Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Review: Taco Bao {Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey}

· Narrative

A new restaurant with Spanish Asian fusion street food and a casual vibe opened up nearby … one mention of Pork Belly Fries and I was there.

Taco Baos

The kids are at this new stage in their life (read: growing up) where they can do fun things like offer to take me out for dinner for my birthday.

While them growing up is equal parts awesome and bittersweet, they’ll always be my babies.

When they let ME choose where we can go for a meal, I usually choose some place new and some place where they might possibly not like the food.

Because all the OTHER TIMES we go out, it’s to their favorite places.

If I can’t choose what I want on my birthday, there’s no hope!

A friend had mentioned a new restaurant, Taco Bao, had opened up nearby and that she and her family loved it. Once I heard her mention Pork Belly Fries, it was a done deal, so when the kids offered to treat me to dinner for my birthday at the end of the summer, I knew exactly where I wanted to go.

Being a good mom, I did scan the menu ahead of time, just to make sure they could find something they liked, because, after all, I wanted them to enjoy the meal just as much as I planned to.

Located in the quiet little suburb of Lake Hiawatha, the restaurant was easy to find, along with on-street parking. We grabbed a space right in front, but it was also a weeknight when we went, so on a busier weekend night, you might have to circle the block once or twice.

It’s a small, casual restaurant with just a few tables, and a steady take-out business. Any time you go to a new restaurant, the menu can be a little overwhelming, and this was no exception. The best way to alleviate that? Ask them what customers LOVE to order, and order that.

And so I did.

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Visit: Krispy Kreme {Jersey City, New Jersey}

· Narrative

The flashing “hot donuts” sign beckons you. The taste keeps you. We finally have Krispy Kreme in New Jersey.

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If I mention I’m excited about a Krispy Kreme donut location opening up, some parts of the country might roll their eyes.

But Krispy Kreme hasn’t really migrated into New Jersey until recently. They finally opened a flagship location in Jersey City a few months ago, and I was dying to go.

The first time we had Krispy Kreme donuts was on our trip to Tennessee a few years ago. We ordered a few donuts and my kids were not excited. Not at all.

Weirdos.

Flash forward a few years, and a few more attempts, and they’ve come around.

So when I announced an afternoon sojourn to check out the new Krispy Kreme donut shop, they weren’t exactly upset.

The location is easy to find, but parking is another story. There are a few spaces in front, and after three trips around the block on a Saturday afternoon, we got lucky enough that one opened up. I didn’t notice any parking lots or significant street parking in that area, so be forewarned.

When we walked in, the line wasn’t too bad, ten people deep. It snaked in front of large glass windows where you could see inside what appeared to be a factory setting. On a perfect day, I imagine there is staff behind the glass, making donuts in front of the happy waiting (and drooling) customers. On this Saturday afternoon, there was just one employee puttering around, but we were nonetheless mesmerized by the sheet of glaze that was pouring down over the (donut-less) belt. If you look at the below picture, the white you see in the exact center is the glaze pouring down. I wish there was more action going on, but alas, it was not meant to be.

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There is a good selection of donuts available, and the, um, calorie count was displayed with each one. Sometimes it’s better not to know. YOLO and all that. My kids chose the original glazed, and I went with the jelly. So light, flaky, and soft, the donuts did not disappoint.

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The cashiers were friendly and helpful, completely understanding our need to check out the donuts before making our choice. If you’re in line, you can’t really see the donut selection until you’re right at the register, so there isn’t really a good way to check out the varieties until it’s your turn (and unless you’re a regular who knows the menu already).

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Four dollars later and we had the goods.

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Review: Fuel Thermos

· Narrative

Cool, sleek, and best of all … effective. This Trudeau Fuel Thermoses are exactly what your lunchbox needs.

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The thermoses of today are most definitely not the thermoses we grew up with. The thermoses I remember from my childhood were big and bulky and rarely kept the food warm. I am still somewhat nostalgic for them, and mostly the characters that were emblazoned on them, but I never used them for my own kids because they weren’t very effective.

Enter Trudeau thermoses. Which are most definitely NOT the thermoses of our youth.

Super sleek and stylish, they are easy to open and close, particularly for little hands. The one I use doesn’t have a cup inside the lid, like for soup, but they are available in the product line.

But the REAL question is … do they work?

I’m happy to report that they do.

Come December, all the cute little lunches are gone by the wayside and I’m in a heavy rotation of preparing ham sandwiches and pb&j on the daily. I am desperately seeking new inspiration (and motivation!), and so is my kid.

Enter the thermos.

I used them sporadically for Nick when he was younger, but not as often because they really didn’t do the job of keeping the food warm. And, well, really, who wants cold chicken noodle soup or nuggets?

No one, that’s who.

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Recipe: Silver Dollar Pancakes

· Breakfast, Narrative

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I have no problem admitting it.

I don’t like pancakes.

