Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’m back in Ohio and enjoying a drizzling rainy Saturday. It’s my favorite kind of morning and I’m soaking it in from the comfort of my kitchen table as I write this today. The coffee is hot, my 16 year old is baking cookies, (which of course I’m sampling), and the kitchen smells delicious.
ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Thinly sliced flank steak in a garlicky ginger sauce makes for a delicious weeknight Steak and Pepper Stir Fry. This is one of those dishes that tends to come together from whatever vegetables might be tucked in the fridge. The perfect sauce can pull them together into a savory, flavor-filled meal.
Diced red potatoes and hard-boiled eggs are tossed in a creamy, herb-flecked dressing that tastes exactly like my favorite salad dressing in this Ranch Potato Salad. I know it’s not a competition. But, doesn’t it just feel good to watch people keep going back for more of what you brought to the potluck? This ranch potato salad recipe is an easy win for that, because all I have to do is boil potatoes and eggs, chop them up, and whisk together the dressing.
Mozzarella cheese, salami, tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, and black olives are combined with bite-size pasta and tossed in a tangy, garlicky, vinaigrette to make this Salami Pasta Salad. My boys went a little bit crazy over it the first time I made it. After all, what’s not to love about a pasta salad that is fully loaded with meat and cheese? They ate this for dinner and again for lunch the next day.
My go-to recipe for Air Fryer Tater Tots leaves them crispy on the outside, fluffy in the middle, finished with a soft layer of melted cheddar and a generous scatter of fresh parsley. I’ve never regretted making a batch. Not even when I eat them all by myself!
Crispy bacon, gooey cheese, and scrambled eggs, all wrapped in a crunchy tortilla? It’s no wonder that this Breakfast Quesadilla has become one of my favorite breakfast options. Try it and you’ll see why this is one I make on repeat.
With just enough nut crunch to keep the chocolate forever interesting, these chewy Walnut Brownies have been on heavy rotation in our house lately. Sometimes, they disappear about as fast as I can pull the next pan out of the oven.
Pure maple syrup, heavy cream, whole milk, and a pinch of salt. That’s the whole ingredient list in this Maple Ice Cream. And, the result is a soft, scoopable ice cream that I just can’t stop eating. This is the one, if you love all things maple.
What I’m CRAVING: At the moment, not much, because my belly is full of warm chocolate chip cookies, but later today, I’ll be making a Chicken Caesar Salad and I’m very much looking forward to that!
My FAVORITE THING this week is my new ice cream maker. I’ve tested dozens of ice cream makers over the past 15 years. (All at my own cost, btw, so I’m brutally honest with my reviews around here.) You can read a review post of the best of the ice cream makers over here, if you’re interested. The reason I’m telling you about this today, instead of just adding this link to my ice cream recipes as usual is that the ice cream maker is on sale for more than 25% off and I’ve had a few emails this past week asking for machine recommendations. It’s definitely the season for ice cream making. (The savings right now are substantial if you’ve been considering buying an ice cream maker or upgrading your old one!)
Unfortunately, after 14 years of churning, my beloved Breville ice cream maker has finally slowed down and
What I’m LISTENING to: Builder and Architect by Sandra McCracken. I’ve had this album on repeat most mornings for a couple of weeks now and I’m still really enjoying it. Her music is truly a gift.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalm 91:1-2, 4 NIV
Wishing you a beautiful week filled with little things that make you smile!
Mary
