Dinner

The Night the Cheesesteak Met Tortellini (and My Family Cheered) You ever stare at your fridge thinking, “How did I end up with leftover steak and a half-bag of tortellini?” Welcome to Monday at my place. Honestly, this recipe was born from one of those slightly frazzled nights where I just needed dinner to be …

Alright, Here’s Why I’m Obsessed With These Okay, if I’m being honest, the first time I made pepperoni pizza quesadillas I was mostly just panic-scrolling the fridge at 7:35pm trying to solve dinner while also stepping on a rogue LEGO (I have the foot scar to prove it). But turns out this became the meal …

How This Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken Ended Up in My Life (and Stuck Around) Okay, friend—so here’s the deal. The first time I made this Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken, it was one of those Tuesdays (you know the ones) where the fridge offered me exactly two sad chicken breasts, three bottles of not-quite-empty sauces, and …

Let Me Tell You About Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken… Okay, so you know that weeknight moment where you really don't want another boring chicken breast, but also can't face the mess of like, gourmet kitchen circus? That’s honestly how this Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken thing started for me—pure laziness and a need for something that’d …

How This Tumbled Into My Dinner Rotation So, the very first time I riffed on a Philly cheesesteak pasta was actually because I messed up shopping for subs (ordered the wrong buns, again), and my kids were not feeling another boring spaghetti night. I figured: what if I just tossed all the good stuff—steak, peppers, …

Pull Up a Chair—Let's Talk Maid-Rite Slider Casserole You know, I've made these Maid-Rite sliders in a casserole dish so often that my family jokes I could do it blindfolded. (Wouldn't recommend, though. Meat everywhere.) It started years ago when my cousin brought actual Maid-Rite sandwiches back from Iowa — the aroma alone nearly started …

So Here’s the (Kinda Silly) Story Behind These Wraps Alright, real talk: this Sweet Chili Chicken Wraps recipe started because one night I got home late, hungry, and stared down my fridge like it’d insulted me. There was leftover rotisserie chicken, a bottle of sweet chili sauce I keep buying on impulse, and some sorry-looking …

Really, What's Not to Love About Stuffed Shells? Okay, so let me paint the picture: it’s a rainy Tuesday, I’m already in pajama pants by five, and my stomach’s making louder noises than my dog (he grumbles a lot). And honestly, nothing spells comfort like Creamy Seafood Stuffed Shells. First time I made these, it …

Alright, Let's Talk About These Bowls (aka why my brother finally eats broccoli) You know how every cook has that one dinner they throw together when life feels a bit too much? For me, it's these grilled chicken & broccoli bowls with the snuggliest creamy garlic sauce. One time I made this in a rush …

What’s So Good About These Cheddar Spinach Chicken Burgers? Alright, so picture this: it’s Tuesday night, work ran late, and I’m eyeing a package of ground chicken like it’s about to do a trick (it never does). But these cheddar spinach chicken burgers? Total dinner win. The first time I made them was after my …

How I First Botched (Then Nailed) This Spicy Salmon Sushi Bake Okay, so here’s the thing—my obsession with sushi started long before I ever touched a rice paddle. There’s this little place down the road that does a bang-on spicy salmon roll, but my wallet was like, “Girl, can you chill?” Anyway, one rainy Sunday, …

Pulled Back To The Kitchen Table Okay, so, you know those days when it just looks like the world is extra gloomy and you want something that wraps you up like an old flannel blanket? That's when I make this Tomato Soup with Cheese Dumplings. Honestly, this soup is my time machine to cozy Sunday …

Spaghetti Squash, Cheese, and the Tale of My First Epic Mess Alright, first things first—can I just tell you: the first time I made Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin, I thought I could hack the squash in half like you see in those quick TikTok vids. Nope. The thing skittered off the board and nearly …

