So here’s the thing: every December, my kitchen turns into a bit of a madhouse. Between the cookies for the neighbors, casseroles for the freezer, and all the “just one more thing” moments before company shows up, I’m usually one oven meltdown away from calling it quits. That’s why this slow cooker apple cinnamon dump […] More
You know the one—no fancy name, no perfectly styled photo, but it shows up at every gathering and disappears before you’ve even made it halfway down the buffet line. For us, this casserole is that dish. It started as a little side we threw together one winter when we were snowed in with nothing but […] More
Now look, I love a good sausage on the grill. But sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate. Or I’m feeding a crowd and I need something easy, something cheap, and — most importantly — something that makes folks ask for seconds before they even finish the first round. That’s where these hot dog burnt ends come in. I first […] More
I don’t know about you, but sometimes the afternoon slump just sneaks up on me. One minute I’m firing off emails, the next I’m basically hypnotized by my snack drawer—like it might hold some hidden treat if I just look long enough. There’s something about that 3 p.m. haze that makes me crave a little […] More
This Slow Cooker Pepper Steak pairs strips of tender flank steak with all the colors of bell peppers and onions in a savory-sweet soy-brown sugar-garlic sauce. The slow-cooked beef soaks up the flavorful sauce and goes melt-in-your-mouth tender, while the bell peppers and onions keep a fresh, vibrant texture. Serve this over steamed rice, noodles or mashed […] More
So here’s the thing. I wasn’t planning anything fancy. Just needed dinner on the table, something warm, and something I could feel kinda proud of—without losing steam halfway through cooking. You know that feeling? There were two chicken breasts in the fridge. Not much else. I found a half-used jar of capers shoved behind the […] More
It was a hot afternoon, windows wide open, fans doing their best but mostly just pushing the warm air around. My neighbor Gloria had just come back from visiting family in Kingston and brought back a tin of something she called “Toto.” I thought it was a nickname for someone, honestly. She handed me a […] More
You ever try making traditional Chicken Cordon Bleu on a weeknight? I did. Once. It was a Tuesday, I was tired, and somewhere between pounding the chicken flat and trying to keep the ham and cheese from squirting out the sides, I just thought—why am I doing this to myself? It was delicious, sure. But […] More
Some recipes just feel like they’ve been in the family forever, even if you only learned them last week. This Amish sour cream cornbread is one of those. It’s not fluffy like cake, and it’s not overly sweet either — this is the kind of cornbread that feels solid in your hands but still melts in your […] More
Cheesy, beefy, and not trying to be fancy—just ridiculously good. You ever look at a loaf of bread and a pack of ground beef and think, well… this is either dinner or a cry for help? That was me last week. I’d planned tacos, but realized (after 4 p.m., of course) I was out of tortillas. […] More
The Cozy Casserole You Didn’t Know You Needed Y’all ever have one of those nights where you’re too tired to make burgers, but still craving that juicy, cheesy, mustard-and-onion goodness? That was me last Thursday. Long day, empty fridge, and two hungry boys asking, “What’s for dinner, Mama?” Well, I looked around, saw some ground beef, half […] More
I remember the first time I made these—it was a Sunday morning that felt more like a Tuesday. You know those days? Quiet, a little weird, coffee didn’t quite hit right. I wasn’t craving anything in particular—just… something warm. Something soft. I looked at the eggs on the counter and thought, Let’s do something silly. Let’s […] More
I wasn’t planning to make dinner.Honestly, I was this close to pouring a bowl of cereal and calling it a night. You know those days when your brain’s fried, the sink is full, and you open the fridge like, “Why are you so empty and yet so full of nothing?” Well, that was me. But then—I […] More
You ever eat something and it just takes you back? That’s what this is for me. Spoon burgers. I don’t even remember what we called them growing up — sometimes “sloppy burgers,” sometimes just “that good meat stuff on a bun.” But I do remember that feeling: tray in hand, cafeteria line moving slow, and the smell […] More
Let me just say this right off the bat: this is not health food. This is comfort food. The kind you make when you’ve had a long day and you want dinner to cook itself while you sit down and not think for a while. The first time I made this, it was one of those “what can I throw […] More
We had leftover noodles from something else, half a head of broccoli that was starting to sulk in the crisper drawer, a sad zucchini, and a summer squash that had survived its expiration date by sheer willpower. I had zero desire to go to the store. You ever have those days? Where your only goal […] More
