Hey, Sweet Friends! Happy June!

One of the themes we’re exploring this month is 💕 Curious Hearts.

When we hear the word curiosity, we often think it has to be something big and adventurous. A new city. A new hobby. A dramatic life change.

But I’ve found that curiosity usually shows up in much smaller ways.

It’s trying a new salad dressing.

Grilling a different protein.

Picking up an ingredient you’ve never cooked with before.

Texting a friend on a random Tuesday and saying, “Want to come over for dinner?”

A curious life isn’t built from giant leaps. 👉 It’s built from tiny invitations.

This week’s menu is full of simple ways to try something new while keeping dinner easy and delicious.

This Week’s Dinner Lineup

Monday

​Greek Chicken Skewers + Corn Salad​

Fresh, bright, and perfect for easing into summer.

Tuesday

​Air Fryer Chicken Snack Wraps​

One of my favorite “I don’t feel like cooking, but I still want something good” dinners. I eat this at least 2-3 times a week...

Wednesday

​Salmon Niçoise Salad​

Fancy enough to feel special, easy enough for a weeknight.

Thursday

​Simple Steak Salad​

Steakhouse vibes without leaving the house.

Friday

Shrimp Cocktail Board + Giant Wedge Salad​

My favorite kind of summer entertaining: make one thing, assemble the rest. This is a great time to lay out a big platter of store-bought cooked shrimp and jarred cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, and remoulade. ((I would definitely make my own... but, picking those up from the Fresh Market is so incredibly easy!))

Weekend

Croissant Focaccia Sandwiches

Perfect for slow lunches, porch dinners, or feeding whoever happens to stop by. This is a great way to use up leftovers! Make up a batch of Croissant Focaccia, then slice it into sandwich pieces. Lay out all your leftovers, sauces, etc, and let people help themselves. ((Should that be summer's mantra?! "Help yourself!"))

5 Summer Kitchen Tools I Use Every Week

These are the tools that earn their keep all summer long:

✓ Sheet Pans - I, the single lady, own 6 of these myself... They are a must-have, y'all!

✓ Grill Basket - I really like this style of grill basket... Mainly because it's the easiest to clean!

✓ Citrus Juicer - You're going to want to make your own freshly squeezed margarita, y'all!

✓ Salad Spinner - Not just for salad... I spin all my freshly washed produce through this each week.

✓ Instant-Read Thermometer - if you're a Nervous Nelly overcooked chicken, stop cutting into it "Just to see if it's done..." Snag yourself a thermometer!

None of these are glamorous, but every one of them makes cooking easier and your kitchen more efficient.

My Wish List item, I may have already purchased by the time this email gets sent?! This countertop panini/grill appliance. I'm not a huge fan of appliances taking up space in my small kitchen... But, I'm also a fan of grilled items! Ha!

Before you go, here’s your gentle reminder:

🚫 You don’t have to become a different person this summer.

🚫 You don’t need a perfectly curated menu.

🚫 You don’t need matching napkins.

👉 You just need enough curiosity to try something new.

Maybe that’s a recipe.

Maybe that’s a conversation.

Maybe it’s inviting someone over for dinner.

What are you cooking this week?

Hit reply and tell me. I read every email, and hearing what you’re making is one of my favorite parts of this community.

With love,

Ashley

P.S. If you’ve been meaning to invite someone over, consider this your sign. The best dinners are rarely the most planned—they’re the ones where everyone stays a little longer than expected. Summer is the perfect time to send that "Come on over!" text!