Happy second week of December! Just a few weeks left until the big day – how are you doing? You’d think without a house to decorate that I’d have everything done early this year, but nope! There’s always other things to fill the space, you know? I do have everything bought (or ordered) and am almost done making our handmade gifts, so it’s really just wrapping and baking that’s left which isn’t too bad actually.
Speaking of baking did you kind of notice that it’s been all goodies around here the past couple of weeks? I’m taking this holiday opportunity to update a few of our favorite, classic recipes that have been on the blog since the beginning but had terrible photos. All of them make wonderful additions to goodie bags (since I’ve given them many times over the years)- whole grain cut-outs, a perfect soft peanut butter cookie, mocha chip cookies for all the coffee lovers you know, an amazing, rich, brownie with four types of chocolate, and a cranberry bread with crumb topping that you can gift all on it’s own. I hope you’ve found a new recipe to add to your traditions!
On to this week’s things I’m loving – and a few links I think you’ll love! (as always, some of the links I provide are affiliate links)
Our dog’s smooth sailing through surgery. It was just to remove a skin tag right below Samson’s eye that had grown big and started to bleed because he likes to rub his head against our legs. Once he realized it, he would paw at it and then lick the blood he got from it, so it had to go. #yuck
Sadly, it was heart-stoppingly expensive for basically a cosmetic surgery. I don’t know what people do who are on tighter budgets than we are right now – I had no idea pet care has gotten so expensive. They biopsied the tag and did find that it was melanoma, but the vet said it’s not dangerous like human melanoma and the only treatment would’ve been what they did, to cut it out.
As for Samson, he again is showing us that he has ruined us for any other dog! He’s such a trooper and just sits patiently when we take his cone on and off. Then he just goes about his day like normal (though he runs into things of course…). He’s such a sweetie. And I’m just telling him that he better live a long time now (he’s probably 11, which is older for a big dog), ha!
Using my new Instant Pot. If you follow me on social media, you saw that I took baby steps this week to start using the Instant Pot I got during the cyber week sales. I spent time reading how to work it, did a bit of research, and then made two things: brown rice and a slow cooker soup. I’m hoping it will replace my slow cooker so it can live in that space and not just be another appliance in my kitchen. I really liked how I could sauté the meat and onions first before adding the remaining ingredients for the soup!
Next up I plan to boil eggs and cook a pork roast. If you have an IP, do you have any favorite recipes? Please share – I’m on the hunt for different ways I can use this to make it worthwhile!
Our exciting weather week. We had snow fall for a couple hours early Monday morning, though it was just a dusting that melted later in the day. The weather stayed pretty cold all week and then on Thursday morning we had my least favorite winter weather: freezing rain.
Thankfully, it just coated plants and cars, but the ground stayed just wet, so we had no trouble driving around to our planned shopping stops. The bonus was that so many people stayed home there were no lines anywhere – it was awesome for the second week in December!
What we’re watching: The Voice – I rolled my eyes at Miley Cyrus as a judge, but she’s actually pretty good!
During the move (and dealing with our current spotty internet) we missed some Designated Survivor & Poldark episodes and need to catch up.
Any TV shows you’ve been enjoying that I should check out?
Popular on Pinterest: Freeze-and-Bake Crumb Top Apple Pie
Popular on FB: Mini cheese pretzel balls (not mine, but I know why they’re popular – I’m totally making these!)
Popular on IG: Soft & chewy peanut butter cookies for the win!
Links To Check Out:
Toasted pecan shortbread cookies – they would be amazing with tea!
Okay, I’m ready for the best potatoes of my life.
Wonderful, thrifty garden shed makeover.
How to make scented tea lights.
Handmade gifts- from your slow cooker!
Like these links? I’m always pinning these and lots more – follow me on Pinterest for more inspiration and ideas!
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links and by clicking on them you help support AOC at no extra cost to you – thanks so much! Plus you can trust I’ll only share what I love. (You can always read our entire disclosure page here.)
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Lyn says
December 15 at 5:29 amI have been following your blog for the last year and have learned so much. Thank you. The absolute, hands down, no question best resource I have found for pressure cooking is from Cami (she writes the blog, Tidbits) and her sister, Marci. They wrote the pressure cooking ebook, “Mastering the Electric Pressure Cooker.” Check it out! I think you will be very pleased with all the healthy, wholesome, and delicious recipes you will find.
Jami says
December 15 at 2:09 pmOh, this is wonderful info, Lyn, thank you – I haven’t heard of them or that cookbook so I will check it out. And thank YOU for reading and letting me know you’ve found value. 🙂 If you ever have ideas of something you’d like to see or questions, don’t hesitate to let me know!
Cindy says
December 12 at 5:31 amI will definitely be following your Instant Pot adventures. I have not yet purchased one, but am very interested in replacing several space hogging gadgets!
Jami says
December 12 at 9:25 amThat was the allure for me, as well, Cindy – maybe even beyond the fast cooking. I’ll definitely keep you guys updated and I hope to have recipes and adaptations to publish soon, too.
