Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Can you believe we’re just a few days away from Christmas?? As I started writing this today, I realized this will be the 500th Little Things newsletter! This was never really something I planned to do. I just really enjoy sharing our life with you in this way and so I’ve continued writing these emails every Saturday morning.

The world of food blogging has changed a lot over the past 15 years and when I started writing these newsletters almost 10 years ago, it was my way of trying to stay connected with you all despite the internet’s push to “just share the recipe” and stop telling stories along with the foods we share. 

Today, to celebrate both my love of Christmas and the fun of sending you this 500th newsletter, I’m giving away $500 in Amazon gift cards. 

I enjoy celebrating the holidays so much and I love hearing about your family’s favorite traditions. All you need to do to be entered is leave a comment on this blog post and tell me about your favorite Christmas tradition!

On Tuesday, December 23rd, I’ll pick 5 of the comments that have been left on this blog post and send a $100 Amazon card to each of those readers just for the fun of it. The winners will be notified via the email used to leave a comment on the website. 

(Unfortunately, as much as I enjoy receiving your emails, replies via email can’t be included in this giveaway, it’s simply too difficult to track entries that way.)

I’ll go first by sharing my favorite Christmas memory: 

When I was 8 years old, I wanted roller skates for Christmas. My mom managed to find a pair of skates, the old-fashioned kind with metal wheels. These were nothing like the skates my friends had, but they were skates and she was so happy to have found them. She cleaned them up and set them aside for me.

However, the old skates needed new laces. She had no spare money for the laces, but she gathered all the change, mostly pennies, in the house and she went to the store.

She took her pile of pennies and a package of laces to the counter at the store and the young and impatient clerk told her that she wasn’t going to take pennies. My mom started crying, but she held her ground and told the clerk that it was still good money and she needed those laces for Christmas. Thanks to help from the gentleman in line behind her, the clerk finally sold her the laces and she brought them home.

When I opened my gift of the skates on Christmas morning, I had no idea how much work and how many tears had gone into those skates. I was just thrilled to be tying on my first pair of roller skates.

For that memory and so many others, thank you Mom. You taught me to be grateful for everything. You taught me that finding joy in the small pleasures of life is far more fun than always looking towards the next big thing.

Read more

These delicious Greek Chicken Meatballs are full of so much flavor, and more importantly, they are so moist! They are so easy to make with ground chicken, feta and a secret to moisture, zucchini! No dry meatballs here!

These are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Serve the meatballs with a generous scoop of homemade tzatziki , pearl couscous and fresh tomatoes!

Why You’ll Love This Greek Chicken Meatball Recipe

Family-friendly Mediterranean recipe

Quick and easy for weeknights – less than 30 minutes!

Light but still flavorful

High in protein, low in carbs

Makes a great main dish or a fun appetizer

Ingredients for Greek Chicken Meatballs

• Milk: Adds moisture and helps soften the breadcrumbs so the meatballs stay tender instead of dense.
• Italian Breadcrumbs: Bind the mixture together and give the meatballs structure while soaking up flavor from the seasonings.
• Ground Chicken: The base protein—lean, mild, and perfect for carrying all those fresh Greek flavors.
• Feta: Adds creamy, salty pops of flavor and helps keep the meatballs moist.
• Zucchini: Grated zucchini sneaks in extra moisture (so the chicken doesn’t dry out) plus a little hidden veggie goodness.
• Lemon: Both juice and zest brighten the flavors, balancing the richness of the chicken and feta with fresh, citrusy notes.
• Egg: Acts as the “glue” to bind everything together so the meatballs hold their shape.
• Garlic: Adds savory depth and that classic Mediterranean flavor.
• Salt: Enhances all the other flavors so the meatballs don’t taste bland.
• Fresh Mixed Herbs (dill, mint, parsley): Bring freshness and authentic Greek flavor—each herb layers in something unique.
• Black Pepper: Adds gentle heat and balance to the savory flavors.
• Olive Oil: Helps the meatballs get golden brown on the outside.

How to Make Greek Chicken Meatballs

1. Soak the Breadcrumbs: Combine the milk and breadcrumbs in a bowl and let them sit for a few minutes.
2. Combine: Add all the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine thoroughly.
3. Form: Use a cookie scoop to form meatballs that are similar in size. Coat your hands in a little olive oil and then roll the meatballs in your hands.
4. Bake: Cook in the air fryer preheated to 400℉ for 11 minutes or in the oven on a baking sheet (also at 400℉) for 12-15 minutes.

What to Serve with Greek Chicken Meatballs

We love to eat these meatballs

Skip the store-bought packet and make your own homemade taco seasoning recipe that’s bursting with bold flavor and authentic taste. This easy blend of spices, like chili powder, cumin, paprika, and garlic, comes together in minutes and instantly upgrades ground beef, chicken, or veggies. Once you try this homemade mix, your next taco night will never be the same!

