All Posts By Jennifer

You know those days when the weather can’t decide what it’s doing, and your bones feel a little tired, and maybe — just maybe — you need dinner to feel like a sweater you can eat? That’s when I pull out my old pot and make Ribollita. I didn’t grow up with this soup. The first time I made it, I had no idea what I was doing — I just had a stale baguette, some kale wilting in the crisper drawer, and a deep craving for something simple and honest. I threw everything into a pot, said a quiet …

Okay, picture this: it’s a Tuesday night, your feet are tired, the fridge looks like a crime scene, and honestly? You’re just over it. That’s exactly the kind of night this recipe was born from. I had a pack of ground beef, a wilting bunch of dill, and zero energy for anything remotely complicated. So I did what I always do when dinner feels like a chore — I made something warm, creamy, and comforting that didn’t require much thinking. And y’all… these Hamburger Cream Steaks hit the spot in ways I didn’t expect. They’re rich but not heavy, savory …

You know how some recipes just happen in your life? You didn’t mean to make them 47 times, they just kept showing up — on birthdays, weeknights, snow days, the Tuesday when the power went out and you lit the gas stove with a match. These meatballs? They’re that recipe for me. I’ve made them when my kids brought home friends last-minute, when I needed comfort in a bowl, and when I wanted to impress my mother-in-law (she asked for seconds, thank you very much). They’re hearty, honest, and full of flavor — and they taste like home. Which, let’s …

You ever have one of those dishes that stops you mid-bite — like, wait a second, what is this and where has it been all my life? That was me with this baked mac and cheese. Except here’s the twist: it wasn’t made with elbow macaroni. Nope. It was made with spaghetti. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Spaghetti? In mac and cheese? I had the same reaction — right up until I tasted it. Y’all, it was creamy, cheesy, just the right amount of spicy, and honestly… better than the classic. I said what I said. I first had …

You ever have one of those nights where you’re just staring into your pantry, hoping dinner walks out on its own? That was me last week. I had a loaf of sourdough that was going stale on the counter, a few sad onions rolling around in the bin, and a half-used box of lasagna noodles I’d been avoiding like laundry. And wouldn’t you know—sometimes necessity makes the best meals. I started playing around, and what came out of my oven was one of the coziest things I’ve made in a long time: French Onion Lasagna. Now, I’m not claiming this …

I’ll be honest with you — slumgullion isn’t the prettiest name for a dish. Sounds like something you’d feed pirates, doesn’t it? But oh honey, don’t let the name fool you. This one-pot wonder has fed generations, filled bellies on tight budgets, and warmed up more cold nights than I can count. I first had it when I was a kid, sitting at my Aunt Millie’s kitchen table — you know the kind with plastic over the cushions and a rotary phone hanging on the wall. She called it “goulash,” but it was really slumgullion — a tomato-y, beefy, cheesy …

You know those evenings where you’re bone-tired but craving something that tastes like a warm blanket? That’s how this recipe was born. I was standing in the kitchen after a long, loud day — laundry still damp in the machine, emails I didn’t answer (sorry, Susan), and all I had was half a carton of cream, some sausage in the fridge, and zero motivation to clean up a mess. So, I just threw everything into one pot and said a little prayer. And honey, let me tell you — this rigatoni came out creamy, cozy, a little spicy, and rich …

You ever make something for dinner and, before anyone even takes a bite, you just know it’s gonna be a winner? That was me with this Cajun Beef Casserole. I pulled it out of the oven — cheese all bubbly and golden, the cornbread crust puffed up like a little crown — and my youngest (who claims he doesn’t like vegetables) peeked over the edge of the pan and said, “That smells like comfort food.” And y’all… he was right. This dish is spicy, savory, a little sweet from the cornbread, and packed full of flavor. Think of it like …

There’s something deeply satisfying about a recipe that lets you get ahead of the chaos. And honey, Farmer’s Casserole is one of those rare gems that feels like it’s doing half your job for you. I first made this dish on a snowy Sunday morning, back when the kids were little and nobody wanted to get out of their pajamas — including me. I had a pile of hash browns in the freezer, a hunk of leftover ham, and about fifteen eggs that were just sitting in the fridge giving me side-eye. I didn’t want to fuss with anything fancy, …

A bubbly, cheesy throwback that tastes like a warm hug. Let me tell you what happened the first time I served this casserole. My husband took one bite, looked at me — wide-eyed, mouth still full — and mumbled, “What is this magic?” Magic, dear friends, goes by many names. In this case: Chicken Gloria. It’s the kind of recipe that tastes like someone still loves you even if the laundry’s piling up, the dog chewed through your curtain tiebacks (again), and dinner just needs to get done. It’s creamy, cozy, and rich without being fussy. Plus — and this …