The Little Things Newsletter #362 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

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Welcome to the weekend, my friends! The end of the school year is in full swing here with a friend’s graduation party tonight, along with my youngest son’s spring concert for school. It’s hard to believe summer will officially be here in less than a month!

ON THE BLOGS this week: Honey, Sriracha, soy sauce, and sesame oil are all you need to make this irresistible sweet and spicy broccoli.

The aroma of this ground beef spaghetti sauce as it simmers away on the stove is absolutely divine. Rich and savory flavors create a symphony in this simple recipe. And this simple mushroom spaghetti sauce trumps anything you can buy in jars or cans at the grocery store. 

This garlic herb bread has become a staple on our meal plan and I’m not sad about it. Made with plenty of butter, herbs, and garlic, this is an easy way to elevate your next pasta night.

Saucy bites of tangy chicken come together perfectly with roasted potatoes and broccoli in this bbq chicken and potato casserole. This flavorful and hearty dish is a big win at my house. (There may have been a bit of a squabble over the last of the leftovers too. It was definitely a hit.)

The tender pop of juicy sweet corn balances the mild acidity of peppers and onions in this festive side dish. Colorful confetti corn pairs wonderfully with many of our favorite meals.

Homemade rocky road ice cream is creamy chocolate and almond-flavored ice cream loaded with chewy marshmallows, crunchy almonds, and flecks of chocolate.

Did you know that rocky road was one of the first ice cream flavors that mixed in additional ingredients? I’m so glad that became a thing because I am hooked on fully loaded ice creams.

Blueberries and lemon come together perfectly in a sour cream coffee cake that is truly worthy of any occasion.

Indulge in a chocolate lover’s dream with flavors that will leave your taste buds craving for more. You won’t believe how easy it is to make this triple chocolate bundt cake with an irresistible peanut butter glaze.

What I’m CRAVING: My friend Heidi’s udon st

Rocky Road Ice Cream

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Homemade Rocky Road Ice Cream is creamy chocolate and almond-flavored ice cream loaded with chewy marshmallows, crunchy almonds, and flecks of chocolate.

chocolate ice cream with almonds and marshmallows in little white bowls with spoons

Homemade Rocky Road Ice Cream

Did you know that Rocky Road was one of the first ice cream flavors that mixed in additional ingredients? I’m so glad that became a thing because I am hooked on fully loaded ice creams.

Rocky Road has been one of my top 5 favorite ice cream flavors ever since I was a kid. Although, that may not be saying much because I also adored gumball ice cream and the very thought of it now makes me cringe.

In all seriousness though, who doesn’t love an ice cream loaded with marshmallows? I can take or leave marshmallows in many other recipes, but in creamy chocolate? They are chewy sweet perfection.

If you’re a fan of rocky road flavors, you’ll want to try Rocky Road Fudge and Rocky Road Chocolate Bark too!

close up shot of chocolate ice cream in bowl with teal napkin

Ice cream is the perfect way to celebrate the approaching warmer days of summer. (In direct contrast to the fact that when we lived in the desert, the end of summer was the more exciting reason to celebrate.) Regardless, do we even need an excuse to bring out the ice cream maker and churn something new?

The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full di

Spaghetti Sauce with Ground Beef

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The aroma of this Spaghetti Sauce with Ground Beef as it simmers away on the stove is absolutely divine. Rich and savory flavors create a symphony in this simple recipe.

a white plate loaded with spaghetti bolognese and two slices of garlic bread

Meat Sauce for Spaghetti

Simmering this ground beef spaghetti sauce concentrates the flavors into a delicious harmony of savory and sweet. The tomatoes release natural sugars as they cook, reducing their acidity.

Aromatic ingredients like garlic and onions add depth to this meat sauce for spaghetti, while herbs such as basil, oregano, and thyme bring a touch of earthiness. You will love the way your house smells while making this dish!

Spaghetti Sauce Recipe with Meat

The recipe here is very adaptable. I often add sliced mushrooms or chopped bell peppers when I make this. However, as written, the spaghetti meat sauce is a staple for us.

My boys love the heat, so we always use red pepper flakes in this recipe. But, you might want to finish it with red wine, add in other vegetables, or even get daring with your spice cabinet.

If you do end up changing things, please let me know how what worked for you. I’d love to know!

Finished spaghetti sauce with ground beef simmers in a white skillet with a wooden spatula

If you’re in a hurry, you can cut down the cooking time and serve this after it simmers for just a few minutes. I don

Garlic Herb Bread

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This Garlic Herb Bread has become a staple on our meal plan and I’m not sad about it. Made with plenty of butter, herbs, and garlic, this is an easy way to elevate your next pasta night.

garlic bread with herbs in black bowl on wooden table

Easy Garlic Bread

It takes about 3 minutes to make this herbed garlic bread and tuck it into the oven. This gives you plenty of time to pour a glass of wine or tea and pause for a moment before serving dinner – or calling the hungry hordes to the kitchen to serve themselves.

There’s something priceless about having a couple of minutes to pause in the cooking process right before serving the meal. A side of easy garlic bread accomplishes that nicely.

Garlic Herb Bread

Let’s take a moment to talk about garlic bread. I love it. I really do. Spaghetti dinners require it to be present.

For years, I simply slathered a loaf of bread with butter and sprinkled garlic over that before broiling it under toasted. It’s delicious stuff.

When I’m feeling fancy, roasted garlic makes for a pretty amazing parmesan roasted garlic bread too, but in general – quick and easy is the name of my garlic bread game.

close up shot of garlic and herb bread

Herbs on Garlic Bread

However, last year, I watched my friend Rebecca assemble a garlic b

Sour Cream Blueberry Coffee Cake

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Blueberries and lemon come together perfectly in a Sour Cream Blueberry Coffee Cake that is truly worthy of any occasion.

I have a huge grin on my face today and I am positively giddy to tell you that this cake, this fantastically moist, perfectly sweet blueberry coffee cake with a hint of lemon, is the best blueberry coffee cake I have ever tasted.

coffee cake with berries on white plate with floral napkin

I am so happy with this cake, I practically danced across the kitchen after I tasted it. I ate a slice of this cake right after I finished photographing it this afternoon and I ate another slice after dinner.

Sour Cream Blueberry Coffee Cake

Coffee cake, in my opinion, doesn’t get nearly the amount of hype it deserves. A good coffee cake has a tender moist interior with a crisp, crumbly topping. This one is also stuffed to the brim with fresh juicy blueberries.

I was surprised to learn recently that in some parts of the world a “coffee cake” is a cake with actual coffee in it. While I’ve been known to bake a cake with coffee in it from time to time, like this Chocolate Mocha Cake, a true coffee cake is one designed to be eaten alongside a cup of coffee.

Blueberry Coffee Cake with Sour Cream

This blueberry coffee cake with sour cream is ideal for sipping with a Spanish Cafe con Leche or for sharing with friends alongside a pot of coffee. The blueberries in it make me think of summer afternoons, gathered with friends for an afternoon chat on the porch.

Coffee cake is also the kind of cake you can happily eat for breakfast. It’s basically a muffin in cake form, right?

Do I even need to tell you what I’ll be eating for breakfast tomorrow? This is a dangerous kind of awesome, my friends.

blueberry coffee cake on a white plate with a colorful blue and white towel in the backgroundRead more
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