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My daughter and her husband arrived at our house Friday afternoon in time for dinner. My daughter is seven months pregnant and requested something other than carbs. Meanwhile both her husband and father desired some pasta. However, I'm told that I "ration" my meatballs. Let me explain, when I and my siblings were young, my mother served us our pasta and initially everyone got one meatball. Can I help it if I follow what my mother did?
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I know I mention Williams-Sonoma products a lot in my blogs, it just so happens I like the quality and taste of their food items or kitchen products. One such item I discovered a few years ago during their summer sale was chile lime corn seasoning. This product is still available both online and in store.
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A couple of weeks ago, I was working another weekend where I didn't get home till after 6 p.m. When I get home at that time, my husband prefers that I prepare something that's rather quick for me after being on my feet for four hours.
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Weddings these days are multi day events. As the grooms parents, we hosted the rehearsal dinner and two post wedding events for family and friends from out of town. By Sunday evening,  my husband was exhausted. I on the other hand had beds to change and linens to wash before my daughter and son-in-law return this coming holiday weekend.
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As I had to work until 7 last evening, I defrosted some boneless chicken breasts for a quick supper. However, I was at a loss as to what recipe to use. I went through a few websites, but finally found something interesting on Lidia's Italy. It was a recipe for chicken breasts with orange and Gaeta olives. The recipe looked very easy to prepare. The ingredients made it sound perfect for summer evening meal. The dish had both orange zest and fresh orange juice for nice fresh flavor, fennel powder for bit of anise taste, olives for a briny tang and fresh parsley at the end to brighten the flavors.
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I have had in my possession for awhile, a recipe for slower cooker beef sliders from the September 2013 issue of South Living Magazine. This recipe was part of an article which also featured the Buffalo chicken meatball sliders that I prepared earlier in the week. Both of these recipes would be great during football and soccer season as both can be prepared ahead then finished up with minimal time.

I also like them for an upcoming summer party I'm planning. It will be different from the standard hot dogs and hamburgers and everyone can help themselves. To go along with either sandwich you can prepare coleslaw, tomatoes and mozzarella (once the Jersey tomatoes start appearing in the market)  or Jersey corn. 
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​Every Friday night, Brandls Restaurant in Belmar has Fresh Catch Friday. Brandls prepares a special seafood dinner for two for $39. Recently, the special was beer battered cod with smashed cucumber, avocado and Brussels sprouts salad, finished off with a sweet chili sauce. The salad ingredients sounded a bit peculiar, but amazingly enough it was tasty. Perhaps it was the way the chef dressed the ingredients which  didn't let just one be  highlighted, but had them all blended together for a wonderful accompaniment. 
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On Tuesday of this week, our dog Daisy, crossed over the rainbow bridge to be reunited with our other Brittany Spaniel, Rose.  Daisy was with us for 16 years and as my husband would like to say, "she hit the doggie lottery." Daisy was very shy when we rescued her through NBRAN. The pictures of Daisy showed a dog quivering under a tree trying to hide from people. We don't know what kind of life Daisy had before us, but she came to love life at the Jersey shore. 
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When my daughter first started living in Manhattan after graduating from college, my sister-in-law and I met her after work. She took us to Redhead Tavern in the East Village. While doing a bit of research for this post, I come to find that the Redhead Tavern closed last December. However, prior to closing it was featured on one of the earlier seasons of the Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
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My husband adores his pasta. Sadly to say, we have it once a week and some times, not always, we can finish a pound of pasta between the both of us. Back in April 1991, Gourmet Magazine published a recipe for pasta with spring vegetables and prosciutto. This recipe is loaded with asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, fresh or frozen petits pois (tiny peas), and snow peas. At this late date in the spring, you can still find New Jersey asparagus in the food markets. Although trenette pasta (fettuccine with one ruffled edge) may be difficult to find, Wegmans carries mafaldine (fettuccine with two ruffled edges) pasta for just under $5 for 17.6 ounce package.


​meet donna

A former teacher, shop-a-holic, empty-nester redefining quick, family approved dinners.

​If you have questions or comments, click on the envelope icon above to contact me directly. 

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