One weekday morning I had a packed schedule and zero dinner plans and I knew I needed something that practically cooked itself so I looked through the pantry and found a packet of ranch seasoning and some chicken breasts in the fridge. I tossed everything in the crockpot with a splash of cream and hoped … Read more
I whipped up this taco mac skillet on a hectic weeknight when I needed something fast filling and guaranteed to make everyone at the table happy and I had some ground beef thawed and a box of macaroni ready to go so I browned the meat stirred in taco seasoning added pasta and cheese and … Read more
I came up with this beef and rice skillet on a night when I needed dinner on the table fast and didn’t want to deal with a sink full of dishes and I had ground beef leftover some frozen vegetables and a bowl of cooked rice ready in the fridge so I tossed it all … Read more
The first time I made cheesy scalloped potatoes was for a holiday potluck because I needed something simple but comforting so I layered up potatoes cream and cheese crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. And when I pulled the bubbling dish out of the oven with its golden cheesy top and creamy center … Read more
The first time I made beef stroganoff with egg noodles it was a cold night after a long workday and I needed something hearty and fast so I pulled out some beef and mushrooms from the fridge and got to work with no real plan. And when I finally sat down with a bowl of … Read more
I made baked ziti with ricotta for the first time when I was hosting a casual dinner for friends because I wanted something hearty that wouldn’t keep me in the kitchen all night so I tossed together some pasta with sauce and cheese and slid it into the oven. And by the time the cheesy … Read more
I made chicken and dumplings for the first time on a snowy evening when I wanted something that felt like a hug in a bowl so I dug into my pantry and used what I had on hand—chicken broth, flour, and a few veggies. And when the dumplings puffed up in the steamy broth and … Read more
I made this classic baked mac and cheese for the first time during a college potluck when I wanted to bring something that everyone would love so I grabbed a box of pasta a couple blocks of cheese and hoped for the best. And when the bubbling dish came out of the oven with that … Read more
I made this pan-fried salmon with mushrooms and spinach in a creamy sauce one evening when I was craving something elegant but easy and I had just enough salmon and vegetables to pull it off. As soon as the salmon hit the skillet and the mushrooms started to caramelize I knew it was going to … Read more
I first made this garlic herb roasted potatoes carrots and zucchini dish as a quick side for a weeknight roast and what started as a clean-out-the-fridge idea turned into one of my most-requested recipes. The vegetables roasted up perfectly caramelized and the mix of garlic and fresh herbs made the kitchen smell so good my … Read more