The Little Things Newsletter #455 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s been a nonstop week over here and I’m looking forward to a very chill Saturday with not much more happening than a yoga class, some puzzle time, and a bit of reading. It might not sound all that exciting, but I’m pretty darn happy about it.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: If you’re craving a hearty breakfast this weekend, I’ve got you covered with this Breakfast Hash Skillet. This hearty, soul-satisfying skillet full of sausage, potatoes, cabbage, and onions is a guaranteed hit that also delivers a serious punch of nutrition.

Sour Cream Banana Bread is a sweet, classic bread with a crisp-edged crust and a tender crumb. Spread with butter or sliced and eaten just as is, banana bread is a delightful and delicious quick bread that my whole family loves.

Simple, two-ingredient Maple Butter is heaven on earth when it is slathered on warm bread or biscuits fresh from the oven. Pair it with a slice of banana bread for an unforgettable treat.

Shredded Chicken Sandwiches are a Midwestern comfort food staple. With a taste reminiscent of a roasted chicken dinner complete with stuffing, these easy sandwiches are a sure-fire hit.

Roasted Carrots and Potatoes are proof that food doesn’t have to be complicated to be sublime. The lightly browned, crispy edged tender vegetables will keep you coming back for more.

Bring a little taste of the warmer months to your cool weather table by using frozen berries to make this heavenly and convenient Mixed Berry Cobbler. My family devoured this dessert in just minutes. It was a huge hit.

Pickle Ice Cream, my friends. No, I’m not crazy! It’s weird and it’s oddly wonderful all at the same time. Somehow it just works with plenty of sweet, creamy ice cream flavor and a tangy tart bite from those pickles. We’ve shared this ice cream with so many people now! It’s a hard one to describe and about half the people kept tasting it to decide if it’s a love or a hate thing for them.

What I’m CRAVING: Have you heard of Runza? This was new to me and now I’m craving it. Described as a buttery-beef, savory cabbage-and-onion-filled sandwich, I already know that my guys would love these hand pies.

My FAVORITE THING this week is my heavy duty drying rack. I can’t even tell you how much I love this thing. It handles an extra large load of laundry without flinching. I’ve been using this rack multiple times a week for almost ten years now. So many of my friends have seen it and bought it, I’ve lost count. It’s worth triple the price. I haven’t put a single item of (my own) clothing in the dryer in years and all of my clothing looks better for it. 

What I’m LISTENING to: I’m listening to Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour album as I linger over my coffee and write to you this morning. If you aren’t already familiar with it, give Rainbow a listen this weekend. It’s a favorite for me.

What I’m READING: Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear. Several of you have recommended this series to me over the years and I finally got around to reading the first book. I am usually pretty good at suspending disbelief and reading all kinds of fiction, but the characters in these books just weren’t my cup of tea. On the plus side, that means more of the books will be available at the library for the rest of you who love Maisie dearly.

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7 ESV

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

Mary