Never have (with the exception of one particular diner’s version, Broadway Diner in Summit).

Although I do make them for my kids fairly often.

Recently though, things shifted.

I was making a new recipe for the kids on a Breakfast for Dinner night.

I love Breakfast for Dinner, and so do Nick and Maddie. I can totally be a short order cook and make everyone something completely different, exactly how they like it, and still be done within thirty minutes.

Who can’t get behind THAT?

But when it comes to pancakes, it gets a little bit more challenging.

Nick always wants banana pancakes.

And Madeline wants chocolate chip.

And I mostly hate making two separate batches.

(And combining the two doesn’t fly with them, I tried)

So every so often, I try out a new recipe in the hopes that I will find one that they both like.

THIS IS THAT.

With the magical addition of sour cream, you are rewarded with the most lightest, fluffiest pancakes every to hit your fork.

And they remind me a bit of the diner pancakes that I love.

I make these in the silver dollar (smaller) size and the kids gobble them up.

One batch makes (roughly) twenty small pancakes, which is enough for the two of them for two breakfasts.

I usually make them on the weekends, so I have enough pancakes for one or two weekday mornings too.

Because although she likes to sleep AS LATE AS POSSIBLE, Madeline likes to have a “nice” breakfast in the morning.

Which usually equates to grabbing a granola bar or one of these muffins (a house favorite in regular rotation) or these as she dashes out the door for the bus.

But, sometimes, if I’m lucky, and she knows there are pancakes … she moves just a little faster.

So, winning.

Whether you have pancake lovers in your house or not, give this version a try. If they can convert me, there’s hope for everyone.

Hungry for more pancake recipes?
These Rainbow pancakes just make me happy.
These Blueberry Banana pancakes were (mostly) kid-approved, and super quick to make.
Buttermilk Pancakes are the perfect thing to make when you have a little buttermilk to use up (I always do!).
I haven’t made these Pumpkin Spice Pancakes in FOREVER, but they are totally worth making.

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Visit: Robinson’s Seafood Delight {Bahamas}

· Narrative

Fresh conch on the island of the Bahamas? I think that’s a yes. Always a yes.

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When it comes to exploring local cuisine, whether we’re near or far, I try to find out what is local and popular to that area so we can try something new, and really immerse ourselves. Because, really, isn’t that one of the highlights of traveling?

Which means that when I saw a conch stand on a trip to the Bahamas, we stopped. I have never tried conch, and neither have the kids, and a little seafood shack set up on the shore with live music seemed like the perfect place to do it.

Immersion like a local at its height.

When I say Robinson’s Seafood Delight is a shack, it really is. A tiny little place, with a picnic table or two in front, conch is what they specialize in, and there’s definitely no room for anything else.

Despite the small footprint of the shack, it cracked me up to find that they had WiFi. That’s a smart entrepreneur right there, selling his password to WiFi-craving tourists for $3.50 a clip. Not only do they have WiFi, they also have a pretty good following on their Trip Advisor page, and are, not really surprisingly, consistently lauded as one of the best eats in the Bahamas.

Which means only one thing > looks can be deceiving. …

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Visit: Donut Dip {West Springfield, Massachusetts}

· Narrative

Find yourself in Massachusetts with a craving for donuts? Be sure to pop into Donut Dip.

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Many, many years ago, I remember Rachael Ray saying on one of her shows, “If you want a recommendation on where to eat, ask a local.”

It’s something that stuck with me, and has served us well ever since. It led us to Jack’s BBQ when we were in Nashville last year, and last week, it took us to the Donut Dip in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

We were staying at a hotel nearby and we were looking for something quick and delicious for breakfast. As we were checking out of our hotel room, I asked the front desk clerk. She had just finished giving specific directions to the guest in front of me so he could find the “most delicious granola crusted French Toast,” so I knew she was just who to ask.

“Donut Dip. You will love it,” she said when I told her what we were looking for.

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The place was hopping when we got there (just a short walk from our hotel), but despite the small size and amount of customers there, there was barely any wait for service.

But first … the smell. You could seriously smell it before we even walked in the doors.

In fact, it smelled so good that the kids walked in and said “I want to order whatever smells so good.”

Quite honestly, I don’t think it was one thing specifically, but more so everything together, but I’m betting the fresh made cider donuts were definitely leading the scent brigade. These same apple cider donuts are supplied to a local apple orchard as well.

So many donuts to choose from, thank goodness we don’t live closer.

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Recipe: Make-It-Your-Own Couscous

· Narrative

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When I was at the hair dresser this weekend, we got to talking about eating habits and diets. She wanted to lose weight (although I don’t think she needs to), and I mentioned clean eating to her. It’s a good go-to because it doesn’t require any counting calories or reading labels or keeping track of anything. You just eat food. Not products. Good food that is good for you.

She said that it must be hard, with the kids, to make separate meals for everyone, and that’s when I stopped her. Because I am not a short order cook. There is none of this “separate meals for everyone” business. For the most part, other than a few individual things that someone likes or doesn’t like, we all eat the same thing. Because whether I’m clean eating or not, I’m all about introducing the kids to as many new foods and flavors as possible.

Our kitchen counters always have fresh fruit, and the cabinets, refrigerator, and freezer are filled with the good stuff. But there is the infrequent “trashy” item here and there too. Sure there are Oreos. But it’s the exception, rather than the rule. 80/20, if you will. On the weekends when the kids are with The Ex, one of my phone conversations with Nick and Madeline will routinely revolve around what they want to put on the grocery store list.

This weekend? Nick asked for his favorite yogurt (the vanilla one from Light and Fit) and frozen strawberries (because he makes smoothies for us). Madeline asked for fresh strawberries and blueberries, and chocolate chips (for pancakes).

They came home on Sunday night and complained that there was nothing healthy to eat at The Ex’s house. That when they were there, they went to the store to buy snacks, but it was all junk.

And they didn’t like that.

And man, how that made my heart soar.

They know the difference. And continue to make the right choices on their own. I suggested that perhaps they could put some granola bars, nuts, bananas, and applesauce packets in their backpacks so they had something better for them if they needed it, and we agreed that could work. Along with a conversation with The Ex about maybe laying off the junk a little bit. And how he was trying to make them happy and buying them the fun stuff, and then, well, you know how those conversations sometimes go.

I don’t think making healthy food choices is necessarily something that should be taught to kids. I think it’s more in the seeing and doing. Seeing me make the right choices. Seeing the right food available in our kitchen. Putting good food in front of them time and time again. It was years before Nick tried an artichoke, and these days, they’re a favorite for both of the kids. I ate them. He watched. They were available. And eventually he tried it with an open mind. They were both that way about broccoli. Going from the you-must-try-a-bite to they oftentimes request it on their own.

Keep making the good stuff available. Keep changing how you cook and serve something. Keep reintroducing foods that they might not have liked before. And eventually, kids will make the good decisions on their own. It’s what they know.

On Monday, Madeline and I were out for a quick bite while Nick was at a Boy Scout meeting. I opted for a vegetable wrap, but wanted something healthier than the french fries that came with it. As the waitress rattled off the choices (black beans, refried beans, rice, mixed vegetables), Madeline immediately piped up “We’ll take the vegetables!” The waitress laughed and then looked at me for my approval. You know, since it was my entree that Madeline was deciding for.

And, of course, she made the right choice because she knew what it was.

Couscous is a great go-to when I’m packing my lunches (the kids have yet to warm to couscous). I like it because it’s healthy, and it’s e-a-s-y. Once it’s cooked, you can mix in whatever you want. Make a Greek version with kalamata olives, feta cheese, chopped cucumbers, and oregano. A Mediterranean version with sun-dried tomatoes, green olives, and roasted red peppers. Make a version with whatever you need to use up. The possibilities are endless.

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Eat. Live. Be. #16: What We Can’t Live Without

· Eat. Live. Be., Narrative

Inside Out Griddled Ham, Gorgonzola and Mushroom Onion SandwichThat picture is for Sarah.  It has nothing to do with today’s topic, except for serving as a promise that the breakdown of this Griddled Goodness Sandwich is coming tomorrow.  Swear!

This week’s Eat. Live. Be. topic is sharing what we can’t live without.  I know my answer isn’t going to be popular.  Both in terms of what other people may have chosen or in favorable opinion.  But I’m ok with that.

I headed out of town a few weeks ago, and as I packed my bag, a friend gave me strict rules.  “Cut loose.  No exercising.  No hard-and-fast clean eating.  And no scale.”

I promised I would do my best.  And I did.  I did eat pretty cleanly, but I did indulge too.  I didn’t exercise in the traditional sense, but I walked.  A lot.  Miles and miles and miles.  Every day.  And the scale?  Well, I didn’t bring it with me but that was certainly the hardest task he gave me.  It was all I could do not to throw down my suitcase when I came home and jump on it.

I can’t live without my scale.

I weigh myself twice a day, once in the morning, once again before bed.

I completely understand how weight fluctuates.  Between water weight gain, stress, heavier meals, later meals, more exercise, less exercise, it fluctuates.  All over the place.

But I want to be accountable.  I want to be hyperaware of the little changes and the big ones.  As in…

… now that I see that number, I know I shouldn’t eat dinner quite so late.

… or wow, that extra hour of exercise yesterday really paid off.

… or what the heck did I eat yesterday to see that big a difference in the scale today?

I’m all over it.  And for me, it works.  I have it in check.  I’m obsessed.  But not obsessed. And now some 16 months into Cate Version 2.0, I know it’s an obsession in a good way, for me, and it’s worked.

Now for what other ELBers can’t live without, go check ’em out:

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