Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Happy 4th of July and 250th birthday to America! There is nowhere else I would ever want to live. I am so grateful to live where we live and have the freedoms that we have.
We had our 37th annual family campout in AZ last weekend and I wrote a bit about it on my personal blog. If you’re interested, you can see the photos and read more about it there.
I dropped my son at the airport this morning at 3am and then headed back home for a nap before starting my day for real. We have friends coming over in a few hours and as soon as we’re done grilling, I’ll be staying indoors the rest of today. (This heatwave is REAL!)
ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Sweet, tangy, crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad is a great side dish for summer potlucks, barbecues, or to serve with your dinner any day of the week.
Light and slightly tangy Creamy Pasta Salad, with just enough dressing to coat the noodles and vegetables, this is one heck of an awesome summer pasta salad. This and the above Ramen Noodle Salad are both my Aunt’s recipes and if you’ve been hanging out with me for long, you know that her recipes are some of the very best ones.
This dish is a showstopper. I know that you’ve probably read that a thousand times on various blogs. But, I can tell you with one hundred percent honesty, this Red Skin Potato Salad is one of the best potato salads I’ve ever had. My brother HATES potato salad, and he ate three helpings of this one the first time he tried it – and now he makes it for his family!
This Sweet and Spicy Apple Coleslaw has plenty of crunch! It’s an unforgettable side dish. Sweet and spicy flavors are almost always a sure win with my family. However, coleslaw? That has not always been a reason to cheer. A few years ago that changed when we tried this recipe for classic coleslaw. There’s an unexpected ingredient here that takes it right out of the park.
Oh, how I love these crunchy, tangy, Quick Pickled Green Beans! Luckily, they’re so easy to make, we can make them on repeat. These green beans are a fun new snack in our fridge and the kids have been devouring them about as quickly as I can make them.
The ever-popular and timeless Rainbow Fruit Salad combines a variety of bright and colorful fresh fruits with a tangy honey lime dressing to create a crave-worthy summer side dish. Fresh pineapple, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, oranges, kiwis, and blackberries come together fabulously in this one.
Homemade Blueberry Pie Filling tastes so much better than store-bought! And best of all, it’s super easy to make. We use the recipe for just about everything you can imagine, topping pancakes and waffles, ice cream, cobblers and crisps – and pie too!
Fresh rhubarb and sweet strawberries topped with a crunchy oatmeal crumble makes a Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp that no one will forget. This is a quick and easy springtime dessert that is perfect for last-minute guests.
What I’m CRAVING: I made this Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting last year and it was so good! I have some bananas that need to be used up, so I’m thinking I’ll be making this cake again next week. Doesn’t that sound perfect with a cup of tea or coffee in the morning or afternoon?
My FAVORITE THING this week is my glass nail file. Have you switched to a crystal or glass file? I switched two, or maybe it’s already been three years ago, and I will never go back to traditional nail files. I used to hate filing my nails but this file makes it soooo much easier, smoother and FASTER.
My nails rarely break or chip compared to in the past and I’m just thrilled with how much easier the maintenance is. It’s a little luxury in life, but I’ve had the same glass file for a few years now. And I think it’s well worth it.
What I’m LISTENING to: The Singer and the Song by Joey and Rory. “It is Well with My Soul” and “In the Garden” bring me to tears almost every time I hear them. This album is a compilation of the best of their music and I love every song on the album. What a gift our Jesus is, my friends.
“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1 NIV
Wishing you a beautiful week filled with little things that make you smile!
Mary