The Little Things Newsletter #475 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I spent barely an hour outside this morning, and I’m happily cooling off in the a/c now. It still boggles my mind that 80 or 90 degrees in Ohio, with all the moisture in the air, feels so different from the dry heat in Arizona. I will never miss those months-on-end temps over 100, but I have to admit that there are times when the humidity dims the shine on Ohio. Just a tiny bit, though – I’m still deeply in love with my beautiful Ohio.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK:  Crunchy bite-sized pieces of fresh vegetables, herbs, and ham, combined with a light and creamy dressing, make this ham pasta salad a standout.

This garlicky asparagus pasta includes a generous handful of freshly shredded Parmesan cheese, salty bacon, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and a sprinkling of red pepper flakes as a perfect match to the fresh flavor of asparagus.

Brimming with juicy pineapple and colorful bell peppers, this pineapple chicken stir fry is a little bit tangy, a little bit sweet, pretty to look at, and absolutely full of flavor.

Chilled cubes of watermelon tossed with lemon juice, salt, and a hint of spice are topped with thin ribbons of basil in this watermelon basil salad. Whether you eat it as is or top it with goat cheese or feta, it is destined to be a surefire summer hit!

Sweet peas, salty bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese coated in a creamy, tangy dressing add up to an easy, tasty summer side dish. This bacon pea salad is a timeless favorite that is a great addition to any meal.

There’s something about strawberry sorbet that feels like pure summer in a bowl. It’s bright, refreshing, and so simple, it almost feels like a magic trick. Just strawberries, lemon, sugar, and a pinch of salt—that’s it.

Juicy, sun-ripened peaches mingle with the sweetness of fresh blueberries beneath a heavenly brown sugar crust in this peach blueberry crisp. This is one dessert worth daydreaming over.

What I’m CRAVING: Every possible fruit and vegetable, please. I’d like a serving of Lynne’s couscous chicken salad and Tricia’s salmon asparagus salad, with a side of Sue’s burrata beet salad, a slice of Leigh Anne’s strawberry cream cake, and a handful of Christi’s lemon tarts. 

My FAVORITE THING this week is this cordless rechargable mini box cutter. This little tool has been so handy for breaking down boxes!

What I’m LISTENING to: Coming Home by Drew and Ellie Holcomb. I’ve really been enjoying this album. It always makes me grin when a husband wife duo makes music together, and these two? They’re magic together. 

“From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!” Psalm 113:3 ESV

Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!

Mary