It's Not About Nutrition

A few summers back, during one of those heatwaves that made me question everything — including my decision to bake a peach cobbler in the middle of the day — I stumbled into what I now call my “house iced tea.” Not because I serve it in a house (though I do), but because it’s the one I keep coming back to, over and over, like an old pair of sandals or my favorite porch chair. It started with leftover strawberries and a lemon I forgot I had. Toss in a couple tea bags and some ice, and next thing …

I’ll be honest — I didn’t grow up eating haystacks. We were more of a boxed brownie mix kind of household. But one day, years ago, I was standing in the kitchen, craving something sweet with a little crunch and zero patience. I wasn’t about to preheat the oven or pull out a stand mixer. It was one of those days. That’s when I remembered something I saw in an old church cookbook — peanut butter haystacks.Only I didn’t have the exact ingredients. So I played around. Tossed in some chow mein noodles, stirred in peanuts, added a swirl of …

A humble potato, just a little dressed up… Can I tell you a secret? Some nights, I don’t want to “make dinner.” I want to toss something simple in the oven, pour a glass of red, and pretend the world isn’t spinning quite so fast. That’s where these Sheet Pan Scored Potatoes come in. They’re warm, crispy, golden on top and soft inside — kind of like a hug in food form. And honestly? They look way fancier than they are. My husband swore I’d bought them from some “gourmet market.” (I let him believe that for a minute.) But …

There’s something about the smell of lemon and butter mingling in the air that instantly brings me back to Grandma’s kitchen on a chilly Sunday afternoon. She wasn’t the type to fuss over food. Everything had a rhythm. The potatoes were always peeled before church, the bread was warming in the oven by four, and the fish? Well, the fish practically cooked itself—tucked into the slow cooker while she caught up on her stories and hollered at Grandpa to set the table. That’s the kind of cooking I grew up with—easygoing, full of flavor, and built on the backbone of …

Let me paint you a picture. You’ve just finished tidying up the kitchen, the counters are gleaming, and the coffee’s brewing… and then you see it. One tiny ant. Then another. And before you know it—bam!—a whole marching band of the little pests is parading across your backsplash like they own the place. Ugh, right? Now, I’m not one to panic, but ants in the kitchen? That’s a hard no. Still, I’ve never liked the idea of spraying chemicals where I prep food. I’ve got grandkids, I cook a lot, and I just don’t want to take that risk. So …

Alright, friend—you’re locked in the basement, zombies groaning outside, and you’re staring down a stack of canned chili like it’s mocking you. No can opener. Just your wits, a few odd tools, and a growling stomach. Let’s fix that. Here are a few surprisingly effective ways to open a can without the traditional tool. But hey—fair warning: these methods leave sharp, jagged edges. If you’ve got gloves, use ’em. If not, just be slow and careful. 1. The Trusty Spoon (Seriously.) Sounds ridiculous, but this one actually works. What you’ll need: A sturdy metal spoon A little grit How to …

We all love a big, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day. It’s crisp, sweet, and just downright refreshing. But let me ask you something—have you ever cut into a watermelon and noticed it… foaming? Yep. Foaming.Not fizzing like soda. Not a little juicy drip. We’re talking actual bubbles, sometimes spilling out like your watermelon just took a bubble bath. If you’ve seen it, you know how odd (and a little creepy) it feels. And if you haven’t? Well, let’s hope you never do—but just in case, here’s what you need to know to stay safe and smart. First of …

Alright, I’m just gonna say it—I used to hate polishing silver. It felt like one of those chores you put off until the holidays, when suddenly you’re scrubbing spoons like your life depends on it. The smell of those chemical polishes? Gave me a headache every time. And the rubbing? My wrists would ache for hours. So, for the longest time, I just let the silver sit there. Tarnished. Sad. But still too sentimental to toss or pack away. Then one day, my Aunt Margaret—bless her—came over, took one look at my dull old serving spoons and said, “Oh honey, …

Look. I love my jewelry. But cleaning it? Not so much. Some of my favorite pieces have been tucked away in boxes because they got too grimy to wear—tarnished silver, greasy rings, gunked-up earrings… you know the drill. And honestly, I didn’t want to spend money on those little cleaning pots that smell like chemicals and guilt. So when my grandma showed me this weirdly simple trick for getting jewelry sparkly again, I was suspicious. But I tried it. And I’ve never looked back. It takes like 15 minutes, zero scrubbing, and you probably have everything you need already sitting …

Alright, let’s just say it—I love Dawn. That little blue bottle has been parked by my sink for as long as I can remember. Cuts through bacon grease like nothing else. I’ve even used it to pre-treat laundry stains (don’t tell my husband, but it once saved his favorite fishing shirt from a ketchup tragedy). But here’s the thing: as much as I adore it, Dawn isn’t a “clean everything” solution. There are places where that stuff can cause more harm than good. And yes, I’ve learned a few of these lessons the hard way—cue the cracked leather purse and …