Let Me Tell You About My Broccoli Cheese Soup with Cheddar Obsession Alright, pull up a chair. If you know me at all, you know soup is my answer to just about everything (cold day? Soup. Rough week? Soup. Unexpected guests? Yep, more soup). And Broccoli Cheese Soup with Cheddar—oh boy, that's my holy grail …

Let Me Tell You About Mini Turkey Meatballs… Alright, first things first—I started making these mini turkey meatballs when my youngest decided chicken nuggets were "out" (her words, not mine). You know how toddlers are: new favorite every Tuesday and foods they suddenly fear. Anyway, these little meatballs quickly became a regular weeknight pal—sometimes I'll …

Pull Up a Chair: Cozy Dutch Oven Beef Stew Stories Alright, let me set the scene: it’s a drizzly Sunday, my fridge is bulging with random veggies I swore I'd use up, and my partner’s mood is somewhere between gloomy and ravenous. You know those days? That’s when I break out my Dutch oven (she’s …

Let Me Tell You About My Birria Taco Obsession Okay, so first up—if you’d told me a few years ago I’d be making birria tacos at home, I’d have laughed. The first time I tried them, some tiny food truck in Tucson—hands down, one of my favorite eating memories. I came home determined to figure …

Alright, So Why Am I Obsessed With These Crispy Pork Chops? Okay, look. I have to confess something—there was a time when my only memory of pork chops involved picking up a dry, pork-flavored doormat off a pan at my Aunt Rita's house (love you Aunt Rita, but you know it’s true). These days though, …

A Comfort Food That’s More About Memories Than Perfection You ever have one of those nights when you meant to make a proper dinner but by 6pm, the best you can manage is something dumped in a casserole dish and baked until it’s golden and smells loud enough to summon everyone to the kitchen? This …

Just Picture This: Savory Chicken Pot Pie Meets Sweet Potato Alright, imagine this—it's been one of those days (you know the ones). Everyone's hungry, and you want dinner to be hearty but also not require 17 pans. This Creamy High-Protein Chicken Pot Pie Stuffed Sweet Potatoes mashup is where dinner dreams and 'I need protein …

The Story Behind My Crockpot Cheese Tortellini and Sausage Alright, so let me just say: if there’s a dinner I end up making after a day that feels about four days long, it’s this Crockpot Cheese Tortellini and Sausage. Honestly, it started out years ago because I was craving something comforting but, you know, no …

Let Me Tell You Why I Love This (And You Might Too!) Picture this: It's a rainy Saturday, the kind where all the neighborhood kids trudge through the puddles and end up in my kitchen, somehow convinced that I've got enough snacks (I rarely do). Years ago, I first made this Meatball & Mashed Potato …

So, Let’s Talk About Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Alright, friend, pull up a chair—because if you're after a seriously comforting dinner, I've got something for you. This is the Best Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken recipe I keep in my back pocket for those totally chaotic evenings when I want something guaranteed to get my lot …

Alright, so here’s how I ended up obsessed with Cajun Chicken Alfredo Ever found yourself knee-deep in pasta at 9PM, swearing you'll just make a quick dinner, then suddenly the kitchen looks like a flour-and-spices tornado hit it? Yeah, that's how I discovered this Blackened Cajun Chicken Alfredo. My buddy Dave (you know, the one …

Let Me Tell You About This Cheddar Bay Biscuit Seafood Pot Pie Okay, so I have to start by telling you: I only made this because I accidentally bought double the seafood mix I needed (classic me!) and had one of those Red Lobster biscuit mix boxes floating around from a BOGO deal. My cousin …

You Seriously Gotta Try These Cheeseburger Bombs Alright, let me level with you: I first made these Garlic Parmesan Cheeseburger Bombs on a whim one Saturday when the weather was so bad even the neighbor's cat wouldn't go outside. I wanted something warm, cheesy, and a little bit over-the-top (I mean, that's the whole point …

Okay, let’s just get this out of the way: every family has that one soup that somehow ends up being the default cure for everything from sniffles to random Tuesday blues. For us, it’s this Creamy Cheddar Cauliflower & Roasted Garlic Soup. My sister called it the 'hug-in-a-mug soup', which sounds corny, but she swears …

