| Good morning June Bug! Isn't it a lovely day? The sun is shining and the birds are chirping! The coffee is hot, sweet and creamy! (Well, mine is. Maybe yours is black and crisp?). Today my foster dog gets his FOREVER home and I'm so tickled for him. He is just a 6 month old baby and he is learning his way in the world. It takes A LOT to teach a dog how to be a good boy in all the ways we want them to be good boys. But he learns fast and takes direction well. Happy Tails to you sweet Chuck. Anyway, let's move on with the FOOD! Today I'm visiting with some friends and I'm going to take my FAVORITE Peanut Sauce Chicken Skewers with some extra dipping sauce AND this Chicken Fried Rice. As I was getting my thoughts together for this newsletter, I was thinking about some of my other favorite recipes. Loaves and Dishes is known for its Pinto Beans, Turkey Breast and Cowboy Lasagna but MY own personal favorites include this Honey Mustard Curry Chicken paired with this Green Chili Rice. Don't ask me why I think those go together? I love how they taste together. ______________________ HOT COOKING TIP OF THE WEEK It's warmer weather now and we will soon be eating more salads, right? Right! (That's what we say right now). Here are TWO salad tips that can't be beat and will make you crave more salad every single day. Right? RIGHT! (Am I pushing that too hard? Trying to convince myself?) - For fresher, crispier greens, allow your cut lettuce (no matter what kind) to float in ice water for a few minutes before using and then use the salad spinner to spin them dry. The leaves will soak up some of the lovely crisp water and they will brighten and look more alive on the plate.
- For the harder veggies in your salad like broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, blanche them in boiling water for about a minute and then submerge into an ice bath to stop the cooking. This will make them more palatable and chewable. One thing I really hate is a rough and tough veggie that just grows in your mouth. This will give the care to your salad that you really need.
- Extra tip - if you are preparing salads for the week, add a dash of vinegar to your ice bath for the lettuce and the veggies. Then dry them very well before putting in the fridge. This will help prevent decay.
_________________________ THREE LITTLE THINGS I'm trying to be more thankful in this space and share that with you. I hope it will help you remember to be more grateful too. - I'm so grateful that the mama cat and kittens who showed up at my home a few weeks ago have found a good place. Thank you Jesus.
- I sat on the front porch last night and watched the sun set. I loved the changing colors of the sky, the way the birds changed their tunes and how the air slowly became cooler. So peaceful.
- I'm thankful for the times I get good customer service. It's becoming kind of rare and I'm glad when I find it.
___________________________ A FINAL WORD A week or two ago I mentioned that Sarah and I are working on an Instant pot Primer for all of you who are frustrated with your Instant Pots or who only use them for ONE dish and then put them away. It's a pretty handy kitchen appliance but there IS a learning curve. I am hoping we will be able to help you with the curve and be able to use your Instant Pot most effectively! In OTHER news, MANY of you have asked for "how do I cook for just myself" or "it's just me and Jim here now and I can't cook for just two people". A few years ago, I started a website called Simple Recipes for Two. I began with gusto but then it fell by the wayside (did you ever have a project go that route?). Anyway, it's still a pain point for many and I need to do what I can to help. I'll be writing articles for that website regularly and I hope you will check it out. I know so many people are needing to know how to do things for just two people (or less) and I'm here to help. Just so you know, I am not happy with the cover art (and that's one of the reasons it fell by the wayside) but I realize you don't come to see the cover art, you come for the recipes. Finally, Sarah has been so busy over on YouTube. Italian Chopped Salad and Bacon Pull Apart Bread have been popular this week. With that, I'll move on. Remember you can always write me back by clicking "reply" to this email. It comes straight to me, no one else will see it and I will answer as soon as possible! You are the BEST and I thank you so much for reading and sharing this newsletter, visiting the website and supporting me so much! I couldn't ever do this without you! Love you! Wendi Jo | 
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