The Little Things Newsletter #494 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! My day started with a beautiful foggy drive, yoga, and then a giant brunch for my boys and some of their friends. This easy bacon, cheesy scrambled eggs, and a mountain of fluffy waffles added up to full bellies and happy smiles as they split off to either head for synagogue or to the gym. (Yes, teenage boys can apparently eat stacks of waffles and then immediately go workout. That is soooo not my world.)

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Roasting sausage with peppers and onions isn’t complicated. It’s not trendy. But, this Super Easy Sausage and Peppers is 100% absolutely that dish.

You know the feeling. You’ve got maybe 10 minutes before everyone starts asking for dinner, and you need something fast, hearty, and actually satisfying. That’s exactly when I reach for this Southwest Chicken Soup. 10 minutes, friends. And yes, I’ve timed it.

Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes are proof that a little extra preparation goes a long, long way. The secret? It takes less than a minute with a chef’s knife. Your guests will rave about these crispy edges, loaded with fresh parmesan cheese and Italian parsley.

This Confetti Rice has been declared the best rice we’ve ever made. Yes. I said that. I served it with Crispy Italian Oven Chicken and the whole meal was a win.

Have you tried a mayonnaise cake? I know, it sounds suspicious at first. As it turns out, Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake is actually an old-fashioned recipe that was likely in your grandmother’s recipe box. And, fortunately, it has stood the test of time quite well. This is one fantastic cake.

Isn’t fall baking season just the best? Rich and full of warm spices, topped with the irresistible, buttery crunch of pecan streusel, this Pumpkin Crunch Dump Cake just might be the easiest, most tantalizing dessert to come out of your oven this year.

Mascarpone Ice Cream is velvety and rich like gelato, but has that cheesecake-like tang that makes each bite feel absolutely indulgent. This is not one of those cottage cheese rip offs that you have to convince yourself tastes good. There’s no going back from this kind of dreamy decadence.

What I’m CRAVING: This Mac and Cheese with Salami looks sooo good! My mouth is watering and I’m craving that cheesy goodness today. My guys love salami anytime I include it in a meal, so I already know they’ll love this combination.

My FAVORITE THING this week is the fact it’s NOVEMBER! <happy sigh> I love the holidays so much. If you aren’t already familiar with my 4 day prep for a stress free Thanksgiving, check out my favorite 7 quart and 3 quart slow cookers, they’re both on sale. (And no, we’re not cooking anything in them, just saving oven space on Thanksgiving day!)

What I’m LISTENING to: Haters, just look away, it’s November at last, and the Christmas music is playing today as I do some holiday baking. I have no complaints with life today as Bing is crooning in my ears. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 NIV

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

Mary