The Scoop on This Cream Beef Noodle Casserole You know how some days just ask for comfort food? Like, the sort where you open your fridge, spot some ground beef hanging out, and think, “Hey, why not?” That’s exactly how my Cream Beef Noodle Casserole became a regular in my rotation. The first time I …

Let Me Tell You About Pizza Pot Pies (and the Great Oven Incident) You know how some recipes just become your go-to comfort fix? Well, these Pizza Pot Pies kinda snuck up on me. I started making them after a disastrous incident involving a frozen pizza, a toddler with spaghetti hands, and an oven that …

Let's Dish: My Accidental Beef & Garlic Butter Pasta Obsession You know how some people have their lucky socks or favorite coffee mug? Well, this Beef & Garlic Butter Pasta is my comfort blanket in a bowl. I started making it years ago, honestly just trying to clear out my fridge (the beef was on …

Let's Talk About Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers (And That Time I Set Off the Smoke Alarm) So, picture this: it's a Saturday, my kitchen looks like a tornado met a cheese factory, and I've got chicken pieces marinating in one bowl, toddler toys underfoot, and my dog giving me The Stare. Ranch Garlic Parmesan …

Let’s Make Some Spicy Voodoo Shrimp (And Chat About It) Alright, let’s get into it—I first tried Spicy Voodoo Shrimp at this little place in New Orleans, jazz spilling out through the windows, and I nearly set my face on fire. In the best way! Ever since, I’ve been tinkering with my own version, usually …

Catching Up Over Some Blackstone Grilled Kielbasa and Tortellini If you’ve ever found yourself staring blankly at a package of kielbasa and some tortellini (usually at 5:30pm and everyone’s already asking what’s for dinner), then this grilled mashup is your new best friend. The first time I threw these together, my cousin was visiting and …

So, Why Grapes in Sloppy Joes?! Alright, hear me out before you roll your eyes. If you’d told me a decade ago I’d be putting grapes into a perfectly good Sloppy Joe, I’d have laughed you out the kitchen (with a mouthful of chips, no less). But one fussy Tuesday, my youngest kid refused anything …

Gather Round, Let’s Talk About Ground Turkey and Peppers Alright, grab your apron (or a kitchen towel, I won’t judge), because I’m about to let you in on a recipe that’s basically my weeknight superhero: Ground Turkey and Peppers. Funny story—my first attempt at this dish, way back when I’d just moved out, was a …

The Tale of My Thai Peanut Chicken Fixation You know when you stumble on a recipe that just hits all the right notes? For me, that's this Thai Peanut Chicken. Fast, nutty, actually looks impressive (though it's not fussy at all), and even my semi-picky cousin asks for seconds. The first time I made it, …

How I Ended Up Becoming a Cast Iron Skillet Pizza Fanatic So here’s the deal: I grew up thinking you needed some pro-level pizza oven or at least those fancy pizza stones to make pizza at home (you know, the ones that gather dust in the back of the cabinet). Then one rainy Friday—instead of …

So Here's Why I Keep Making These Mini Turkey Meatballs Honestly, I didn't set out to become the family meatball whisperer, but here we are. It started one rainy Tuesday when I found myself juggling a fussy toddler, a nearly empty fridge, and... wait, was that the sound of rice crispies being dumped on the …

Let Me Tell You About This Stew (Yes, It’s That Good) You know how some recipes just sort of stick around in your family forever? This Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Tender Root Veggies is one of those. I started making it after a chilly fall hike years ago—honestly, my feet were kind of frozen …

So—Juicy Chicken Tacos in the Crock Pot? Here's My Story Let me tell you, when someone mentions Taco Tuesday at my house, it's less of an invitation and more of a stampede. I started making these juicy crock pot chicken tacos a couple years ago, mostly because I was tired (and, okay, a bit lazy) …