Archives for 2011

Review: Cups Frozen Yogurt

August 15, 2011 · Narrative

I feel like we’re on a bit of a frozen yogurt kick here in the O’Malley household, but I think it’s largely due to the new onslaught of new frozen yogurt establishments. We always *did* like frozen yogurt, now we just have more places to go to make our own concoctions.

A few weeks ago, knee-deep in Birthday Week celebrations, my friend Beth and I made plans for a burger followed by a frozen yogurt dessert, knocking out two new establishments in one fell swoop. The burger restaurant review will be saved for another day because, well, to be fair to the restaurant we’ve decided to give it another try before really bringing down the hammer.

The fro-yo place? Today is the day.

Cups is very similar to Red Mango and Yogurtland. Lots of flavors to choose from, serve yourself, load on toppings and dig in. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they were actually owned by the peeps behind Yogurtland. They both have a dispenser near the front door with strawberry-flavored water for the taking. Weird that they both have the same EXACT thing. I mean, it’s not like you see strawberry flavored water everywhere. But I digress.

Cups charges .49/ounce, just like Red Mango, as compared to Yogurtland’s slightly cheaper per ounce price of .39/ounce.

Same weird shower stall partitions as Yogurtland.

All three places have a good variety of yogurt flavors and toppings.

The real difference?

The vibe.

The energy at Cups is completely different than the other two spots. Every employee that worked there looks like they took a wrong turn while heading for MTV’s Jersey Shore auditions. Short shorts, skimpy tanks tops and surgical enhancements need only apply. The music was a loud, thumping techno club sound with the cashiers dancing and singing the words along with the beat. There is a velvet rope outside to keep control of the crowd when the lines get out of hand.

A reviewer on Yelp said, “When I walked in, I was blasted with a wall of sound. Please let me eat in peace. To me, this place was definitely conceptualized and decorated with the North Jersey teenager in mind. If you’re in high school, this place is definitely for you.” Another one chimed in with “…the negatives: its sensory overload once you walk in…its really tight, hella loud, and full of snotty little tweens…”

And the marketing? Suggestive and slick. Taking the term “cups” and twisting it on its ear, the slogans on the bottom back of the girls’ spaghetti-strapped tank tops read:

“Don’t go topless.”

“Size matters, fill your cup.”

“The art of spooning.”

“It’s what’s in the cup that counts.”

I am all for being suggestive. Just ask a few of my close friends. But I also think there is a time and place for everything. And here, in a frozen yogurt store, where I might be bringing my kids, I just found it slightly offensive. In fact, you can even buy your very own Cups bikini while you’re there.

That being said, if you’re in the area and in need of a refreshing, reasonably guilt-free and inexpensive sweet treat, stop in. But for me, it’s an in and out type of place. Get it to go. Unless, of course, you want to get in touch with your inner 17-year-old slutty self.

Cups Frozen Yogurt
852 Route 3 Suite 109
Clifton, NJ 07012
(973) 272-1990

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Weekend Photos in Review

August 14, 2011 · Photos

If you’re a regular reader here, or know me or the kids well personally, then you know how enraptured we are with the sky. Sunrise. Sunset. Stars. The moon. Cloud formations. You name it, and we stop and stand in awe of it. So you’ll have to forgive the abundance of sky shots in this weekend’s review. It was just too amazing not to share. From the sun setting Friday night as a girls weekend got underway, to the lights and the dark sky along the Garden State Parkway to an absolutely glorious sunrise that Beth captured Saturday morning, it’s all just a tiny reminder to stop, breathe in and exhale. Deep. The sunset pictures are all completely untouched … that spectacular light show is all courtesy of Mother Nature. Amazing stuff. (PS – If you love any of these shots as much as I do, you’ll find them in my Etsy shop by the end of the week)

Like this weekend was for us, a gorgeous stop-and-take-note sky is nothing short of restorative. Hope your weekend was much of the same.

