The Little Issues E-newsletter #498 – Life, laughter, and many nice meals!

December 6, 2025

Welcome to the weekend, my mates! It’s a cold one right here in Ohio. I’ve pipes that are likely to freeze right here in my studio, so we’ve had taps happening a sluggish drip for days (sure, that’s actually a factor, mates in Phoenix) and I’m grateful to know to do that now after the primary few years of frozen pipes. 

Anybody with a special answer? Be happy to message me, we’ve had plumbers have a look at the state of affairs and principally shrug or inform us it’s simply an previous home, so I believe we’re in all probability caught with this methodology. Not less than the pipes don’t freeze if we go away the taps dripping when we’ve single digit temps. Bizarre strategy to begin the e-newsletter, I do know, however I’m hoping somebody might need a artistic answer we would not have tried!

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Each time the temperature dips and soup season arrives, I discover myself utilizing my crockpot much more than ordinary extra. I’m satisfied that this slow cooker white chicken chili is the rationale crockpots exist. No stress. Simply tender hen, hearty beans, spicy chile, and a home that smells divine.

In the case of dinners which are lightning quick however nonetheless really feel luxurious, baked pesto salmon is the best way to go. Topped with a homemade parsley pesto with crunchy pine nuts, this dinner takes simply 20 minutes from begin to end!

Retailer-bought puff pastry simply is likely to be the final word kitchen hack. No extra rolling butter and dough and ready. Simply a straightforward answer for the flaky, buttery crust all of us crave. And, this elegant chicken pot pie with puff pastry places it to good use, protecting a savory filling that’s loaded with tender hen, hearty greens, and a creamy sauce.

Leafy greens, crunchy apple slices, and chewy raisins are fabulous collectively on this spinach apple salad with a tangy candy dressing. The salad is a pleasant steadiness of flavors and textures, making it one in every of my favorites to share with mates.

Creamy peanut butter, chewy marshmallows, indulgent almond bark, Rice Krispies, and chocolate chips? Cease speaking, I’m already ! However, mix them in a no-bake cookie recipe? Oh, yeah. Signal me up. These unbelievably good avalanche cookies are able to eat in simply 10 minutes.

Decadent fudgy mint brownies are topped with a peppermint buttercream frosting and a heavenly darkish chocolate ganache. I could also be biased, however you received’t discover a higher brownie recipe on the market. And, bonus? They’re manner simpler to make than they appear!

There’s one thing gleefully unrestrained about turning a drink as comforting as horchata into ice cream. You continue to get the candy, creamy flavors of cinnamon and vanilla in horchata ice cream. However, let me let you know, it’s twice as luscious as an indulgent dessert.

What I’m CRAVING: Carne en su Jugo! It’s my oldest son’s twenty second birthday and he’s requested this for his birthday dinner. I’m beginning it now and excited to begin it simmering on the range. It’s going to be a scrumptious day over right here.

What I’m WATCHING: We’ll be watching Die Hard tonight with our boys and some of their mates. Anybody else a fan of non-traditional Christmas films? I just like the sentimental ones as properly, however classics like Die Laborious and The Ref are at all times on my vacation film watching record. I like that our children are lastly sufficiently old to observe these with us too!

My FAVORITE THINGS this week are my beloved earbuds. If I’ve talked about them as soon as, I’ve talked about them a minimum of 10x in my newsletters. And GUESS WHAT?! They’re HALF OFF TODAY! They usually make the BEST EVER stocking stuffers. I’m giddy to let you know about them right now. I am keen on these earbuds.

I’ve misplaced depend of what number of of those I’ve gifted to family and friends through the years and what number of of you might have emailed me to say how impressed you’re with them. They’re a fraction of the price of the stylish manufacturers and so they’ve held up amazingly properly over time. And at this value? It’s no huge deal in any respect if the children lose one. Santa simply pops a brand new pair of their stockings. It’s a profitable deal for positive!

What I’m LISTENING to: Heaven Has Come by Sovereign Grace Music. This has turn out to be my favourite non-traditional Christmas music over the previous few years. I take heed to this album a minimum of as soon as a day, if no more regularly. I adore it.

“However when the fullness of time had come, God despatched forth his Son, born of girl, born beneath the regulation, to redeem those that had been beneath the regulation, in order that we would obtain adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5 ESV

Wishing you a stunning week crammed with little issues that make you smile!

Mary