The Little Things Newsletter #489 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! As Anne Shirley reminds us each year, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” The weather here has been unseasonably warm during the days, but absolutely glorious in the cool mornings. We’re entering birthday season in our home this month, and I’m looking forward to it. We have birthdays each month through the end of the year, and combined with the traditional holiday things, I’m just excited for all of it.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK:  How cool is it that this Last Minute Chicken recipe is the easiest chicken we make, and it is also some of the tastiest chicken we make? Seasoned with plenty of terrific flavors and quickly cooked in any number of ways, this chicken is a staple in my meal planning.

Hand over a bag of chips and a bowl of Cowboy Caviar, dinner is ready. With fresh peppers, onion, tomatoes, and avocados in a light dressing, this is so good! This would also be terrific served as a side with that chicken.

Tender chicken, salsa, green chile, and black beans are simmered through the day in the crock-pot and then scooped into warm tortillas to create the easiest, tastiest, Salsa Chicken tacos and burritos.

I’ve been on an air fryer kick for a while now and these thin and crispy, Air Fryer Green Beans are irresistible with a squeeze of lemon juice or a side of bang bang sauce. I’ve been making a batch with my lunch several times a week for months now.

The best Green Chile Stew is loaded with bite-sized chunks of pork that are seasoned with onion and plenty of garlic. The pork is simmered in a green chile sauce until tender enough to almost fall apart when you bite it.

Two-ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake is a fun treat that takes nearly no effort to make! That’s right; it’s made with just two simple-to-find ingredients that you may already have in your pantry.

Smooth and creamy Honey Ice Cream, infused with cardamom and cinnamon, is the ultimate complement to a bowl of berries. The flavors in this ice cream are unforgettable.

What I’m CRAVING: ALL the vegetables, PLEASE! I’ve been off my routine for meal planning (that changes TODAY) and as a result, there’s been a bit of a vegetable shortage in my life. I’m making these crispy Smashed Brussels today, along with a batch of Honey Sriracha Roasted Broccoli. 

My FAVORITE THINGS this week are my kids. Despite the ups and downs of parenting through the years, they’ve brought me so many grins and laughs lately. I can’t think of anything else that has made me happier this week.

What I’m LISTENING to: I’m still enjoying Ben Fuller’s Walk Through Fire. I absolutely love this album. “Walk With Me” is just spectacular, and it’s a beautiful reminder of what Jesus has done and continues to do in my life.

“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 filled with little things that make you smile!

Mary