Penny's Passion

Friday, September 25, 2026

Five on Friday - September 25, 2026

Happy Friday, friends! We’ve made it to the end of another week, and I am extra excited about this Friday because vacation starts tomorrow! We’re headed to Maine for a week of lighthouses, beautiful scenery, easy hikes, lobster, and hopefully lots of gorgeous fall color. Of course, our timing couldn’t be more interesting—we’re heading straight into a nor’easter! Nothing says “Welcome to Maine” quite like wind and rain, right?! We’re packing the raincoats, keeping an eye on the forecast, and planning to make the best of whatever Mother Nature sends our way. But before the adventure begins, I’ve got five things to share, so let’s get this edition of Five on Friday started!

1. Dolly Pardon Day

This one feels a little bittersweet this year. After losing Dolly Parton in August, Dolly Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible life and legacy she left behind. I was so sad to hear of her passing—she was truly one of a kind! From Jolene and 9 to 5 to her huge heart and the millions of children impacted by her Imagination Library, Dolly gave us so much to love. I think the best way to celebrate today is to turn up a little Dolly music and remember the joy she brought to so many. There will never be another Dolly!

2. Churro Doughnut Dots

Well, Krispy Kreme has my attention! They just introduced Churro Doughnut Dots, and they sound dangerously good. They take Krispy Kreme’s light and fluffy doughnut dough, toss the little bites in cinnamon sugar, and serve them with dulce de leche dipping sauce. Each order comes with eight dots, and they’re only around for a limited time. These sound like the perfect little fall treat—and I’m pretty sure “shareable” is merely a suggestion! If you love churros AND doughnuts, you might need to make a Krispy Kreme run.

3. Heart of the Beast

There’s a new movie hitting theaters this weekend that looks like it could be a good one! Heart of the Beast stars Brad Pitt as a Special Forces officer who survives a plane crash with his combat dog, Odin, only to find themselves stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness. The two have to battle the elements and find their way back to civilization—and apparently the bond between Brad and the dog is a huge part of the story. It’s part survival thriller, part adventure, and part man-and-his-best-friend story. This one looks intense, but so good! And really...Brad Pitt and a dog? You don’t have to twist my arm.

4. Closet Drawers

I’ve been doing a little fall cleaning and decided my closet could definitely use some help! I added these Fixwal Closet Drawers, and I’m loving the extra organization they give me. The set comes with two stackable units with two drawers each, and at 21.2 inches wide, they give me plenty of extra storage without taking up a ton of space. They’re perfect for sweaters, workout clothes, pajamas, accessories—or all those things that never seem to have a good home. There’s just something so satisfying about walking in the closet and seeing everything neat and organized. Now let’s see how long I can keep it that way!

Available HERE

5. Put this on your to-do list...

And that’s a wrap for this week! My suitcase is calling my name, and I still have a few things to check off the list before we head out tomorrow. I’m ready to put the to-do list away for a bit and enjoy a week of making memories with Eric and our friends. I’ll be sharing some of our adventures along the way, so be sure to follow along! Have a wonderful weekend, friends. Next time you hear from me, I’ll be in Maine!

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Let's Make White Chili!

Hello and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday! This is a time when I share something that’s on my mind and invite you to link up and do the same.

Now that the temperatures are starting to cool down, I’m thinking about all those cozy meals that just seem to taste better this time of year. One recipe that has been a favorite in our house for years is White Chili. I actually shared this recipe on the blog quite a few years ago, so I thought it was time to dust it off and bring it back to the top of the recipe box! It’s warm, comforting, easy to make, and perfect for a chilly fall evening. Let’s get cooking!

Here's What You Need

Rotisserie Chicken

2 cans Great Northern Beans (drained)

Olive Oil

2 Medium White Onions

4 Minced Garlic Cloves

6 cups Chicken Broth

2 cups of Monterey Jack Cheese

2 - 4 oz cans Green Chilies

2 tsp Dried Oregano

1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper

2 tsp Ground Cumin

Sour Cream

Here's What You Do

Chop up the two onions into fairly small bits. Cover the bottom of your stockpot with olive oil and dump in the onions. Saute them for about 5 minutes, then add the garlic.

Cook the onions and garlic for another 5 minutes or until the onions are clear in color.

Add in the green chilies and spices (cumin, cayenne pepper and dried oregano). Cook for another couple of minutes.

Add in the six cups of chicken broth and two cans of drained Great Northern Beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer while you cut up the chicken.

Use as much chicken as you like. Typically I use two breasts and one leg, including the skin. If you want yours a bit more or less meaty, add more or less to your discretion.

Right before serving, add two cups of Monterey Jack cheese and let it melt into the mixture.

To serve, I usually add a little bit of cheese on top and a dollop of sour cream.

This chili truly is even better the next day after the flavors have a chance to meld together, making it the perfect thing to fix on the weekend and have one night for dinner the following week. Hope you enjoy it as much as do we!

Now it's your turn. What are you thinking out loud about today? Link up and share!

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - September 23, 2026

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! We are so glad that you stopped by.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers, including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that, as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature!

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.

Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE

HIGHLIGHT LINKS

Pumpkin Spice Cake Pops

4-Ingredient Quick & Easy Goulash

Catching Waterfalls in Cuyahogo Valley

Pumpkin Pie Crescent Rolls

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.

Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please. Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way, your entries will be seen no matter when you arrive. Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let’s Party!

Friday, September 18, 2026

Five on Friday - September 18, 2026

Hello, friends! We’ve made it to the end of another week, which means it’s time for another edition of Five on Friday! I’ve got a fun mix of things to share with you today, so grab your coffee, settle in, and let’s get to it. Here we go ~

1. Happy Hour with Ina Garten

Here's something new to add to your listening list this weekend! Ina Garten has a brand-new podcast, Happy Hour with Ina Garten, and I'm pretty sure this one was made for me. Each week, Ina invites an interesting guest to join her for a cocktail, a little something to eat, and some fun conversation. The first episode featured Kate McKinnon and it was full of talk about gardening and pickling. Kate also tells a story about her audition for Saturday Night Live. You can listen wherever you normally get podcasts or watch the full video episodes on Ina's new YouTube channel.

2. New Books Out This Week

This was a big week for book releases and several went straight on my TBR list. Here's the ones that caught my eye:

Falling for Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey — The new novel returns to Peachtree Bluff and follows Caroline as she unexpectedly finds herself caught between a new romance and her not-quite-ex-husband, while Ansley faces trouble of her own. If you love a series, this is book 5 in the Peachtree Bluff Series.

Available HERE

Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult — A new novel about Molly Fitzgerald, whose mother died on September 11, and the way an unexpected crisis forces Molly and her husband to question what they thought they knew about their lives and each other.

Available HERE

The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham — A new novel set at Tiffin Academy, an elite boarding school where the senior class is beginning a school year filled with relationships, secrets and drama.

Available HERE

3. Sleeve Holder Arm Bands

Fall is coming, which means it’s almost time to pull out all those cute sweaters and long-sleeve tops! I love the look of sleeves casually pushed up, but getting them to actually stay that way is another story. Enter sleeve holder arm bands! Slip them on under your sleeves, push everything up to just the right spot, and your sleeves stay perfectly styled without constantly sliding back down. Such a simple little fashion hack that can make your whole outfit look a bit more polished and put together. I’m definitely adding these to my fall wardrobe arsenal!

Available HERE

4. Dot's Chipotle Honey Pretzels

If you’re a fan of that sweet-and-spicy combination, here’s a new snack to be on the lookout for! Dot’s has a new limited-edition Chipotle Honey Pretzel flavor, combining a touch of sweet honey with a smoky chipotle kick. I already love Dot’s pretzels, so naturally I’m going to have to hunt down a bag of these. They sound like the perfect snack for fall football watching!

5. Maybe she shouldn't be driving ~

Have a wonderful weekend, friends! We have lots of fun things on the agenda, and I can’t wait to get the weekend started! I’m ready to soak up every minute and hopefully make some great memories along the way. Whatever you have planned, I hope your weekend is filled with a little fun and plenty of reasons to smile. See you back here next week!

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Let's Make Buffalo Chicken Dip!

Hello and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday! This is the day I share a little something that’s been on my mind, and then invite you to link up and share what you’ve been thinking about too.

Now that football season has officially kicked off, I’m already thinking about one of my favorite parts of game day—the food! Around here, you really can’t have a good football-watching afternoon without a few delicious snacks, and one of our all-time favorites is Buffalo Chicken Dip.

I first shared our go-to recipe way back in 2022, and since that was quite a few football seasons ago, I decided it was time to dust it off and bring it back to the top of the recipe file. It’s creamy, cheesy, just the right amount of spicy, and always one of the first things to disappear. If you’re looking for something easy and delicious to serve on game day, this one definitely deserves a spot on your menu! Here's the post from 2022 ~

There are millions of recipes for buffalo chicken dip out there. This one that we use is extremely simple and quick to pull together.

Here's What You Need

2 cans of chicken, drained

2 - 8 oz packages of cream cheese

1 cup Ranch dressing

3/4 cup Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 bunch of celery

1 box of chicken-flavored crackers

Here's What You Do

Drain the 2 cans of chicken and empty them into a skillet. Add in the 3/4 cup Frank's sauce and heat over medium heat.

Stir in the cream cheese and ranch dressing.

Stir until well blended and the mixture is warm. Mix in 1-1/2 cups of the shredded cheese and stir until the cheese has melted.

Transfer mixture into a small slow cooker and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Cover and cook on a low setting until hot and bubbly. This only takes about a half-hour. We've been known to be a bit impatient with waiting and eating it as soon as it gets transferred to the slow cooker.

Serve with celery and chicken-flavored crackers. I love stacking the celery on my favorite Nora Fleming small tray and football charm.

This dip has just the right amount of heat for my taste, but if you are someone who loves to sweat when you're eating something spicy you could use Frank's Hot Sauce in place of the Wing Sauce. Enjoy!

Now it's your turn. What are you thinking out loud about today? Link up and share!

Monday, September 14, 2026

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - September 16, 2026

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! We are so glad that you stopped by.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers, including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that, as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature!

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.