Hi Friends!

I used to write posts like this a long time ago, and it’s high time I start up again. This is just a little post to share about what’s going on in the world of RecipeGirl, as well as some fun links to things I’ve come across lately. So here it goes: following are 10 things to share with you this week- everything from recipes to shopping to a few fun articles, plus my personal experience being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer and more. There are a few affiliate links included here and there. Enjoy!

Fall Dinner Recipes:   

• Cranberry Chicken is a super simple, four ingredient dinner recipe. You know that a recipe is a keeper when your family asks you to make it over and over and over again. I’ve been making this cranberry chicken recipe for a very long time. I believe my sister-in-law gave me the recipe before I was even married, so that means I’ve been making it for close to 30 years.
• Smoked Pork Chops with Maple Baked Apples is a wonderful fall dinner for any occasion! The sweetness of raisins and apples combined with the smoked pork chops makes this dish delicious! I think of this one as being perfect for a Sunday night dinner (a special night for dinner in many homes!) And it’s also just a lovely dinner to make for any night of the week. It’s a nice way to jazz up traditional pork chops.
• Butternut Squash Risotto is a nice, comforting dinner. It’s creamy and delicious. And it’s totally filling. So all you need is a bowl to fill you up, and if you want to add a little side salad to complete your dinner then that’s a good idea too. This risotto is filled with the great fall flavor of butternut squash.
• In this Cranberry Roast Beef recipe, the roast cooks slowly on the stove in a delicious cranberry-based sauce. The result is a nice, tender roast with carrots and onions. I like to whip up a side of cranberry sauce for this meal too.

Fun Shopping Finds:

• I bought the cutest denim jacket with a fray hem. I’m wearing it with everything right now!
• I’m also pretty crazy about this jacket. It’s really different, and I just might pull the trigger on that one too.
• I got some new shoes for walking the dog, and I love them. Pink and grey was my choice.
• My husband has been looking for no-show socks that actually stay in place and don’t fall down inside the shoe. He finally found socks that he loves.
• And finally, I bought a black romper when I found myself in a new store at the mall recently (for size 10 and up). I know the cooler weather is approaching, but this was seriously such a cute outfit, and it looks like a black dress instead of a romper. The smallest size they have fits like an extra large. It’s a little big for me, but it works. I’ll be wearing it a lot in warmer weather and I think it will travel well too.
• I haven’t bought them yet, but these boots are adorable. I love both the solid colors and the prints!
• My friend Sandy bought this Spanx dress for her book release event, and it’s very flattering. I’m considering red!

Instagram accounts to follow:

• For fun charcuterie boards and other ideas, follow Reluctant Entertainer, The Baker Mama and Ain’t Too Proud to Meg. They are all super talented and have fun accounts to keep an eye on. These are creative people!

What I’m watching and reading:

• I just finished watching “Barry” on HBO. It’s a dark comedy, but I enjoyed it. And now I’m in the middle of “Bad Sisters” on Apple TV. It’s good! 
• If you haven’t watched “The Offer” on Paramount, you need to do that right now. It’s the best series I’ve seen in years. We don’t typically have a subscription to Paramount, but we got one just to watch this series and then we cancelled!
• I like to listen to audiobooks on my morning dog walks. I just finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and loved it! I’m currently listening to The Only Plane in the Sky, which is an oral history of 911. It’s hard to listen to, but it’s very interesting and heartbreaking to learn all of the details of that horrible day in history.
  

Fun Recipes I’ve spotted on the internet this week:

• ‘Tis the season to make Cream Cheese Filled Pumpkin Bread and Pumpkin Poke Cake. Spaghetti and Meatball Soup and Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing look like delicious dinner ideas. These Bear Paw Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies are really adorable. And I think we all need a cup of Boozy Caramel Hot Chocolate right about now!

Here’s what’s going on in my life:

• October is breast cancer awareness month. I wrote a post on Instagram last week about my experience going through breast cancer this past summer. I’m okay now, but it was quite shocking to get the diagnosis. Since October is breast cancer awareness month, I thought it was important to share my story. If you or anyone you know is going through or has gone through breast cancer, I just want you to know that you are not alone. There are so many people fighting the fight, and I wish you all the best!
• After years of trying to make myself a runner, walking has been my new form of exercise the last few months. I get up early, and I usually walk 5 to 6 miles. I’m mildly concerned with what I eat during the week, but it doesn’t seem to matter much since I’m burning so many calories with my long walks. Bonus: it’s great “me” time. I listen to podcasts and books. Having had a health scare, I’ve come to realize how important it is to take care of me.
• We went to Dallas a week or so ago for parent’s weekend at SMU (my son’s last year!). Loved eating at RH Rooftop and Taverna. We went to the crazy “boulevard” tailgate and SMU/TCU football game (SMU lost). It was a fun time all around, but it was extremely hot.

Catch up on food-related news of the week:

• New cookbook releases: Big Boards and More by Sandy Coughlin: This is a great book for entertaining ideas! And Preppy Kitchen by John Kanell: I don’t have this one yet, but I’m excited to buy it!
• Do you agree with this assessment of the Best Frozen Chicken Nuggets?
• Here are some Lazy Cooking Hacks.
• Read about the Evolution of King Ranch Chicken Casserole (plus, a recipe!)
• If you have an Induction Cooktop, you might find these tips helpful. 

Products I’m loving:

• I just ordered some more of my favorite lipstick. It’s the only kind I’ll use! My favorite colors are Little Black Dress and 9 to 5.
• Look for Pumpkin Body Butter at Trader Joe’s. It’s fabulous for dry skin, and it isn’t sticky or anything. It’s smells divine.
• I recently discovered the most amazing carpet cleaner ever when my son dropped an entire grande latté on the bedroom floor. I was able to get the coffee stain out of the carpet entirely, and I will be recommending this to everyone I know!
• I bought these cute trivets to use in my kitchen since I just had the countertops replaced with quartz (you’re not supposed to put direct heat on quartz).
• Look for Breyer’s Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate flavored ice cream. It’s dreamy.
• Have you bought the new iPhone yet? I had the 11, so I upgraded from there. I’m loving the new camera and video capabilities- so much nicer!
• This is such a cute idea for organizing all of the plastic baggies and wrap in your kitchen. If you’re an organizer, then this is going to be a product for you.
• I love this flatware set that I just bought for our house in Oregon. It washes nicely and feels good in your hands.
• I recommend Thin Optics reading glasses to everyone I know. They can lie FLAT, so you can easily slip them into a wallet purse or small purse without them taking up any room. I’ve had mine for years now, and they are super helpful to have on hand when there’s low lighting and you can’t see anything!
• Look for Kettle Brand Crinkle Cut Truffles and Sea Salt Potato Chips. They’re so good!!
• I’ve been eyeing this salad bowl for about a year now, and I finally bought it! It’s beautiful, and I know I’ll use it all the time.

Bake this weekend: 

• Bake Apple Cream Cheese Coffee Cake for breakfast and Pumpkin Pie Biscotti to dip into your coffee. My Pumpkin Bread is awesome for gifting. Bake an Apple Crisp with your fall apple bounty! Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies are a delicious fall treat too.

Next Week’s Recipes:

• On RecipeGirl: Crockpot Cranberry Pork Roast, Baked Crab Cakes, Black Cat Cookies and Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
• On RecipeBoy: Jack O’Lantern Sloppy Joes
• On RecipesForHolidays: Easy Shrimp Gumbo for National Gumbo Day (Oct. 12th)

Have a wonderful week!

XO 
Lori (RecipeGirl)

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