It's Not About Nutrition

I first tasted this casserole at my neighbor Lorraine’s house back in the late ‘90s — she served it with green beans, a heaping pile of mashed potatoes, and one of those jell-o salads that only Southern women know how to pull off. I remember thinking, cheese on pork chops? Isn’t that… illegal in some states? But sweet heavens, was it delicious. The pork was tender, the cheese melty, and that buttery crouton topping? I nearly asked for the dish to lick clean. And now? It’s one of my weeknight regulars. Minimal fuss, maximum comfort. The kind of recipe that …

Now listen. I don’t know exactly why it’s called Full Moon Casserole — maybe because it’s best eaten under the stars with people you love, or maybe it’s just what Aunt Jean called it back when she made it for church socials. Either way, when I make this, I picture a full moon hanging low outside the window, the sound of cicadas buzzing, and a quiet evening where the house smells like melted cheddar and buttery croutons. You know… the good stuff. Why You’ll Be Making This Again and Again Uses simple veggies you probably already have Creamy, cheesy, and …

I’ll be honest — I didn’t grow up eating onion casserole. In our house, onions were something you cooked with, not the star of the show. But years ago, I was at a potluck down in Mobile, Alabama, and this sweet little church lady handed me a scoop of something golden and bubbly and said, “Just try it, sugar.” Lord have mercy. One bite in, I had questions. What is this? Why have I never had it? And how soon is too soon to go back for seconds? Turns out it was a Vidalia onion casserole — creamy, savory, sweet, …

The one dish that saved my behind more times than I can count. Let me just say this: if casseroles had a Hall of Fame, this one would be right up front holding a trophy and probably wearing a little gravy-stained apron. This Chicken and Biscuits Casserole isn’t fancy. It’s not trying to be anything it’s not. It’s just warm, creamy, cheesy, and downright comforting — like pulling on your favorite sweatshirt after a long day. The kind of dinner that doesn’t judge you for eating it on the couch with a fork straight from the pan (been there, no …

So listen—this started as one of those “I should probably eat less pasta” moments. You know the kind. After a week of spaghetti, leftover spaghetti, and one too many drive-thru orders, I looked at a head of cauliflower and thought, well, let’s see what you can do, big guy. I wasn’t expecting magic. But oh my stars—once I smothered it in cream, eggs, and every cheese I had in the fridge? It turned into this rich, bubbly, golden dream. And let me tell you, nobody asked where the noodles went. Not my husband. Not my daughter. Not even my cheese-snob …

You ever have one of those weeks where everything in the fridge is just… staring at you? I had one of those last Tuesday. I’d done the big grocery run on Sunday—full of ambition, full of ideas. You know how it goes. But come midweek, I was tired, dinner needed to happen, and I had exactly 20 minutes of energy left in me. What I did have? A handful of zucchini, a splash of cream, and half a block of Parmesan that needed using up. And let me tell you—this casserole? It turned my tired, slightly cranky evening into the …

There’s something about cheesy potato casserole that just… feels like home, doesn’t it? I can’t even count how many times I’ve made this dish — holidays, Sunday suppers, potlucks, “just because it’s Tuesday” nights. And you know what? It never, ever lasts long. Someone’s always scraping the corners of the dish, trying to sneak “just one more spoonful.” My mom used to make something like this — creamy, cheesy, bubbling over the edges of her old Pyrex dish. It was the kind of recipe she didn’t even need to write down. And now? It’s one of those comfort dishes I …

I’ll tell you right now—this recipe is pure comfort with a green twist. And every time I make it, I think of my Aunt Lou, who used to cook like her oven had healing powers. One spring, after a rough week—my youngest had the flu, the fridge broke, and I spilled coffee in my purse (yes, inside my purse)—I opened my freezer and found a foil-covered surprise from Aunt Lou: her asparagus casserole. I cried into my dinner that night, not because I was sad, but because it tasted like someone had wrapped me in a blanket and said, “You’re …

I’ll be honest — I didn’t grow up eating onion casserole. In our house, onions were something you cooked with, not the star of the show. But years ago, I was at a potluck down in Mobile, Alabama, and this sweet little church lady handed me a scoop of something golden and bubbly and said, “Just try it, sugar.” Lord have mercy. One bite in, I had questions. What is this? Why have I never had it? And how soon is too soon to go back for seconds? Turns out it was a Vidalia onion casserole — creamy, savory, sweet, …

Like, the kind of night where your socks don’t match, you’ve opened the fridge 12 times like something new’s gonna appear, and you’re this close to ordering something sad and soggy online? Yeah. That was me. Standing there, blank stare, freezer door open, wondering if string cheese counts as dinner. But then I spotted that bag of frozen spinach I’d been avoiding (I mean, why does spinach always feel like a commitment?), and I remembered a thing I made once that actually turned out really, really good. Like, “huh, I’d serve this to someone else” kind of good. So I …