The Happy for Now List #1
Something pretty, something practical, and something yummy
Welcome to another new feature of the newsletter! I hope you’ve been enjoying the changes over the last week. This week I do have a few more things planned, but I found out this morning that my grandfather, the one I’m named after, passed away. :( So, the schedule will probably shift around since I will be traveling to go to the service.
However, more than ever I’m reminded why it’s important to recognize the little things in life that give us a bit of happiness. My grandfather knew how to embrace life and lived a full one, including serving in the Army and National Guard, running for office, and back in the fifties, being a singer in a local rock ‘n roll band. He was also still sharp as hell in his late 80s and could have an interesting conversation with anyone about just about anything. So in his honor, I hope you find something interesting today to bring you a little happiness.
A beautiful wall calendar
If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I love a planner (well, planners. I never have just one.) I’ll be doing a post later in the month to share my planner line-up for 2025, but today I wanted to share a lovely wall calendar for your office.
I’m pretty particular about what I want to look at all year and though I’ve occasionally run across a nice calendar in a store, I usually go to Etsy.
This year, I chose this Shopfront Scenes one by SimplyKatyPrints. It was similar to the one I had this year, which I also loved and will share below, but had brighter colors.
And here’s the Shops & Markets one I’ve used this year from Phoebe and June. I would’ve bought from them again, but next year’s is the same as this year’s and I wanted something different.
A book flight
I got this idea from the Currently Reading podcast years ago. The idea is, like a wine flight, you pull a number of books from your shelves (or virtual shelves) that you might want to read, then sample each. Once you make it through the stack, you see which one calls to you the most and it helps you choose your next read.
Yesterday, I couldn’t decide what mood I was in—winter thriller or Nora Ephron-ish story, so I pulled this stack for my flight.
After reading the first ten or so pages of each, it was really clear that I was feeling You, Again by Kate Goldbeck (Bookshop | Amazon) the most. So that will be my next read! The process really helped because before reading, I would’ve guessed I was going to go with one of the thrillers.
So, if you’re not sure what book you want next, give it a try.
A good pot of beans
The day after Thanksgiving, I put on Instagram that I was looking forward to my most favorite pot of beans of the year—the one that used the leftover ham bone from Thanksgiving’s spiral ham. They did not disappoint. I’m not sure there’s anything more soul-satisfying on a cold day than a steaming bowl of well-seasoned, creamy beans.
Now, I know Thanksgiving is past and you may not have a hambone lying around (though you might after Christmas!), but even without the ham, you can make a great pot of beans with this basic recipe.
Slow-Cooker Beans
(you could try this on the stove but I swear by the slow cooker for these)
1 lb of dried beans (white or red), soaked overnight and drained (for this batch I experimented with Rancho Gordo Cabellero beans, which were great, but usually I opt for basic navy or red kidney beans)
1 medium-sized onion, chopped
1 green or yellow bell pepper, chopped
1-3 cloves of garlic, peeled and smashed (depends how garlicky you like it)
1 bay leaf
1 box or 4-6 cups of unsalted chicken broth/stock (or water if you don’t have stock)
1 tsp of cajun seasoning (or more to taste)
Meat of choice for flavoring* (optional) — ham bone or even two slices of bacon
Meat of choice for serving - smoked ham or smoked sausage are my faves. You can also go vegetarian here and not add any.
Salt and pepper to taste
Hot cooked rice for serving
Directions:
Rinse your beans after soaking overnight and then dump them into the slow cooker along with the chopped onion and bell pepper, the garlic, the bay leaf, and any seasoning you want to add. (There are some who say don’t salt your beans before because it toughens them. I haven’t found this to be true. They come out better if you season at the start in my experience.)
*You can also add meat for flavoring at this point if you’re using something like a ham bone or bacon. However, whatever you put in will flavor the beans and lose its own flavor. If you put sausage in at the start, it’s going to flavor the broth but the sausage itself will not taste so great at the end. So for the meat you’re actually going to eat with the beans, save that until the beans are cooked (see below).
Pour in your chicken stock. You want to completely cover the beans with liquid but only by a quarter-inch to a half-inch or so. If you’ve soaked them overnight, they’re not going to expand much, and if you put too much liquid it will be too soupy. If the stock doesn’t fully cover the beans, just add in some water.
Give it a stir and then cook on low in the slow cooker until the beans are tender (easily smashed with a spoon). This will take 6-8 hours, depending on the bean, but these really can’t overcook so don’t worry too much. In fact, they’re even better reheated the next day because they get creamier. Just check occasionally that you don’t need to add a little more water. You can also switch them to the Warm setting if they finish before you’re ready to eat.
Once your beans are tender, you can saute the sausage or cubed ham in a separate pan, drain on a paper towel if greasy, and then add the meat to the pot of beans. (Also, if you used a ham bone, remember to pull that out.)
Feel free to smash a few beans with the back of your service spoon if you want a little creamier consistency.
Serve hot over rice.
Nice things to add on top for an acidic hit: a little hot sauce and/or sliced pickled peppers (I like pepperoncini.)
This makes a big pot but leftovers are great and it also freezes well.
Enjoy!
I hope you’ve found a little something to make your day a little cheerier.
Have a great week!
I’d love to hear something that’s making you feel happy for now. Share in the comments or hit reply on the email.
I'm so sorry to hear about your grandfather's passing.
I actually do the book flight, although I never knew it had a name.
I wish I was a planner person. Adaptability is number one.
I am so sorry to hear of your grandfather's passing. This time of year seems to bring too man goodbyes. I do hope your memories and time with others who loved him will keep him close.