Welcome to the weekend, my friends! We’ve been in Arizona for the past few days preparing for our annual family camping trip and I’m definitely looking forward to the cooler weather up in the mountains. Want a look at some of our past camping trips? You can find them all here.
We are now seven siblings and have lots of nieces and nephews. Camping has proven to be the easiest way to get us all together in one place. Not everyone makes it every year, but even if our crowd is smaller, it’s still a lot of fun.
ON THE BLOGS this week: The Best BBQ Meatloaf Ever brings variety to your dinner table! Take a simple meatloaf recipe and make it even better with flavorful barbecue sauce and bacon.
Jalapenos and cheddar cheese make this Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad a guaranteed hit. With a creamy, tangy dressing and smoky bacon and egg bits in the salad, it’s a crowd favorite.
Crisp broccoli florets mingle with hearty bits of smoky bacon, flavorful cheddar cheese and zesty red onions in this fantastic broccoli salad. Each bite offers a delicious balance of textures and a great combination of rich, creamy and savory notes.
Juicy, salty kielbasa sausage and tender, crunchy cabbage are a combination from culinary heaven. Add some chopped onions and garlic to make this Sausage Skillet an easy one-pot meal the whole family will love.
A quick and easy flavorful side dish is just minutes away with this Pepper Rice recipe. Combining jasmine rice, fresh peppers, and chicken (or vegetable) broth, this rice is a staple at our house.
Crunchy tortillas, sweetcorn, and gooey cheese come together to create these flavorful, hearty Mexican street corn quesadillas. Whether as a lunchtime snack or a last-minute dinner, the whole family will love these quesadillas.
Fluffy Strawberry Emily Pancakes with sweet strawberry compote, fresh strawberries and whipped cream are a breakfast dream come true.
Creamy Cookie Monster ice cream filled with Oreo pieces and chocolate chip cookies is a hit with all cookie-loving kids and adults!
What I long for: Watermelon margaritas are calling my name. Fresh watermelon meets serrano peppers and a shot of tequila for this unforgettable drink. A little spicy and a little sweet, they’re perfect for summertime indulgence.
my favorite things This week are my wireless earbuds. My whole family has these and they are the best for road trips anywhere. It still surprises me how cheap they are given their performance. I’ve gifted them to a number of people over the years that we’ve had ours.
What I read: Suitable by Curtis Sittenfeld. This is a modern day retelling of Pride & Prejudice and was fun to read. If you’re a die-hard Jane Austen fan, this book probably isn’t for you, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
What I hear: Foxlore by The Crane Wives. My middle son Ben gets a HUGE thank you for introducing me to this. They’re an indie folk band and I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve heard so far.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, and there will be no more mourning, weeping, or pain, for the first has passed.” Revelation 21:4 ESV
Have a great week full of little things that make you smile!
Maria