juicy and cooked to perfection. Love that the lettuce was shredded, and that the bun was toasted and slightly crispy. If you’re local, pop in and give them a try - don’t miss the fries!
I haven’t had a snow pic on my feed all winter b I haven’t had a snow pic on my feed all winter because, well, it’s been a weird one. Despite living in the Northeast, our Winter has had hardly any snow. Not to worry though, we’re going to be having snow in the Spring at this point. 😂 End of the week has a high of 50 degrees, today we lived in a snow globe with awful wind. I don’t even care what freaking season it is, just PICK ONE. And for the love of all things holy, I desperately need sunshine.
Grey days, perpetual rain, delayed opening tomorro Grey days, perpetual rain, delayed opening tomorrow … all the perfect setting for a cozy night at home and #candleoclock.
Weekend Photos in Review, old school. ✨ Weekend Photos in Review, old school. ✨

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