June 6, 2020
Welcome to the weekend, my friends! This has been a week, hasn’t it? My heart has ached for the black community and for the pain that many are feeling this week. I am listening to the stories and praying for change to come of all of this.
Our country is reeling right now. As a Christian, 1 Corinthians 12:26 tells me that when one member of the body suffers, we all suffer. And Galatians 6:2 calls us to carry one another’s burdens. So, I am listening and learning and praying this week.
We are called to love one another as Christ has loved us. (John 15:12) This means that we should love without question, without anyone needing to earn that love, simply love one another.
My prayer is that we will all listen, even when we can not possibly relate. And that we will all grow to have more empathy.
I’m planning to spend this weekend reading and resting. And you can bet that I’ll also be taking countless videos and photos of the newest members of our family. The chickies have arrived at last!
Thank you so much for all the emails last week with recommendations for summer activities. I have a long list now of places to visit within a day’s drive of Columbus. (There were so many recommendations for places in Kentucky! I can hardly wait to see it all.)
ON THE BLOG this week: This Creamy Tortellini with Chicken and Spinach is a kid favorite that the adults enjoy too. My boys really LOVE tortellini and this new recipe is another hit.
As popular as traditional apple crisps are, Blackberry Apple Crisp is made even more awesome by adding berries to the mix. Sweet and tart, tender baked fruit topping with a crunchy brown sugar oat topping? What’s not to love?
Southwest Chicken Salad with Spicy Ranch Dressing is just what my summer needs with so many of my favorite flavors in an easy salad. I can pull this together in very little time with a rotisserie chicken or a quick batch of Last Minute Chicken.
What I’m CRAVING: My friend Ashley’s Old Fashioned Coconut Cream Pie looks so good and it’s been way too long since I have had a coconut cream pie. I need to make it this one soon!
My FAVORITE THING this week is this countertop roaster. I was looking for a replacement slow cooker when I stumbled onto this idea for a gigantic crock-pot. (I’ve had two giant 7QT crock-pots for years now and often use them both at the same time.)
While the roaster is technically an oven with adjustable temperature settings, setting it at 200 degrees is equal to a slow cooker on the LOW setting. (250 degrees would be equal to HIGH.) I was able to cook a 15lb pork roast with zero hassle in just a few hours. (And I easily could’ve fit another roast in there with this one.) The way my guys devour pulled pork, this was an awesome find.
What I’m READING: Dear Father, Dear Son: Two Lives… Eight Hours by Larry Elder. I barely put this book down while I was reading it. It is so good. This is Elder’s story of the troubled relationship he has with his father and the astonishing outcome that develops when Elder, at long last, confronts him after not speaking to him for over ten years.
“You can’t go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending.” – C.S. Lewis
Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!
Mary
Pam says
Hi Mary,
I am hoping you will share your list of days drive trips. ESP. Kentucky! Keep those awesome recipes coming. Same for book recommendations..
I don’t know if you have visited KitchenAid Experience in Greenville yet but you may want to check out their huge sale the last week of july, over Annie Oakley Days festival. Give it a google. The markdowns are best of the year. PEople come from far and near year after year. .
Mary Younkin says
I will be sharing everything we explore, Pam! Several people recommended we visit Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. I’ll put Greenville on our list too. Thanks!