#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: Jammy Tomato Sauce

February 25, 2020 · Narrative

An unusual mix of ingredients comes together to make one of my new favorite recipes … let’s make Jammy Tomato Sauce.

Jammy Tomato Sauce

Truth be told, I wasn’t looking for another recipe for tomato sauce, because I have several I rely on already, and really, how many recipes for the same thing do I need?

Apparently just one more.

The word “jammy” in the title intrigued me, followed by a few of the ingredients, namely anchovies and the balsamic vinegar reduction.

I modified the ingredients slightly, as one does, and put the pot on the stove on a recent Sunday afternoon. After about an hour, I snuck a taste. Mmmm. And several hours later, I couldn’t stop eating it straight up from the pan.

Just typing these words about it is making my mouth water all over again.

Anchovy haters, don’t be alarmed, I’m right there with you. Can’t stand them either. But I’ve also cooked with them often enough to know that they melt when heated, and truly impart a little bit of magic in the finished dish. (Great dishes with anchovies where you’re none the wiser: Pan Seared Steak with Anchovies and Lime, Linguine with Green Olive Sauce and Zesty Breadcrumbs, Roasted Cauliflower Spread, and Panzanella to name a few)

The sauce is thick and rich with a hint of a seafood taste as the finish. Although the original author suggests thinning the sauce for a few uses, I didn’t.

I served it with homemade meatballs.

With ravioli.

Slathered onto grilled sourdough bread.

And topping homemade pizzas.

All the things. It’s seriously that good.

Make it and come on back and let me know how much you loved it.

…

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Review: Hoboken Farms Tomato Sauce

November 16, 2016 · Narrative

A delicious, robust, and good-for-you line of tomato sauces … what more could you ask for?

In 2010, I started eating clean. Which means basically trying to eat whole foods, foods that don’t have ingredients in them.

Ohoboken-farmsrange and asparagus are whole foods.

Oreos are not.

And then last year, I did a round of Whole30, and I did another one last month.

And Whole30, if you’re not familiar with it, is like clean eating … jacked up.

Like 1000% more.

And whether you’re eating clean or following Whole30 or another nutritional lifestyle, one thing you learn quickly is the importance of reading labels.

Any time I’m buying something new, the label is the first thing I look for.

I want to know what’s inside my food. And namely, what was put inside my food that really has no place there.

And the more labels you read, the more you see how sugar sneaks in EVERYWHERE.

In bacon.

In ketchup.

In beef jerky.

And in other weird, random places where you wouldn’t think it would be.

In tomato sauces.

And that’s one of the reasons I make a lot of things myself … bacon, ketchup, tomato sauce … and more.

It’s easy to control what goes in, and what stays out.

But sometimes, although I have both a long, time-consuming recipe, and a short version, sometimes I just don’t have time to make my own tomato sauce.

So I would love to have a brand that I can count on.

A brand that doesn’t have all sorts of unpronounceable junk in it.

A tomato sauce that doesn’t have sugar in it.

So when a case of sauce from the folks at Hoboken Farms arrived, right dab in the middle of my second round of Whole30, I was pretty stoked to read their ingredient list.

The ingredient list for their marinara sauce?

Whole Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Fresh onion, basil, garlic and spices.

THAT’S IT.

…

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Recipe: Kid-Friendly Stuffed Shells

December 20, 2011 · Narrative

Stuffed Shells - Before
When it comes to kids and dinner, there are a few must-have ingredients in your kitchen cupboard.  For me?  Canned tomato products (paste, sauce, crushed tomatoes) and pasta are at the top of the list.  I’m a big fan of the Tuttorosso brand, flavorful but not heavy-handed, as a starting base for a pasta recipe.  When the day is long and inspiration is short, I know I can whip up a quick pasta dinner, and the kids will be happy.  And when they’re happy, I’m happy.  It’s a pretty simple equation.

Although I have the occasional jar of pasta sauce on hand, I usually make homemade tomato sauce.  Some days (usually the ones that start with an S), it means a long-simmering sauce on the stove.  Others, it’s a quicker version.  You can still make a very homemade tomato sauce with pantry staples and skip the jar stuff.  Which is much better for you.  In my humble opinion, of course.

In my ongoing guilt over not making enough Italian food, I decided tonight was a good night for stuffed shells.  I haven’t had them in f-o-r-e-v-e-r, it’s easy for a weeknight dinner, and everyone can leave the table with happy, well-fed, warm little tummies.  Even this happy little sous chef.

Littlest Sous Chef
…

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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. 💛

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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. 💛
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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