Whew, I needed a minute! LOL that I thought I’d be ready to dive back into Benediction at the beginning of August, right as we were closing on/moving into our new house. I still wouldn’t call us settled quite yet, but I want to make sure this little project becomes part of my new routine, so here I am again. I’ve missed y’all!
I won’t lie — during this break I’ve asked myself more than once whether I should keep doing this, writing about silly little things that are bringing me joy when there’s so much turmoil everywhere we turn. Will I sound tone deaf? Should I try to address weightier issues?
Every time I ask myself those questions, though, here’s where I land: We live in a both/and world, filled with both lots of heartache AND lots of good things. We all need every ounce of joy we can get. We all need a reprieve now and then, maybe especially in this season. I hope Benediction is a bright spot in your day, where for just a few minutes you think about a fun new recipe or a book you’re going to recommend to your book club. Enjoy reading this little newsletter and then go about your day filled with the work of doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly.
Let’s get to the good stuff, shall we?
eating
Blueberry Honey Simple Syrup — My MIL keeps bees, and we are often the beneficiaries of her (and their, I suppose) hard work. She brought us a huge jar of honey a couple weeks ago, and making honey simple syrup is one of my favorite ways to use up some of it. I originally made Bri McKoy’s pumpkin honey simple syrup last fall (SO good in coffee!), made a cranberry version over the holidays, and now, for the first time, made a big ol’ jar of blueberry. I followed the gist of those recipes but added enough bloobs to float across the top of the pot (maybe a little less than a cup?) and then added a hefty squeeze of lemon when it was done. I’ve used it in both mojitos and mocktails this week (not a big weeknight drinker), but it’d be tasty on pancakes and ice cream, too.
Grilled Pork Loin Tostadas w/ Pineapple Salsa — I promise to mix up my culinary offerings and not turn this into a Lillie Eats & Tells fanblog, but this is another LEAT recipe that did. not. disappoint. This meal got Z’s top compliments, which are “this could be in a restaurant” and “this recipe is a keeper,” so I felt obligated to share. Toss the cut up pork in a lil bbq sauce of your choice, put the pork on pre-made crispy tostada shells (I just got Mission ones at Wal-Mart), sprinkle with cheese, broil for a hot sec to melt, then top with the salsa and pickled onions. *Chef’s kiss*
reading
Olympus, Texas — While this is a tad bit slow for me, I do enjoy a family drama and it’s gotten me out of my reading slump. (And the cover is just so pretty.)
loving
My entryway runner from Turkish Trunk — Last week in my insta stories I shared a photo of this little spot in my entryway that looks halfway complete, especially compared to the rest of the house. I’ve followed lots of rug sellers on Instagram over the last couple months, and Turkish Trunk’s prices are the most reasonable I’ve seen. Meredith posts new rugs on Fridays, so be on the lookout!
Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee — I was on the hunt for a white for our living room, entryway, and hallway that wasn’t too cold but didn’t wind up coming off as beige, either… a “lived-in” white, if you will. I found it in Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee. Swiss Coffee looks way too dark on the Benjamin Moore website, and really even straight from the can. It was the clear winner, though. To make my decision, I bought samples and painted half-sized sheets of poster board with the various contenders. Being able to move that large of a sample board around the room and see each color in different lighting was crucial. (Shoutout to Jenny Dixon for that tip!) First runner-up was Chantilly Lace, which was just a bit brighter.
Have a great week, y’all!
Wishing you well,
Mollie