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 …

Let's Chat About Banana Pudding Rice Krispies Okay, so I have to tell you about this wild idea I had one late Tuesday evening when I realized I had a box of Rice Krispies, a couple bananas dangerously close to giving up the ghost, and—no kidding—half a packet of instant banana pudding mix I found …

Let Me Tell You About These Banana Chocolate Chip Bars… I’m not gonna lie, I first made Banana Chocolate Chip Bars because, well, there were three sad, spotty bananas staring at me from the counter (you know that look they get), and I didn't feel like making another loaf of banana bread. My youngest actually …

Have You Ever Tried Shrimp in a Waldorf Salad? Well, Let Me Tell You… Okay, so I have to start with a confession: the first time I made a Waldorf salad, I accidentally tossed in cooked shrimp because I grabbed the wrong container from the fridge (don’t judge, it was a wild Thursday). Turns out, …

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, Here’s the Story Behind This Cake Alright, I have to let you in on a little secret—this Sweet Potato Butter Cake recipe is my not-so-hidden weapon for rainy days or just any Sunday when I want the house to smell amazing (which is always, let’s be honest). The first time I baked it, I …

Let’s Talk About Breakfast Bagels (Yes, I’m That Person) I don’t know about you, but mornings in my house teeter between chaos and coffee. Years ago, I discovered that breakfast bagels can actually make the world feel a bit less upside down (well, at least till lunchtime). I remember the first time I tried making …

Before We Start: Why These Wings Are My Game Day Ride-or-Die Okay, so every time the playoffs roll around, I swear I’m not gonna stress about snacks—and then, without fail, I’m elbow-deep in wings by halftime. It’s kind of a tradition now (and not just for me; my neighbor once tried to crash the party …

Let Me Tell You About These Cookies… So, the first time I made these Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies, I was mostly trying to keep my hands busy on a rainy Saturday. I’d just found an old butter cake recipe in my grandma’s battered recipe box (don’t ask about the state of the box, bless her …

Let Me Tell You About This Wild Strawberry Minestrone Okay, first off, I know what you're thinking: Strawberry minestrone? Has she lost the plot? Trust me, I thought I had too, the first time I threw strawberries into what’s basically a fruit and veggie soup. But one blazing July, my cousin Amy dared me to …

Let Me Tell You About These Trifles (Spoiler: They Save the Day) Okay, so picture this: It’s the night before a family birthday, and I’m elbow-deep in the kitchen, realizing I’ve forgotten to bake the fancy cake I ambitiously promised. (Happens more than I'd like to admit, honestly.) Enter mini brownie trifles with berries. They're …

Let Me Tell You About This Creamy Avocado Lime Mousse Alright, so the very first time I whipped this up, I was actually trying to use up a couple of avocados that had gone a bit too soft for toast (you know the type — not quite guac, not quite trash). Anyway, my kid calls …

Let's Talk Peanut Butter Cups (and How I Can't Stop Making Them) Alright, so there's this thing I do whenever I've had one of those days: I head straight for the freezer and grab a chocolate peanut butter cup. Not the store-bought kind, mind you, but the ones I make at home. They're easier than …

Let's Chat About This Sunny Rice Pudding (And My Mango Obsession) Okay, confession time: I make this tropical rice pudding with mango way more often than I probably should. There was this one rainy Sunday when I’d run out of basically everything except rice, one droopy mango, and some coconut milk. So, in a moment …

Let Me Tell You About Chocolate Dipped Watermelon Slices... So, this one takes me right back to a summer picnic at my Aunt Sheila's place, where she insisted on bringing out her mysterious 'fancy dessert' in a giant old Tupperware. Spoiler: it was just watermelon slices, dunked in chocolate, sprinkled with sea salt, all stuck …

The Scoop on My Lemon Ice Cream Sandwiches Okay, so imagine this: it's a blazing hot day, the kind where the sidewalk practically sizzles, and all you want is something cold, creamy, and not boring. Enter: lemon ice cream sandwiches. I first whipped these up on a whim after a family picnic—my cousin Liv dared …

If Life Gives You Limes...Make Ice Cream Bars! Alright, let me set the scene: last summer, it was hotter than a welder's armpit outside, and I was desperate for something—anything—cold, creamy, and bright. I remembered these Key Lime Ice Cream Bars my aunt used to whip up at her beach house (she called them her …

When Pineapple Cheesecake Bars Became My Go-To Alright, so let me get this out there—I'm absolutely not a trained chef, but I do know my way around a block of cream cheese and a can (or, on a good day, a fresh one) of pineapple. The first time I tried making Pineapple Cheesecake Bars, my …

How I Ended Up Rolling Cake (And Why I Love It) Alright, so you know those moments when you're staring at a pile of raspberries and a couple lemons, and you think, "What now?" That’s pretty much how I stumbled into making my first Lemon Raspberry Swiss Roll. Actually, the first one was a bit …

Alright, Here's the Scoop on Churro Ice Cream Bowls So, I have to admit: the first time I made churro ice cream bowls, it was a total whim at about 10pm, after watching a video that made it look way easier than it is (you know the ones). I had leftover cinnamon sugar from cinnamon …

Let Me Tell You About These Peach Cobbler Cupcakes So, first things first—these cupcakes. Oh boy. I started making Peach Cobbler Cupcakes one sticky July afternoon after I bought way too many peaches at the farmers' market (I can't resist a good deal, honestly). I wanted that warm, cinnamon-spiked cobbler feeling without committing to an …

