The Little Things Newsletter #490 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s chilly outside, and this feels like an excellent day for a waffle brunch. We like all kinds of waffles – from sweet to savory (I’m looking at you today, ham and cheese waffles), so it’s unlikely I’ll have any complaints from my family if I break out the waffle iron. And since I happen to have some leftover rosemary in the fridge? There’s also certain to be a batch of the best ever sausage gravy to pour over some of the waffles. (Can you tell I woke up HUNGRY today?!)

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Creamy cheesy polenta is love at first bite! Buttery, soul-satisfying, and creamy, this cheese-laden polenta is perfect served alone or topped with any braised meat, vegetables, or stew. 

Hands down, my favorite way to serve polenta is with chile verde. This Mexican pork and tomato chile verde and classic pork chile verde are what my comfort food dreams are made of these days.

Want to turn a simple head of cabbage into a side dish that will actually be enjoyed? This Cajun cabbage recipe does just that. It is bright and tender-crisp, with a kick that will have your taste buds smiling.

‘Tis the season and these thick and soft iced pumpkin cookies are an awesome way to welcome fall. The oatmeal in these cookies helps add a bit of nutty chewiness to these pumpkin cookies.

And if you love cozy fall flavors, this pumpkin sheet cake with brown butter icing is about to rock your pumpkin-spice-loving world.

If you can’t get enough of the fall flavors, this sweet potato ice cream is about to blow your mind. Once you take a bite, you’ll understand. It turns out that sweet potato ice cream tastes like frozen pumpkin pie.

What I’m CRAVING: I’ve spent this week craving soups and the breads to dip in them, so tonight’s dinner plan is a big pot of this creamy vegetable soup and a basket of easy drop biscuits. 

And if I wind up getting just a little more ambitious while I’m in the kitchen, Tricia’s Bakewell Tart is on my must-make-soon list. If you adore almonds and almond-flavored things as much as I do, it should probably be on your list too.

My FAVORITE THING this week is my new desk lamp. First, it was on sale, which always thrills me, but also, it’s just fantastic. I actually have mine to the side of my desk, rather than in front of me, and it’s adjustable in nearly endless ways. I thought the remote for it was kind of silly at first, but I quickly learned how convenient it is for making adjustments without fussing with the light itself. With adjustable color temperatures, this is my favorite lamp I’ve ever used.

What I’m LISTENING to: The Prodigal by Josiah Queen. I first heard his song Dusty Bibles just a couple of months ago, and it stopped me in my tracks. Having listened to more of his music now, I can tell you that it isn’t the only one of his songs that has made me pause. “A Life Worth Dying,” “Die a Beggar,” and “Things That Matter” are all excellent. 

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4-5 NIV

Wishing you a beautiful week filled with little things that make you smile!

Mary