All Posts By Jennifer

You know, every family has that dish. The one you pull out when the weather turns cold and you’re craving something that feels like a warm hug. For me, it’s this Slow Cooker Herb-Crusted Pork Tenderloin — with that creamy Dijon sauce that makes you want to lick the spoon when no one’s looking (and sometimes when they are looking — no shame here). I first made this when my youngest had the flu and nobody really wanted to eat. I thought maybe if the house smelled good enough, she’d nibble something. I threw this in the slow cooker before …

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 rice sitting all lonely in the back of the fridge, a pound of ground beef I’d forgotten to freeze (oops), and a stubborn onion that kept rolling off my counter all week. And because I can’t leave well enough alone, I …

You know what? Some days just beg for something warm and sweet — something that doesn’t fuss, doesn’t ask for fancy ingredients, and fills the whole house with the kind of smell that makes everyone wander in asking, “What’s cooking?” For me, that’s this rice pudding. I swear, every time I make it, I’m back in my childhood kitchen — my mom humming to herself, old floral apron tied around her waist, stirring a big pot while the windows fog up from the steam. She’d scoop out bowls for us while it was still bubbling, and we’d sit at the …

You know what? Pulled pork with BBQ sauce is one of those things that just feels like home to me. Every time I make it, I’m instantly back at my grandma’s backyard in Illinois — where the grass was always a little too long, someone was yelling for more ice, and the picnic table was sagging under the weight of all that good food. Back then, it wasn’t about fancy marinades or gadgets — it was about good pork, slow heat, and that unmistakable sweet, smoky smell drifting down the street. Folks would show up just because they caught a …

You ever notice how certain cookies just smell like a memory? These washboard cookies do that for me every single time. When I was a kid, my mom kept a battered old metal tin on top of the fridge — dented at the corners, probably older than she was. She’d fill it with these cookies on Saturday afternoons. If you were lucky enough to be around when she popped the lid, you got one (maybe two if you didn’t get caught). They’re not flashy cookies — no fancy frosting, no rainbow sprinkles. Just soft, crumbly, sweet little bites that taste …

You know what? I swear, the older I get, the more I love recipes that pretty much cook themselves. Back in my thirties, I’d fuss over three pots on the stove like some TV chef. Now? If I can toss it in the slow cooker and wander off to fold laundry or chat on the porch with my husband, that’s a good day in my book. This slow cooker Alfredo pasta is one of those meals that makes everyone happy — no fancy prep, no ten dirty pans. Just that warm, garlicky smell drifting through the house while you put …

The Kind of Dinner That Feels Like a Hug You ever come home after a day that just plain wore you out — the kind where your shoulders ache, the kids are bickering about nothing, and you’d sell your left shoe for five minutes of quiet? Well, this slow cooker ham and potatoes stew with bacon won’t fix everything (I wish!), but it sure does help. I’ve been making some version of this since my kids were in grade school — back then, we’d stagger in after soccer practice or a choir concert, and the second that front door swung …

A Little Sticky Chicken Story You know, some recipes just stick with you — pun fully intended. Sticky chicken has been that for me for years. I first stumbled on it when my kids were still young enough to think my slow cooker was magic (honestly, sometimes I still do). I remember throwing this together on a rainy Tuesday when the fridge looked sad and takeout menus were calling my name. Four ingredients, a quick stir, and I crossed my fingers. A few hours later, the house smelled like sweet garlic heaven and the kids were already hovering by the …