News from the nest, november 25
Good Morning!
We are coming off of a lovely weekend spent with family who are also friends. Terry’s half-sister is one of those people who, if she weren’t already my SIL, I’d want as a BFF. She and her husband, also a wonderful guy, came down for the weekend. We ate, watched football, ate, stayed up too late talking, ate, took walks to enjoy the beautiful weather, and had just a delightful weekend. We capped the weekend off at Mom’s, helping her put up her Christmas tree.
All that said, as soon as this newsletter is winging its way to you, I will hit the ground running.
We are spending Thanksgiving in Durham, just two hours away, where our daughter is currently doing her rotations. We’ve rented an Airbnb and our son and his girlfriend will join us there. Given our travels and the unknown kitchen, I’ve ordered much of our Thanksgiving meal from a local caterer. But I’ll make some family favs: pecan pie, apple pie, and mom’s stuffing. I need to make the pie crusts today or tomorrow and prep the fillings for assembly and baking up there.
I’ll also need to bake Cranberry Apple Banana bread, Molasses cookies, and sausage balls today or tomorrow. On Saturday, we will be hosting one of my girlfriends and her daughters, who will also be in Durham over the weekend for football, so I need to get those food plans in place as well. All in all, I’m going to be hustling, but it’s a good kind of hustling.
I’m currently listening to Anna Karenina, which will keep me entertained while I hustle!
For my friends in the U.S., how are your Thanksgiving preparations coming? With Thanksgiving late this year, there is really no time between the two before Christmas prep starts. I did not get any decorating done last week; I ended up deep cleaning much of the house in preparation for decorating. Suffice it to say, if you need any dog hair, let me know.
Table of Contents
New on the Blog
If the question is, “What is a super simple and quick snack or appetizer idea?” These Parmesan Cheese Crisps are the answer. These delicious crisps are gluten-free and low in carbs, making them an excellent choice for keto and low-carb diets.
From the Knit + Crochet Studio
- This Easy Knit Baby Blanket pattern requires you to know only how to knit and how to purl; there are no fancy or complicated stitches here! The pattern of knits and purls creates a tone-on-tone plaid pattern. This simple combination of knits and purls makes this baby blanket knitting pattern reversible, meaning it looks equally attractive on both sides. You can use a contrasting color for the border.
- Dishcloths and washcloths seem to be items you can never have enough of! You might want to make this Sunburst Crochet Dishcloth Pattern for yourself, but they also make fantastic gifts!
Some Fun Finds and Favorites
Some of these links may be Amazon affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from the sale of these products to help defray the costs of operating this site, but the price you are charged is not affected. You can see my full disclosure policy here.
- I like my Roomba iRobot, but I wasn’t excited about the price of replacement filters and vacuum bags. After reading reviews, I took a chance on the off-brand filter replacements and vacuum bags and give them all the thumbs up at a fraction of the price. Just read the specifics to make sure your specific model is listed.
🧑🏼🎄I really wish the Elf on the Shelf has been around when my kids were young. I would have had so much fun with his shenanigans! Here’s an Elf ‘Arrival’ Kit, which includes the Elf and everything needed to get him situated in his new home.
🫶🏼The Claddagh is a symbol of love, friendship, and loyalty. These Claddagh mugs are simply lovely.
🌡️Just in time for holiday cooking, this Thermopro Meat Thermometer is on sale and nicely priced.
Books Read in 2024
At the end of every month, I share my ‘reviews’ of books I’ve read thus far in 2024 and where I stand relative to the goal of thirty-three books I set for the year. Many of you have written that you enjoy and appreciate my ‘book reviews’ (if you can call them that!), but I always struggle with not giving too much away and am also cognizant that my likes are not everyone else’s.
Sadly, I will fall well short of my goal this year! 😮Not quite sure how that happened as my routine hasn’t changed. Maybe I’ve just read longer books; I’m reading a doozy right now, at almost 1000 pages!
From the Kitchen
- You’ll find many uses for this Gingerbread Syrup: coffee, ice cream, martinis, etc… It makes great gifts, too.
- This White Bean Soup with Ham and Vegetables is a lighter, brothier version of traditional bean soup recipes.
- If your cookie baking is getting underway, take a few minutes to read these tips to make the best cookies. You may already know some of these handy tips, but there may be a few new ones that will help make your baking easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable and result in the very best cookies!
- And this Measuring Equivalents Chart! I have this free, printable chart laminated and taped to the inside of one of my kitchen cabinets. I refer to it weekly. It makes doubling, tripling, or even halving recipes so much easier.
- These Glazed Crisp Ginger Molasses Cookies are an ideal addition to your cookie recipe list. If you need inspiration for your ‘to-bake’ list, you’re in luck today, my friend; these spicy and gingery cookies are also light and crisp.
- Simply put, this Amaretti cookie recipe will become a holiday staple in your home. Not only are they quick and easy to make, but they are also very delicious. I can bake two dozen of these easy, soft Amaretti Cookies, start to finish, in under an hour. And, not for nothing, these delightful Italian cookies will please the marzipan lovers in your world. A bonus is that you can make up a big batch of dough and freeze it until needed.
- With their sweet and slightly licorice-like essence, these Anise Cookies, also known as Italian Anisette Cookies, are a perfect addition to your Holiday Cookie Tray. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and let’s get baking!
- This easy-to-make Mulled Wine jelly is a lovely Christmas recipe and makes a great holiday gift; printable tags are available for free download. It is perfect on your Holiday Charcuterie Board or your next grilled cheese sandwich. Serve it alongside your pork, turkey, or chicken, tuck it into crepes, or top a panna cotta for a festive holiday dessert.
From the Arts + Crafts Room
- I love a good upcycling project, especially when it makes the cutest gifts! Gather some empty Frappuccino bottles, wax, candle wicks, and scents for these charming Gingerbread Man Candles.
- Need a hostess gift for a Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving celebration? Print these free Thanksgiving Wine Tags, cut them out, and attach them to your favorite bottle of wine.
Gift Ideas
- If you have a bibliophile on your gift list, here are some great gift ideas for book lovers.
- This comprehensive list of handy travel accessories also make Great Travel Gifts. It offers suggestions for small, under $20 gifts for travelers, perfect for stocking stuffers, gifts under $30, and gifts over $30. These 22 gift suggestions will help you check those travelers off your gift list.
Well, friends, I hope you have a great week! \
For my U.S. friends, I hope your travels are safe and your turkey is moist! I hope your table conversation includes everything fun and nothing political. Make sure to mark yourself safe during Black Friday shopping!
I’ll be back next week!
Hugs,
