In the heart of the Midwest, there’s an unspoken rule: when the wind howls and the chores are done, you need something bubbling away to make it all feel right. Growing up, that something was always Mom’s chicken pot pie — flaky crust, steamy filling, the whole works. It took forever, though, and truth be told, some […] More
You know those nights when you swear you’re done eating sugar for the week — then suddenly you’re on the couch, wrapped in your softest blanket, wishing you had something chocolatey to dig into? Yeah. Been there. This little chocolate lava cake saved me more than once. I remember the first time I made it — I’d […] More
It Ain’t Fancy — But It Sure Is Good This casserole was born out of one of those clean-out-the-fridge nights — you know the ones. I had leftover rotisserie chicken, a bag of pasta that wasn’t enough for a full recipe, and just a handful of cheese odds and ends. Tossed in some ranch and […] More
Okay. I’m gonna be honest with you. This ain’t a glamorous dish. You won’t see it on a cooking show with someone zesting a lemon while saying “elevated comfort food.” What it is… is dang good. Like, second-helping, scrape-the-bowl, everyone-asks-who-brought-it good. And the best part? You basically dump everything in the slow cooker and walk away. […] More
You ever throw something together on a whim and it turns out so good, you kinda shock yourself? That was me, standing in my kitchen last winter with some steak that needed to be cooked, a leftover tub of queso from a game night, and two bell peppers about a day away from going soft. […] More
You know those moments when dessert feels like an afterthought—but your heart (and sweet tooth) is still craving something warm, gooey, and just indulgent enough to make you smile? That’s where these Blueberry Cheesecake Rolls waltz in, charming as ever. This isn’t one of those fussy, fancy-pants desserts that asks for twelve types of flour and a […] More
You know, some recipes just sneak up on you. You’re standing in your kitchen, rummaging through the fridge at 5:37 p.m., half-hungry, half-grumpy — and suddenly, you realize you’ve got just enough of everything to pull something delicious together. That’s exactly how this Baked Onion Beef Fried Rice came about in my house. I had a bowl of leftover […] More
It was one of those mornings — cloudy, kids already up, coffee barely brewed — and I opened the fridge just starin’ like it was gonna talk back to me. We had folks comin’ over for brunch, and I hadn’t planned a darn thing. But sitting there? A leftover hunk of cornbread, a pound of […] More
A Cozy Bowl of Amish Comfort I don’t know about you, but when the leaves start tumbling down and that first chilly snap hits my old bones, I want something simple and soul-soothing bubbling away on my counter. This Amish Corn Chowder does just that. Funny enough, I first scribbled this recipe on a sticky note stuck to my […] More
It’s buttery, flaky, full of gooey melted chocolate, and takes less time to throw together than it does to find your shoes and head to the bakery. And you only need three things. Three. You could probably make these in your sleep. (Honestly? I think I have.) Great for unexpected guests, sweet tooth emergencies, or those nights […] More
There’s just something about the crunchy-salty snap of corn chips tangled up with gooey cheese and beef that makes me feel like a kid again, stretched out on the carpet during a Friday movie night or packed tight in a loud high school football stadium with friends. Frito Pie isn’t exactly fancy food—but boy, does […] More
I’m not gonna lie — some days, I bake just so the house smells like something good is happening. I don’t always have a plan. But when I’ve got a lemon sitting on the counter looking at me like, “you gonna use me or what?” — that’s when I pull this recipe out. These lemon […] More
Chicken Taco Soup is an 8-can soup consisting of beans, corn, chicken, and flavorful Mexican-inspired spices that create layers of flavor in the most pleasant comfort. It is the perfect meal for when you’re in a hurry but wanting a comforting meal for the family. Flavors can be strengthened with additional spices such as cumin […] More
So here’s the thing — I didn’t grow up eating anything remotely called a “Vienna Bar.” We were more of a dump cake and Jell-O salad family. But years ago, I clipped a recipe from an old magazine because it had “Nancy Reagan” in the title, and well… I was curious. I figured if it […] More
Let me tell you a little something about summer desserts — they don’t need to be fancy to be unforgettable. And this one? It’s been in my back pocket for decades. I still remember the first time I had Peach Pretzel Salad. It was at a Fourth of July potluck, and my friend Darlene (who never shows […] More
I know what you’re thinking: “Crackers? In a salad?” And listen, I get it — the first time I heard about Georgia Cracker Salad, I raised an eyebrow too. But y’all, this little oddball of a dish has earned a permanent spot on my summer table, right between the deviled eggs and the tomato pie. My Aunt […] More
