Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef
I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I’m going to make it count. Doo Wop Eats opened a few months ago in downtown Denville and their fries are LEGIT. They are hand cut and taste the way fries should … like potatoes! I add a sprinkle of salt and dunk them in a side of their special sauce and they are pure perfection. You can order a small bucket or a large one (better for sharing!), or as a side item with one of their other delicious menu items like their cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches or cheesesteak. I do believe they’re the best fries in town. I said what I said. Doo Wop’s menu celebrates all your favorite Jersey shore boardwalk treats, including Fried Oreos, clam strips and milk shakes and has a fun vibe for kids and families. 😍
The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that takes all of your favorite ingredients from a grinder (or sub) sandwich and makes it into a delicious chopped salad. It’s as easy as putting everything in a bowl and chopping it up. Perfect for busy days and lazy nights, light meals and warm weather choices. Ingredient list below. Enjoy!

One bag or arugula
One container of cherry tomatoes 
Quarter pound of hard salami
8 Oz of fresh mozzarella
One small red onion
1/3 cup banana peppers 
Handful of fresh basil
Half cup Italian salad dressing
3 T Kewpie mayo
2 T red wine vinegar 
Sea salt and black pepper

Chop it all up, add a half box of ditalini pasta, cooked. Mix to combine.

Recipe from GrilledCheeseSocial.
We had a fun little board party this week and the We had a fun little board party this week and the delicious whipped Brie I shared earlier was front and center. If you haven’t heard of board parties, it’s when every guest makes a different type of food board and brings it - so much fun noshing ensues! With toasted baguette slices, cornichons and local honey, this was mostly a French-inspired board. So simple to pull together and totally my kind of meal.
Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We popped into Cafe Crevier downtown and I finally got to try one of their burgers. It was thick and juicy and cooked to perfection. Love that the lettuce was shredded, and that the bun was toasted and slightly crispy. If you’re local, pop in and give them a try - don’t miss the fries!
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Press
  • Writing
  • Contact

Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Weekend Photos in Review – The Pre-Birthday Edition

February 5, 2012 · Narrative

Hello Sweetnickers, happy weekend to you!

Friday sunset

Madeline’s fourth birthday is officially still six days away, but the kids aren’t with me next weekend, so we squeezed most of our birthday celebrations into this weekend. When we saw Dolphin Tale many months ago, there were previews for Big Miracle, and Madeline was transfixed. Animals? Especially water-based ones? She’s so there. We found out when it was opening up and marked our calendar. Very fitting that it opened on her pre-birthday weekend, and it became the perfect way to kick off the festivities.

But first, a quick dinner at home.
Pizza at home

Big Miracle

I told Madeline she could choose Saturday morning breakfast, and she’s in love with these new heart-shaped donuts she spied on a recent commercial.
New favorite

This was her first year having a “friend” party, and I embarked on making forty-eight cupcakes.
Smells like...

Nick walked in right about this point and told me the house smelled like a bakery.

I think that was a compliment.

Hot pink frosting

She requested chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting. I added a batch of vanilla too, for the non-chocolate lovers.  You know, like her mom.

Pre-frost

Ready to go

Madeline wanted a unicorn-themed party, so I went with rainbow lollipops, a sheet of unicorn stickers, and a unicorn rubber duck stuffed inside a unicorn muslin bag. Simple.
Rainbow lollipops

…

Read More

Recipe: Three Minute Three Ingredient Fudge

January 19, 2012 · Narrative

Three Minute Fudge
A few weekends ago, knee-deep during the holiday season, my kitchen was covered from top to bottom, left to right.  With kitchen helpers, pots and pans, four burners on the stove going, the oven heating up, and massive quantities of flour, butter, and sugar.  Everywhere.

Mystic’s daughter and a friend of hers.  A co-worker.  Midway through, the kids came home, and the kitchen swelled to include Mystic, The Ex, and my stepdaughter.  A true dysfunctional functional family if I ever saw one.  At that point, not everyone was cooking and baking.  But those that were, were going balls to the wall.

