Welcome to the weekend! Can I be honest for a moment? It doesn’t really feel like a holiday this year. I’m mostly just a girl counting down the days towards every possible holiday event. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. But this year? I just don’t feel like the time has come yet.
So, I’ve been playing Christmas music (whether I really thought of it at first or not), and every time I hear a classic Christmas song, it puts a smile on my face and adds a little bit of holiday spirit to my heart. If you’re feeling the same way, I encourage you to fire up your favorite playlist and embrace the fact that it’s that time of year again.
About this week’s blog: You know that moment when we’re halfway through winter and your body starts craving something fresh, bright and lively? Well, that’s where our Cabbage and Brussels Sprout Winter Salad comes in. I think I’ve made it five times in the past month.
Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, garlic roasted baby potatoes are tossed with a garlic and herb dressing just before serving. The warm potatoes really absorb the flavor of the garlic, making each bite memorable and fresh.
Shrimp and broccoli pasta is a comforting meal that feels luxurious without being heavy. This tastes gorgeous enough to post online, but it’s completed as quickly as possible so you can stick around during your downtime.
As far as I’m concerned, this is the best apple pie ever (not that I’m biased). Something magical happens when you top your apple pie with streusel. Adds layers of texture and new flavors to your pie. You would be missing out without this. So I think I’ll try this apple streusel pie sliced over traditional apple pie any day.
There’s something incredible about a dessert that looks this fancy and takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish. It’s like unlocking a cheat code. And graham cracker toffee is just such a recipe.
Peppermint hot cocoa is one of our favorite hot drinks this time of year. Mix this cocoa mix now to easily make peppermint hot chocolate right through the holidays.
We’ve collected the best fall ice cream flavors here. From caramel apples to pumpkin spice, peppermint, cinnamon, sweet maple syrup, nutty pecans, walnuts, and apple chips, these flavors are irresistible this time of year.
What I’m looking for: These Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) from The Woks of Life. It looks great and the flavor combination is just right for my taste. Will have to incorporate it into my meal plan soon.
My favorite this week is the caramel bedtime tea. I’ve never been a tea drinker to begin with, so I can be a little pickier about my taste than other tea drinkers. But this tea feels so good that I look forward to brewing a cup at night. And when the weather was bad last week, I mixed in a spoonful of honey and it was pure heavenly relief.
What I’m reading: How to read books by Monica Wood. This book was a real surprise! When I saw it recommended at the library, I couldn’t help but pick it up. I had no idea what the book was about, but after reading a few chapters I couldn’t stop reading. I stayed up so late reading it that I finished it in just a few days. This is a story of forgiveness and second chances. The characters are so real that I want to have dinner with them right now. “No matter how eventful a life is, there is an avalanche of stories.”
Song I’m listening to: Christmas with the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.) Just try not to laugh when you listen to these classics. This is a heart full of holiday spirit packed into a Christmas album.
“For by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this is not of yourselves, nor of works, but the gift of God, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
I hope you have a wonderful week filled with lots of little things that will make you smile!
mary
