The Little Things Newsletter #403 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s great to be home at last. Our weather here in Ohio has been spectacular this week, warmer than usual with loads of sunshine. I’ve been outside as much as possible, walking and soaking it in. I think we have snow in the forecast next week though, so winter hasn’t left the area just yet – despite all the glorious sunshine we’ve been enjoying.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Savory deli meats are piled high on a toasted hoagie roll, then topped with an unforgettable tangy slaw and gooey provolone cheese to make this Italian Grinder Sandwich your new favorite lunch.

Do you love the grinder flavors, but want something a little lighter? Try my new favorite salad! Crunchy greens, juicy tomatoes, and a medley of meats and cheeses are drizzled in a delicious creamy dressing to make this Italian Grinder Salad.

The crunch of tender-crisp cabbage adds wonderful texture to this Cabbage Fried Rice. It’s a simple one-dish meal that comes together in minutes – feel free to keep it vegetarian or add some sausage for the meat lovers.

This hearty, rich, and creamy soup is generously filled with tender potatoes and spicy andouille sausage. There’s a wonderful, lingering heat in each bowl of Cajun Potato Soup.

These Apple Blondies with Brown Sugar Frosting are packed with delicious fall flavors in a soft, cinnamon apple blondie.

Tart apples and sweet caramel are fabulous together in these heavenly Apple Crumb Bars. You won’t believe how easy they are to make!

Creamy, cool sweetness collides with spicy, zesty heat in Jalapeno Ice Cream, creating a surprising fusion of smooth, rich dairy with the fiery kick of jalapeño peppers.

What I’m CRAVING: French Toast! I’m planning to make some for our breakfast tomorrow morning. I just realized I don’t have a recipe to link for you either. (I should fix that!) It looks like my friend Valerie’s recipe is the closest thing to the very simple method I use to make ours with thick-cut brioche bread.

My FAVORITE THING this week is this travel scarf / blanket. It is pretty big but folds down incredibly small and thin. I tuck it into a pocket of my carry-on every time we travel and I’m grateful for it whenever a plane is chilly, or when I want a little pillow, or when I am trying to sleep and that light blanket does the trick. 

What I’m READING: Tangled Vines: Power, Privilege, and the Murdaugh Family Murders by John Glatt. Over a year ago, a sweet reader (Hi, Henny!) recommended listening to one of the podcasts about this true crime story and I checked the story out at the time. So, naturally, when I saw this book pop up on my library website, I immediately downloaded it.

The entire story is a mess of a drama and the fact it’s real life, and Alex is finally in prison now, is simply mind-boggling at times. It’s hard to grasp just how much he got away with over the years. Full disclosure, the book isn’t all that well-written (in my humble opinion) but I was engrossed and read through to the end to see how it was finally wrapped up.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV

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

Mary

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s great to be home at last. Our weather here in Ohio has been spectacular this week, warmer than usual with loads of sunshine. I’ve been outside as much as possible, walking and soaking it in. I think we have snow in the forecast next week though, so winter hasn’t left the area just yet – despite all the glorious sunshine we’ve been enjoying.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Savory deli meats are piled high on a toasted hoagie roll, then topped with an unforgettable tangy slaw and gooey provolone cheese to make this Italian Grinder Sandwich your new favorite lunch.

Do you love the grinder flavors, but want something a little lighter? Try my new favorite salad! Crunchy greens, juicy tomatoes, and a medley of meats and cheeses are drizzled in a delicious creamy dressing to make this Italian Grinder Salad.

The crunch of tender-crisp cabbage adds wonderful texture to this Cabbage Fried Rice. It’s a simple one-dish meal that comes together in minutes – feel free to keep it vegetarian or add some sausage for the meat lovers.

This hearty, rich, and creamy soup is generously filled with tender potatoes and spicy andouille sausage. There’s a wonderful, lingering heat in each bowl of Cajun Potato Soup.

These Apple Blondies with Brown Sugar Frosting are packed with delicious fall flavors in a soft, cinnamon apple blondie.

Tart apples and sweet caramel are fabulous together in these heavenly Apple Crumb Bars. You won’t believe how easy they are to make!

Creamy, cool sweetness collides with spicy, zesty heat in Jalapeno Ice Cream, creating a surprising fusion of smooth, rich dairy with the fiery kick of jalapeño peppers.

What I’m CRAVING: French Toast! I’m planning to make some for our breakfast tomorrow morning. I just realized I don’t have a recipe to link for you either. (I should fix that!) It looks like my friend Valerie’s recipe is the closest thing to the very simple method I use to make ours with thick-cut brioche bread.

My FAVORITE THING this week is this travel scarf / blanket. It is pretty big but folds down incredibly small and thin. I tuck it into a pocket of my carry-on every time we travel and I’m grateful for it whenever a plane is chilly, or when I want a little pillow, or when I am trying to sleep and that light blanket does the trick. 

What I’m READING: Tangled Vines: Power, Privilege, and the Murdaugh Family Murders by John Glatt. Over a year ago, a sweet reader (Hi, Henny!) recommended listening to one of the podcasts about this true crime story and I checked the story out at the time. So, naturally, when I saw this book pop up on my library website, I immediately downloaded it.

The entire story is a mess of a drama and the fact it’s real life, and Alex is finally in prison now, is simply mind-boggling at times. It’s hard to grasp just how much he got away with over the years. Full disclosure, the book isn’t all that well-written (in my humble opinion) but I was engrossed and read through to the end to see how it was finally wrapped up.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV

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

Mary