Wednesday Hodgepodge!

 

 

 

Hi Friends!  Happy Wednesday!  I am joining Joyce for her fun linkup as always!  Let's get to these questions...

 

 

1. What's something you enjoy now that your younger self would never have appreciated? 

 

 Technology. We didn't have any of it- cell phones- iPads- On Demand TV- all the conveniences nowadays that I have come to depend on and enjoy!  Sometimes it is mind boggling to think I never had any of this up until the end of college!

 

2. What was peaceful about today? 

 

 I am writing this on Monday evening and today was the first day both of my girls went to theater camp.  The house was nice and quiet and I got into my work zone and felt busier which always gives me a buzz and makes me happy! Being busy at work, as funny or as weird as it sounds, brings me peace.

 

 

3. It's National Blueberry Day (July 8). Will you celebrate?  You can have one of the following right now-a slice of blueberry pie, a warm blueberry muffin, or a stack of blueberry pancakes...which do you choose?

This or that-blueberries or raspberries? blueberries or strawberries? 

 

I LOVE blueberries!  Blueberries and lobster signify summer for me.  I prefer blueberry anything and would pick them over raspberries and strawberries any day!  Out of the list above, I guess I would pick a warm blueberry muffin! 

 

 

4. Do you need a break? From what? 

 

 Yes I could use a little break and a little staycation to rest, relax and get some beach time in but I am not sure that will happen this summer.  We are in a busy season.  Some day I will miss this believe me but I do desperately need a break from work, stress and all of the worrying about where my business will be coming from.

 

5. What has surprised you most about getting older? 

 

That I have more energy now and feel better than I ever have in my entire life physically. It is a gift I am not taking for granted! 

 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

On that blueberry note, here are a few fun blueberry recipes.  Thank you for inspiring me Joyce!

 

Blueberry Cream Cheese Croissant Puff HERE 

Blueberry Caprese Salad HERE 

Blueberry Breakfast Quesadilla HERE 

Baked Brie with Balsamic Bacon Blueberries HERE 

Grilled Chicken with Blueberry Relish HERE 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Viral Turkish Pasta

 

 

Hi Friends!  I am coming at ya today with another new recipe.  This one was a hit here and when I have an occasional hit I always want to share it with you!  The recipe is pretty viral- I have seen people post it on TikTok and share recipes on Pinterest.  Here is my version- let me know if you try to make it!

 

 Ingredients

 

2 cups Greek yogurt: Creamy and tangy, it serves as the base for our garlic sauce.

4 garlic cloves (grated): For that aromatic punch.

Juice from ½ lemon: Adds brightness and balances the richness.

Salt (to taste): Essential for enhancing flavors.

1 lb ground beef: The heartiness of the dish.

1 yellow onion (diced): Sweetness and depth.

1 tsp sweet paprika: A warm, smoky flavor.

1 tsp garlic powder: For an extra layer of garlicky goodness.

½ tsp cumin: An earthy, fragrant spice.

3 tbsp tomato paste: For a rich, umami kick.

Salt and pepper (to taste): Seasoning to elevate the dish.

¼ cup butter: Adds richness to the sauce.

1 tsp sweet paprika: A second hint of sweetness and color.

Cherry tomatoes (halved): Freshness and a pop of color.

Fresh parsley (chopped): A final touch of brightness.

Feta cheese (crumbled): A tangy topping that complements the dish perfectly.

12 oz cooked pasta (like fusilli or penne): The base of this hearty meal.

 

Instructions

 

Prepare the Garlic Yogurt

In a small bowl, combine Greek yogurt, grated garlic, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Mix well until smooth and creamy. Set aside to let the flavors meld.

Cook the Spiced Beef

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until soft and translucent.
Stir in sweet paprika, garlic powder, and cumin. Cook for another 2 minutes to toast the spices and release their flavors.
Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, approximately 10 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and tomato paste, mixing thoroughly. Let it simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Make the Paprika Butter

In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add sweet paprika and stir until it begins to bubble gently. Remove from heat and set aside.

Assemble the Dish

In a serving dish or individual plates, add the cooked pasta.
Top the pasta with the prepared garlic yogurt, followed by the spiced beef mixture.
Drizzle the warm paprika butter over the top for an irresistible finish.

Add the Toppings

Garnish with halved cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Serve and Enjoy!

Hello Monday (Fourth of July Weekend 2026)

 

Hi Friends and Happy Monday!  I am here with my blogging partner Sarah and we are chatting about our weekends!  If you celebrated, how was your 4th of July weekend?  Ours was one of our favorites yet!  Even though the older kids did not partake in our festivities, and that made me kind of sad, we enjoyed the weekend with some of our closest friends and family!

 

Here is what we were up to!

 

Thursday Night

 

Rob and I kicked off the holiday weekend with Lea and Mike.  We had a great dinner at Beck's in town!  Always a great time with our besties.

 

 

Friday

 

We were up bright and early- packed up the Jeep- and headed up to Tom and Laurel's Lake House.  The weather was FABULOUS!

 

When we got there, we chatted for a bit, Rob cooked hot dogs on our Blackstone (that we brought with us) for lunch and then we unpacked and headed down to the boat to the best day we have ever had on the lake. It was so hot and sunny and we soaked it all up and spent so much time in the water!

 

Eva and her flag!

A Bald Eagle Sighting!

When we finally came back in, it was after five and we headed home to shower and make dinner on the Blackstone. 

We had an awesome dinner out on the deck and played a little trivia.  We finally crashed around 11 after this fabulous day.

 

Saturday

 

We were up bright and early again.  Pidge and I headed to Dunks then we had a leisurely morning waiting for the golf cart parade and for the Fourniers to arrive.  The parade was the best yet- we noticed the popular themes for the golf carts this year were: World Cup, Hot Dogs, Ice Cream and all of the Patriotic Goodness.

 

Once the Fourniers arrived, they quickly unloaded and we all headed down to the boat.  It was another great day- not as hot and rather cloudy but we still got in the water for a bit.  It was such a relaxing and wonderful day!

 

We headed back home after five to change up and make dinner- we enjoyed our traditional lobster dinner and wonderful sides then spent so much time out on the deck.  We played some trivia and then enjoyed the fireworks around us.  Such a great time!

 

We crashed earlier this night.  Once we were in bed, Diana wanted to chat and get my advice so I chatted with her before falling asleep.  I missed her terribly this weekend but she stayed busy working and having some fun with friends. We also missed Caden and Alexis.  Again- made me sad but we are moving into this next phase of life whether I like it or not!

 

Sunday

 

We were up bright and early and packed up the Jeep.  We hugged Laurel and Tom goodbye and thanked them for such an amazing weekend then we headed home.  We made a pit stop for a few things then got home to unpack and get the laundry going.

 

It was great to catch up with Diana.  She and I took a quick drive to listen to music and grab teas.

 

Then we all headed to Sylvie's 3rd Birthday Party!  Woohoo! It was K Pop Demon Hunters themed- so fun!

 

I had to take Diana to work so couldn't stay for cake and presents.  Boo.  I had a blast while I was there though.  They did such a great job celebrating this beautiful girl!

 

 Once home, Diana headed to work and I caught up on blogging, did meal planning and grocery ordering and  got the girls all organized for Triple Threat Camp which starts today!  Woohoo! 

 

Happy 250th Birthday America and Happy Birthday Sylvie Girl!  Also...a very Happy Heavenly Birthday to Grammy :)

 

It was a patriotic and wonderful weekend with the greatest peeps!  What were you all up to?

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter