New Jersey Diner: Princess Maria Diner

My family and I stopped by the Princess Maria Diner in Wall on our way back from visiting Allaire state park a couple of weeks ago. The Princess Maria Diner isn't one of the diners on the Food Network's New Jersey Diner Tour, but there were non of those around.

I will say that the Princess Maria Diner is one of the nicest looking diners (from the outside) I've seen around. Don't get me wrong, I like the Americana, but I love the blue of the PM Diner.

We all ordered panini's and milkshakes. My family wasn't too fussed with the milkshakes since they weren't "thick," but I think overall we liked the panini's. Well, Barb had a hard time with hers since the sandwich wasn't assembled very well and it was very messy. However, the rest of us didn't have the same problem. What I loved most were the fries! They were delicious!

Princess Maria Diner

2044 New Jersey 35, Wall Township, NJ 07719

Take a Hike...@ Huber Woods Park

Jeff and I decided that we should spend more time hiking. There are just so many places to hike in New Jersey and we should be taking advantage them! One of the first places we went was Huber Woods. It was so lovely! We got lost a couple of times (there are a lot of trails!), but enjoyed it! We just kept wandering around until we found our way back to the car.

Brie had a good time too! She was totally exhausted after we were done and according to Jeff, "A tired puppy, is a happy owner!"

Huber Woods Park

25 Brown's Dock Road, Locust (Middletown Twp.) , NJ 07760

(732) 872-2670 - Environmental Center

(732) 872- 0336 - Ranger Station

Playing in the Waves at Sandy Hook

Jeff and I took Brie to Sandy Hook a couple weeks ago for a walk. They only allow dogs on Sandy Hook beaches after Labor days, so we didn't waste anytime getting out there and letting Brie play in the waves! She just LOVES water!

New Jersey Diners: The Ritz Diner

The Ritz Diner was the next diner I visited on the Food Network's New Jersey Diner Tour and once again Sarah was willing to tag along. This one was kind of far from my house (traffic didn't help), but I hope I get to go again!

I will admit I was totally overwhelmed by the menu! There is just so much on it. It took us forever to decide on what to eat. We started out with a coconut shrimp salad (Or something like that...couldn't find the menu online), which was absolutely amazing. The dressing was a little heavy, but I didn't mind. I had the reuben, which was really good (I don't know if it's as good as the one from the Pour House, but good). Sarah had the steak sandwich, which was recommend by our waitress. She liked it, but I thought it was a little dry.

I brought home one of their famous apple pies to share with Jeff and some guests we were having over that night. I couldn't believe all of the apple in it! It was really good. I'm not a huge apple pie fan, but I totally like it!

The Ritz Diner

72 East Mount Pleasant Ave.

Livingston, NJ 07039
973-533-1213

Queen of the Rock!

An Evening with Renee

Renee was one of my YW for the past year and recently went off to BYU Idaho to go to school. Before she left I took her out to dinner and a show to celebrate and to pay her back for playing basketball. I bribed her with a show if she would play on the YW basketball team. The agreement was that she needed to play in half of the games, but unfortunately she hurt her knee in practice after the first game and couldn't play. She did show up to several of the games to cheer, so I counted it!

I took her to Juniors for dinner. Eating at Juniors is a pre show tradition from my first year living in New York. Then we went to see Bring it On the Musical. It was ok :) Not my favorite. I did like all the cheerleading routines, those girls can fly! I was afraid they were going to hit their heads on the ceiling. I really didn't care for the end. It just didn't do anything for me.

 It was a good trip into the city with the lovely Renee! I'm just so happy for her! I know she's going to have a wild, crazy, good time on this little adventure of hers.

The Patriotic Pup!

New Jersey Diners: Skylark Diner

I've said it before and I will say it again....I love diners! I did a search on google for the best New Jersey diners and found the Food Network's New Jersey Diner Tour. I've decided that I'm going to try and go to each of the diners Guy Fieri toured on the show.

The first one I went to was the Skylark Diner. This is actually one of Jeff's favorite diners and I've been before for dinner, but I didn't take pictures, so obviously I needed to go again. I was delighted to find out that they serve brunch! I know diners always serve breakfast, but the Skylark has a brunch menu! It's hard to find a place in New Jersey that does a Saturday Brunch. I was lucky that Sarah was willing to go with me.

I liked it! It's wasn't the best brunch I've had, but it was good! I wouldn't recommend the stuffed french toast. It's just a little dry. I think I need to go back and try more things! It's just a great diner. It has a great atmosphere. It's an "upscale" diner.

