Alright, Let’s Talk Mashed Potato Soup (and Life) There’s just something about the smell of mashed potato soup bubbling away that makes me feel like it’s Sunday—maybe it’s the steam on the windows or the quiet satisfaction of knowing dinner basically makes itself (well, if you count stirring as work). The first time I made …
Okay, be honest with me: ever find yourself staring into the fridge thinking, “Can I just use up this leftover ham, or am I about to invent something questionable?” Well, my answer to that dilemma is this Monte Cristo French Toast Casserole. I first tried cobbling this together at 9pm before an early brunch when …
You Gotta Try These Maple Dijon Chicken Thighs Okay, friend, let me set the stage: it’s a Wednesday, I’m fried after work, and the fridge is basically giving me the stink eye. Enter this Maple Dijon Chicken Thighs recipe. I stumbled on the idea after eating a frankly dreary piece of dry chicken at a …
The Messy Joy of Cheesy Ranch Potatoes and Smoked Sausage Okay, let me just say—this Cheesy Ranch Potatoes and Smoked Sausage thing? It’s been my secret weapon for weeknights when everything else is just going sideways. I think the first time I whipped it up, I actually had no idea what I was doing, and …
This Old-Fashioned Cabbage Casserole Will Win You Over Hey, pull up a chair. So, let me tell you, this old-fashioned cabbage casserole is the thing I make whenever the weather cools down (or let’s face it, whenever the fridge looks sad and we’re overdue for some proper comfort food). First time I cooked it, my …
Let Me Tell You About My Beef and Broccoli Obsession Alright, so here’s my confession: Chinese Beef and Broccoli is one of those dishes that just works every time. I remember the first time I tried making it—let’s just say, my wok skills were questionable, and I ended up with what can only be described …
I Swear, These Are the Fastest Pinwheels Ever Okay, story time—so the first time I tried making tortilla pinwheels was for this potluck in our old apartment building, and I was already running late; the kind of late where you’re frantically flinging fridge doors, muttering, “what can I make in 20 minutes?” These pinwheels saved …
My Never-Fail, Always-Requested White Queso (Yes—That One) You know, I used to think white queso was just melted cheese with a little something thrown in (spoiler alert: it’s more than that). I remember the first time I tried to make it for a game night—let’s just say it was more glue than goo. We’ve come …
The Surprisingly Good Steak I Make in the Oven (Don’t Tell My Grill!) Listen, I adore a sizzling steak on the grill—it’s like summer on a plate. But one rainy week last November, I had a gorgeous ribeye winking at me and the BBQ was absolutely soaking wet. So, I shoved steak in the oven, …
Before We Start: Why I Love Throwing This Together Okay, I have to confess—this 5-ingredient avocado & chickpea salad is what I make when the fridge looks about as empty as my motivation after a long week. You know those days when everything’s chaos, you’re too hungry to wait, and you still kind of want …