Welcome to the weekend, my buddies! I hope your week (and your climate) have been improbable and that you just’re having fun with the vacations nevertheless you select to have fun them. We loved a dusting of snow this week and I used to be in heaven for the temporary day that it lasted on the bushes.
I can dream of a white Christmas, however this yr, it’s solely a dream. We’re purported to hit 60 levels on Monday (only a few levels decrease than the forecast for Phoenix) – what sort of nonsense is that? No less than I can sit up for a day stroll within the hotter climate.
What we’re EATING: It’s been a severely scrumptious week over right here with no single new weblog put up to indicate for it. (And I’m by no means unhappy about that proper now.)
Sean made the Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry the opposite night time and I could also be responsible of getting hidden the final serving for my lunch – zero guilt right here, that’s how we roll. I tossed the leftover beef and broccoli with some leftover Noodles with Cabbage and the mixture was so flipping good it gave me an thought for one more new recipe.
I made a batch of Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies after which proceeded to eat an absurd variety of them with my morning and noon and late afternoon espresso. I’m fairly positive that when a cookie encourages me to drink increasingly espresso, it won’t be factor, however the cookies are simply so completely chewy with a buttery cinnamon sugar taste, sigh. I really like them.
We’ve been on a roll with Breakfast Sandwiches currently, though they typically get made nearer to lunchtime. I’ve additionally been knowledgeable that “Dad’s sandwiches are higher than yours, Mother” <gasp> with the added non-apologetic remark, “Sorry, nevertheless it’s true.” So, it seems like I may have to research precisely what makes his higher. (Odds are good that it’s an entire lot of meat, as my carnivore crew can’t get sufficient bacon and sausage of their breakfasts.)
I made a model of this Cashew Chicken Salad, however wound up swapping so many elements each as a result of they sounded good and since I didn’t have every little thing readily available, it turned an entire new recipe. Not unhappy about that although, as I made notes in order that I could make it once more. The entire household was consuming the rooster salad on crackers, proper out of the blending bowl.
My youngest son helped, truly did many of the work, to make his favourite dinner final night time and it was perfection. Buttered Steak Bites (with mushrooms) and an enormous pot of Truffle Mac and Cheese, together with a Sweet Kale Salad (although I did fortunately cheat that one and simply grabbed the bag of salad at Costco this week).
I additionally made one other batch of those Loaded Mint Cookies. They’re a dream come true for anybody who loves mint + chocolate as a lot as I do. Paired with a cup of Peppermint Hot Cocoa, I’m in peppermint heaven.
What I’m CRAVING: Talking of peppermint, it’s time to churn a batch of Peppermint Ice Cream. I already stocked up on sweet canes once more, so I can hold making all of it yr.
And I’ll be making a batch of my good friend Katrina’s perfect-every-time sugar cookies this weekend too. Should you haven’t tried them but, they’re a vacation must-make. Superb taste, completely crisp cut-out edges, zero chill time required for the dough, what extra might I ask? I’ve been making her recipe and solely her recipe for over ten years now.
My FAVORITE THING this week is that this butter dish. I could also be a wee bit obsessive about this factor. I’ve had a Butterbell for years, however the fact is that for our household, it simply doesn’t maintain sufficient butter to make it a sensible selection. I lastly went searching for an answer that meets my fussy necessities: straightforward to maintain clear, seems good on the counter, holds at the least two sticks of butter, and has a lid.
That is every little thing I wanted and extra. It’s essentially the most sensible butter dish I’ve ever seen and it really works completely. No bizarre grooves or edges to gather butter, it stays clear, and it simply holds further butter too.
What I’m WATCHING: all of the Christmas motion pictures! White Christmas is my favourite Christmas film of all time and my youngest son nonetheless watches it with me annually. And The Polar Express has been our Christmas Eve morning custom yearly since my boys have been toddlers.
Die Hard 1 & 2, Lethal Weapon, and The Ref are additionally on the listing for this weekend. (Facet notice, I really like having older youngsters who can watch these with us eventually! It’s a lot enjoyable. My youngest is impatiently awaiting a number of extra birthdays earlier than he’ll be becoming a member of us for these.)
What I’m READING: Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich. Lastly! A twist in one of many Stephanie Plum books. I’ve ranted concerning the lack of character growth after studying the previous couple of books on this sequence, and honestly, this one wasn’t on my listing to learn. The books are nonetheless enjoyable reads, however that is ebook 30 within the sequence and I’m past prepared for Stephanie to maneuver ahead.
A reader emailed me a number of weeks in the past although, (Hello, Glynda!) and steered I give this one a strive. It has a shock ending that made me grin and now I’m trying ahead to studying the subsequent ebook. Right here’s hoping that the sequence continues to maneuver ahead now.
What I’m LISTENING to: Forever Christmas by David Lanz and Kristin Amarie. It is a new one for me and I can’t advocate it extremely sufficient. The music is gorgeous in each approach. David is a pianist/composer and Kristin is a vocalist with a panoramic voice.
I had a troublesome time selecting a favourite track on this album. O Holy Night time and Silent Night time are long-time favorites and these renditions are flawless, however Endlessly Christmas is superb as effectively. In different phrases, it is best to in all probability give it a pay attention and see when you can select a favourite.
“For to us a toddler is born, to us a son is given; and the federal government shall be upon his shoulder, and his title shall be referred to as Fantastic Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 ESV
Wishing you the very merriest of Christmases!
Mary
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