The Great Book Review of 2023: Sharing the books I read in 2023 and whether I’d recommend adding them to your collection.

Hi friends! Happy New Year! I hope that your morning is off to a great start and you enjoyed the festivities. The girls hung out with my mom and nana while the Pilot and I went up to Phoenix to see John Mulaney. I cried from laughter and it was an awesome show.

In today’s post, I’m sharing almost all of the books I read last year. (I had a a few audiobooks and a handful of DNF books I didn’t type up because they weren’t memorable or enjoyable.) Reading is one of my very favorite hobbies and I’m so glad I set a goal a couple of years ago to read more often. It’s definitely something I plan on doing in 2024, too!

Here’s a list of almost all of the books I read last year:

The Great Book Review of 2022

XOXO, Cody

If you’re going to read this book, I definitely recommend the Audible version so you can hear it in Cody’s voice! What a treasure of a human. I had high expectations for this one – I expected it to be highly entreating – and it didn’t disappoint. It gives you all of the laughs and warm fuzzies of an XO, Cody Peloton ride, while you get a deep dive into his story and background. It was fascinating to learn about his upbringing, his relationship with his mom, the Dancing with the Stars experience, and how he became such a huge fitness personality. 10/10

Redeeming Love

*All the trigger warnings*

This book was recommend in a Facebook group for faith-based reads, so just a heads up, it’s Christian fiction and is an 1800s era retelling of Gomer and Hosea. While I was reading it, I was thinking that it isn’t too Jesus-y, but then after about a quarter, I was like ok, it definitely is. Just wanted to spread the word if that’s not your cup of tea. I found it to be Jesus-y in the best possible way. This book will stick with me for life, and is an incredible testament of God’s unwavering love, even when we feel our most broken. While it wasn’t the best writing ever, and it dragged a bit before the last 25%, I’m so glad I stuck with it. 10/10 recommend.

Esther: The Fingerprints of God

This was our fall Bible study and I got so much out of this one. As a relatively Bible newbie, it’s been helpful for me to deep dive into different books of the Bible with such a kind, insightful, and wise group of ladies. I learn so much from each session and it fills my cup for the entire week! When I read the book of Esther before our study, I had a hard time understanding everything, and didn’t know the historical context or background. Bible studies give so much context to what you’re reading, and enabled me to fully understand the

Cheesy Gruyere Sweet Potato Stacks

A sweet potato recipe that is cheesy and buttery with a burst of fresh thyme! If you want a recipe for sweet potatoes that is a little outside the box but glorious, you have to try these Cheesy Gruyere Sweet Potato Stacks!

Every Christmas we make a cheesy potato dish with gruyere cheese. They are stacked high in a muffin tin and get all crispy and wonderful. This year we decided to make them with sweet potatoes, and we are obsessed with the sweet and salty flavor of these Cheesy Gruyere Sweet Potato Stacks!

I know when we think of sweet potato side dishes, we think of brown sugar and marshmallows, but I’m telling you, friends, the sweetness of the sweet potatoes paired with the saltiness of the cheeses makes the angels sing! And that fresh pop of thyme…I’m happy dancing around the kitchen! Arms waving, eyes closed, licking my lips and my bootie shakin’…you get that visual?!

How to Make Sweet Potato Stacks

I like to get the sweet potatoes prepared first. Peel two large sweet potatoes and then slice them. We always use our favorite mandoline to get those thin perfect slices, but you could totally do it by hand if you don’t have a mandoline. Let’s see those mad knife skills!

When your sweet potatoes are prepped, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a muffin tin with cooking spray. You will use all 12 cups of the muffin tin. Place the sweet potatoes in a bowl and add the melted butter. Stir thoroughly, separating the sweet potato slices by hand if needed. You want everything deliciously coated in butter!

Combine the cheeses, salt, garlic and thyme in a medium bowl or plastic bag. Place two slices of sweet potato into each cup and scoop one teaspoon of the cheese and spices mixture into each cup and repeat the layers until you reach the top of each cup. Be sure your last layer is cheese! You’ll want that yummy cheesy goodness on top!

Place the pan in the oven carefully (you don’t want those perfectly constructed stacks to tip over)! Tent the muffin pan with a piece of foil and be sure the foil does not touch the top of the potatoes. The cheese will stick and then you’ll lose that top cheesy layer (tragedy!). Bake for 15 minutes with the foil and then remove it and bake an additional 30 minutes or until the cheese is starting to turn golden. Scoop those golden delicious stacks from the pan with a large spoon and and serve them hot!

What to Eat with this Sweet Potato Recipe?

This is a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Try it along side our Turkey in a Bowl for Thanksgiving or with Prime Rib for Christmas! But you don’t need a holiday to make these! They go great with just about any meal…steak, Read more

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’ve enjoyed my Christmas break so much. I’ve slept in, gone for walks and bike rides, watched movies, read several books, and cooked some of our favorite foods. I’ve also eaten Christmas cookies with lattes almost every night – hence my craving for all the vegetables at this point.

