#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: Fruit Pizza {#TheCakePlateProject}

March 31, 2016 · Narrative, Sweets

A delicious, slightly healthy, mostly awesome twist on dessert.

Untitled

Every time we would go visit my grandmother in Texas, she would have a Fruit Pizza waiting for us as soon as we arrived. Although my grandmother wasn’t the easiest person to get along with, her Fruit Pizza (and the act of her making it for my sister and I) was one of my fondest memories of her, and something I’ve continued to share with my kids over the years.

And as I told my kids this weekend when we were talking about it, considering the fact that my grandmother basically subsisted on rice cakes and boiled chicken for herself, this Fruit Pizza was the ultimate indulgence.

When I volunteered to make dessert to bring to my parents’ house for Easter, I searched Pinterest and flagged a bunch of the usual suspects.

Cute cupcakes that look like bird’s nests.

Easter bunny cookies.

Easter bunny cakes.

You know the drill.

But then, for some reason, Fruit Pizza popped into my head.

Perfect.

Slightly sweet, kind of sort of healthy, and a solid food memory.

Over the years that I’ve been making it for my kids, I have made many iterations (Pillsbury has an awesome rainbow version).

When my grandmother made it, she used sugar cookie dough from Pillsbury, spread it with plain cream cheese, then a layer of drained, crushed pineapple, and then the assorted fruit.

When I’ve made it that way, I am usually obsessive about draining the pineapple because it makes for a soggy crusty in the days that follow, although my sister says that’s the best part.

…

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Recipe: Espresso Chocolate Chip Cake with Espresso Buttercream Frosting {#TheCakePlateProject}

February 29, 2016 · Narrative, Sweets

Light, fluffy, espresso-infused cake with the most amazing buttercream that ever was. Let’s start #TheCakePlateProject!

Untitled

Last month, I was rearranging stuff in our dining room hutch and happened to notice just how many cake plates and cake stands I have.

I guess it’s a bit of an addiction, but I find it hard to pass up a pretty cake stand.

Although in my defense, I have under 10.

So not too terrible.

And knowing how many I already have, I am very picky about adding to the collection.

I don’t add just for the sake of adding.

It has to be different enough to warrant the space in my home, and I’m like that with most things.

But that got me to thinking… I want to make a concerted effort to use my cake stands more.

Not just for holidays and birthday cakes.

And so, #TheCakePlateProject was born.

Once a month, I will be sharing a new recipe worthy of using YOUR OWN beautiful cake stands.

Since I had already been in the kitchen all afternoon, I wanted a recipe that was simple to start us off. Making dinner for Sunday evening, and my breakfasts and lunches for the week had already used up most of my energy, so I used a boxed cake mix and started doctoring it.

No guilt when using a cake mix, because it’s really just pre-measuring your base ingredients.

#winning

I added some espresso and mini chocolate chips and now it’s a completely different animal.

But honestly, the star of this show is the Espresso Buttercream Frosting.

If you’re a long-time reader, you know that buttercream is pretty much my favorite kind of frosting.

And this version takes it to completely differently levels.

Even if you don’t make the cake, MAKE THE FROSTING.

Especially if you love coffee.

Or espresso.

Or cappuccino.

Or anything in the caffeine family.

It is SO good.

And I don’t really have a sweet tooth.

I actually ended up pouring water in the bowl that had the leftover frosting in it.

Just so I could stop dipping my finger in for swipes.

It is that good.

Half of the cake went to a neighbor, and the rest is going to my office tomorrow. The other part of my plan with this project is to gift them, and make other people happy.

Because, luckily, unless it’s chocolate, my kids don’t go crazy for cake. And I don’t need any temptation.

So a project that makes good use of beautiful dust collectors AND puts smiles on other people’s faces?

Can’t think of anything better.

I hope you will join me with my new monthly project. If you do, use the hash tag #TheCakePlateProject and tag me. Let’s get ALL of our beautiful cake stands and cake plates out there in the every day. I can’t wait to see YOURS.

*Details: The cake plate above is from HomeGoods (here is a similar one from Amazon), and the little flags are from the dollar spot at Target. LOVE THEM. Because, glitter.

…

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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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