Dinner

Pasta Nights: Cajun Style (and Why My Shirt Is Always Stained After) So, the first time I made this Spicy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Creamy Sauce, it was a total accident. I was out of regular marinara, had some half-forgotten Cajun seasoning (leftover from a failed popcorn experiment — don’t ask), and a bag of …

Let Me Tell You Why I Keep Coming Back to This Salmon Orzo You know those nights when you open the fridge and just stare, wondering what on earth to throw together, but you really don’t want to clean more than one pan? That’s basically how this One Skillet Salmon with Lemon Garlic Orzo was …

Let Me Tell You About These Rolls (Grab a Chair!) Okay, honest moment: I used to think homemade dinner rolls were for people with way too much time (and maybe a secret bread wizard living in their pantry). But then, an especially rainy Saturday led me to experiment with my old slow cooker, and next …

Catching Up Over Chicken Parmesan (Plus, Why Crispy Cheese is Always a Good Idea) Alright, let me just say—if you’re looking for one of those picture-perfect, restaurant-style Chicken Parmesan recipes, well, you’re almost in the right place. Except, mine is the one I actually make at home, sometimes with a glass of red in hand, …

Let Me Tell You About the Time I Fell for Slow Cooker Korean Beef… You know how some days just need a dinner that basically cooks itself? That’s me, almost every Monday. I remember the first time I made this Korean Slow Cooker Beef with Sweet and Savory Glaze — I was in a mad …

Let Me Tell You About This Soup (and My Crockpot Mishaps) Alright, friend, let me just say right off the bat: slow cooker lasagna soup with rich tomato broth is one of those magical recipes that feels like a big cozy blanket on a cold Tuesday night—except you don’t have to do much except dump …

If You Need Comfort Food Fast, This Creamy Ricotta Pasta Is It So, picture this: it's one of those days where all my plans fell through—burnt toast for breakfast, forgot my wallet at the store (don't even ask), classic Monday-style chaos. And then I remember this creamy ricotta pasta with fresh herbs and garlic. It’s …

Kicking Off: Why I Keep Coming Back to This Cheesy, Beefy Pasta Alright, friend, pull up a chair because I’ve got a story for you. Imagine it’s a crummy Tuesday, I’m staring at a chuck roast like it’s about to bite me back, and my kids are, let’s just say, not quiet. This Crockpot Cheesy …

Let Me Tell You About This Shawarma Chicken (And That One Time I Burnt It) So, let me just say—I've been obsessed with shawarma chicken ever since my roommate in uni introduced me to the real deal from this tiny Lebanese takeaway near campus. We used to split a big plate after late classes; it …

Let Me Tell You About These Chicken Tacos... Alright, so, picture this: it's one of those days where my brain is juggling about twelve things (and dropping at least half), and I need dinner to basically cook itself. Enter: Crock Pot Chicken Tacos with Juicy Seasoned Filling. This recipe is like a culinary safety net …

Let Me Tell You About This Stew… Okay, so, I have a bit of a thing for beef stew. My mom always made some version of this Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Tender Root Veggies when it was freezing outside (which, living in the Midwest, seemed like every other day). There’s just something wildly comforting …

Why I Keep Coming Back to This Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole Alright, so you know those evenings where the clock’s somehow whispering “dinnertime soon!” and you’re staring into the fridge hoping that, magically, dinner will assemble itself? Yeah, that was me last Tuesday. And probably the Tuesday before. That’s actually how I started making this …

So This Chicken Bowl with Rice and Ranch Drizzle—Here's the Story Okay, so let me set the scene for you: It’s Tuesday, I’ve managed to burn the toast again (how does this keep happening?), and my brain is basically a jumble sale. My daughter strolls in, pokes her head in the fridge, gives me that …

If you ever need a dinner that tastes like a hug… Okay, so let me set the scene: it was rainy, my socks were mismatched (as usual), and I was staring at a pack of ground beef that needed using up, pronto. I wanted something cozy, but not so fussy that I'd need a culinary …

Let Me Tell You About This Rice (and My Kitchen Disasters) I first tried making Mexican Rice with Tomato and Garlic back when I was a broke uni student living in a flat with, honestly, the worst kitchen. The stove was so wobbly I had to wedge a folded beer mat under one leg just …

Let Me Tell You About Mac and Cheese Stuffed Peppers (And That One Time…) Alright, listen, I've been making some version of these mac and cheese stuffed peppers ever since my little sister tried to "improve" my classic mac by mixing in leftover veggies, which—surprisingly—worked. (Don't tell her I said that.) Anyway, somewhere along the …

So, Here's the Scoop on My Macaroni Salad Obsession Okay, confession time: Classic Macaroni Salad with Boiled Eggs is basically my potluck secret weapon. I think I've tweaked this thing a hundred times—once even when the power went out halfway through boiling the eggs, oops—so what I'm sharing here is the recipe I actually make …

Let Me Tell You About My Lazy Weeknight Go-To Alright, so you know those nights when you open the fridge and everything's just sort of staring back at you? That was exactly how I started making this Veggie Stir-Fry with Brown Rice – Fast and Flavorful recipe. One evening, when I was about this close …

Let Me Tell You About This Salmon Recipe (and That Time I Nearly Burned My Oven Mitt) Hey there! If you're like me (read: always running 10 minutes behind and usually have a school form stuck to the fridge with a magnet), you probably need dinner recipes that are actually doable. Well, this one-pan lemon …

Let Me Tell You About These Turkey Taco Bowls (And How I Ended Up Making Them... A Lot) Alright, story time: I used to think anything with extra veggies would be met with the side-eye of doom (my youngest is a notorious veggie detective). But then, one Wednesday night after a truly boring PTA meeting, …