What we’re EATING: It’s been another tasty week over here without a single new blog post to show for it. (And I’m still not sad about that.)

I made a big pot of Lasagna Soup a night or two ago, along with a tray of this Garlic Herb Bread and we’re already down to the last couple of servings. Every time I serve that soup that someone new, they ask for a link to the recipe. We love it. 

I took a pan of these easy-as-can-be Chicken Enchiladas over to friends last night. (I made a big pan for my family at the same time – it’s the easiest recipe ever to double.) My boys will likely polish that off for lunch today. With a pile of tortilla chips on the side for dipping, it’s one of their favorite meals.

I made another Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole this week and once again, I ate a ridiculous portion both for breakfast and the next day for lunch. 

I made a big cheeseboard after the Christmas Eve service this past week and the boys asked if we could do an even bigger snack spread for New Year’s Eve. Looks like I need to head to Trader Joe’s today to pick up more of our favorite snacks, meats, and cheeses.

We cooked our favorite Balsamic Dijon Glazed Ham on Christmas day and there have been plenty of Ham Sandwiches and quesadillas made with the leftovers this week.

I also made another gigantic pot of my grandmother’s Creamy Vegetable Soup that I photographed a while back. We can’t get enough of this one and I’m excited to finally share it with you in a week or two. Thanks for re-introducing me to it, Aunt Judy!

Last, but not least, I’ve been craving vegetables like mad, so I made a giant skillet of this taco meat and have been enjoying it in salads for my lunches. 

What I’m CRAVING: these Red Chile Chicken Burritos! I couldn’t stop thinking of them as I was making the enchiladas this week, so these burritos are on the meal plan for the coming week. 

My FAVORITE THING this week is Read more

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels [+ Video]

Cinnamon sugar pretzels are one of our all time favorite snacks or treats. Adults and kids cannot stay out of the bowl. Trust me!

Such a simple snack yet so hard to keep your hands out of. These cinnamon sugar pretzels with white chocolate drizzle are great for watching a movie or if Mom really needs a darn treat and they are a perfect snack for parties or for holiday food gifts!

Heaven knows you need at least one simple thing for a party so that you aren’t standing in the kitchen all day and night and during the party. This cinnamon pretzel recipe is your answer for a totally irresistible sweet and salty snack!

What Do I Need to Make Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels?

Have you all tried Dots pretzels? The original Dots are incredible, but I just tried the cinnamon sugar Dots recently and they are heavenly! In fact, they reminded me of this pretzel dessert recipe! You only need 4 ingredients to make this simple, yet irresistible treat…

• Canola Oil: helps the cinnamon sugar stick to the pretzels without changing any flavor
• Cinnamon Sugar: see section below for making your own
• Mini Pretzels: grab a bag of store bought small pretzel twists
• White Chocolate: melting wafers work great or white chocolate chips are fine too

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Recommended Equipment

• Microwave Safe Mixing Bowl
• Rubber Spatula
• Baking Sheet
• Glass Measuring Cup

How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

This is an odd recipe as it’s oil that you’re going to stir into the pretzels and not melted butter and then use the microwave (no oven needed!!) to bake it all in there. It works. I promise, but it is a little weird to pour oil all over something you want to eat. Here is how it will go…

1. Combine the pretzels, canola oil and cinnamon sugar in a large glass bowl and toss until the cinnamon sugar coats all the pretzels.
2. Microwave for 2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds.
3. Pour the pretzels out onto a sheet pan and sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar mixture.
   • PRO TIP: We like to add this little extra cinnamon sugar right before we drizzle the white chocolate, but don’t stress if you forget. They are wonderful either way.
4. Let the pretzels cool and air dry completely and then drizzle with melted white chocolate.
5. Let them air dry again and eat!

These instructions are all available in the recipe card down below. Keep scrolling for all the details!

Watch How These Pretzels are Made…

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Hi friends! I hope you’ve had a wonderful week. It’s been a lovely blur between Christmas and New Years, and I’ve enjoyed all of this time with the crew. We’ve enjoyed slow mornings, hikes, shopping, nails, reading, and movies. I’m definitely not looking forward to school returning, especially the early morning scramble and hours of homework.

I hope that my friends who celebrated Christmas this week had a beautiful holiday. My dad and stepmom were out of town – my step-grandmother passed away. She was so kind and wonderful, and I’m grateful we were blessed to have her in our lives. We had a low-key Christmas Eve at home with Chinese takeout and Christmas Chronicles, and I met up with madre for midnight mass. They turned the lights down for Silent Night and it was the perfect way to start the holiday.

The girls were up bright and early for Santa’a gifts and stockings, and then the family came over for family gifts, tamales, beans, egg casserole, cinnamon rolls, and the Pilot’s famous egg nog.

We spent the morning together, drinking coffee and eggnog, and exchanging gifts,

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