Skylark Diner

Route 1 and Wooding Ave. 

Edison, NJ 08817

732-777-7878

www.skylarkdiner.com

Playing with Jake at the lake...

Jeff and I spent a weekend up at a lake house in upstate New York with a couple of friends. We spent a couple of days lying by the lake and soaking up the sun! And Brie made another friend, Jake! I don't know if Jake would consider Brie a friend, since she spent most the time jumping all over him and chasing him around. Brie is such a little flirt! Jake is a 100 pound golden retriever and is much calmer and maturer than Brie. He was totally a good sport and let Brie walk all over him.

BFF: Mia and Brie

Brie made a few new friends last month! Brie just loves making new friends! Especially ones that color her nose with chalk like Mia!

I've been really nerves about Brie playing with kids, since she's still a puppy, but is huge and doesn't really know her own strength! (example she jumped up on Mia the day before these pictures were taken and totally knocked her over). So, I'm kind of stressed out when kids are around her. Well, Mia went outside where Brie was tied up to play with chalk. Of course I was nerves so I kept looking out to check to make sure Brie wasn't licking her to death (which Brie is known to do). After stepping away from the door for a min, I came back to see Mia sitting right next to Brie. Brie was just sitting patiently while Mia was drawing a "house" around her. It was just the cutest thing ever!

The pictures are a little weird since I took them through a glass door, but I just had to take pictures.

Brandy's Eagle Project

A couple of weekends ago, Jeff and I spent a Saturday helping Brandy with his Eagle project. Ok, let's face it....I didn't really help. I just took pictures. A LOT OF PICTURES! I think I clamped a few things...maybe. Oh, well...I was moral support!

Brandy made picnic tables for the park.

Lunch! We got a chance to test out the new tables when we had lunch. Brandy's dad was so kind to bring us lunch!

These pictures are slightly out of order. Cleanup! Brother S took cleanup to a whole new level. He started vacuuming up the sawdust (we made these tables in the church parking lot). He missed a few spots, but he did a good job.

New Jersey Cupcakes: Cupcake Magician

A couple of weeks ago Jeffrey came home from a lunch date with a box of cupcakes from the Cupcake Magician. We had heard from a friend that they were the best cupcakes in Red Bank, but I was skeptical since I personally am a big fan of Sugarush.

However, I think I have seen the light! These are pretty darn good cupcakes! I think Jeff and I will have to do another taste test to be certain and maybe get some from Sugarush to compare. I mean it's important that we identify what bakery has the best cupcakes in town, right?

My personal favorite was the Pancakes and Bacon! Seriously, the cake tasted just like a pancake and the frosting tasted like butter and syrup. Absolutely delicious!

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cupcake had a ball of cookie dough in the middle, which was obviously amazing! The Boston Cream Pie one was a little boring after eating the first two, so I wasn't too impressed. I thought the Peanut Butter Explosion was a little too rich for me, but I think that might be because I had already eaten halves of the first three :)

Cupcakes are $2 and the stuffed Cupcakes are $3 (I think)

4 Monmouth Street Red Bank, NJ 07701 p.732-530-5700 | f.732-530-5777 

Hours: Mon-Wed 11-7 | Thurs-Sat 11-9:30 | Sun 10-4

http://www.cupcakemagicianonline.com/index.html

CSA: Box #?

I'm so behind! I don't think I got pictures every week, but here's what I did get. We started getting watermelon last week and we've been loving it!

A Cake for Baby Stewart...Well, His Mom Anyways!

Last Wednesday the Young Women threw a baby shower for the lovely Sister Stewart. Sister B brought a chocolate fountain and the Young Women brought things to dip in the chocolate and games for us to play! I volunteered to bring a cake. After looking around at some of the local bakeries, I decided to make it. I'm sure it would have tasted better if I went with a professional bakery, but I wanted to put a sail boat on it and nothing at the bakeries tickled my fancy.

This was my first time using fondant and I have to admit I really enjoyed it. I just wish it tasted better :) I decided to do fondant on the top, so I could have a pretty design and then use a tip to decorate the sides. It didn't turn out how I envisioned it but it worked. I wanted the frosting on the side to look like waves, but I just couldn't get it to work. I ended up just doing a bunch of s's. Maybe I should take a class.

I don't get to make cakes often (This was my second time decorating a cake...I usually just do cupcakes), but I hope I find more occasions to in the future. It was a lot of fun!