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Recipe: Teresa Giudice’s Baked Flounder Oregano

August 12, 2011 · Narrative

No one is as surprised as me that I’m about to share a recipe with you from Teresa Giudice.

She of Real Housewives of New Jersey, um, fame.

But she has a new cookbook out, and I’m trying to make a concerted effort to cook more Italian food.

Since it’s part of my background.

And I feel I don’t do it often enough.

If Teresa can help with that, why not?

Of course the fact that the first recipe I made from it doesn’t scream Italian is something we will overlook, mmkay?

All the recipes in the book are super simple to make and there are pictures throughout.

Of course, being the sort of book from a brash, outspoken housewife that flips tables during arguments, there are innuendos and cheesy quotes throughout.

Just ignore them. I did.

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Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Strata

August 11, 2011 · Narrative

Tonight is the recipe for that casserole picture that snuck into last weekend’s Photos in Review post.

It seems that all good casserole or strata recipes start with a can of cream of fill-in-the-blank or condensed something, doesn’t it?

This one is no exception.

Especially when it’s from a cookbook published in 1972, for the steep brand-new price of $2.95.

We are still eating pretty clean these days, but there is something about a dish that includes Campbell’s Soup that screams “comfort food.”

Why is that?

I don’t keep a lot of canned soups in the house. Well, nearly nothing at all except when one of the kids are clamoring for chicken noodle soup and they don’t want to wait for it to be homemade. And by “they,” I mean Nick.

But this recipe? I think it might be a recipe to keep a can of Campbell’s in the pantry.

It was cheesy.

Creamy.

And full of homemade “your Mom loves you” goodness.

The little bits at the bottom of the casserole dish were the best part.

I kept picking at them.

Thank goodness Mom sent us home with some leftovers.

Moms are good like that, aren’t they?

Usually the Thursday night (hello weekend!) post is my last one for the week, but I might sneak one more in tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes. Trying to catch up, but you know what they say about the best laid plans and all. Especially with me and Friday nights.

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Review: Piroshky Piroshky Bakery, Pike Place Market, Seattle

August 10, 2011 · Narrative

Love the little bit of sun flare in that picture. I had planned another topic for today, but couldn’t string the words together in a way that made me happy, so instead we’ll catch up on some backlog.

I happened to be on an interview this morning, and the guy interviewing me asked me “why food?” One of the easiest questions for me to answer, but not one I am able to eloquently sum up in a nice, compact elevator speech. Because it means so much. From my girls trip last year to Mystic, CT, I have a giant photo hanging in our kitchen that proclaims FOOD IS LOVE. And that’s it, really, isn’t it? Some of my earliest fondest memories from my childhood involve food, but beyond that, it’s about coming to the table. To share with family. With friends. Creating memories. Around occasions. And nothingness. And that’s one thing I strive to give my kids. Memories of love. Food. Family. Laughter. After all, it’s all woven together in our tapestry. Our rainbow cakes. Our Feast of the Seven Fishes. Nick’s yesteryear favorite dinner of Penne with Vodka Sauce and his sister’s first taste of grapefruit. Our celebrations of Chinese New Year. Even though we’re not Chinese. I want them to remember coming together as a family, at the table, when they look back on their childhood. And when Nick requested a homecooked meal for his birthday dinner, it just reinforces the fact that I’m on the right path. It all starts here.

And so it is with trips too. Since early Spring, I have taken a trip a month, largely for work, and some of them (heck, most of them!) have been intrinsically tied to food. The memories that surround the trip are all about “Remember that meal we had at that dive?” “Those roadstand tomatoes?” “That waiter at such-and-such as awesome, wasn’t he?” We share. We connect. We laugh. We love. We feed our souls from the inside out, nourishing every fiber of our being.

