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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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

It Takes a Village {Recipe: Cheesy Potato Fries}

June 13, 2012 · Narrative

Cheesy Potato Fries
Is it me or does that word “cheesy” look weird when it’s spelled that way?  And adding a y for “cheesey” doesn’t seem to make it better.

Not matter your political leanings, nothing can be truer than the words that Hillary Rodham Clinton became famous for some fifteen years ago.  It truly takes a village to raise a child.  No matter what Bob Dole said about it.

My interpretation of her famous phrase is slightly different though.  To me, I look at it as a way to make it ok to need help.  To ask for help.

And that is truly one of the hardest lessons to swallow sometimes.  Asking for help.

When I was younger, married, and Nick was just a few years old, I always wanted to be that parent (which is slightly different than this that parent).  The one that seemingly had it all together.  Balancing work, family, home with the ease of a walk in the park.  I can be Super Woman.  I can do it all.  No doubt.

But at what price?  Extra stress?  Less sleep?  Reduced levels of patience?

No, thank you.

It truly wasn’t until I separated from my (then) husband that I realized I couldn’t.  I mean, well, in theory I could.  But I wasn’t willing to do it at the cost it came with.

And so little by little, if people offered help, I took it.  It started with baby steps.  If someone was coming over for dinner and asked what they could bring, I suggested something.  Instead of saying “nothing.”  Easy enough.  Dipping my toes in the water.  Seeing how it felt.

And you know what?  It felt fine.

Whether you’re a parent or not.  Whether you’re the mom of a German Shepherd or a two-year-old or a succulent plant on your kitchen window sill.  No matter your lot in life.

It’s ok to ask for help.

We are all in this together.

We schedule car pools to lessen the burden.  Pick up extra items at a grocery store that we know someone needs.  Watch each other’s kids to save a few bucks on babysitting.  Drop off dinner just because.

We have each others’ backs.

Sometimes there is nothing greater than the people you can lean on in your friends and family network.  Who can you call at 1 am when you need help?  Those are your villagers.  Your people.

Over the past few weeks in particular, there has been a lot of village raising.  Last week it meant a bottle of wine and an ear for a friend that is going through a particularly difficult and messy time.  I offered some words of wisdom, and a phone number or two, and did what I could.  It’s not enough, but enough for that Friday night.

A friend’s Dad recently died, so this weekend, it will mean cooking up a dinner so she doesn’t have to think about feeding her kids during her trials.

And last night, it was watching friends’ kids so they could visit an immediate family member who is in the hospital.

Ask.  Give.  Some days you’ll be on the giving end.  Some days, the receiving.  It’s all ok.  And when it comes to kids, I think it’s always pretty awesome knowing that my kids have pseudo extra parents out there.  One friend texted me about kids’ sunglasses on sale today, and brought dessert to complete dinner at our house tonight.   There’s always someone going that extra mile.  Giving that extra pair of hands.  Reminding you that you’re not alone.

Even though it sometimes feels like you are.

And trust me, I’m there with you.

With two extra little smiling faces at our dinner table last night, I wanted to keep the meal super kid-friendly.  And I wanted to have the kids fed before they were picked up, to make it easier on their parents.  I have the hardest time with side dishes at the dinner table.  Salad or fresh fruit is a no-brainer, but vegetables are sometimes always more challenging.  I found this recipe for Cheesy Potato Fries on Pinterest (my vegetable board is here) and figured if the potatoes were a tough sell, the cheese might help a swing vote in my favor.

Truth be told, my kids want nothing to do with potatoes.  Mashed, baked, double-stuffed, they want no part of it.  They barely like french fries.  But cheese?  Maybe.

The cheesy potato fries were simple to make, and while I’m trying to avoid carbs at dinner, I couldn’t resist digging in myself.  Even Mystic, who doesn’t like sour cream, went back for seconds.

Four little faces at the dinner table last night, and the littlest (at nearly three) actually ate the most.  But each of them ate the potatoes.

And if you know kids, you know getting four kids to agree on the same food is almost like winning the lottery.

Well, it totally is.

The spud lottery.

So you can find the recipe here.  Go make them.  Share them with your villagers.  Or your kids.  Or just during a really good night of reality tv.  I won’t tell.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Bob Dole, Cheesy Potato Fries, Hillary Rodham Clinton, it takes a village, kid-friendly, Pinterest, Vegetables

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    June 14, 2012 at 6:35 am

    It really does take a village…my mom and her sister both had kids at around the same time so they gave each other a ton of support while we were little. There were other family friends too, who pitched in and who my mom helped in their times of need. It’s just the right thing to do and so worth it.

    Reply
  2. Patricia says

    June 15, 2012 at 11:09 pm

    You know my feelings on this. Trusting anyone outside the immediate family with our kids was a very hard thing for us. Babysitters were unheard of..My parents never left us with anyone But, sometimes life has other plans and you find that you can’t do it alone and that in a pinch family can’t always be there.
    We are so thankful to have you and your crew in our “village”. Thanks so much for being there!!

    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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