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Hi Reader,

As I write this the sun is shining in all the farmhouse windows and the high today should be in the 60s! It did start out at 33 degrees, but I am itching to get out in the garden and start the clean up I didn't get to last week - yay!

(In my defense, in between the rain showers last Saturday I did get some things cut back in the veggie garden, all the strawberry beds cleaned up and a few seeds planted.👏)

Since the weather is cooperating beautifully today, I snapped a couple of pictures to share:

This is the prettier view of the sunken garden with daffodils blooming (they started almost a month ago!).

And here is the messier view. 😀 I'm sure the birds have been enjoying all the seed heads, but I am tired of all the brown - especially as it's covering up some of the new growth.

This weekend is the time, though - I hope to have an "after" picture for you next week!

Also, did you start any seeds in milk jugs? It never fails to amaze me that I just set them out, never do anything with them for two months and then when I look inside the top hole, there are seedlings!!

These are spinach seedlings which I'm going to plant in the garden in the next few days (no hardening off - yay!).

I also have cabbage and kale seedlings that I will pot up so they can get a little bigger before setting in the garden. I've found they tend to get eaten by slugs if I set them out too small.

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Food For Busy Times - Low Prep

When the weather makes me want to spend all day outside, I only want the simplest of meals. And if I can get more than one meal from a recipe, all the better! So here are a few recipes I'm calling "Low Prep Meals" because while they might take time to cook (like in a slow cooker) they only take 5-10 minutes to prepare:

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Salsa Verde​ This is in my cooker as I write!! Simply add a pork loin (I love the smaller Costco loins) or a pork shoulder (fattier) to a slow cooker, season with salt and pepper and then pour a jar of salsa verde over the top. Cook on low 8-10 hours. Perfect!! Serve in tacos, as nachos, in a bowl with slaw, or in a salad.

​Slow Cooker Spiced Whole "Rotisserie" Chicken​ A favorite way to have a meal and then have cooked chicken for other meals! Add the spices and let the cooker "bake" your chicken perfectly.

​Cranberry Feta Chicken Salad​ Use your cooked chicken in this flavorful chicken salad - it mixes up in minutes and added to tortillas or lettuce wraps makes a good lunch or light dinner.

​10 Minute Chicken Lime Lettuce Wraps​ Or use some of the chicken for these quick wraps. The Southeast Asian flavors of this is so good! For dinner I serve with rice.

​Greek Shrimp & Vegetable Orzo​ This one-dish meal is easy to make and so full of flavor from kalamata olives, garlic, and feta cheese. One recipe makes enough for dinner and a couple of lunches (it's good cold, too, so you don't even have to heat it for lunch!).

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From The Blog

​39 Simple Healthy Main Meals​ Here's a list that can help you with meal planning easy, healthy dinners! Everything from chicken to beef to vegetarian and more, there's something for everyone. See All The Recipes Here! ​

​The Best Homemade Tomato Soup​ I've updated my super popular tomato soup recipe - if you haven't made it yet, be sure to check it out and see the ingredient that took it from good to WOW. Get The Recipe Here! ​

​Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars with Chocolate Chips​ A new recipe that's to die for - a perfect combo of flavors and creamy-to-crisp ratios! Naturally gluten free when made with oat flour as shown. Get The Recipe Here! ​

A Few More Things

Wow, wow - Brian and I just finished listening to this book and we were gobsmacked (I've always wanted to use that word and it finally really fits 😂). Like if this were just a story someone had made up I would've rolled my eyes numerous times with how seemingly unbelievable things were. But it's REAL. It didn't matter that we'd seen the movie, this author did an amazing job at bringing the excitement of the races to the book. Definitely on my top 10 list for 2024 for sure!

I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, so I'll just put it out again because of the difference it's made for me: I've been adding a scoop of this collagen powder to my tea in the morning and afternoon (2 scoops = 1 serving). It does slightly change the taste, but not really noticeable for me and it's an easy way for me to not forget to take it. It has completely reversed a few nails that were flattening and splitting over the last 10 years (even as I used the liquid Biosil), which is amazing. ALL my nails are healthier and they've grown longer than ever since I turned 50. I can only hope it's doing the same thing to what I can't see: my bones! You can believe I will be taking this regularly. 😀

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Here's to a wonderful weekend!!

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