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!
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!
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Recipe: Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo

December 8, 2012 · Narrative

Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo

It kind of makes me smile that the kids and I were watching the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show while eating Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo. I mean, the irony. I like the fashion show, no shame in admitting it. Fun music, live acts, and, well, sequins galore. It’s my jam.

The kids have never seen it before, and asked a million and one questions.

“Why are they all wearing their underwear?”

“Do they really sell those wings in the store?”

“And those costumes?”

“Gosh, there are a lot of sequins.”

“Wow, Bruno Mars is tiny. Is he a grown-up or just really, really small?”

And, of course, my favorite was the entranced look that came over Madeline’s face when Justin Beiber came on to perform.

She was completely and utterly silent.

And if you know Madeline, you know what a feat that is.

Mesmerized.

Pure adorableness.

*And we, of course, rewound the recording to watch his part twice.

Beiber Fever

In the grand scheme of things, as good as alfredo sauce is, it’s so laden with butter and cream that it’s an infrequent indulgence. And the kids honestly aren’t big fans of it either, which is just as well.

I recently spied a lighter “skinny” version of alfredo sauce and gave it a try on a busy weeknight. It’s super simple, and because it uses pantry ingredients, I bet you have everything on hand to make this tonight. It needs so little babysitting that I actually made a gazpacho salad for lunch for the next day (recipe coming next week) while I was waiting for the sauce come to a boil.

Which is totally my kind of multi-tasking.

It definitely has the creaminess of the more traditional alfredo sauce, with a little bit more heartiness by way of the chicken broth. By forgoing butter and cream, and instead, making a roux with flour and extra virgin olive oil, you are skipping all the reasons why alfredo sauce is so bad for you. And the end bite? Close enough to satisfy without the pang of guilt at the end. Deliciousness.

The recipe comes from Liz Weiss and Janice Newell Bissex, who are the founders of mealmakeovermoms.com and authors of No Whine with Dinner. Although it’s not a Weight Watchers recipe, if you happen to be following that, it’s 11 points per serving (with my changes below); it’s 10 points if you follow the recipe exactly.

Tomorrow? Weekend wrap-up in photos.
Monday? Pesto and Garlic Crescent Rolls!
Tuesday? Christmas Lists and Santa visits!
Wednesday? A review on a new grilled cheese restaurant!
Thursday? A new recipe for Gazpacho Salad!
Friday? A review on a new art exhibit!

Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo
Recipe courtesy of Meal Makeover Moms

Makes 4 servings

  • 8 ounces dried fettuccine
  • 2 tablespoons EVOO
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage, plus small whole leaves for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup all-natural chicken broth (I used chicken stock)
  • 1/2 cup 2% milk (I used whole milk)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pinch ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

1. In a pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and sage and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is golden, 1 to 2 minutes.

3. Whisk in the flour until smooth, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the broth, milk, pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a low boil, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring gently, until the mixture thickens, about 3 minutes.

4. Pour the sauce over the pasta and toss. Stir in 3/4 cup Parmesan. Top with the sage leaves and more Parmesan as desired.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Bruno Mars, dinner, fettuccine alfredo, Justin Beiber, Meal Makeover Moms, No Whine with Dinner, Victoria's Secret, Weight Watchers

Comments

  1. Betsy says

    December 8, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    This looks great. I haven’t had fettucine alfredo since high school since it is soooo full of fat etc (and a bit too rich for me).

    I have all the ingredients except the sage. Do you think it will be ok to just leave out? Or sub something? Just don’t want to get sage since never use it.

    I was thinking of making it along some grilled chicken.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Cate says

      December 9, 2012 at 6:23 pm

      Yes, it would be absolutely fine without it (especially since traditional alfredo doesn’t include it).

      Reply
  2. Joanne says

    December 9, 2012 at 8:53 am

    I didn’t watch the Victoria’s Secret show but The.Boy. did and his only comment was that he thought they were too skinny this year. (= why I love him).

    ADORE alfredo sauce but not the guilt. Definitely want to try this version!
    Joanne recently posted..Recipe: Greek Yogurt Cheesecake with Pomegranate Syrup {GIVEAWAY}

    Reply
  3. patsy says

    December 9, 2012 at 7:15 pm

    Love all the comments and questions they had! Too cute! I love a good alfredo sauce, but don’t have it often for the same reasons… it’s an indulgence! I’ll have to give this one a try!
    patsy recently posted..Time To Read: Fragile by Lisa Unger

    Reply
  4. Betsy says

    December 11, 2012 at 11:12 pm

    Thanks for the info. Happy that I can leave out the sage. Woo, hoo. Fettucine Alfredo is on the list for next week.

    Reply

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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!
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

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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!
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!

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