Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I had a great time visiting friends and family in Arizona last week. It’s a bit strange to realize that after living all of my life in the desert up until then, we’ve been away from the southwest for over six years.
I look forward to relaxing with my family this weekend. I want to spend some time soaking in the Ohio sunshine and squeezing a nap or two. Yesterday it was a glorious 62°F outside, but Arizona jumped over 100°F. There’s no better place than a home, especially when you live in Ohio.
This week’s blog brings together soft shrimp, crunchy hot vegetables and plenty of flavors to make this shrimp fried rice in just 20 minutes.
Spicy ground beef, tender potatoes, peppers and onions come together in a simple ground beef and potato pan meal, everyone grins around the table.
This chicken salad with grapes and apples is becoming more and more rapidly into my family’s go-to chicken salad. (And that says a lot given the number of different versions of the chicken salad we make!) If served with crackers and chips, layered in sandwiches or lettuce wraps, or simply eating it on a fork, this salad is the winner.
Brown sugar bacon with just 3 ingredients and 15 minutes in the oven is a guaranteed way to ensure breakfast happiness. There’s almost magical how slightly melted butter and brown sugar can caramelize around each salty strip of bacon.
Combining tender crab meat with a flavorful cream cheese sauce, this hot crab dip tastes like crab rangoon, but in a dipping form! Serve with crostini, toasted baguettes, crackers, wonton chips, or a dipper that you like the most.
Thin, chewy, buttery oatmeal lace cookies with crunchy edges have proven to be perfectly appealing to everyone who has tried them.
A creamy and sweet sour creamy sour cream ice cream is bright and refreshing when served with cones, on top of apple slices, or scooped into a bowl and topped with warm berry sauce.
What I’m craving: The date covered in almond butter stuffed chocolate caught my eye last week, and now I can’t stop thinking about them! I need to try it out right away.
My favorite of the week is my new insulated shaker bottle. I don’t usually carry an insulated bottle, but this has proven to be perfect for protein shakes and smoothies. I love how it keeps my drink cold with ice. I usually make smoothies for my family around 6am to 7am and don’t drink mine until a few hours later. From 9am to 10am, my drink is the perfect milkshake consistency. If you’re looking for a blended ice-like drink or smoothie, I wouldn’t recommend this bottle high enough.
What I’m listening to: Essentials II by Postmodern Jukebox. Ah, I love PMJ music. It’s so much fun. When I haven’t heard for a while, I fall in love with them again. The other day a friend sent me a link to a video of this material and sent me to a rabbit hole at PMJ. I’ve been playing this album over and over again all week.
“Know this, my beloved brother: All men will listen quickly, speak slowly, and rage slow. The wrath of men will not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20 ESV
Wishing you a beautiful week filled with little things that will make you smile!
Mary
