‘Twitter’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Craft Time: Exploring with Mod Podge

June 26, 2012 · Narrative

Mod Podge and I go way back. Like waaaay back. I vividly remember many projects while in grade school where Mod Podge was a go-to. Any time you’re doing decoupage, it’s your glue, your sealer, and your super shiny finisher all in one handy little bottle. You can’t go wrong.

What I didn’t know, however, is that these days Mod Podge is more than that one tiny bottle.

Collage papers.

Scrapers, rollers, and all sorts of other tools.

Podgeable Acrylic shapes. Yes, I said podgeable.

The folks at Plaid (the makers of Mod Podge) recently sent over a stuffed box of goodies, and as soon as I saw the contents, I knew exactly what to do with it.

Soon after I finished doing the kids’ Reading Room, I bought wooden letters from Michaels to spell the word R-E-A-D. I thought it would be perfect above the bookcase, and hello, it IS a reading room after all. I was originally planning on wrapping the letters with yarn (to match the pom poms I made for the window), but when I saw all the new Mod Podge items, that idea went out the window.

First, the outline of the letters was painted in primary colors. Once that dried, we set about doing a different treatment to each letter.

On the letter R, we cut out the pictures from the collage sheets, and then applied a clear Mod Podge to affix them securely.

On the letter E, we applied transfer words using one of the line’s rubbing tools, and then used the Antique Matte Mod Podge to give the letter a slightly darker tint to it, which I kind of loved. Until this project, I never even knew that Mod Podge existed in different finishes and colors. It makes me excited about Nick’s future school projects.

Well, that last part isn’t completely true, because his projects tend to be super involved, and I like to be hands off. You can always tell which kids had extra help from their parents, and which didn’t. And that kind of drives me crazy. I do, however, promise to share my Mod Podge stash with him for future projects to work with on his own though.

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Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Greek Meatballs {Eat. Live. Be.}

April 25, 2012 · Narrative

It seems we’re on a “new meatball recipe” kick in the O’Malley household lately. Purely by happenstance. Last week, it was these Asian-inspired meatballs. Last night? It was a batch of Sweet and Spicy Greek Meatballs.

“Is there cinnamon in the meatballs?” Nick asked me after a few bites.

Um, yes.

I was honestly surprised that he was able to pick out the flavor. You could tell there was a hint of something different, but I don’t think the flavor was so pronounced that you could put your finger on it.

Someone has pretty good taste buds.

I found the recipe in the May 2012 issue of Redbook Magazine (follow them on Twitter right here > @redbookmag). It is from Food Network chef Giada De Laurentiis, and is also featured in her newest cookbook, Giada’s Weeknight Meals. Which coincidentally ended up in my Easter basket last month (thanks, Mom!).

I was intrigued in the recipe, not by a new take on the meatball because we have several that we like already, but by the marinara sauce being paired with the couscous, and the couscous being used as a binder for the meatballs.

And I kind of loved that idea.

It’s something I hadn’t seen before, and it totally worked.

On both counts.

Nick loved the couscous part with the marinara. He didn’t so much love the meatballs, but ate them.

Madeline ate everything.

Now my caveat for the recipe… couscous is used as the binder for the meatballs, and the finished dish is also plated on top of the couscous. Which kind of means that the couscous that you’re using for plating gets a little dry and clumped while you’re busy rolling, making, and cooking the meatballs. Not a huge deal, but worth noting. A little drizzle of olive oil into the couscous fixed that right up.

It wasn’t a wow, but it was a solid weeknight meal that was eaten by all at the table, and made without guilt. So that’s a plus or three.

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Giveaway! OXO Food Scale

March 16, 2012 · Ad-Free

I am hardly scientific when it comes to cooking or baking. I’ve always been a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants girl. Outside of the kitchen too. But recently I’ve slowly come to appreciate better measurement devices when it comes to kitchen tools. Although I still, um, use the same measuring cups when it comes to portioning out liquids versus mass, I am at least trying to be a little more conscious of it. Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?

As far as food scales go, I had one years ago and gave it up in the interest of gaining some valuable real estate back in the kitchen. I hate when my kitchen gets bogged down with a lot of extra gadgets and the like. I don’t use bread makers, pasta machines, or ice cream makers. Instead, a lot of double-duty tools, and items that have to earn their space in my cupboards and drawers, you know?

That being said, I actually wrote “food scale” on my refrigerator notepad some months ago, intending to keep my eyes out for one that was on sale. And then the generous folks at the OXO Blogger Outreach Program offered one up for grabs. For me. And for you too! It was too good an opportunity to pass up. For both of us. It’s sitting right here on my desk, waiting to be fedex’d to you. The slim design is perfect for stashing in a cupboard, within reach when you need it, but small enough to not waste space unnecessarily.

I just started using it this week, and I’ve got to say, weighing things is kind of fun. And addicting. Last week, I read that Katrina Markoff, the brains behind the amazing Vosges chocolate line, uses beakers in her kitchen to measure everything (like these on Amazon). (You can read her own blog right here). How cool is that?

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Summer 2011: Sidewalk Chalk Art

July 18, 2011 · Narrative

One of our Summer Bucket List 2011 items was coloring outside with sidewalk chalk. Consider that crossed off the list. I love that a dollar tub of chalk can give my littles so much enjoyment. So much so that I went back and got a few more tubs before they disappear from the Target Dollar Spot. And because the kids tend to forget and sometimes leave them outside in the rain. So I’m hiding the new tubs. Go grab some of your own before they’re gone. It’s a great opportunity to discover your little budding Picassos and Rembrandts.

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Patsy’s Tavern & Pizza: The Best Pizza in New Jersey?

June 22, 2011 · Narrative, Pizza

On Twitter a few weeks back, someone linked to my pizza reviews while they were on a Pizza Tasting Tour in New Jersey. At the time, they were at Patsy’s in Paterson, a place that we haven’t been to yet. They also mentioned another place in Montclair, and I asked the head chief reviewer which he would recommend first. He said to go to Patsy’s if you love idiosyncracies. And so it was.

So if you’re from New Jersey, you’ll likely know that Paterson isn’t really where you want to hang out. A non-descript building in a not-so-good area of town, I could see how Patsy’s wouldn’t get more than a passing mention, if that. But Mystic and I were out sans kids, so considered it a safe bet. Or generally speaking anyway.

The outside brick facade is at complete juxtaposition with the interior of the restaurant. Once inside and seated, it felt like we were at our Italian grandmother’s kitchen table. Cute booths boasting 1950s Formica tabletops and food arriving on mismatched old-fashioned plates. Love it. I didn’t go around the room and query the other dinner guests, but I would have bet most of them were Italian and either grew up in the neighborhood way back when, or moved away and were coming “home.” It felt like home. Like Sunday dinner any night of the week.

I’ve noticed a few things when Mystic and I have gone out to eat lately. 1) He always orders an appetizer. 2) He is into food the way I am. 3) He understands the need for the perfect food photo before we dig in. Relationships have been built on far less. He gets #3 to the point that we now bring home some of our food so I can take more pictures at home, where I have the opportunity to play with lighting and take my time. I love that about him.

When it comes to ordering pizza in our ongoing quest to find the best, I have one hard and fast rule. You have to taste the restaurant’s cheese pizza. They need to be able to conquer the standard pie before mucking around with toppings. And so our pizza was half cheese, and half black olive and mushroom.

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