#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: Caramel and Toasted Coconut Rum Cake with Candied Walnuts {#CaptainsTable}

November 26, 2013 · Narrative

A delicious rum-infused cake with caramel and coconut that is perfect for the upcoming holiday season.

Caramel cake - close up-001
The Captain Morgan brand, along with Chef Hugh Acheson, recently launched the Captain’s Table Challenge, and during this challenge, a handful of bloggers, including myself, will be sharing recipes that we have created using the Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum and Black Spiced Rum. As a devotee of Bravo’s Top Chef, I am no stranger to Chef Acheson and his culinary accomplishments, and as I worked on tonight’s recipe, which happens to use a boxed cake mix and a box of pudding mix, I wondered if he would approve.

Since he is judging all our recipe submissions, I hope so, and I decided that Chef Acheson would appreciate a little efficiency in the kitchen from a working mom. After all, there are so many of us in that position, an accessible recipe is surely a good thing.

When the box of Captain Morgan arrived, I knew I wanted to work with the Original Spiced Rum first. This bundt cake was originally inspired by an old recipe from Jell-O, believe it or not, but I made some drastic changes along the way.

All in the name of lily-gilding deliciousness.

Because, after all, why just have rum when you can have rum with caramel, coconut, and candied walnuts?

The end result? A slightly sweet cake that is perfect for your upcoming Thanksgiving Day table. Because the glaze and caramel sauce are drizzled over the cake, as opposed to frosting, the sweetness is subtle, but not overbearing. A little soft, sweet bite from the toasted coconut, and a nice crunch from the candied walnuts … a simple but sophisticated cake with a hint of Original Spiced Rum, you’ll find yourself making this one again and again.

I am a big fan of social media, and even more so when we can use it for good. The generous folks at Captain Morgan will donate $1 to WhyHunger every time the hashtag #CaptainsTable is used across social media channels this holiday season. Which means if you tweet, pin, or facebook this post with the hashtag #CaptainsTable, a dollar is donated to fight hunger every time. If there ever was a time for sharing, this would be it.

Caramel Cake - top view-001

I will be working on developing more recipes for Captain Morgan throughout the holiday season, so if you like rum, there’s plenty more to come. In the meantime, if you are looking for a perfectly classic cocktail recipe to go along with your turkey, you can’t go wrong with a Rum & Coke, with Captain Morgan, natch.

For all things Captain Morgan, and to see the recipes that the other bloggers are creating during the challenge, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Tomorrow? We talk Thanksgiving, as I share a quick round-up of our holiday favorites.

…

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Recipe: Spike Mendelsohn’s Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake

January 11, 2011 · Narrative

A decadent milkshake from Bravo TV Top Chef alum Spike Mendelsohn. Totally worth making.

OMG GoodWhether you’re following a clean eating plan, Weight Watchers, or something you cobbled together, I believe that you have to give yourself permission to indulge.  Just a little bit.  Within reason.  Every now and then.  Even my old hardcore Triathalon competitor personal trainer was known to indulge too, but here’s the key (as he explained it)… make it count.  If you feel the sudden need to have a wee bit of ice cream, make it Haagen Dazs, not the store brand, you know?  Don’t waste the calories and sugar on some also-ran store special.

And so it was with these Toasted Marshmallow Milkshakes on Sunday night.  I worked out in the morning, cleaned the house with the kids, and ate clean the entire day.  Come Sunday night and company for dinner, I wanted the teensiest bit of indulgence, and these milkshakes were just the ticket.  The recipe makes four, and I eeked out six servings, so we all had a little less to feel guilty about.  But, OMG were they good.  And since that’s coming from someone who doesn’t get excited about milkshakes like ever, let alone anything with marshmallows, that’s saying a lot.

The recipe comes from Spike Mendelsohn, and Top Chef fans will recognize him from Season 4.  He owns the Good Stuff Eatery in Washington DC and created this milkshake to celebrate the 2009 inauguration.  If you’re in the mood for a little sweet celebration, this one might be just the ticket.  Drink up.

Project 365
January 11, 2011, Photo #11
Madeline's RoomThis is what Madeline’s room looked like as we left the house at 8 am this morning.  The photo is completely unretouched.  It makes me smile every time I see this room.  When the curtains are drawn, it makes the room this wonderful shade of deep pink and it can’t help but make you happy as you dash out the door.  That and the blinding pink helps me ignore the mess she leaves in her wake.

…

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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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