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You ever cook something by accident and then wonder why it took you so long to try it? That’s exactly how I stumbled into fried cabbage with bacon. One night, I had half a head of cabbage staring at me from the fridge (the kind of ingredient you buy with good intentions and then forget about). I also had a pack of bacon—because honestly, who doesn’t? I threw them together, not expecting much, and oh my word… it was love at first bite. It’s not fancy. It doesn’t need to be. It’s the sort of food that makes the kitchen …

I’ll never forget the first time I made these for my family. It was one of those evenings where the fridge looked sparse — just some chicken tenders, bacon, and a half-used bag of brown sugar sitting in the pantry. I thought, why not wrap them together and see what happens? Well, let me tell you, the smell alone had my teenagers wandering into the kitchen before the timer even beeped. When I finally set the platter down, the tenders disappeared faster than I could say, “don’t forget the napkins!” There’s just something magical about the way smoky bacon and …

You know those recipes that just feel special, even if they don’t take all day to make? This is one of them.The first time I made bacon maple glazed pork tenderloin, I honestly wasn’t trying to be fancy. I just had a pork tenderloin in the fridge, a few slices of bacon that needed using up, and a bottle of good maple syrup my sister brought back from Vermont. Twenty-five minutes later, my kitchen smelled like a maple festival had moved in — sweet, smoky, and just the tiniest bit tangy from the mustard in the glaze. The best part? …

Some food just makes you grin before you even take a bite. These are one of those. I first had the idea for Nashville Hot Bacon Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks during a weekend in Nashville — the kind of trip where you “just want to look around” and end up eating half the city. Between the live music, neon signs, and the smell of fried chicken drifting through the air, I kept thinking, how do I take this heat home with me? The answer, apparently, was to wrap mozzarella sticks in bacon and paint them in Nashville hot sauce. And yes …

You ever have one of those days where the house is chilly, your feet are sore, and you’re just craving something warm, cheesy, and a little bit nostalgic? That’s what these sweet potatoes are for. I don’t know about you, but around here in the Midwest, we don’t need fancy to feel fed. We need something that smells like home, tastes like comfort, and doesn’t make a big fuss. This recipe? It checks all the boxes. The first time I made these, I just wanted something simple — I threw some sweet potatoes in the slow cooker before heading out …

You know those days when you want to cook something special — not fancy, just cozy and impressive — but you’re also tired and your kitchen’s already a little chaotic? This recipe came from one of those nights. I had a pack of chicken breasts, a lonely block of cream cheese, and half a pack of bacon that needed love. And let me tell you, what started as a “clean out the fridge” dinner turned into something the whole family begged me to write down. (Yes, even my picky grandson who usually acts like cheese is poison.) This bacon-wrapped stuffed …

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 …

  Picture this: it’s a Tuesday evening, the kids are hovering at the kitchen door (hungry, of course), you’re tired, and all you want is something a little bit special—but still easy enough for a busy weeknight. That’s exactly where this cozy Garlic Bacon Pasta swoops in and saves the day. Pasta’s one of those things that instantly makes a meal feel a little more indulgent, and when you toss in crispy bacon and all that fragrant garlic? Well, it’s just downright craveable. My family’s been obsessed with this easy recipe for years—mainly because it’s super speedy and endlessly satisfying. …