A chocolate chip bundt cake.  Ten dozen cookies.  Cranberry Almond Bars.  No Bake cookies.  Homemade hummus.  Eight dozen chocolate covered pretzels.  Mexican Wedding cookies.  And fudge.  It was crazy.  But one of my most favorite kinds of crazy.

“Fudge?  You’re making fudge?”  That’s right about when Mystic started paying closer attention to all the cooking and baking going on around him.

“Yes.  Do you like fudge?”

“Chocolate fudge.  Is it chocolate?”

“Um, no.”

Truth be told, since I’m super picky about sweets that we keep in the house, I usually only make fudge if a) I’m going to see my sister, so I can share it with her or b) if it immediately has plans to leave the house.

I made a mental note to make Mystic some chocolate fudge in the coming weeks, and when I spied this recipe, it was a no brainer.  We happened to be on a grocery shopping trip together when he saw me grab the bag of Andes mint chips.  He asked what they were for, and when I told him, he wondered if we needed another bag for snacking.

No, definitely not.  Well, he did, and his daughter.  As soon as she comes in the house, she makes a beeline for the white chocolate chip jar.

This fudge recipe is one of those perfect little recipes to have in your back pocket.

For when the kids are clamoring for a sweet snack.

For when they want to “help” you in the kitchen.

For when you want to give them the reins of the recipe and let them take charge and own it.

For when you owe a thank you to someone who helped you out.

For a quick little birthday treat for your favorite friend.

For when your boyfriend shares his love of chocolate fudge.

Especially the mint flavored kind.

January 19, 2012 – Bonus Photo
Birthday Cake Topper

Birthday cake topper, check!  This little beauty arrived yesterday and as our plan for her upcoming parties comes together, we’re getting more and more excited.  We did think the blue unicorn belly was a little weird, and we’re convinced he needs a little bit of sparkle (which we will certainly take care of), but it’s going to look pretty awesome atop someone’s upcoming birthday cake.

…

Read More

Storytelling…
Through photos.
Words. And recipes.

Archives

Categories

Instagram

Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef

Pinterest

Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef
I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I’m going to make it count. Doo Wop Eats opened a few months ago in downtown Denville and their fries are LEGIT. They are hand cut and taste the way fries should … like potatoes! I add a sprinkle of salt and dunk them in a side of their special sauce and they are pure perfection. You can order a small bucket or a large one (better for sharing!), or as a side item with one of their other delicious menu items like their cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches or cheesesteak. I do believe they’re the best fries in town. I said what I said. Doo Wop’s menu celebrates all your favorite Jersey shore boardwalk treats, including Fried Oreos, clam strips and milk shakes and has a fun vibe for kids and families. 😍
The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that takes all of your favorite ingredients from a grinder (or sub) sandwich and makes it into a delicious chopped salad. It’s as easy as putting everything in a bowl and chopping it up. Perfect for busy days and lazy nights, light meals and warm weather choices. Ingredient list below. Enjoy!

One bag or arugula
One container of cherry tomatoes 
Quarter pound of hard salami
8 Oz of fresh mozzarella
One small red onion
1/3 cup banana peppers 
Handful of fresh basil
Half cup Italian salad dressing
3 T Kewpie mayo
2 T red wine vinegar 
Sea salt and black pepper

Chop it all up, add a half box of ditalini pasta, cooked. Mix to combine.

Recipe from GrilledCheeseSocial.
We had a fun little board party this week and the We had a fun little board party this week and the delicious whipped Brie I shared earlier was front and center. If you haven’t heard of board parties, it’s when every guest makes a different type of food board and brings it - so much fun noshing ensues! With toasted baguette slices, cornichons and local honey, this was mostly a French-inspired board. So simple to pull together and totally my kind of meal.
Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We popped into Cafe Crevier downtown and I finally got to try one of their burgers. It was thick and juicy and cooked to perfection. Love that the lettuce was shredded, and that the bun was toasted and slightly crispy. If you’re local, pop in and give them a try - don’t miss the fries!

Copyright © 2023 Sweetnicks · Theme by Vicki Harrison Design