How Tos

Mac and Cheese with a creamy, cheesy sauce — this one is a classic family favorite! No eggs, just a luscious creaminess with LOTS of cheese! It’s the cheesiest and the best! Cold, rainy, winter days…or hot, steamy, summer weekend cookouts with barbecue—both are perfect for a warm, comforting, cheesy plate of creamy baked mac and …

Fried okra with a light and crispy cornmeal batter is a tasty side dish for any of your favorite Southern meals. And it’s easy to make! Fried okra has become one of those trendy items that almost every restaurant features on their appetizer menu. And most of them are all the same: chunks of heavily …

Chicken Vegetable Soup is filled with shredded chicken, butterbeans, corn, tomatoes, okra and onion—all frozen which means no chopping! Healthy, quick, and easy! This chicken vegetable soup is our new go-to for the winter. Well, in addition to Homemade Tomato Soup and White Chicken Chili. And easy Classic Chili. And my favorite Navy Bean and …

Lasagna without Ricotta is made with an Asiago cheese sauce instead of ricotta cheese. This lasagna is full of robust Italian flavor and will leave your guests asking for leftovers!  Note — this post is full of tips and suggestions to help you make the best lasagna ever. I suggest you read through everything before …

Easy quiche recipe with a rich custard and mix and match fillings—put anything you like! This silky, rich quiche is the best we’ve ever tasted and guests always come back for seconds! Quiche is such a versatile dish—you can add a diverse array of ingredients, different types of cheeses, and you can serve it for breakfast, …

This baked ham recipe features a honey and brown sugar glaze with bourbon and orange juice—better than store-bought and half the price! You don’t have to buy a ready-prepared honey-baked ham to please your guests because you can make an awesome ham at home for half the price. This recipe is one of our favorites …

Pickled Red Onions may be the easiest and best condiment ever, with just sliced red onions, vinegar, and a little salt and sugar. These pickled red onions can enhance the most mundane of dishes, like sandwiches or a simple green salad. I am in love with these pickled red onions. They are so easy to …

This easy double-crust apple pie recipe will become a classic for your recipe box. The filling is luscious with a hint of cinnamon and lots of apples! Doesn’t fall seem like a harbinger of good, homey, comfort foods? I adore spring and its light vegetables, and summer with its abundance of fresh produce, like juicy, …

Stovetop Mac and Cheese—The water and milk that cooks the noodles also makes the sauce for the creamiest, cheesiest, EASIEST ONE-POT mac and cheese ever! I’ve talked on this blog before about feeding my children the blue box of macaroni and cheese when they were growing up and you know what? I’m not ashamed of …

The best chocolate cake made with Hershey’s cocoa is a full-flavored chocolate layer cake with a chocolate cream cheese frosting! And it’s one-bowl easy! When I was growing up, my Mama would ask me what kind of cake I wanted for my birthday and every year my answer was the same: CHOCOLATE. Back then, Mama …

Homemade blueberry pie made with fresh blueberries is the perfect dessert—add a little whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on the side for a sweet summer treat! My friend Molly has a gorgeous yard and a prolific green thumb—she is our go-to for any type of flower or planting advice. And, she has a lovely …

This easy Butter Toffee recipe is better than store bought and makes a great holiday food gift! Dear Readers, Thank you. That comes from the bottom of my heart, from the tips of my toes, from the places deep down inside that nobody ever sees or talks to but my imaginary friend. Each time I …

Green Salad with arugula and fresh herbs, topped with simple lemon vinaigrette! This salad is amazing in its simplicity and goes with anything! A few weeks ago, some girlfriends and I had a night out on the town. Our restaurant options are unlimited around metro Atlanta, so we always like to try a new place …

Do you ever have those days when you just want to curl up in front of the fire with a good book and a nice hot bowl of something healthy and delicious? Or maybe you’re sniffling, sneezing, coughing and coming down with a cold. And you want your Mama. I can’t send mom to you, …

When I was growing up, hamburgers were a regular feature on my mother’s menu. Ground beef was cheap, largely because we grew our own cows, and every kid loves hamburgers so there were no complaints about what was for supper. Mama usually fixed the hamburgers in a cast iron skillet and I still prefer them …

Making a terrific roasted chicken at home couldn’t be easier, and it’s a universally friendly, delicious dish to have in your cooking repertoire. While I’m partial to my Rosemary Lemon Roasted Chicken recipe, which calls for individual pieces of chicken, I also love this easy whole roast chicken. With the vegetables and a small salad, it’s …

Balsamic reduction from balsamic vinegar is easy to make and a great, low-calorie way to flavor fresh vegetables and grilled meats. I must be on a balsamic vinegar kick…the last post was Balsamic Roasted Chicken and now we have balsamic vinegar reduction. It’s just such a wonderful flavor enhancer, I can’t resist adding it to …

Creamy mashed potatoes with butter and sour cream will have your family coming back for seconds every time! Nothing says comfort food to me like homemade, creamy mashed potatoes. Butter, cream, warm potatoes…there’s just something about that combination that feels good from your tummy to your soul. I use the same combination of ingredients for …

Beef Pot Roast with potatoes and carrots in a silky sauce—it’s an easy, one-pot meal and comfort food at its best! This pot roast recipes works in the oven or on the stove and makes the best pot roast that’s tender and flavorful. One of the easiest dishes for a new cook to make is …