There are a few things that show up at every single gathering in my family. Someone brings a “salad” that’s 80% marshmallows, someone brings rolls and forgets the butter, and my mom brings this dip. Always this dip. And by the end of the night, the pan is scraped clean—usually by someone (me) standing by […] More

So the other day, I was standing in my kitchen in my favorite pajama pants (you know the ones, with the mystery stain and the loose waistband), staring into the fridge like it owed me answers. It had been one of those days — nothing dramatic, just the usual chaos that somehow feels louder when it’s cold […] More

I first made this pie on a Tuesday. I remember because Tuesdays were always our chaotic, “what’s for dinner?” days — you know the kind. The fridge was holding on for dear life with bits of ham from Sunday’s roast, some questionable cheese, and half an onion wrapped in cling film. I was one spill […] More

I had strawberries that were starting to slump a little in the back of the fridge — you know that kind, soft in the middle but still too good to toss — and I’d already made jam the week before. So I just started throwing things in a bowl. I didn’t even get the mixer […] More

You know how some desserts just feel like a hug? That’s this cake. Italian Love Cake has been floating around for decades — I first had it at my neighbor Teresa’s kitchen table back in the early ’90s. She served it with coffee after Sunday dinner, and I swear, nobody talked for a good minute. Just forks […] More

These Italian Parmesan Chicken Skewers are full of rich, savory flavor thanks to a marinade of Parmesan cheese, Italian herbs, garlic and paprika. Great for grilling season or anytime you want a light, protein-heavy meal with a Mediterranean kick. Serve with a side of marinara or garlic aioli for dipping, or toss them on top of a […] More

There’s something about strawberries that takes me back to summers with my grandma, barefoot in her backyard, eating fresh berries out of a chipped enamel bowl. We’d sit on a creaky old porch swing while she told stories and I giggled at the juice running down my chin. So when I say this Easy Strawberry Slab […] More

You know those days when you just need a cookie that means it? Not some flat little crisp with a few chocolate chips scattered like afterthoughts. No, ma’am. I’m talking about the kind of cookie you break open with both hands — warm, molten in the center, pockets of melted chocolate oozing out like a dessert lava flow. […] More

It was one of those early fall afternoons where you’ve got laundry half-folded, emails halfway answered, and a very loud craving for something sweet. Not a full pie, mind you—something easier. Less commitment. I peeked into the fridge and saw one lonely sheet of puff pastry, a couple apples sitting pretty in the fruit bowl, […] More

It’s no secret I love a cozy casserole, and every time life feels a tad too busy (or the weather gets chilly), there’s just something so comforting about diving into a warm dish straight from the oven. Loaded Baked Potato Chicken and Broccoli Casserole is my go-to when I want what I call a “hug […] More

This Baked Cheesy Mushroom Casserole is a dish worth making either as a side dish or light main course! Mushrooms are the star ingredient, adding flavor with their medium-to-strong taste. A rich and creamy sauce cloaks and marks the dish, with a gooey layer of melted cheese on top, very appropriate to be served at any time […] More

Let me tell you something right now: if you put a platter of these Italian pinwheels on your table, you better grab one for yourself before the guests show up—because they will be gone. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way. More than once. I started making these little roll-ups years ago for my son’s soccer banquet. […] More

It’s a Tuesday afternoon. You’ve got a can of pie filling, a craving, and absolutely no interest in making pie dough. You could go buy a crust, but somehow that feels like cheating. You want homemade—but fast, and with zero flour on your shirt. That’s when you reach for this gem from the back of the old metal recipe […] More

The kind of dessert that hushes a room mid-bite. You ever make something so simple, so quietly perfect, that you surprise even yourself? That was this pie for me. A few summers ago, I brought it to a family reunion—you know, the kind with kids doing cannonballs in the pool, aunts gossiping under patio umbrellas, […] More