Welcome to the weekend, my friends! We’ve had a wonderfully peaceful Christmas break so far and I’m ready to dive back into the last week of work before the new year. (Bring on 2026, I am sooooo ready for it!) The kids are enjoying their break from school and our weather here in Ohio has been a wild ride of cold, then warm, then super warm, and now it’s supposed to get chilly again.
ON OUR MEAL PLAN THIS WEEK: Grilled cheese sandwiches paired with our favorite tomato soup is the perfect lunch for a chilly day. Is there anything better than the crunch of toasted cheese filled sourdough drenched in tomato soup?
If you haven’t tried it yet, this balsamic glazed meatloaf is about to change your meatloaf game. Served with chunky, buttery, garlic smashed potatoes, and smashed Brussels sprouts this is a meal I absolutely love.
These juicy, tender pan-fried chicken thighs with a golden-crisp skin are possible with just a spoonful of oil and a bit of patience. Paired with this cheesy broccoli mushroom casserole, it is guaranteed happiness on your plates.
Italian White Bean, Cabbage, and Sausage Soup is loaded with great flavors and it’s filled with far more vegetables and meat than broth. I like to serve this soup with warm, toasted garlic bread.
Have you tried baking sweet potatoes in the air fryer yet? If not, I highly recommend that you put this one on your list to try asap. This has become one of my favorite lunches over the past year. It’s about as simple as it gets and it’s my kind of comfort food too.
I’m making room for one more fantastic dessert while we’re on our Christmas break. This chocolate cobbler combines a topping of fudgy, chocolate cake over a layer of rich, gooey chocolate. If you’ve ever had a molten lava cake, then the experience is deliciously similar.
My FAVORITE THING this week is this tiny keychain container. It can be used as a travel pill case or for carrying small jewelry or earplugs. It’s beyond the handiest thing I could’ve imagined! I started carrying mine over a month ago and loved it so much, I wound up giving it to several people this Christmas. It’s super discreet and thin and doesn’t weigh down my keychain at all. I really love it.
What I’m WATCHING:
Welcome to the weekend, my friends! We’ve had a wonderfully peaceful Christmas break so far and I’m ready to dive back into the last week of work before the new year. (Bring on 2026, I am sooooo ready for it!) The kids are enjoying their break from school and our weather here in Ohio has been a wild ride of cold, then warm, then super warm, and now it’s supposed to get chilly again.
ON OUR MEAL PLAN THIS WEEK: Grilled cheese sandwiches paired with our favorite tomato soup is the perfect lunch for a chilly day. Is there anything better than the crunch of toasted cheese filled sourdough drenched in tomato soup?
If you haven’t tried it yet, this balsamic glazed meatloaf is about to change your meatloaf game. Served with chunky, buttery, garlic smashed potatoes, and smashed Brussels sprouts this is a meal I absolutely love.
These juicy, tender pan-fried chicken thighs with a golden-crisp skin are possible with just a spoonful of oil and a bit of patience. Paired with this cheesy broccoli mushroom casserole, it is guaranteed happiness on your plates.
Italian White Bean, Cabbage, and Sausage Soup is loaded with great flavors and it’s filled with far more vegetables and meat than broth. I like to serve this soup with warm, toasted garlic bread.
Have you tried baking sweet potatoes in the air fryer yet? If not, I highly recommend that you put this one on your list to try asap. This has become one of my favorite lunches over the past year. It’s about as simple as it gets and it’s my kind of comfort food too.
I’m making room for one more fantastic dessert while we’re on our Christmas break. This chocolate cobbler combines a topping of fudgy, chocolate cake over a layer of rich, gooey chocolate. If you’ve ever had a molten lava cake, then the experience is deliciously similar.
My FAVORITE THING this week is this tiny keychain container. It can be used as a travel pill case or for carrying small jewelry or earplugs. It’s beyond the handiest thing I could’ve imagined! I started carrying mine over a month ago and loved it so much, I wound up giving it to several people this Christmas. It’s super discreet and thin and doesn’t weigh down my keychain at all. I really love it.
What I’m WATCHING:
This healthy cottage cheese egg bake is a high protein breakfast recipe from both eggs and cottage cheese! Our fluffy and flavorful breakfast casserole is so easy to make with just a handful of ingredients (eggs, cottage cheese, tomatoes, basil cheese, and roasted red bell pepper) in less than 50 minutes!
I eat eggs multiple times a week in many different forms. While I’m not opposed to making scrambled eggs or a fried egg on a daily basis, I love prepping a batch of spinach, sausage and egg casserole or a cheesy monterey jack souffle (one of our most popular breakfast casserole recipes) to have on hand during the week.
My favorite egg casserole with cottage cheese is the perfect meal prep recipe for the weekend! I love making a healthy breakfast casserole on the weekend that I can enjoy throughout the week. It’s such a great way to have easy breakfasts on hand for those busy weekday mornings and lunches when I need something quick, easy and good for me.
Cottage Cheese is a Great Source of Protein!
Um, cottage cheese is totally having a moment right now and I am here for it! I have vivid memories of my parents eating a bowl of peaches or pears with cottage cheese and now I see why.
It’s loaded with protein! I’ve been experimenting with ways to add more protein to meals, and cottage cheese is a major winner. Using low-fat cottage cheese is a great way to increase protein without feeling too full. Try my 7 Minute Savory Oatmeal, VIRAL High-Protein Cottage Cheese Beef & Sweet Potato Bowl, or these fluffy cottage cheese pancakes!
Diet for Perimenopause
Being in my 40’s I’m fully aware of all the women dealing with Perimenopause. Because of this, I ensure my protein intake is well over 100 grams a day.
Higher protein helps me with my goals of building muscle and strength as it’s important to maintain muscle as we age. Cottage cheese is also a high calcium food which is fantastic for bone health. Just one serving of this dish is 17 grams of protein!
If you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party this year, you need appetizers that are easy, crowd-pleasing, and totally irresistible. This hand-picked collection of New Year’s Eve appetizers has everything from warm and cheesy dips to fresh party bites, sliders, bacon-wrapped favorites, and make-ahead options.
Every appetizer is simple to prepare, party-tested, and perfect for ringing in the new year deliciously.
Hot & Cheesy Dips
Warm dips are a must-have on New Year’s Eve! We love dips that are comforting and scoopable, and they are always the first thing guests gather around. These bubbly, cheesy favorites pair perfectly with crackers, veggies, or toasted bread.
A creamy, cheesy classic packed with spinach and artichokes and always the first dip to disappear.
Rich, smooth melted cheese perfect for dipping bread, veggies, and pretzels for a fun, interactive appetizer.
Simple, ultra-creamy, and loaded with Parmesan and marinated artichokes for bold, savory flavor.