When I say that Sarah and I ate our way across Seattle back in May, I’m not exaggerating. Because we totally did. Our last meeting with the Starbucks crew was a lunch meeting. But after that, we had a second lunch at Lola. And then we seriously worked our way from one end of Pike Place Market to the other. Eating. Experiencing. Thinking “oh, we’re not hungry,” and then an hour later we’re chatting it up with a cute waiter and two dozen oysters. (That review is coming soon)

The day we arrived in Seattle, Beth forwarded me an e-mail with a list of Top 10 eats in Pike Place Market. Whoever said “timing is everything” wasn’t kidding. I saw Piroshky Piroshky Bakery on the list and it was one of our first stops. A Russian bakery that has been family-owned since 1992, we found it easily by the small line snaking outside the front door. And in actuality, the line gave us a chance to get the tiny lay of the land, suss out the menu, peer into the clear glass case and decide exactly how many piroshkies would be too much.

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Recipe: Giant M&M Cookies

August 9, 2011 · Narrative

Judging by the comments from the cookie batter picture here yesterday, and on Flickr and in my e-mail box, you guys are in need of some sweets. STAT. I’m here to help.

If you’re a regular reader, you might know how seriously the O’Malley family takes our rainbows. Which is why you can understand that I take a teensy bit of umbrage that these cookies were originally called Giant Rainbow Cookies.

Colorful they are.

But M&Ms does not a rainbow make.

I do, however, think it would be pretty awesome if the M&Ms crew came out with a rainbow colored pack.

I mean, why the heck not?

You can already order and personalize them with any color you want.

It would be super cool.

And we would certainly be supportive of such a thing.

Back to the cookies.

They were giant. And we do so love a giant cookie. Or a monster cookie. Same thing, right?

The super-size-ness just seems to make them that much more fun.

Because of the unusual method when putting the dough on the cookie sheet, the insides of the cookies are ultra-soft even after they’ve cooled. And the next day too.

And we do so love that.

And the dough?

Crazygood raw. I may or may not know that from personal experience.

Last night, we each had a cookie, and then one went to work for a co-worker, and then some were packaged up for Mystic and his kids. On the way home from an appointment this afternoon, Nick asked about the cookies. Demanded I count off how many had been distributed, to make sure there were still some at home for him when we got there.

There were.

The recipe says 18 large cookies, using a 1/4 cup measure. I got 13, and my cups weren’t even close to 1/4 cup full. So be warned if you want more. Or like the original 18. Maybe make them smaller (way less fun) or double the recipe (our vote!).

But either way, official rainbow or not, 13 or 18, bake these babies up.

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Crocs, Post-Its and Back-to-School Mania

August 8, 2011 · Narrative

Random picture for tomorrow’s post. Mostly ’cause I hate to start a post without a cool pic.

“Can you believe the back-to-school stuff is in Target already?” I texted Mystic.

Yes, especially if people are buying it. Are they? came the reply.

“Um, if by ‘people,’ you mean me, then yes.”

That was three weeks ago. Even in the world of crazy retail sale schedules, I thought it a bit early for back-to-school sales, but of course I looked. And picked up a few bargains. The best sales are yet to come.

I have no problem admitting I’m a sucker for a new stash of school supplies. For we use the stuff year ’round with crafting, journaling and general all ’round creative pursuits.

I love a fresh clean notebook, just waiting for the first stroke of pen.

Crayola crayons perfectly sharpened bearing that familiar crayon smell.

Bic medium blue ballpoint pens.

Glue sticks.

And Post-Its.

Man, does the O’Malley household love the Post-It line.

The folks at Post-It sent me some of their fun supplies, including this handy holder that goes on your refrigerator. Methinks it’s far easier to have sticky notepaper stuck to the side of the fridge than rummaging around an overly full junk drawer for a scrap of paper. Assuming, of course, that YOUR junk drawer looks like OUR junk drawer. And I’m kinda hoping it does.

When it first arrived, I tore open the package and stuck the dispenser right on the fridge.

It promptly fell off.

I tried again, this time applying more force.

Down to the floor it went.

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Weekend Photos in Review

August 7, 2011 · Photos

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Hershey Giveaway & My Favorite S’Mores Face

August 5, 2011 · Ad-Free, Narrative

When Nick woke up this morning, on his last day of summer camp, he came into my bedroom and asked if his outfit was ok.