There’s nothing better than DIY taco night with the family! Everyone gets to build their own just the way they like it, which makes dinner fun and easy. I pile mine high with sour cream, cheese, salsa, lettuce, cilantro, and basically every topping in sight, while my kids keep it simple with their favorites. It’s a win for everyone at the table.

I didn’t realize it was so simple to make your own taco seasoning at home. Once you do, you’ll never go back to the store-bought taco seasoning packets again. This homemade version works perfectly with ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey, and it’s just as good tossed with roasted veggies, stirred into soups or stews, or sprinkled over taco salads.

It’s a pantry staple that’s cheaper, fresher, and more flavorful than anything store-bought, plus, it’s made with spices you probably already have on hand. No trip to the grocery store required. Mix up a big batch and keep it in your spice drawer for easy, delicious Taco Tuesday nights anytime.

Ingredients For Taco Seasoning

This Homemade Taco seasoning recipe is a total game-changer! Smoky, savory, and full of depth. Each spice pulls its weight to create that perfect balance of heat and flavor.

• Chili Powder: the bold, earthy base that gives this blend its signature flavor
• Ground Cumin: adds warmth and a hint of nuttiness
• Smoked Paprika: brings a rich, smoky undertone
• Garlic Powder: savory depth in every bite
• Oregano: adds a subtle herby note
• Coriander: brightens and balances the spice
• Onion Powder: rounds everything out with mellow sweetness
• Fine Sea Salt: enhances and ties all the flavors together
• Black Pepper: sharp bite for balance
• Cornstarch: helps the seasoning cling to meat and thicken sauces
• Cayenne Pepper: gives it that touch of heat that makes everything pop

Simple ingredients, big flavor! This mix is better than any store-bought packet and stays fresh for ages.

How To Make This Recipe

Christmas dinner is one of the most memorable meals of the year, and this collection brings together all the holiday favorites your family loves. Whether you’re planning a show-stopping main dish like prime rib or glazed ham, or searching for the perfect mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, vegetables, and other sides to serve with it, you’ll find the classics right here.

These tried-and-true Christmas dinner recipes are comforting, festive, and guaranteed to bring everyone back for seconds!

Classic Christmas Main Dishes

Christmas dinner deserves a stunning centerpiece, and these traditional mains deliver big flavor with minimal stress.

Green beans with bacon are one of those simple, comforting side dishes that somehow always steal the spotlight. Growing up, any veggie instantly became more exciting the moment bacon showed up — and honestly, nothing has changed.

This stovetop green beans recipe gives you crisp-tender green beans, perfectly cooked bacon, and a buttery, savory finish that tastes like it came from a steakhouse, but it’s ready in just 20 minutes.

Whether you’re prepping for a holiday dinner or pulling together a quick weeknight meal, these skillet green beans with bacon deliver big flavor with hardly any work.

Easy Green Bean Recipe

I grew up on green beans — but they didn’t start out green, our green beans were purple! They were slightly sweeter than regular green beans, but otherwise tasted the same and would turn green after cooking.

Purple beans make me think of home and gardening every summer with my family. We worked long hours in that garden, but never as long as our mom, who is superwoman. Our hands would turn purple from picking and canning beans during the summer and we would have to scrub and scrub when we were done. Isn’t it funny how something you hated as a kid somehow becomes something you miss?

read more: Looking for easy sides? Try our Classic Baked Beans with Bacon next!

Why You’ll Love These Bacon Green Beans

• Quick: Side dishes should be quick and simple and this dish is ready in less than 20 minutes.
• Flavorful: It’s impossible for something to be bland when bacon is involved! Plus, add the garlic seasoning and this dish is bold in flavor!
• One-Skillet: Cleanup is a breeze and all the flavor is contained in one dish.
• Holiday-Friendly: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter…this dish works for them all! It’s a regular on our Sunday dinner table as well!

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make this simple green bean recipe, you’ll need the following:

• Fresh Green Beans: Add crisp texture and natural sweetness and they hold up well to sautéing without getting mushy.
• Olive Oil: Prevents sticking, helps beans sauté evenly and adds light, savory flavor.
• Butter: Adds richness and a silky coating and it helps seasonings stick to the beans.
• Garlic Spread Seasoning: Quick way to add garlic and herb flavor without chopping garlic cloves.
• Brown Sugar: Balances the salty bacon and seasoning and lightly caramelizes the beans for extra flavor.
• Bacon: Adds smoky, salty crunch and the bacon drippings flavor the beans as they cook.

How to Make Green Beans with Bacon

1. Cook the Green Beans: Place your trimmed green beans in