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Happy Sunday!
There is nothing that fills my heart more than when family comes to visit. This past week, two of our boys were home, and let me tell you — their presence brought so much happiness to our house. Laughter, long conversations, and the comfort of simply being together filled every corner. These are the moments I treasure most.
In anticipation of their visit, I cooked one of their absolute favorite childhood meals: a big batch of Portuguese Pork and Chorizo (coming soon!) with Portuguese Rice. Oh, the memories this dish brings back! When they were little, my kids could eat bowl after bowl of that rice. I’ll never forget the mess of rice kernels scattered under their chairs — it drove me crazy back then, but now, I can’t help but smile at the memory.
As they grew, their friends quickly learned that I was “the mom who made the best rice in the world.” To this day, hearing that still makes me beam. It’s such a beautiful reminder that the simplest foods often hold the most meaning. It’s not about fancy ingredients — it’s about the feelings that rise up and the memories created around the family table.
And because I made such a big batch (even my hungry boys couldn’t finish it all!), it turned into the perfect opportunity to invite friends over for an impromptu evening on our back deck. Surrounded by the cool, crisp fall mountain air, we shared great food, easy conversation, and lots of laughter. Proof that gathering doesn’t need to be complicated — simple meals shared with the people you love are always the most special.
Of course, the star of the night was still the Portuguese rice. The simplest recipe in the world, but the one that carries a lifetime of memories in every spoonful.
So here’s my little reminder to you, friends: soak up every chance you have to create memories around your table. Fall is the perfect season to lean into togetherness — warm meals, cool evenings, and the people who make your heart full.
Cheers to family, fall, and all the bowls of rice (and memories) along the way!
Isabel
Football Foods Worth Sharing...
Whether you’re here for the game or just the food, these 10 recipes bring all the comfort and flavor to your football spread.
- Pepperoni Pizza Dip
- Buffalo Chicken Wings
- Slow Cooker Lasagna
- Cheeseburger Sliders
- Steak Nachos
- Mexican Layered Dip
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Soft Pretzels
- Baked Empanadas
- Air Fryer Mushrooms
This week's meal plan...
- Sunday: Crockpot Taco Meat
- Monday: Mexican Lasagna
- Tuesday: Taco Salad Bowls
- Wednesday: Taco Soup
- Thursday: Stuffed Peppers
- Friday: Hamburger Casserole
- Saturday: Taco Casserole
🔪 Prep Plan:
On your prep day, cook your big batch of crockpot taco meat! Once cooked and cooled, portion it out for Monday’s lasagna, Tuesday’s salad bowls, Wednesday’s soup, Thursday’s peppers, and Saturday’s casserole. Store each portion in an airtight container in the fridge.
While the taco meat is cooking, prep your ground beef for Friday! Brown and season the beef ahead of time for your casserole. Store it in the fridge so Friday’s dinner comes together quickly.
While the pork is cooking, prep your toppings!
- Chop lettuce, onions, and tomatoes for taco salads and toppings.
- Shred cheese and portion it out for casseroles, stuffed peppers, and taco night.
- Cook a pot of rice — you can mix it into stuffed peppers and taco casserole.
- Prep taco casserole layers (tortillas, beans, cheese) so it’s easy to assemble Saturday.
Missed a week? Check out my last blog post, too!
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