Hey There, Let's Talk Cheesecake Alright, if you've ever found yourself somewhere between "I want cake" and "I can't be fussed to turn on the oven," let me just say—this No-Bake Funfetti Cheesecake has gotten me out of that pickle more than once. My niece calls it "birthday in a bowl," which, honestly, is about …

Let Me Tell You How I Fell for Frozen Yogurt Banana Splits Alright, so here's the thing. I never thought I'd be the sort of person who raves about a banana split—let alone one with frozen yogurt (I used to be a strict ice cream loyalist, don't judge). But then, one sweltering July, we had …

Let Me Tell You About My Wild S’mores Icebox Cake Adventures Okay, so, picture this: it’s hot as blazes outside, the kitchen is basically an oven (even with no actual oven on), and all I want is a proper dessert that doesn’t leave me melting into a puddle on my own floor. That’s about how …

Let's Talk Berry-Lemon Whoopie Pies (And Why I'm Obsessed) Okay, story time: The first time I made these Berry-Lemon Whoopie Pies, I was trying to impress my cousin at a family picnic. Turns out, I dropped the whole first tray (seriously, I tripped on the dog leash—classic me). But even the sad, squished ones got …

So Here’s the Story With This Lemon Blueberry No-Bake Cheesecake… I can’t even count how many times I’ve made this Lemon Blueberry No-Bake Cheesecake for friends—one time I whipped it up at, like, midnight after a movie marathon because we were all still hungry, and, honestly, it turned out better than half the ones I'd …

Let Me Tell You About This Tart (Real Talk) Alright, so—confession time—I only started making fresh berry tarts a few years ago. It was a hot July day, berries threatening to go off in the fridge, and honestly I panicked a bit. My mum used to throw together these tarts for Sunday tea, and hers …

Let's Talk About This Peach Raspberry Crisp—And Why I Keep Making It Alright, so you know those summer days when it's too hot to even think about dinner but somehow there's always room for dessert? That's when I whip up this Peach Raspberry Crisp. Actually, the first time I made it was by accident—I'd meant …

These Blueberry Greek Yogurt Pops Are My Summer Sanity Saver So, picture it: sweltering July, kids doing that thing where they're everywhere at once, and me standing in the kitchen wondering how I ended up with blue fingerprints on the fridge (and, oddly, my left elbow). That's when I started making these Blueberry Greek Yogurt …

So... Let Me Tell You About This Mixed Berry Pavlova Honestly, if you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be whipping up something as posh-sounding as Mixed Berry Pavlova in my own kitchen, I’d have probably laughed and grabbed a packet of biscuits instead. But one summer, my mate Lucy came over with …

How I Fell for Coconut Pineapple Bars (and Why You Might Too) Okay, so confession: This recipe started as a happy accident in my kitchen. I was actually aiming for pineapple upside-down cake, but I realized halfway through that I was missing, you know, the right pan and half the ingredients. Out came the coconut, …

So, About These Mini Lemon Meringue Pies... I have this memory, you know, of my little cousins sneaking into the kitchen when I wasn’t looking and pinching the toasty tops off these mini lemon meringue pies before dinner. I’d play it cool but secretly, I was gutted (I mean, who wouldn’t want that golden top?). …

How Watermelon Mint Granita Became My Summer Lifesaver Honestly, I first started making Watermelon Mint Granita because my ancient blender couldn't handle ice cream (long story involving a very sad motor). Anyway, one July afternoon, after practically melting on my porch, I decided to try something different. I'd seen granita recipes all over the place, …

Pulled This Out for Every Summer BBQ—Here's Why Okay, so you know those recipes that just feel like summer in your bones? This Frozen Strawberry Cream Pie is my secret weapon when the temps start climbing, and honestly, it’s mostly because I can make it ahead and forget about it until people show up hungry. …

Let Me Tell You About These Popsicles Okay, so picture this: it’s the middle of July, the dog’s panting on the cool kitchen tiles, and my kids are sticking their heads in the freezer hoping for something, anything, remotely refreshing. That’s how these Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles were born! I remember the first batch—half-sloshed lemonade all …

Let Me Tell You About My Mango Coconut Chia Pudding Obsession I have to laugh every time I make this Mango Coconut Chia Pudding because the first time, I was convinced it would be a disaster. Picture this: me, standing in the kitchen juggling a bag of chia seeds that basically took on a life …

So Here’s the Deal With Frozen Lemonade Pie If you’ve never had frozen lemonade pie, oh boy, you’re in for it. First time I made this, I honestly just wanted something cold and sweet that didn’t involve baking (summer + oven = no thanks). I remember my aunt brought it to a family BBQ once …

Let Me Tell You About This Bark (Yes, It’s That Good) You know those sweltering August days when you’d rather stick your head in the freezer than cook? That’s when I first whipped up this peach yogurt freezer bark. Honestly, it’s now become a summer tradition in my house—right up there with dodging wasps at …

Let's Talk Strawberry Basil Sorbet (And Why I Can't Stop Making It) Okay, so picture this: It's August, the air is thick as custard, my little kitchen fan is valiantly failing, and I've got a punnet of strawberries about to go off. Enter: strawberry basil sorbet. I stumbled upon this combo years ago just messing …

Let's Chat Parfaits (Because Mornings Need Joy) Okay, so here’s the deal—I started making these Berry Lemon Yogurt Parfaits one summer when the fridge was basically just yogurt, a punnet of tired-looking blueberries, and that half-lemon you always find lurking in the back. My sister was coming over (she’s always early, which is equal parts …