Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Yesterday was my boys’ last day of school and we’re in full summer mode at last. Rebecca, Meseidy, and Lynne arrive tomorrow for our first visit since Christmas before last – I can hardly contain my excitement! (Christi, you will be missed so very much!!)
And next weekend, I’ll be writing to you from Kansas! Rebecca and I are headed back to Debbie’s cattle ranch and we’re taking a few friends with us this time. I can hardly wait for all the delicious eats and the opportunity to learn more about everything that the beef industry continues to do to ensure sustainability.
ON THE BLOG this week: Pulled pork, steak bites, and chicken come together in the fried rice skillet of every meat lover’s dreams. My guys went crazy over this dinner. Meat Lover’s Fried Rice is the ultimate meal for leftovers, as you can easily adapt it for whatever meats you have on hand.
Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten has been delivered by friends and strangers in a time of sickness or exhaustion. A meal brought to your door on a night when you have no energy to cook says that someone is thinking of you. It’s the best kind of gift.
This week I shared our favorite meals to deliver, from soups and stews to crock-pot meals, pasta, salads, and casseroles. (I’m including tips for transporting each one as well!) Hopefully, this collection of The Best Meals To Take To Friends will inspire others to step outside their comfort zone and take a meal to someone near them in a time of need.
What I’m CRAVING: I’ve had this mouthwatering Lemon Mousse Cake on my “I really really want to eat this!” list for several years now. While it’s a great deal more involved than most of the baking I do (and definitely more so than the recipes I typically share here) this cake always looks and sounds so heavenly, maybe I’ll set aside some time and finally make it for my birthday this fall. It really looks incredible!
What I’m WATCHING: The Two Towers. We’re introducing our youngest son to The Lord of the Rings series for the first time and it’s been awesome to see it all through his eyes. We watched the second movie in the trilogy last weekend and we’re planning to watch The Return of the King tonight. Have I mentioned lately how much I love having older kids now? It’s so much fun!
What I’m READING: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. I heard from my mom almost immediately after I sent out last week’s newsletter. She told me that my grandmother loved this book 70 years ago and that she (my mother) loved it as well. I’m proud to say that I’m the third generation to dearly love this book.
I can not recommend this book highly enough. So, I’m going to give away 5 copies of this book this week. Leave a comment on this post telling me the last book you read that really stuck with you.
Must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the U.S to enter. (Unfortunately, this is the law for international giveaways, not something that is in my control.) Five winners will be randomly selected from the comments and notified via email on Tuesday, June 8th.
ALSO – if you left a comment last week, you might want to take a peek at last week’s newsletter. (I’ve added the winning comments to the bottom of the post.) There are still a couple of the 5 Kindle winners who haven’t replied to their winning email!
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” – Viktor E. Frankl
Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!
Mary
Congratulations to the lucky winners! I hope you love the book.
Julie Swan says
I have been listening to Joe Dispenza’s Becoming Supernatural, and it’s blowing my mind. I had no idea the power within us.
The quote you posted speaks to me…I find that in the hard times, a positive attitude can change everything.
Thank you for your emails!
Jennifer Jones says
Brother’s Keeper by Julie Lee was a very interesting historical novel set in the early 1950’s in Korea. Well written with a glossary of Korean words to aid in my understanding.
Hope you are a having a lovely day Mary…thank you for your blog!
Dahlia Walsh says
I love your blog and newsletter. Not only do you give good recipes but you give plenty food for thought. So many interests beside cooking and food. Thank you.
maggie b in nevada says
I finally read Gilead by Marilynne Robinson this year and loved the main character’s humility and openness regarding his faith. It was very reminiscent of my upbringing. I have four pages of notes in my book journal! Thank you, Mary, for your recipes and thoughts – I enjoy both so very much.
Kate says
A recent good read is The Secret Garden. I love old classics!
Jan Paschke says
I am an avid reader who is currently in a slump! I have gotten numerous books from my library but just can’t seem to connect lately. They all seem to be the same book with a different title. I just finished The Lager Queen of Minnesota which is a sweet book about a Minnesota family, and yes, you guessed it, brewing beer. I did enjoy it and lots of familiar Minnesota landmarks and things. I would love to read this book, I have a real interest in WWII and the Jewish people. Thanks for all your post. Love reading your blog.
N Rogers says
I highly recommend:
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown