It's Not About Nutrition

Let me just say this right off the bat: if you bring this dip to a gathering, bring the recipe too, because folks will be asking. No joke — I’ve scribbled this one on napkins, church bulletins, even the back of a receipt once at a baby shower. It’s just that good. I first made this Jarlsberg Cheese Dip on a whim before a Sunday potluck. You know how it is — you don’t want to show up empty-handed, but you’re also not trying to turn on the oven in August. I had a block of Jarlsberg, some mayo, and …

I don’t always plan ahead when it comes to dessert. Or breakfast. Or anything, really. But sometimes, something dangerously easy comes along—and next thing you know, I’m preheating the oven and pulling out the crescent rolls like I had it all together. These Pecan Cream Cheese Rolls are that kind of recipe. Warm, gooey, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, with toasted pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a little hidden cube of cream cheese inside that melts into the dough like a dream. Oh—and did I mention the whole thing bakes in cream soda? Yes, ma’am. Cream soda. Don’t ask me how it works. Just …

A roll-up so good, it might just outshine the main dish. These are the kind of little bites that folks hover around at parties, pretending they’re “just grabbing one more,” but you know they’ve already had four. H&T stands for Ham & Turkey, but let’s be honest, the real stars here are cream cheese and bacon doing their creamy, salty, savory thing inside a soft flour tortilla. Throw in a little cheddar, crisp lettuce, and a drizzle of red wine vinegar (trust me on this), and you’ve got yourself a snack that’s halfway between a deli wrap and a cold …

Alright, let me just say it — I used to hate wasting food. But crusts? Oh, they were my weakness. Every time I made sandwiches for the grandkids, those little trimmed edges would pile up on the counter like breadcrumbs from a fairy tale. I’d try to save them, maybe feed the birds or toss them into a meatloaf. But more often than not? Into the trash they went. Ugh, the guilt. One day I got tired of feeling bad about it and decided to experiment. I was already melting butter for garlic bread — and I thought, well shoot, …

I still remember the first time I made these. I was standing in my tiny college apartment kitchen, staring down a near-empty pantry and a gnawing sweet tooth. No flour, no chocolate chips, and certainly no eggs. But I did have a half-empty jar of peanut butter, a sleeve of saltines, and a forgotten bag of marshmallows from who-knows-when. And just like that — Poor Man’s Treats were born (or rediscovered, I suppose). These are the kind of snacks you make when money’s tight but your cravings aren’t. They’re fast, no-fuss, and honestly? Surprisingly delightful. You know how sometimes the …

Let me be honest for a second: by 4:30 p.m., I’m usually standing in my kitchen with no clue what I’m making for dinner, a laundry basket in the hallway, and at least one person asking me what time we’re eating. And that’s exactly when this recipe saves the day. This slow cooker chicken and potatoes isn’t flashy. It’s not the kind of thing that goes viral or gets you recipe-of-the-year awards. But you know what it is? It’s simple. It’s filling. It makes your kitchen smell like someone actually cared when they made dinner. It reminds me of the …

I still remember the first time I made these little frozen bites. It was one of those sweltering Saturdays in July where the air conditioning couldn’t keep up, and my daughter had about eight toddlers running wild through the house for her son’s third birthday. I needed a dessert that was easy, fuss-free, and could survive the heat—and I’ll be darned if these didn’t steal the show. They’re creamy, fruity, just sweet enough, and wrapped up in a nostalgic strawberry ice cream hug. And the best part? No oven. No stress. Just a big pan of freezer magic you can …

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 …