If you’ve ever wandered into a family reunion in the Midwest, you’ve probably spotted this bright, wobbly beauty: Classic Pineapple Jello Salad. My mom’s old yellowed recipe card is stained with pineapple juice and, weirdly, something that I can only assume is green Jello (even though I’ve never used that flavor myself… It’s a mystery)….
Broccoli Cornbread Casserole—So Good You’ll Dream About Leftovers Hey friend, pull up a chair. So, the thing about Broccoli Cornbread Casserole is—I don’t actually remember the first time I made it. My little sister swears it was during one of those infamous family get-togethers where everyone brings a dish and hopes it disappears quick before…
Let Me Tell You About Fruitcake Cookies Alright, I know what you’re thinking — fruitcake cookies? But listen… these Old-Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies are the one holiday treat that’s actually requested in my family (I think my dad might riot if I skip making them at Christmas). They’re basically all the cozy, spicy nostalgia you get…
You know those winter evenings when you really want something sweet, but you can’t quite commit to baking an entire cake? Well, that’s basically how I stumbled on this Easy Instant Eggnog Pudding the first time. I had leftover eggnog threatening to go dodgy in the fridge and no patience for anything that involved separating…
Let me just say: Cherry Kiss Cookies are basically the official sign in my family that the holidays have started (though I’d honestly eat these in July if cherries call my name). The first time I tried baking these, I exploded cherry juice all over my favorite pajama pants (RIP, penguin bottoms), but hey, that’s…
If You Need a Smile, Make Turtle Pretzel Rods Let me just say this: there’s something about chocolate + caramel + salty crunch that fixes pretty much any bad day. I got into making Turtle Pretzel Rods one summer when my niece insisted we make something she saw on, I want to say, Pinterest? Anyway,…
The Snack That Disappeared in a Blink Whenever I think about Buffalo Pigs In a Blanket, I’m instantly back in my sister’s kitchen—cousins rampaging through the living room, and us grown-ups pretending we’re “just sampling” for the kids’ sake. But seriously, these things vanish before you’ve wrangled the last one onto the tray. I made…
Let’s Talk About Balsamic Chicken Sheet Pan Dinners (and why my oven has seen so many) Okay, so you know those nights when the couch is calling your name louder than the kitchen? That’s me at least twice a week. And that’s exactly why this Balsamic Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner exists in my cooking repertoire….
Brownie Mix Chocolate Crinkle Cookies: The Lazy Weeknight Hero So picture this: It’s one of those Friday nights when the weather is just weird enough that you want comfort food, you’re still technically working (or pretending to), AND your sweet tooth sends a not-so-subtle message that only chocolate will do. That’s when I usually reach…
Let Me Tell You About Baked Homemade Meatballs Alright, so here’s the deal—if you ever found yourself standing in the kitchen, elbow-deep in ground meat, wondering why your meatballs never turn out like grandma’s, trust me, you’re not alone. I used to make these with my cousin every Sunday, usually with her sneaking bites of…