He was wearing his s’more shirt (courtesy of Grandma and J. Crew’s Crew Cuts, btw).

To say this kid is in tune with what is going on would be an understatement. I have long since believed he has had a sixth sense, but that’s a story for another time.

Today was my deadline for posting about s’mores for the gang at Hershey.

And Nick started his day with his s’mores shirt.

I hadn’t said a word previously.

Totally ‘n sync.

And not referring to the hotness that is Justin Timberlake and his old boy band.

My “surprise” topic from Hershey was to show you my “favorite s’mores face.”

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Sponsorship Opportunities on Sweetnicks

August 4, 2011 · Narrative

One of the many reasons I had this website redesigned earlier this year was because I wanted to create a space to feature sponsors (a gentle way of saying ads), and now, at long last, I’m ready to throw open those doors.

Do you have a blog that you would like to advertise or cast a little extra light on?

Do you have an Etsy or other online shop that you’d like to promote?

This is an excellent opportunity to do so. There will only be a limited number of ad spots available, with the first ads going in on September 1, 2011.

Since blogging and having an online presence is such a community driven effort, I’m kind of excited about this … a chance to introduce you to new web sites to fall in love with, Etsy shops to go crazy for, artisans to support … it’s gonna be good.

For complete sponsorship details, drop me a line at cate@sweetnicks.com. I have a one-page info sheet to send your way. :)

August 4, 2011 – Bonus Photos

Double batch of blue tie-dye cupcakes to celebrate Nick’s birthday at camp today.

The house is just too quiet, particularly at night, without Eli, so the kids and I have been trying to distract ourselves. Tonight it was the new Smurf movie.

Which was shown in 3D. Which kind of makes me a bit dizzy. Since I made it into this pic, I squeaked in under the wire for today’s Embrace the Camera, hosted by Miss Emily over at the Anderson crew.

Recipe: Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas

August 3, 2011 · Narrative

When The Neighbor Wife and Payton came over for dinner one night last week , I changed my mind a thousand times about what to make for dinner.

This is not unusual.

I can never decide what to make.

Because I want to make too much.

The list starts out long.

Energy high.

The day progresses.

And I thankfully get more and more reasonable as the day wears on.

It was a weeknight after all.

I ended up with Buffalo Chicken Dip (a tried and true), fresh fruit and Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas, a new recipe I threw together.

Loved the enchiladas.

They are reasonably quick to make.

You can make them super healthy.

Or not.

Clean out your fridge and stuff the ingredients into a tortilla.

Or hit the grocery store.

Mix and match the enchilada innards based upon your family’s individual tastes.

Or make it all about you.

The recipe below is loosely what I did.

It’s a guideline.

Not a blueprint.

Ole!…

Letter to My Son – Happy 9th Birthday!

August 2, 2011 · Narrative

At 7 am, I felt a gentle tap on my arm.

“Mom, it’s my birthday! I’m 9!”

I cracked open one eye and looked at the clock. “Happy Birthday! Are you excited?”

Nick nodded emphatically, and asked me what time he was born.

“6:07 am.”

How did you know I was coming?

“Because you woke me up, just like you’re doing today.”

I patted the other side of my bed and he crawled in. Well, with as much space as his sister would allow. For a little body, she takes up an exorbitant amount of space. She crawled into my bed at 4 am, after telling me she couldn’t sleep. They both had a hard time sleeping last night. We all did. I maintain if she was actually LYING DOWN IN A BED instead of walking around at 4 am, she might have had an easier time sleeping, but what the heck do I know?

Today is a new day.

The last year of single digit birthdays for Nick.

When asked if he wanted to go out for dinner tonight or stay home, he chose staying home. I love that. Those little moments of homebodiness that mean Mom’s cooking is always better. Home really IS where the heart is. Spaghetti with red sauce, mozzarella and tomatoes from the farmer’s market and hot fudge brownie ice cream sundaes with soft chocolate chip cookies. I can totally do that.

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