All Recipes

A Taste of Midwest Comfort If you’ve ever found yourself standing in the middle of your kitchen at 4 PM, wondering what in the world you’re gonna feed everyone — well, friend, you’re not alone. Out here in the Midwest, we’ve made an art out of simple, hearty meals that feel like a hug at the end of a long day. This slow cooker 3-ingredient honey garlic pork chops recipe? It’s my go-to when I want that Sunday dinner feeling without the Sunday fuss. I swear it reminds me of being a kid, running around Grandma’s yard barefoot while she’d …

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, some nights I just don’t want to cook. There, I said it. At 50, I’ve cooked more dinners than I care to count — some fancy, some flops, some that saved my sanity when life got chaotic. This slow cooker ground beef casserole? It’s one of those sanity-savers. I started making it back when my kids were in soccer, piano, and every after-school thing you can imagine. I needed dinner to basically cook itself while I played chauffeur, referee, and snack lady all at once. I still make it today — only now it’s more about warming my …

You know, I’ve made meatloaf a hundred ways — in the oven, in a cast iron pan, even once in a Dutch oven on a camping trip (don’t ask — it almost worked). But the first time I tried this Slow Cooker Meatloaf, I was hooked. There’s something about letting that loaf bubble away all afternoon while you get on with your day — errands, laundry, or maybe just putting your feet up with a good book — that feels so downright comforting. My mom used to make a version of this on Sunday afternoons while we all drifted in …

Can I tell you something funny? I used to think the slow cooker was just for soups or pot roast — you know, the Sunday stuff. But one rainy Tuesday, when the kids were still young and my husband called to say he’d be late again, I tossed together this little experiment with some orange juice I needed to use up. Let’s just say Spicy Orange General Tso’s Chicken saved my sanity that night — and it’s been rescuing my weeknights ever since. There’s just something about that sticky-sweet sauce, the tender chicken, the bright pop of citrus… and not …

The Easiest, Tastiest Side You’ll Make All Week You know, some days I wonder if my slow cooker knows me better than I know myself. I’ll toss a few things in there in the morning — half awake, hair still wet, coffee cup in hand — and by the time I stumble back in the door after a long day of work and errands and goodness knows what else… dinner’s just done. The house smells warm and inviting, like someone’s been here taking care of things all day. This butter garlic asparagus and mushrooms is exactly that kind of dish. …

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 know what? I’ll admit it — there are plenty of evenings when I just don’t feel like cooking. I love food, I love feeding people, but some days? I’d rather curl up on the couch with a book and pretend the stove doesn’t exist. That’s exactly why I keep this Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Meatball Marinara Pasta in my back pocket. It’s the dish I pull out when I want dinner to feel special without standing at the stove for an hour stirring sauce and boiling water at the same time. It’s the kind of meal that makes my house …

A Sweet Slow Cooker Hug You know what? I can’t look at a bunch of spotty bananas without thinking about my grandma. She’d keep them on the windowsill, waiting for just the right level of “too ripe for anything but baking.” And if you dared to toss one in the trash — oh, mercy, you’d get the look. This Banana Foster Pudding is one of those quiet, simple desserts that feels like a warm hug at the end of a long week. It’s not fancy, but it feels fancy when you spoon it out, all sticky and golden, with that …

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 …