The Little Things Newsletter #462 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s a drizzly warm weekend here in Ohio, and I am happily here for it. My weekend plan is to be on the couch with a stack of books or out for a walk, as long as the weather cooperates.

If you are on TikTok, (full disclosure, I am just not that cool) my brother (Hi, Miles!) has an account that I love. (And yes, I can see it using my computer – again, I’m just not TikTok cool.) 

Anyways, if you’re into homesteading, DIY projects, schoolie life, or just enjoy watching someone else getting things done (yes, that’s me!), it’s a lot of fun to watch. You can check it out here: https://www.tiktok.com/@miles_3m 

IN THE KITCHEN THIS WEEK: Calling all shrimp lovers! These flavorful and satisfying Shrimp Quesadillas with bright bell peppers are fast enough for busy schedules and special enough for company. As a matter of fact, I liked them so much, I made them two days in a row for my lunches last week.

I just put this Noodle Stir Fry with Chicken and Cabbage back on my meal plan. I would be thrilled to eat this weekly. I seriously love it.

Need a super easy brunch that will impress a crowd? Elegant and easy to make, Puff Pastry Danishes are flaky, crispy-edged breakfast pastries that you can customize for everyone at your table. This easy danish recipe comes together almost too quickly to be believed.

This Steak and Mushroom Skillet delivers all the flavors I crave in a great restaurant steak. Lucky for all of us, that steak has been transformed into a quick stir fry that can be made even on the busiest of nights.

Quick and easy Chicken Fajitas are simple to make with just five ingredients! These fajitas are filled with great flavors from peppers, onions, chicken strips, and spices.

Lemon Posset is creamy, velvety 3-ingredient lemon pudding that is impossibly simple and satisfying. It’s impressive as can be and proof that old-school techniques can yield very happy modern results!

Almond-flavored ice cream swirled with buttery toasted almonds? Yes, please! Each bite of Almond Ice Cream is an irresistible combination of creamy smooth ice cream and those crunchy buttered almonds. 

My FAVORITE THING this week is this ice cream scoop. Several years ago, I ordered and tested every unique ice cream scoop I could find online or in stores. With over 150 ice cream recipes, I get a lot of questions about the tools I like best. This scoop was the winner hands-down. And I’m very happy to tell you that it was one of the least expensive too!

I’ve been using it for years now, multiple times a week, for everything from soft serve to the firmest of ice creams, and it works beautifully every time. This scoop is dishwasher safe, and the unique shape allows for pretty scoops while also being able to dig nicely into firm ice cream. Want to know which ice cream makers I like best? You can check them all out here!

What I’m LISTENING to: The Good King by Ghost Ship. This album is a mix of so many different sounds, mostly folk-rock with a mix of ballads, slightly harder rock, and worship music in the mix too. I am really enjoying it. 

What I’m READING:  Erasing Hell: What God Said about Eternity, and the Things We’ve Made Up by Francis Chan and Preston M. Sprinkle. In writing this book, Chan works with New Testament scholar and theologian Preston Sprinkle to present all that Scripture has to say in regards to hell, and then allows for the Scripture to speak for itself.

To say that the imagery of hell in this context is sobering is an understatement. I have a new appreciation for the cross and for Jesus, and his willingness to endure that horror and agony for me. 

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 ESV

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

Mary