Julie Pullum says
December 11 at 8:12 amSo glad Samson is ok, Pippa is 12 now and it comes with its own problems and we cannot imagine our lives without her. In the U.K. Veterinary bills are astronomical too but our friends have had major surgery on their retriever here in Portugal which I guess cost about a third of what it would cost at home. The vets have us between a rock and a hard place, they know we love our animals so will have done what needs to be done, whatever the cost. I think I may have to buy one of these pots when I get home but I have three slow cookers, all different sizes, we only use the small and medium one now there are just the two of us he large one when the children and their friends descend upon us.
No snow or frost has been seen here in living memory and today it’s been in the high 20s Celsius of course. At home it’s below freezing so I don’t envy you your weather!
Wonderful post as always, no tea today a nice glass of rosé instead.
Jami says
December 11 at 5:21 pmOh, warm Portugal – how wonderful- and of course it should be a glass of wine there! I envy your travels, Julie. 🙂 The thing that’s nice about the Instant Pot is that you can make just a small amount (unlike slow cookers where they suggest it always be 3/4 full), so maybe one pot could replace your others?
Dorothy says
December 11 at 5:24 amI too bought a cyber IP after resisting the price tag for a long time. Like you, I’m enjoying exploring it.I’ve tried several recipes..beef stew with sweet potatoes & a pork tenderloin both cooked under pressure. My favorite so far, has been steamed veggies & cod. I sautéed some chopped onion, red pepper & garlic until they started to soften. Added some chopped zucchini. Then I placed a metal steamer basket over the veggies and added 2 cod filets, each salt & peppered and topped with 3 thin slices of lemon. Pour over a 1/2c of dry white wine, close and cook at low pressure for 6 minutes. Quick release and serve with additional lemon slices. Fast, healthy, delicious and, best of all, no fishy smell in the kitchen!
Jami says
December 11 at 5:22 pmOh my gosh, that sounds SO good Dorothy! I’m definitely going to try this – thanks for sharing. 🙂
Shelley Platt says
December 10 at 5:36 pmTwo Instant Pot winners: cheesecake and hot wings! There is a Facebook group that is humming with recipes and a good blog called This Old Gal.
Jami says
December 11 at 5:30 pmCheesecake – really? I didn’t know that was possible, Shelley! Thank you for the tips sites – I have been to the FB page, but didn’t have time to look through it. I will check it out now!
Kristin says
December 10 at 4:46 pmWay to go Samson! What a handsome boy you are! Certainly you are well-loved and vise versa.
What we won’t do for our 4-footeds… A friend of mine’s Golden Retriever is fighting a liver disorder; here’s what she cooks up for her dog every Monday for a week’s worth of food:
“12 c. chicken, 4 c. white fish, 8 c. potato, 8 cups sweet potato and 16 c. vegetables . I divide it into 4 batches. Each batch then gets 5 raw egg yokes and 5 cooked egg whites, turmeric, and 2 cup of bone broth gelatin. I put the chickens in the oven at 200 the night before and the bone broth cooks 24 hours, so it’s really a 24 hr. project !” I’m wondering if my husband and I together eat that much in a week…?
Your whole grain Peanut Butter cookies are next on my list — for people, that is!
Jami says
December 11 at 5:32 pmYikes, that’s too much for me – glad Samson doesn’t need that!
Pam Kaufman says
December 10 at 2:16 pmPoor Sampson wearing the cone of shame! Glad it was nothing serious and he’s recovering well. Can’t wait to see what you do with your Instant Pot. I’ve been dreaming of one too but am a little nervous about how to use one. We also watch the Voice and I was pleasantly surprised by Miley. She seems to be a very nice,caring person. Too bad she has no contestants left for the finally.
Jami says
December 11 at 5:34 pmOh, that’s right! I forgot Miley didn’t have any left. With the Instant Pot, it helped to watch a You Tube video that showed a recipe in action and the venting – the steam really does go high with the quick release, which was good to know!
Jackie in Canada says
December 10 at 1:23 pmGlad to hear that Sampson sailed thru his surgery. It is always a worry when any family member (pets are definitely included as family) has to undergo surgery.
I hope you are able to catch up on Designated Survivor & Poldark soon. I am a long time Poldark fan, back to the 70’s series starring Robin Ellis & Angharad Rees as Ross & Demelza. It may be time to reread the noves while waiting for Season 3 to air next year.
I have added your Mocha Chip Cookie recipe to my holiday baking list for this year. They will be the perfect gift for one of our friends.
Jami says
December 11 at 5:38 pmI started the first Poldard novel, too, Jackie, but haven’t gotten too far on it with all the holiday things. I hope you and your friends enjoy the Mocha Chip Cookies!
Jami says
December 11 at 5:38 pmI started the first Poldark novel, too, Jackie, but haven’t gotten too far on it with all the holiday things. I hope you and your friends enjoy the Mocha Chip Cookies!