It's Not About Nutrition

some nights, we just need something easy and good. Not fancy. Not fussy. Just something that tastes like it took effort… when really, it didn’t. That’s exactly what these air fryer grilled chicken tenderloins are. They’re inspired by the Cracker Barrel classic (you know the ones — slightly tangy, a little sweet, juicy as all get-out). But this version doesn’t require a grill, a marinade that takes all day, or even a frying pan. Just your trusty air fryer and a few pantry staples. The first time I made these, I had about 45 minutes to get dinner on the …

You ever have one of those days where your to-do list is bigger than your appetite, but you still want something hearty on the table come dinnertime? That’s where this recipe swoops in like a trusty old friend: Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Salsa Chicken — simple, flavorful, and just plain reliable. Now, I’ve made fancier dishes. Heck, I’ve messed up fancier dishes. But this one? This one never lets me down. It’s the kind of recipe that reminds me of those summer canning days with Grandma, when we’d jar salsa like it was gold — each one sealed with care and …

Not the fancy kind. Not the “four grocery store trips and six pans” kind. Just the kind that fills your home with the kind of comforting aroma that makes your shoulders drop a little, your heart slow down, and your family suddenly wander into the kitchen asking, “When’s dinner?” That’s this Slow Cooker Cheesy Broccoli Soup. It’s creamy and rich without being heavy, and it tastes like something you might’ve found bubbling on the stove in your grandma’s kitchen — only now, it’s bubbling away in your slow cooker while you run errands, chase toddlers, or sneak a chapter of …

Every year around late September — just as the air gets that crisp edge and I start eyeing my flannel shirts again — my soup cravings kick in full force. There’s something so nostalgic about standing in a warm kitchen while the scent of simmering soup slowly fills the whole house. This 5-Ingredient Lentil Soup? It’s been a quiet hero in my fall and winter dinner rotation for years. I’ve made it on snow days, on back-to-school nights, and on more Sundays than I can count. It’s simple, it’s soulful, and best of all — it practically cooks itself. And …

Let me tell you something. The first time I made this Moroccan Beet Salad, it was a chilly Tuesday in March, and I was aching for color. Not just on my plate, but in my day. I stood in my kitchen with the windows cracked open just a bit — enough to catch a whiff of the neighbor’s firewood, enough to remind me that spring wasn’t quite here yet. But then I grated those beets — that deep, ruby-red hue practically sang out, and suddenly I was transported. Not to my cluttered kitchen, but to a sun-washed Moroccan courtyard, full …

I don’t know about you, but some of my favorite recipes weren’t fancy or complicated — just old-fashioned, made-with-love kind of food. Bread pudding is one of those. My mom used to throw it together with leftover bread, some milk and eggs, and somehow it turned into magic. We’d sit around the table with big scoops of warm pudding and maybe — just maybe — a little drizzle of custard if we had the time. This is my go-to version. It’s simple, cozy, and has that creamy texture with just the right amount of spice. The custard sauce? Optional, but …

There are some dishes that just feel like home — and this one is it for me. Growing up in a small Midwestern town, casseroles were the unofficial food group of every family meal. But my mama’s pork chops? Now those were special. Tender, juicy, and full of her signature herb-infused sauce that made your eyes close just a little with the first bite. These slow cooker chops are my take on her classic — with fresh rosemary and thyme tucked in for that extra cozy flavor. It’s one of those “set it and forget it” meals, but you’d swear …

There’s just something about pulled pork that makes a meal feel special — even if it’s a regular ol’ Tuesday. Maybe it’s the way the smell fills the kitchen by lunchtime, or maybe it’s the memories it stirs up of long summer days, bare feet on the grass, and family gathered around the picnic table, laughing while paper plates piled high with food wobble in our hands. This slow cooker pulled pork recipe is my little nod to those moments. It’s unfussy, full of flavor, and the kind of meal that brings everyone to the table — whether you’re feeding …

A no-fuss dessert that tastes like sunshine and brings everyone back for seconds. There are some recipes that just feel like a warm hug, and this is one of them. This pineapple dump cake has been my go-to for last-minute get-togethers, rainy days, or when I just need a little something sweet without dirtying every dish in the house. With just three simple ingredients, you’ve got yourself a dessert that tastes like you spent all afternoon baking — but only takes minutes to throw together. It’s buttery, tangy, and golden on top with gooey pineapple goodness on the bottom. My …

A warm, creamy hug in a bowl — just the kind of meal that brings the whole family running to the dinner table. Let me tell you something — there are days when I just want dinner to make itself. Between laundry, work, and trying to keep the dog from chasing the mailman again, it’s a miracle anything gets on the table at all. That’s why I love this recipe so much. It’s easy, filling, and oh my stars — it is downright delicious. This dish has everything you want in a weeknight dinner: seasoned beef, tender pasta, creamy sauce, …