Hello Foodies!
Thanks for hanging out with me. I know you received quite a few emails from me last week, and I am sensitive to that. I have been doing some testing to gauge interest in producing a guide for Fast Weeknight Meals using QuickFix Proteins. And there is definite interest!
Whether our boys are home or when we’re empty nesting, I want to put a healthy meal on the table quickly, and I imagine you do, too! So stay tuned. I’m excited about this project, and you will be the first to know about it!
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you who share The Fresh Cooky. Hearing from so many of you lately has truly touched my heart. If I could give each of you a hug right now, I would! Thank you so much!
This Fresh Fridays is loaded with the good stuff! Our new recipes (drool-worthy, I’m telling you!), In Real Life, What I’m Reading, What Readers are Saying, Fresh Finds, and a little Encouragement for the Soul!
Use the Table of Contents below to skip to what interests you most.
Brand New ⭐️
- Banana Chocolate Chunk Muffins! If you don’t already have some browning bananas, stop and go and buy some so you have some for this recipe! These are bakery-style, high-domed, tender crumb muffins with great banana flavor and little puddles of dark chocolate — swooning!
- Try serving these with our Vegetarian Tater Tot Casserole!
- Whipped Honey Butter—Another winner, this is loosely based on Texas Roadhouse Butter but better because it doesn’t contain refined sugar!
- Slather it on pancakes, these whole-grain pancakes, 2-ingredient biscuits or these easy yeast rolls!
- Baked Chicken Quesadillas: Save this recipe for an easy weeknight meal or as a great heavy appetizer. Watch the video below on how easy it is to make!
- Serve them with blender salsa, easy guacamole and if you want to get crazy a little white queso dip!
- Or make this Mexican Chopped Salad<< the honey lime dressing!!
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In Real Life
Summer is in full swing, isn’t it? I love to sit outside on our front porch for my morning quiet time in the summer, but some days, I can “feel” the heat as I walk out the door. But I sure do love the quiet of the morning (see a picture below), hearing the birds, the hum of the hummingbirds in the garden and the dawn.
I see Back-to-School stuff in stores, and it feels like it’s the middle of summer. Our youngest will head back to college in a couple of weeks — boo!
But the sultry days of summer will linger here in Colorado, usually well into September and sometimes October. So this girl, who is ready for fall after the 4th of July, is trying to brace herself for another couple of months of heat.
Speaking of back-to-school and college, I have a couple of older posts that are still relevant for those of you who have kids in these age groups. Check out my Creative School Lunches and this post for Back to College: A Students Survival Guide.
What I’m Reading
Beth Moore’s “All My Knotted Up Life” — it’s not what I expected, with some very hard realities that have shaped her into the godly woman she is today. While not always easy to read, I enjoy her style of writing and I finished it feeling encouraged! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Finding Dorothy ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. It is a fascinating historical novel about how the writing of The Wizard of Oz came about. It’s told from the perspective of L. Frank Baum’s wife, Maud. The story bounces back and forth between her consulting on the set of The Wizard of Oz (when she is in her 80s) and her life with Frank in the early 1900s. The story was birthed out of their struggles, I think you will like it too!
Meet Me At the Starlight: I am about halfway through this one. I love Rachel Hauk’s books! They are clean, honest, and real. This one is about a small town in Florida as they fight to save their beloved historical skating rink. It is a little bit love story, a little history, and a whole lot of fun.
What Readers are Saying About… Crumbl Cookies!
Reader Sierra said “These are THE best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had. I’m an avid baker and I bake a lot for my friends and family and when I ask them what’s their favorite dessert I’ve made, one of their choices will always be these cookies! I did tweak the recipe and used a 6-pack of milk chocolate Hershey chocolate bars (9.3 oz.) and shard them, giving large and medium-sized chunks, and then adding around 2 oz. milk chocolate chips for small chunks, totaling to 11.5 oz of chocolate, and this tastes soo yummy! I’ve made this recipe multiple times and I DEFINITELY recommend these!! 10/10” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fresh Finds: Amazon Deals + More
My favorite finds of the week – check out previous weeks HERE!
As I see things others recommend, plus my browsing, I save all of my weekly finds here!
Summer Finds for the Home
- How pretty are these breaddough bowl candles!
- Just imagine yourself bringing your pie to Thanksgiving in this pie baker!
- My favorite laundry basket that really doubles as a pretty basket!
- I love the look of this brass salt and pepper mill!
- Aren’t these pretty bedside or table lamps? And I love this one too!
- I am finally purchasing this pretty tissue box cover!
- I really like these pretty tealight and votive candle holders.
Summer Finds for Her
- I love skirts and this one is so pretty and feminine!
- A boatneck t-shirt is always classic – and the price is right!
- This new trend of drapey pull-on pants is something I can get into!
- J Jill is having a big sale. I love this gauze button-down shirt (50% off the sale price) in Kelly green. And this gauze popover blouse (not on sale)
- Loving these smooth, lightweight pull on jeans!
- I wish they sold these cute crop jeans in petite, usually they are too long for my short legs. And these shorts are always a winner—on sale!
All of this AND MORE in my weekly finds — be sure to check it out!
Fresh Inspiration: How Can I Trust God When I Don’t Understand His Ways?
This resonated with me today — from Lysa Terkeurst, I pray you are encouraged!
“Lately, I’ve been studying the topic of trust. And I’ve realized I attach a great deal of my trust in God to my desire for things to turn out like I think they should.
I want the goodness of God to compel Him to fix things, change minds, prevent hurt, punish the bad and vindicate the good on my timeline. I’m desperate for God to make circumstances good in the timing that seems good to me.
But that’s not faith. It’s a sign that because I still don’t understand what God allowed to happen in my past, I’m struggling to trust Him with my future. So I’ve started asking myself: Can I trust Him enough to start surrendering the outcomes of how my life will go?” Continue reading the full article on Proverbs 31
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Remember, I read and respond to all of my emails, and I am so thankful for each of you who come back weekly! Please come back and rate and comment on a post if you try it.
Coming soon…Cilantro Lime Rice, Strawberry Gelato
P.S. If you missed last week’s Fresh Fridays, recipes, sales, tips, ideas, and more!
Check out my favorite things and more HERE! Plus, previous week’s finds!
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