#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Recipe: Beef Bulgogi

October 11, 2017 · Narrative

A quick and hearty meal that is kid-friendly and adult-approved. Let’s make Beef Bulgogi!
Untitled

When Madeline was a baby, I became fast friends with Erin, and she introduced me to the world of Bulgogi. Full on flavor and so simple to make, it quickly became a house staple. Now, many years later, Erin has since moved to California, but every time I make the dish, or hear about bulgogi, I think about her and her sweet family.

So when Kristen from Dine & Dish posted a different version of bulgogi, I was totally in. This version uses ground beef instead, but the end result mimics our favorite recipe easily. With school, competition cheer, Girl Scouts, and … life … in full swing, this is a delicious recipe to get into your weekday rotation. It can be on the table in thirty minutes, and you can keep the ingredients on hand for those hectic sports nights when you want to skip the drive-thru, but not family meal time.

Hungry for more Korean-inspired meals?
This is another recipe we’ve made that mimics the delicious flavors, but is equally quick to table.

…

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Recipe: Very Veggie Sloppy Joes

October 21, 2014 · Ad-Free, Narrative

A delicious, filling, easy-to-make go-to dinner that will please everyone in your family, these Very Veggie Sloppy Joes are a one pot meal that screams old school comfort food.

Very Veggie Sloppy Joes-001

Growing up, Sloppy Joes were a semi-frequent meal to hit our dinner table. And for good reason. It’s quick, healthy, and a sure-fire crowd pleaser. Once I had my own family, I started making Sloppy Joes as well, because as long as you have ground beef on hand, you can have this on the table, with a few other pantry staples, in under thirty minutes.

Take that, Rachael Ray.

A little of this, a little of that, I never really measure, I just make them and adjust it along the way.

As cooks are wont to do.

But lately, or at least the past dozen or so times I have made Sloppy Joes, I’ve been adding some vegetables to it. Because although I don’t subscribe to the hide-the-vegetables-and-deceive-your-kids program, if I can tuck them in here and there without altering the taste, then I will.

But make no mistake. The kids knew the vegetables were in there. And Madeline did her very best to carefully pick out as many bits of bell pepper as she could, until she realized she was fighting a losing battle.

So. #winning

And to think she didn’t even notice all the mushrooms she ate.

Besides the yellow and red bell peppers, the mushrooms, and the tomato sauce, I also used 93% lean ground beef, so it doesn’t get much healthier than this. Beef, even that lean, is an inexpensive way to feed a family, which means more money for peppers and mushrooms like these, right from the farmer’s market. When the meat is on sale, I stock up and freeze a bunch. Just remove the butcher/grocery store wrapping and put the beef in a freezer-safe bag. Make sure to squeeze out all the air, close it up, and pop it in the freezer. It will keep safely for 6-12 months uncooked, and 2-3 months cooked.

If you’re looking for more easy and delicious beef recipes, be sure to visit Beef, It’s What’s for Dinner, and their Pinterest page (and they also have good money saving tips here). Now, for serving these Sloppy Joes, anything goes. I usually either toast a slice of bread and spoon the Sloppy Joes over the bread or I put it inside a toasted roll. I like them topped with melted cheese, but I skipped that this round because 1) I’m trying to be virtuous and 2) the kids prefer it without. Mix and match and serve how you like it best.

Hungry for more Sloppy Joes recipes?
This recipe is full of mushrooms, and the kids inhaled it. Delicious stuff from Cooking Light.

Psst … my site was having caching problems yesterday, so in case you missed yesterday’s post, you’ll find some delicious little meatballs right here. …

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

Pinterest

#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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