It's Not About Nutrition

The Kind of Dinner That Feels Like a Hug You ever come home after a day that just plain wore you out — the kind where your shoulders ache, the kids are bickering about nothing, and you’d sell your left shoe for five minutes of quiet? Well, this slow cooker ham and potatoes stew with bacon won’t fix everything (I wish!), but it sure does help. I’ve been making some version of this since my kids were in grade school — back then, we’d stagger in after soccer practice or a choir concert, and the second that front door swung …

You ever notice how certain cookies just smell like a memory? These washboard cookies do that for me every single time. When I was a kid, my mom kept a battered old metal tin on top of the fridge — dented at the corners, probably older than she was. She’d fill it with these cookies on Saturday afternoons. If you were lucky enough to be around when she popped the lid, you got one (maybe two if you didn’t get caught). They’re not flashy cookies — no fancy frosting, no rainbow sprinkles. Just soft, crumbly, sweet little bites that taste …

Chicken cacciatore has always felt like more than just a meal to me — it’s a little piece of family history ladled into a bowl. Back when I was a kid here in the Midwest, my grandma would pull out her biggest pot on days when the wind just wouldn’t quit howling through the trees. She’d call it hunter’s stew — no fancy name, no fuss — just good, honest food that filled the house with warmth when our toes were numb and the windows rattled like they might blow clear off the hinges. I swear I can still see …

Back when our little community hall still smelled of strong coffee and fresh floor wax, potluck suppers were the highlight of our month. Everyone had that dish they were known for — Mrs. Voss brought her mile-high lemon meringue pie, old Mr. Danner made his fiery baked beans, and if you were lucky, you’d find my mother’s pepper steak with mushrooms bubbling away in a battered Crock-Pot near the coat rack. Those suppers weren’t fancy, but they were everything. A place to catch up, share news, swap recipes scrawled on index cards — and more than once, to sneak an …

There’s something about the smell of BBQ sauce bubbling away that just feels like home, isn’t there? I swear every time I make these Slow Cooker Sweet Baby Ray’s Chicken Drumsticks, I’m right back in my mom’s tiny kitchen — the one with the squeaky cabinet door and that floral linoleum floor we all pretended to hate. She’d toss these drumsticks in the slow cooker before church on Sunday morning. We’d come home a few hours later, the house warm and smelling like sweet, tangy heaven. Dad would hover near the kitchen trying to “taste test” — and she’d swat …

You know what? There’s just something downright magical about waking up to breakfast that basically cooked itself. No alarm clock needed, no pots bubbling over, no cereal box shame at 6 a.m. — just warm, creamy oatmeal waiting, like it knew you’d need a hug today. I still remember the first time I made this. It was one of those weeks — you know the kind. Work was chaos, my house looked like three raccoons had ransacked it, and I swear the laundry pile was taller than my youngest. I tossed a few things in my old slow cooker before …

when I brought my first dog home, I thought I’d mastered pet parenthood by just having enough kibble in the pantry and a squeaky toy or two on standby. Oh, how naive I was. Fast-forward a few pets later — a spaniel with a knack for rolling in questionable things, a cat who believes my flower beds are hers alone, and more fur tumbleweeds than I care to admit — and I’ve learned a trick or twenty to make pet life smoother. So, here’s my tried-and-true list of 20 simple, budget-friendly hacks every pet lover should have up their sleeve. …

You know what I reach for when the day’s been just a bit much? Something bright. Something that wakes up my taste buds and reminds me life’s still sweet — even when the laundry’s not folded and the sink’s a mess. This Lemon Zest Cream Cheese Pie is that little lift for me. It’s cool, creamy, just tart enough to make you pucker (in a good way). And honestly? It tastes like my Midwest childhood, only with a little more sass — thanks to that fresh lemon. Back Home, Pie Meant Love When I was a kid, pies were currency. …

Alright, can we be real for a second? Some nights, the idea of cooking a “proper dinner” makes me want to run straight into the arms of cold cereal. Or worse — chips straight from the bag. Don’t look at me like that, I know I’m not the only one! That’s why I keep this Slow Cooker Baked Ziti tucked in my back pocket — figuratively, of course. I’ve made this more times than I can count, especially after long days when my feet ache, the dog needs walking, and my email inbox is still throwing tantrums. You just throw …

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 …