March 18, 2023
Welcome to the weekend, my friends! My youngest son turns 13 this weekend and even though we’ve been watching the calendar waiting for this weekend to finally arrive, it’s a little bit unreal. We have three teenagers in the house now and I love it.
I’ve said it before and it bears repeating, parenting older kids is a whole lot more fun than the babies and toddlers ever were. If you’d told me 15 years ago just how cool it would be to have teenagers, I never would’ve believed it.
ON THE BLOG this week: This is beyond any doubt the BEST ham I have ever tasted – and the secret is all in the 3 ingredient ham glaze. (This ham is so completely worthy of hyperbole; I gave up on attempting to write the post without it.)
Fresh broccoli with dried cranberries, bacon, and red onion tossed in a tangy sweet dressing makes for a crave-able Cranberry Broccoli Bacon Salad. This salad was a hit with my non-broccoli fans too!
Tangy, sweet, Memphis bbq sauce is so much tastier than anything store-bought! (And you can make it with just a few pantry ingredients!) Have you tried making barbecue sauce? If you haven’t, it’s time to give it a try.
This lightly sweetened baked oatmeal is filled with bursting blueberries and wholesome oats with a hint of fragrant cinnamon.
This garlicky Bacon Asparagus Pasta includes a generous handful of freshly shredded Parmesan cheese, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and a sprinkling of red pepper flakes as a perfect match to the fresh flavor of asparagus. (I actually had to hide the tiny portion leftover last time we made this because I was determined to have it for lunch the next day!)
Steak Fajita Quesadillas combines the rich, meaty flavor of a steak with the vibrant colors and bold flavors of fajita vegetables, all wrapped up in crispy, cheesy tortillas.
This lightly sweetened and spiced cake is filled with chunks of apple, then drizzled with warm caramel sauce just before serving. A sprinkling of raw sugar over the top of the cake adds a bit of crunch and sweetness as well.
Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies are thick, chewy chocolate cookies topped with gooey marshmallows and a generous dollop of fudge frosting.
Cinnamon coffee cake loaded with layers of buttery cinnamon brown sugar streusel is something that I can not resist whenever it is in the house. Fortunately, it’s irresistible to everyone I know, so it disappears fast any time I make it.
What I’m CRAVING: Big Mac Tacos – I kid you not. When Rebecca first told me she was creating recipes to mimic classic Big Mac flavors, I was a little confused – right up until I tasted these tacos. (She made them for me last time she was here.) They taste like a legit McDonald’s burger, but fresher and kind of elevated. At any rate, tasting is believing when it comes to these tacos. They are so dang good.
My FAVORITE THING this week is this $4 hair treatment. I’ve been using Malibu C blonde hair remedy regularly (about once a month) ever since we moved to Ohio and I still love it. You simply pour the packet of powder into your hand, then wet it well before massaging it into your hair after shampooing, then rinse it out, shampoo again, and condition last. It only takes a few minutes and it WORKS. My hair has never been happier.
This is the same product my stylist uses in the salon and it’s truly awesome. It instantly eliminates brassy, muddy tones and discoloration and it boosts natural shine too. It makes your hair look like you were just at the salon. It’s the secret to keeping blonde hair looking fresh all the time. Natural or colored hair, it works like a miracle. (If you have well water, this is going to rock your hair like nothing else!)
What I’m READING: The Complete Novels of Lucy Maud Montgomery Kindle Edition. I may have actually squealed when I stumbled on the entire collection of her books for just $3 on Kindle. What a find!! I have the Anne of Green Gables series on Kindle already, but this set includes all of the Emily books too – of which I’ve only read the first. In case you can’t tell, I’m absolutely giddy over this collection!
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 ESV
Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!
Mary
