It's Not About Nutrition

Okay, so this started as a “what do I even have in the fridge” situation. You know the kind—where you open the door three times hoping dinner materializes but all that’s in there is some milk, a block of butter, and a frozen lump of spinach you forgot about. And somehow… it worked. This dish? It’s not fancy. It doesn’t have seven cheeses or artisan pancetta or whatever. But it’s solid. Cozy. Creamy but not heavy. A little nostalgic, honestly—like creamed spinach met a pasta bake and said, “Let’s keep this casual.” It’s perfect when you want something warm and …

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 …

The first time I made this sopapilla pie, I didn’t tell anyone what it was. I just set it on the counter, didn’t label it, didn’t say a word. And you know what happened? That dish was half gone before dinner even hit the table. I heard forks clinking and little murmurs like “What is this?” and “Did she buy this somewhere?” My husband took one bite, raised his eyebrows, and said, “Where’d you get this?” Like I had some secret bakery hookup or something. Nope. Just me, two tubes of crescent rolls, a block of cream cheese, and a …

You know how every summer barbecue has that table — the one with the cold salads, big bowls of pasta, and a plate of deviled eggs disappearing faster than the burgers? That’s basically my childhood. There was always somebody’s “famous” pasta salad and someone else’s “you have to try them” deviled eggs. And one day, I thought… why not just put them together? That’s how this “Eggcellent Pasta Delight” happened. Honestly, it’s just deviled egg flavors and pasta hanging out in the same bowl, and somehow it tastes like it’s always been a thing. Creamy, tangy, a little nostalgic. Why …

  If you’ve never had Jiffy Broccoli Cornbread before, let me tell you—you are in for some Southern-style comfort at its coziest! I still remember the first time my neighbor dropped off a dish of this Broccoli Cornbread when my youngest was home sick (bless her heart). The smell alone pretty much convinced me that broccoli is right at home in a pan of golden, crumbly cornbread. Who knew? Now it’s a staple on my dinner table whenever I need something easy, craveable, and just a little bit wholesome. Why You’ll Love This Ridiculously easy—Jiffy mix does the heavy lifting, …

Ridiculously cozy. Slightly dramatic. Unapologetically creamy. I’ll be honest—this recipe has a silly name, but I swear, it lives up to the hype. The first time I made it, I wasn’t aiming for anything fancy. Just one of those days where you’re staring at a few sad fridge leftovers, thinking, “Please become dinner.” And somehow, through a little sun-dried tomato magic and a whole lotta stirring, it did. When my husband took the first bite, he looked at me like I had just rewritten history. “You better write this down,” he said, mid-chew. “This tastes like something you’d propose over.” …

Well, I’ll tell you what—if there’s one smell that can bring the whole family to the kitchen faster than you can say “supper’s ready,” it’s chicken frying in a cast iron skillet. I’ve made this fried chicken fillet recipe so many times, I could do it with my eyes closed. And honestly? I probably have, back when the babies were little and someone was always hanging off my hip. It’s not fancy. It’s not fussy. It’s just good. Golden, crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside—like it oughta be. Every bite feels like home. What Makes This So Dang …

You ever come across a recipe so simple you have to read it twice just to believe it? That’s how I felt the first time I heard about Cuppa Cuppa Cake. Now, I can’t take credit for this one — that goes to generations of Southern mamas and aunties who figured out long ago that dessert didn’t have to be complicated to be outrageously good. And yes, if the name sounds familiar, it’s because Truvy from Steel Magnolias made it famous with that iconic line: “It’s a cuppa flour, a cuppa sugar, and a cuppa fruit cocktail with the juice. …