Let Me Tell You About These Chicken Nuggets… So, picture this: it’s a Monday, you’re staring into the fridge, and the only thing your toddler wants to eat is something that looks like it came from a drive-thru. Been there? Oh, me too. That’s basically how I landed on this recipe for healthy baked chicken …

Let Me Tell You About These Guilt-Free Chicken Tenders Okay, so picture this: it’s a Wednesday night, everyone’s starving (and I mean starving—my youngest was this close to eating cereal for dinner). I stare into my fridge, and there they are: chicken tenders just waiting to be transformed. But honestly, who wants the mess of …

Seriously, Let’s Talk: The Only Way My Kids Eat Veggies Alright, picture this: it’s a Tuesday evening, the laundry’s got its own Everestish ambitions, and I’m standing in the kitchen trying to convince my youngest that carrots are not, in fact, poison. That’s when I started making this hidden veggie mac and cheese. Honestly, it’s …

Let Me Tell You About This Lentil Soup I’ve always said there are two kinds of weeknights: the ones where you want to cook, and the ones where you just want something warm and filling but also kinda healthy (I’m usually in the second camp, especially after a long day at work and my socks …

Let Me Tell You About My Zucchini Turkey Burgers Honestly, I was so skeptical the first time I tried turkey burgers with zucchini. My husband, who thinks vegetables are just a garnish for meat, literally rolled his eyes at me. But here's the thing: these burgers? Total game-changer. They’re juicy, actually flavorful (turkey’s not always …

Let Me Tell You About This Fajita Bake (aka My Secret Weapon) So, you know those days when you open the fridge and it's like a half-eaten yogurt, a limp bell pepper, and a prayer? That was basically the origin of this Clean Chicken Fajita Bake. I threw it together one night when my oldest …

So Here's the Story Behind This Chicken Coconut Curry Okay, picture this: it's a Tuesday night, the kind where the kids are fussing, the dog is barking like he's seen a ghost (again), and I realize, oh joy, I forgot to start dinner. Out comes this dairy-free chicken coconut curry, which, let me tell you, …

So, Let Me Tell You About These Baked Ziti Cups… This is one of those recipes I stumbled into out of pure desperation. Picture it: I’m running home after a monster shift, the kids are already circling like sharks, and my husband’s got that 'what's-for-dinner?' look. Enter: prep-ahead baked ziti cups. I swear, these little …

Let's Talk Taco Meat (And My Love-Hate With Tuesdays) Okay, friend—so here's my confession: there was a whole year when every single Tuesday, without fail, my kids would ask if it was taco night (it wasn't always). I think they were just hoping I'd batch cook that amazing ground beef taco meat again, the one …

Let Me Tell You About These Mini Turkey Meatballs Okay, so—I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve made these Mini Turkey Meatballs more times than I can count. I remember the first batch I made (my youngest was about 19 months old and was in that delightful phase where only beige foods were acceptable). I …

Let's Be Real: Why Every New Mom (or Anyone, Actually) Needs These Lasagna Rolls You know when you're so tired you can't even remember if you brushed your teeth this morning? That's when this recipe comes in clutch. I first made these lasagna rolls after my sister had her second baby, and let's just say, …

Okay, Let’s Be Honest: Life Gets Wild Sometimes So, I’m just going to say it: slow cooker honey garlic chicken has saved my behind more times than I’d like to admit. Last Tuesday, I was running around like a headless chook—kids at soccer, emails pinging, forgot to thaw anything for dinner (again). Then, boom! Remembered …

Let Me Tell You—These Burrito Bowls Saved My Sanity Okay, so I have to admit: there was a time when I genuinely believed meal prep was just a Pinterest myth. Like, who really has the time, right? But then came soccer practice, spilled milk (literally and metaphorically), and the realization that dinner can't be peanut …

Stir-Fried Thai Pad: Chatting You Through My Favorite Messy Noodle Dinner Okay, so, confession — I didn't even like "Stir-Fried Thai Pad" the first time I tried it. There. I said it. Maybe it's because I attempted it after a long day, noodles overcooked, sauce too salty, toddler underfoot... you get the picture! But then …

If You Need Dinner to Feel Like a Hug—Make This Alright, so let me set the scene: It’s raining sideways (again), the dog’s tracking mud in, and honestly the only thing I want is something warm, comforting, and just a bit different. That’s when I drag out the ol’ peanut casserole recipe—my secret weapon for …

So, This Noodle Beef Bourguignon... Where Do I Start? If you'd told me a few years back that I'd be swapping out potatoes for noodles in Beef Bourguignon, I'd have thought you were off your rocker. But, here we are! I remember the first time I tried it—rain pouring, everyone grumpy, and me desperately rooting …

So, I Guess We’re Making One Pot Mexican Rice Casserole Again... Alright, imagine this—it's one of those days where the thought of washing more than one pan makes you want to run away and join the circus (or just order pizza, let’s be real). That’s exactly how this "One Pot Mexican Rice Casserole" came to …

How I Stumbled Into Crispy Ravioli Lasagna (And Why I Keep Making It) Okay, confession: I am not what you'd call a traditionalist in the kitchen. One night, halfway through prepping lasagna, I realized I'd forgotten to buy noodles (again). All I had was a bag of frozen ravioli in the freezer—so I thought, "Why …

If you’d told me years ago I’d be writing about honey garlic ribs, I’d have laughed—mostly because I used to think ribs were this chef-level, all-day ordeal. But honestly, these are so much easier than they look. The first time I made them, it was for a family BBQ and, well, I dropped a rib …

Hey, You Gotta Try These Philly Cheesesteak Fries If you've never made Philly Cheesesteak Fries at home, friend, let me tell you—you're missing out on something that's like a hug form your oven (and yes, I spelled it that way on purpose; my hands are usually covered in cheese when I'm making this). I first …