It's Not About Nutrition

Alright. I’ve gotta tell you, there’s something about a Southern fish fry that just feels like home—even if you didn’t grow up in the South. Growing up, we didn’t need much of a reason to fry fish. Maybe Uncle Harold showed up with a cooler full of fresh catfish from the creek. Maybe it was payday. Or maybe we just felt like gathering up folks and making a mess in the kitchen. Whatever the reason, once that skillet hit the stove and the cornmeal hit the oil, everyone magically appeared—cousins, neighbors, folks we hadn’t seen in months. It was always …

Let me tell you something: this cake? This cake is happiness in a pan. I started making it years ago—honestly, more by accident than design. I had a box of yellow cake mix, some leftover pineapple from a Sunday ham glaze, and a bag of coconut that was supposed to go in cookies (never did). It was one of those “just throw it all in and pray” kind of days, and let me tell you—when that smell started floating through the house, I knew we were onto something. I call it my God Bless America Cake because it’s the kind …

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 …

I’ve got to tell you, this recipe is the real deal for those nights when the day’s been long, the sink is already full of dishes, and your brain just can’t handle the question, “What’s for dinner?” I remember the first time I made this Italian Sausage and Rice Skillet — it was one of those chilly evenings where the dog wouldn’t come inside and the kids had just raided the pantry for cookies right before dinner. I looked at the ingredients I had and just started tossing things into the skillet. A little of this, a little of that, …

There’s something deeply comforting about recipes that don’t ask much of you — the ones where you just toss in a few pantry staples, go about your day, and come back to a dinner that tastes like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen. That’s exactly what this three-ingredient pork chop recipe is. No fancy sauces, no long list of spices — just pork chops, ranch seasoning, and a can of soup. It might not sound like much, but trust me — it’s pure gold once it’s had a few hours to do its thing in the slow cooker. I …

Homemade Italian comfort—made once, enjoyed anytime. You know that moment when you open the freezer and realize dinner’s already halfway made? That’s exactly why I adore this Slow Cooker Freezer Spaghetti Sauce. It’s rich, hearty, and made with love—but most importantly, it’s ready when you are. I started making this years ago when my kids were little and spaghetti nights were practically a ritual. Back then, I had to juggle everything—soccer practice, school projects, and somehow still get dinner on the table. And let’s be honest, no jarred sauce ever quite hit the mark like homemade. This recipe? It became …

You know how some meals just feel like home? That’s what this hearty beef and vegetable spaghetti is for me. It’s the kind of dish you throw together when the sky turns gray, the kids are fighting over the remote, and you need something warm, filling, and made with love — without hovering over a stove all day. This recipe has been in my back pocket for years. I started making it back when my kids were little, the house was chaos, and anything I could toss in the slow cooker by 9 a.m. felt like a miracle. And over …

There’s something about this dish that takes me right back to my grandma’s kitchen. The smell of browned sausage wafting through the house, the old wooden table covered in mismatched napkins, and that worn Pyrex dish steaming with goodness — it was always bread pudding on Sundays. Now, this version here isn’t the sweet kind you find topped with cinnamon and raisins (though I love that too). This one’s savory, hearty, and full of down-home comfort — packed with sausage, melty cheese, and just enough herbs to make your kitchen smell like you’ve been cooking all day (even if you …

Just like Grandma used to make — only now you get to be the one handing them out. Let me tell you something: there are cookies that get eaten, and then there are cookies that get remembered. Chocolate crinkle cookies? These are the latter. They remind me of snowy Midwest holidays growing up — my mom dusted in flour, Bing Crosby crooning in the background, and the smell of chocolate filling every corner of the house. We’d sneak spoonfuls of that sticky, dark dough straight from the fridge (you know you’ve done it too), then wait impatiently as they baked …

there’s just something magical about a meal that simmers all day while you go about your business. You walk into the kitchen hours later, and the air is thick with that savory, slow-cooked goodness that makes you want to pull out the nice plates, light a candle, and pretend you’re dining in a tiny French village (even if you’re still in your sweatpants and it’s just Tuesday). Beef Bourguignon — that’s “boor-gee-nyon,” if you’re trying to sound fancy — is one of those dishes. Traditionally, it’s a French classic simmered lovingly in a heavy pot for hours. But you know …