The Little Issues E-newsletter #396 – Life, laughter, and many nice meals!

Welcome to the weekend, my pals! I hope your week (and your climate) have been incredible and that you just’re having fun with the vacations nevertheless you select to have fun them. We loved a dusting of snow this week and I used to be in heaven for the temporary day that it lasted on the bushes. 

I can dream of a white Christmas, however this 12 months, it’s solely a dream. We’re speculated to hit 60 levels on Monday (just some levels decrease than the forecast for Phoenix) – what sort of nonsense is that? At the least I can look ahead to a day stroll within the hotter climate.

What we’re EATING: It’s been a significantly scrumptious week over right here with out a single new weblog publish to point out for it. (And I’m by no means unhappy about that proper now.)

Sean made the Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry the opposite evening and I could also be responsible of getting hidden the final serving for my lunch – zero guilt right here, that’s how we roll. I tossed the leftover beef and broccoli with some leftover Noodles with Cabbage and the mixture was so flipping good it gave me an concept for one more new recipe.

I made a batch of Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies after which proceeded to eat an absurd variety of them with my morning and noon and late afternoon espresso. I’m fairly positive that when a cookie encourages me to drink increasingly more espresso, it won’t be a very good factor, however the cookies are simply so completely chewy with a buttery cinnamon sugar taste, sigh. I like them.

We’ve been on a roll with Breakfast Sandwiches recently, though they typically get made nearer to lunchtime. I’ve additionally been knowledgeable that “Dad’s sandwiches are higher than yours, Mother” <gasp> with the added non-apologetic remark, “Sorry, however it’s true.” So, it seems to be like I may have to analyze precisely what makes his higher. (Odds are good that it’s an entire lot of meat, as my carnivore crew can’t get sufficient bacon and sausage of their breakfasts.)

I made a model of this Cashew Chicken Salad, however wound up swapping so many substances each as a result of they sounded good and since I didn’t have every part readily available, it turned an entire new recipe. Not unhappy about that although, as I made notes in order that I could make it once more. The entire household was consuming the rooster salad on crackers, proper out of the blending bowl.

My youngest son helped, really did a lot of the work, to make his favourite dinner final evening and it was perfection. Buttered Steak Bites (with mushrooms) and an enormous pot of Truffle Mac and Cheese, together with a Sweet Kale Salad (although I did fortunately cheat that one and simply grabbed the bag of salad at Costco this week). 

I additionally made one other batch of those Loaded Mint Cookies. They’re a dream come true for anybody who loves mint + chocolate as a lot as I do. Paired with a cup of Peppermint Hot Cocoa, I’m in peppermint heaven.

What I’m CRAVING: Talking of peppermint, it’s time to churn a batch of Peppermint Ice Cream. I already stocked up on sweet canes once more, so I can hold making all of it 12 months. 

And I’ll be making a batch of my buddy Katrina’s perfect-every-time sugar cookies this weekend too. Should you haven’t tried them but, they’re a vacation must-make. Wonderful taste, completely crisp cut-out edges, zero chill time required for the dough, what extra may I ask? I’ve been making her recipe and solely her recipe for over ten years now.

My FAVORITE THING this week is that this butter dish. I could also be a wee bit obsessive about this factor. I’ve had a Butterbell for years, however the fact is that for our household, it simply doesn’t maintain sufficient butter to make it a sensible alternative. I lastly went on the lookout for an answer that meets my fussy necessities: straightforward to maintain clear, seems to be good on the counter, holds at the least two sticks of butter, and has a lid.

That is every part I wanted and extra. It’s probably the most sensible butter dish I’ve ever seen and it really works completely. No bizarre grooves or edges to gather butter, it stays clear, and it simply holds additional butter too.

What I’m WATCHING: all of the Christmas motion pictures! White Christmas is my favourite Christmas film of all time and my youngest son nonetheless watches it with me every year. And The Polar Express has been our Christmas Eve morning custom yearly since my boys had been toddlers.

Die Hard 1 & 2, Lethal Weapon, and The Ref are additionally on the listing for this weekend. (Aspect word, I like having older children who can watch these with us finally! It’s a lot enjoyable. My youngest is impatiently awaiting a number of extra birthdays earlier than he’ll be becoming a member of us for these.)

What I’m READING: Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich. Lastly! A twist in one of many Stephanie Plum books. I’ve ranted in regards to the lack of character improvement after studying the previous few books on this collection, and honestly, this one wasn’t on my listing to learn. The books are nonetheless enjoyable reads, however that is ebook 30 within the collection and I’m past prepared for Stephanie to maneuver ahead. 

A reader emailed me a number of weeks in the past although, (Hello, Glynda!) and urged I give this one a strive. It has a shock ending that made me grin and now I’m trying ahead to studying the following ebook. Right here’s hoping that the collection continues to maneuver ahead now.

What I’m LISTENING to: Forever Christmas by David Lanz and Kristin Amarie. This can be a new one for me and I can’t suggest it extremely sufficient. The music is gorgeous in each manner. David is a pianist/composer and Kristin is a vocalist with a wide ranging voice. 

I had a troublesome time selecting a favourite tune on this album. O Holy Evening and Silent Evening are long-time favorites and these renditions are flawless, however Eternally Christmas is superb as nicely. In different phrases, you must in all probability give it a hear and see in the event you can select a favourite.

“For to us a baby is born, to us a son is given; and the federal government shall be upon his shoulder, and his identify shall be known as Fantastic Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 ESV

Wishing you the very merriest of Christmases!

Mary