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All the cozy, none of the crust. You ever get hit with a craving so strong, it practically calls your name from the pantry? For me, that’s pizza. Always has been. Something about melted cheese and bubbling sauce — it just takes me back. When I was growing up in the Midwest, Friday nights meant two things: someone would inevitably forget to thaw the chicken, and we were probably having pizza. And honestly? Nobody complained. We’d gather around the kitchen table with paper plates and a 2-liter of pop, arguing over who got the last slice. Good times. These days, …

A creamy, cozy classic that basically cooks itself Alright, let’s be honest. Green bean casserole doesn’t usually get folks too excited. It’s kind of always just… there, right? Hanging out on the table like it knows it’s not the star but is still hoping someone scoops it onto their plate anyway. But this version — oh honey — this one’s different. It’s how the Amish do it. And let me tell you, it’s warm and rich and tastes like something your great-aunt Mabel made with love on a chilly Sunday when the whole house smelled like bacon and something bubbling …

When the wind starts howling off the fields here in the Midwest, there are only a handful of things that can make me feel better about scraping frost off my windshield again. Amish potato soup is right up there at the top of that list — alongside warm socks straight from the dryer and an old quilt that’s been patched more times than I can count. This is the soup my mother made when my brother and I would come in from sledding — cheeks numb, noses red, boots caked in snow. She’d ladle it out into big bowls, and …

You know what’s funny? I never planned to make this casserole a family tradition — it just happened. Years ago, I found myself staring at half a pound of ground beef, some sad-looking potatoes, and a can of soup I’d bought on sale… and I thought, “Well, let’s see what happens if I toss this all in the slow cooker.” Next thing I knew, my kids were asking for seconds — and in my house, that’s the highest praise you can get. Now, whenever the weather turns chilly or I know the week’s gonna be nuts, this Cowboy Casserole is …

You know, there’s something about a big ol’ pot of potato soup that feels like a hug from the inside out. When the cold creeps in — and my joints start to holler — I find myself craving the same simple comfort foods my mama used to ladle out on chilly afternoons. This slow cooker loaded potato soup? It’s exactly that kind of old-fashioned goodness. Four honest ingredients. A few hours on low while you go about your day. And when you lift that lid? Pure, creamy magic. It reminds me of snow days when we’d tumble inside with pink …