The Little Things Newsletter #378 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! This entire week has been a whirlwind and the weekend is going to be every bit as full for us. My older boys convinced me to do the Barbenheimer thing with them, so we’ll be watching a double feature of the Barbie movie and Oppenheimer tonight. I’ll let you know what I think of it all next week.

Sean and I saw Don McLean in concert last night for his 50th-anniversary tour of American Pie. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, as I’ve never thought of him as a big performer, but wow. His musicians were incredible and his voice?? 77 years old and he still gave me chills – it was a bit reminiscent of Johnny Cash several times. (And last but definitely not least, mad props to the man who managed to make his American Pie finale last almost 20 minutes and kept the crowd going the entire time.)

ON THE BLOGS this week: Beef and broccoli is a classic restaurant dish that is surprisingly easy to re-create at home. With tender strips of beef, crisp broccoli, and a flavorful sauce; it all comes together in just minutes.

The savory allure of bacon dances with the subtle crunch of fresh cauliflower and sweet, chewy cranberries in this bacon lover’s cauliflower salad.

Want a little more bacon goodness in your life? Toasted sourdough bread is loaded with melted cheese and mouthwatering strips of perfectly cooked bacon in this bacon grilled cheese.

The simple goodness of fresh corn and wholesome ingredients makes this scalloped corn a heartwarming Amish classic.

Tender broccoli and rich, melting cheese bring so much flavor to each of these broccoli and cheese stuffed chicken breasts.

The slight tang of buttermilk pairs perfectly with sweet, ripe blueberries in these light and fluffy blueberry buttermilk pancakes. And these eggless pancakes prove that you can skip the eggs and still have the soft, fluffy pancakes you know and love.

Creamy smooth ice cream bursting with buttery popcorn flavor? Is that too crazy an idea? Absolutely not. One taste is all it will take to make a believer out of you too.

What I’m CRAVING: Sushi. ALL the sushi. Can you be addicted to sushi? If so, my hand is raised over here. I didn’t even like sushi when Sean and I were first married and it’s only been in the last 5 or so years that I really have enjoyed it. Now? I’m hopeless. If I’m given a choice, it’s my first, last, and only choice for lunch or dinner out. Meanwhile, it’s about time to make some sushi bowls at home.

My FAVORITE THING this week is my salad spinner. I’ve had mine for over 10 years now and I use it several times a week. I balked at buying one for years before I finally did so and man, what a salad-making game-changer it has been. If you’ve ever considered one? You’ll probably use it as much as I do and love it!

What I’m READING: I finally finished Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. I pretty much inhaled it as soon as it popped back up on my Kindle. I loved it! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for all of the recommendations! I’m glad I pushed through the initial oh-so-very-annoying Cameron introduction. The characters absolutely grow on you and yes, it turns out that an octopus can be lovable.

What I’m LISTENING to: My Savior by Carrie Underwood. This album is absolutely beautiful. I love hymns so much and Carrie did an amazing job with the songs here. The musical arrangements are just a little bit different and the songs feel both familiar and new. This one is going to be in my early morning playlist for a long time.

“Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16 KJ21

Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!

Mary