Welcome to the weekend, friends! Just a couple more weeks until Christmas and I am so ready for it all. (Okay, I may not actually be ready, but I am certainly excited!) We’ve been enjoying our advent tree and taking turns reading a few pages from A Christmas Carol each night. I’m making plans for holiday baking as soon as the boys’ holiday break begins.
ON THE BLOG this week: Soup that is filling and flavorful is a winner every time, and that puts white bean, sausage, and cabbage soup high on the request list at our house. Buttery, cheesy, flaky drop biscuits filled with shredded zucchini and carrots are a perfect match for all the soups you’re craving.
Almost 20 years ago, I was handed one of the most delicious cookies I had ever tasted. The Pignoli Cookie is unique in flavor and texture; completely unlike anything I had tasted before that day.
Dark Chocolate Coconut Fudge is filled with sweet, chewy bits of coconut and then topped with a generous sprinkling of coconut.
Cream Cheese Mints melt in your mouth with a sweet peppermint flavor. Kept pure white or colored however you like, pressed into molds or simply rolled and pressed with a fork, however you make these mints, they’re one of the easiest candy recipes of all time.
Creamy Corn Dip is a creamy, spicy, slightly sweet snack for any time of the year. With loads of great flavor from cilantro, lime, chili powder, and cumin, this is an irresistibly dippable version of Mexican street corn.
Made in the oven or in the air fryer, these Cajun Brussels Sprouts are another crispy, flavorful snack that I just can’t stop making.
Tart cranberries and sweet apples are baked inside a brown sugar and oat crisp for a perfect not-to-sweet cranberry apple crisp.
Caramel, pecans, and dark chocolate are combined in this simple homemade caramel turtle bark candy. If you like chocolate turtles, you’re going to flip for this easy shortcut recipe!
What I’m CRAVING: Have you tried sponge candy? Until a few years ago, I’d never heard of it. But then my friend Rebecca introduced us to it and it’s become a holiday favorite. I’ve never tried making it though, so this recipe is on my must-try list this year!
My FAVORITE THING this week is the game Pun Intended. I picked this up as an advent gift for my boys and it was a big hit. This is a quick-play game that even my not-so-into-word-games family members enjoyed. You play in teams and you’ll get 60 seconds to answer up to 6 questions, so there isn’t time to stress your answers, just spit out your guesses. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll wince, groan, cringe, and laugh while playing this one.
What I’m READING: F in Exams: The Very Best Totally Wrong Test Answers by Richard Benson. I don’t recall how I stumbled onto this book, but it has been a laughable distraction. I bought it for a gift and laughed as I flipped through it. It isn’t really a book you’d want to read cover to cover, though you certainly could, it’s maybe an hour’s read. But I found it more fun to randomly open it and read a couple of the questions and answers at a time.
A few of my favorites from this book:
- Question: What does a transformer do? Answer: It can go from being a robot to a sports car in three seconds.
- Question: Who was Solomon? Answer: He was a very popular man with 700 wives and 300 porcupines.
- Question: Claire used good body language at a job interview. Can you think of three examples of good body language that Claire may have used? Answer: 1) Pole Dancing 2) The Moonwalk 3) The Bolero
What I’m WATCHING: the first season of Chuck. I introduced my boys to this one a couple of nights ago and I’m so happy they enjoyed it! I’m looking forward to having a fun new show to watch with them.
If you aren’t familiar with this one, it’s a very funny “accidental spy” movie. It’s silly, fun, escapism with plenty of humor, action, a bit of romance, and an incredible cast. Best of all, this show rarely takes itself seriously.
“Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 NASB
Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!
Mary
