The Little Things Newsletter #497 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I hope that your Thanksgiving was a wonderful one. This newsletter is a little different from the usual and I’m hoping you will find it helpful! I spent a while this week sifting through my favorite kitchen tools, selecting my absolute favorites to share with you. I’ve been a food blogger for 15 years now and I’ve been cooking 2-3 meals a day for most of the past 25 years.

And over those years? I’ve tried and tested sooooo many kitchen tools, most of which have gathered dust and eventually made their way to donation centers over time. (I’d like to spare you that hassle if I can!) So, if you’re looking for gift ideas for yourself or for those on your Christmas lists, these are my recommendations for kitchen gear that will earn its keep.

KITCHEN ESSENTIALS 

For kitchen gifts that actually get used, I’ve got you. Not another candle. Not another mug. These are the things that I use in my kitchen every. single. day. (And the reasons WHY I choose these over others that look just like them at first glance.) Check out my go-to favorites!

KITCHEN TINY EXTRAS 

I’ve tried so many kitchen tools over the years. And, far too many of them are gimmicky nonsense. But THESE? These actually work. These are the tools that I keep using, time after time. Can we just agree to say no to “cute but useless” kitchen gadgets? These tools right here are perfect for gifting… or upgrading your own kitchen. Kitchen tools you WILL use!

KITCHEN SPLURGES 

Ok, confession time. I am a frugal cook. But, sometimes I make an exception. These things were absolutely positively worth the extra cost. They work incredibly well. They last. And, most importantly, they give me no regrets. Ready for an investment that makes sense? You will not regret clicking this!

KITCHEN POTS AND PANS 

Did you know that quality cookware actually makes cooking easier? I used to think that I couldn’t afford good pots and pans. Oh, how wrong I was. Skip the trendy and expensive sets. You don’t need to be fancy. Here are the must-haves. Click here for easier cooking! 

THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS: Oh, baby, have I got you covered this year. I’ve never had so much fun with the holiday leftovers. Is there anything more American than sitting down to a feast with multiple pounds of meat on the table for each person? Turkey leftovers are real. 

But, they aren’t a problem, at my house! We use it up in sandwiches, salads, and now the most incredible Turkey Quesadilla. Crispy edges, gooey cheese, tender meat… you know the drill.

Chunks of turkey, carrots, celery, and thick egg noodles come together in this Creamy Turkey Soup to create a perfect after-Thanksgiving meal. My family looks forward to this soup every bit as much as we look forward to the big turkey with all the sides.

Bites of turkey, dripping with tangy barbecue sauce and stuffed into a fluffy baked potato with a crispy skin, these Stuffed Baked Potatoes were a hit with the whole family.

Creamy Turkey Green Chile Soup is loaded to the brim with chunks of leftover turkey and roasted green chile. Just cupping the bowl with two hands and breathing in the heat of the green chile warms me right up.

Tender chunks of turkey and vegetables are simmered together underneath a buttery, flaky biscuit topping to make this Turkey Pot Pie Casserole.

What I’m CRAVING: All the above leftover makeovers! Here’s hoping the leftovers hold out long enough to make as many of them as possible.

What I’m READING: The Surgeon’s Daughter by Audrey Blake. If you have read The Girl in His Shadow, you may understand why I immediately downloaded the next one to read next. Nora Beady, the only female student at a prestigious medical school in Bologna, is a rarity. In the 19th century women are expected to remain at home and raise children, so her unconventional, indelicate ambitions to become a licensed surgeon offend the men around her.

What I’m WATCHING: The Tomorrow War. Sean and I watched this one yesterday afternoon and really enjoyed it. (In a nutshell: Time travelers arrive from 2051 to deliver an urgent message: 30 years in the future mankind is losing a war against a deadly alien species. The only hope for survival is for soldiers and civilians to be transported to the future and join the fight. And yes, it’s great fun to watch if you like sci-fi flicks.) 

We’ve  decided that since new movies have been a total bust for us lately, we’re just going to re-watch movies we’ve enjoyed in the past. So far, it’s been an awesome decision. 

What I’m LISTENING to: White Christmas by Bing Crosby. We are two days past Thanksgiving and you will have to pry the Christmas music out of my hands again after the first of the year. Bring on all of my favorites, friends. And please send me yours!

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

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

Mary