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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 …

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, when I was raising my kids out here in the Midwest, there were plenty of days when I felt like the only time we all sat in one spot together was dinner time. Soccer cleats kicked off by the door, someone’s backpack half-zipped with papers sticking out — and me in the kitchen trying to figure out how to feed everybody without losing my mind. That’s where this Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese comes in. It’s one of those meals that asks so little but gives so much. You brown a bit of meat, toss in a few pantry …

Dinner that basically makes itself — while you do literally anything else. There’s a good chance I owe my sanity to this recipe. Some folks swear by yoga or those fancy weighted blankets — me? I trust a pound of shrimp, half a stick of butter, and my old slow cooker humming along while I catch up on life. Years ago, I threw this together on a whim — the fridge was bare except for a bag of shrimp I’d meant to use for a “special dinner” (ha!), and a stick of butter that I always, always have on hand. …

I don’t know about you, but I’ve lost count of the times mac and cheese has come to my rescue. Sick kid? Mac and cheese. Nothing in the fridge? Mac and cheese. Too tired to fuss with pots and pans? Well… you get the idea. Years ago, when my kids were little tornadoes tearing through the house, I figured out how to make it even easier: let the slow cooker do the work. I promise, this is the laziest, coziest way to get that cheesy goodness on the table with almost no effort — just three simple ingredients, stir it …

You know, some recipes just feel like a gathering. This one? It’s a hug in a pot. Back when my kids were little — sticky fingers, Sunday shoes kicked off by the door — there was hardly a Wednesday night we didn’t end up at the church basement, folding chairs squeaking on linoleum floors, tables sagging under every casserole you could think of. And someone — usually Miss Clara, bless her heart — always brought spaghetti. Not fancy, just good. Simmered all day, ladled out with a wink and a “Go on, get seconds.” Folks would come for the sermon, …