The Little Things Newsletter #501 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

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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:

Healthy Chocolate Swirl Berry Yogurt Bark

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a pan of healthy chocolate swirled berry frozen yogurt bark

Get ready to wow your taste buds with this Healthy Chocolate Swirl Berry Yogurt Bark! Quick, easy, and only 5 minutes to prep, it’s the ultimate after-school snack that’s as fun to make as it is to eat.

Creamy Greek yogurt, sweet berries, and decadent chocolate swirls come together for a treat that feels indulgent but is totally wholesome. Perfect for kids, grown-ups, or anyone who loves a little sweet crunch without the guilt!

Some days it feels like the snack struggle is real! How many times can you eat an apple, string cheese, or almonds before your taste buds revolt? I’m so over the same-old, same-old. That’s why I’m beyond excited to share this fun healthy snack idea with you: Healthy Chocolate Swirl Berry Yogurt Bark! It’s officially my new favorite treat, and our kids can’t get enough either. It’s the perfect after school snack!

Ingredients For Yogurt Bark

This Chocolate Berry Yogurt Bark is healthy and packed with flavor. Let’s break down the ingredients that make it so irresistible…

  • Chocolate Chips: Melted and swirled throughout the bark for rich chocolate flavor. We used semi-sweet, but milk chocolate, white chocolate or dark chocolate would all be good.
  • Greek Yogurt: Vanilla Greek yogurt creates a creamy, lightly sweet base.
  • Fresh Berries or Fresh Fruit: We used blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, but see below for more ideas!

With just chocolate, creamy Greek yogurt, and fresh berries, you’ve got a snack that’s as pretty as it is delicious!

Other Mix-Ins & Toppings

This yogurt bark is easy to customize, so feel free to get creative with mix-ins and toppings.

Try adding sliced bananas, fresh strawberries, mango, or cherries for more fruit flavor. 

Granola, chopped nuts, cookies, sprinkles, or coconut flakes add great crunch, while chia seeds, pepitas, or hemp hearts bring a little extra nutrition.

You can also swap the chocolate swirl for white chocolate, drizzle with honey or pure maple syrup, or sprinkle on crushed pretzels for a sweet-salty twist. Mix and match to make it your own.

How to Make Yogurt Bark

Making this yogurt bark is easier than you think! A few simple steps and you’ll have a colorful, chocolatey treat ready to chill.

  • Melt: Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each round, until smooth. Let cool slightly so it doesn’t melt the yogurt.
  • Spread: Line a rimmed baking sheet with a Silpat mat or wax paper and evenly spread the Greek yogurt into a smooth layer.
  • Top: Sprinkle the fresh berries evenly over the yogurt.
  • Swirl: Dot the melted chocolate over the bark, then use a toothpick to gently swirl it through the yogurt.
  • Freeze: Place the&n

20+ Healthy Chicken Recipes That are Actually Delicious

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20+ Healthy Chicken Recipes That are Actually Delicious

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that healthy doesn’t have to mean boring. These Healthy Chicken Recipes are proof that you can keep dinner simple, nourishing, and full of flavor without spending hours in the kitchen.

Whether you’re craving a quick stir fry, something cozy from the slow cooker, or a light citrusy marinade on the grill, there’s a recipe here that’ll bring your family running to the kitchen for dinner. Let’s make eating well feel easy and totally delicious!

Quick & Easy Chicken Dinners

Busy nights call for simple, feel-good meals. These quick chicken recipes come together fast — we’re talking 15 to 30 minutes — without sacrificing any of that cozy, home-cooked flavor your family loves.

  1. 10 Minute Mexican Chicken

Sticky Mexican Chicken

This 10 Minute Mexican Chicken is your new go-to for busy weeknights! It’s bursting with bold flavor, tender chicken, and all your favorite Mexican-inspired spices — yet it’s light, clean, and ready faster than takeout.

  1. 15 Minute Chicken Stir Fry

Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry

This quick and healthy Chicken Stir Fry is packed with crisp veggies and tender bites of chicken in a light, flavorful sauce. Perfect for meal prep or busy weeknights, it’s ready in just 15 minutes — faster than delivery and far more nourishing.

  1. 10 Minute Garlic Butter Chicken

Quick Garlic Butter Chicken

Dinner in 10 minutes? Yes, please! This Garlic Butter Chicken is simple, savory, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Made with just a few pantry staples, it’s a healthy, protein-rich meal that’s quick enough for weeknights but fancy enough for company.

  1. Quick and Easy Cashew Chicken

Better Than Takeout Cashew Chicken

Skip the takeout and make this quick, healthy Cashew Chicken at home! It’s loaded with tender chicken, crunchy cashews, and colorful veggies tossed in a naturally sweet, savory sauce.

    Read more

Homemade Taco Seasoning

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Everyone should try keeping a jar of homemade taco seasoning in their spice cupboard. It's so much more flavorful, is easy to make and stores so well!

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

Easy Green Beans with Bacon

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A silver serving dish with bright green beans that have been chopped and served with crumbled bacon ohsweetbasil.com

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
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