Sometimes a simple dish can transport you to another time and place, evoking memories of smells or tastes, and allowing your mind to wander and dream. The bright, tropical flavors of this shrimp and pineapple stir-fry bring to mind a warm, breezy island with a fresh dinner right on the beach, candles flickering in the …

Easy Parmesan Chicken Cutlets are crispy, full of flavor, and ready in about 20 minutes. They go with almost everything and take the stress out of “What’s for dinner?” Do you ever have those days when your brain is just fried and you can’t even think of one single thing to fix for dinner? Keep …

You might think that as a food blogger, I’m cooking elaborate meals every day. And you’d be so, so wrong. Most days we eat simple meals, especially for lunch. Half the time David goes to the barbecue place down the street and gets pulled chicken for lunch and I have a black bean salad. And …

Mustard Cream Sauce is a French pan sauce with a white wine and Dijon mustard base–it’s simple, classic, and delicious! Try it with chicken or pork–this sauce makes any dish extra special! Are you intimidated by French food? Most of it sounds so fancy with long lists of ingredients. And fattening! But this Mustard Cream …

Isn’t springtime synonymous with picnics? It’s neither too cold nor too hot, the gnats are not out in full force, trees and flowers are filled with green buds and it feels as though we’ve been cooped up in the dreary dark of winter for years. Along about the middle to end of March I long …

Have you ever tasted something that was so amazing that you thought about it for years afterward? And finally, you tasted it again and it was…not the same. That happened to me with meatballs. A few years ago, the Young Son had a lacrosse tournament in Long Island. A couple of other moms and I …

I don’t know why but when I’m baking something I don’t mind a ton of extra steps. But just cooking for a weeknight meal? Give me easy! Minimum chopping, dicing, and slicing. Minimum planning ahead. Just easy! That’s why I knew I was going to like this recipe—and after tasting this chicken, I didn’t just …

We had this salmon yesterday for dinner and I think it will become one of my new favorite dishes. When I saw the recipe in Bon Appetit magazine I knew we would love it. How to make Slow-roasted Salmon You’ll love this salmon recipe because it’s super easy to make and would be quick enough …

I am a lazy slow cooker cook. What that means is that I don’t like slow cooker recipes in which you have to practically cook everything before you ever get it in the crockpot—sear the meat, saute the vegetables, boil some sauce…you might as well just stay home and cook the whole darn thing on …

This apricot-chili glazed fish is tangy enough for adults but sweet enough to be kid-friendly. It’s super easy to make and great for a dinner party! Do you make New Year’s resolutions? I do, every year. Sometimes I’m successful, sometimes not. This year I’ve stayed away from my traditional ones of eating better, exercising more, …

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, …

If you’ve ever been to a church potluck in the South then you’ve probably seen this chicken pie. It’s not chicken pot pie. Chicken pot pie is full of vegetables and has sherry and cream and lots of good stuff. This pie is different…it’s simple, quick, easy, and classic comfort food. This pie is ubiquitous and that’s …

Mexican Chicken and Rice in one pot with green onions and cilantro–it’s a quick and easy weeknight meal! Don’t you love recipes that only mess up one pot? I sure do! This Mexican Chicken and Rice fits the bill perfectly. One pot and one plate to hold the browned chicken while the rice cooks. That’s it. …

A great potluck or party dish, this Chicken Spaghetti Casserole is filled with chicken, spaghetti, pimentos, peppers, and cheese. It has lots of flavor without being too spicy so it’s kid-friendly and adults love it. Remember church potlucks or even funeral gatherings where casseroles abounded? There’s a reason for that, of course. Casseroles are typically …

I have to be honest with you, I had never heard of country fried steak or chicken fried steak until I moved to the city. If you live in the country, you don’t cook things and call them country fried or chicken fried. They’re just fried. And cubed steak is just, well, cubed steak. It’s not …

Baked shrimp scampi with garlic, butter, and fresh herbs is simple and a great make ahead dinner recipe! When we have folks over for dinner, I like to use recipes that I can make ahead of time so that cooking during the time guests are here is minimal. For that reason, I tend to use …

This recipe comes from my friend Mary Ellen who first served it to me when I was at her house watching her work magic on Malorie’s wedding invitations. My friend is not only an awesome cook, she is a calligraphy maven! How lucky am I! She got the recipe many years ago from a friend …

Baked ziti made with four cheese and Italian sausage is a great make ahead dish for a party. This recipe does not use ricotta cheese! Do you ever invite yourself over to your friend’s house and then say, “But I’ll bring dinner!” Well, we do! Not quite like that, but sort of. When you have …

Beef Enchiladas are made with ground beef and are so easy you can make them on a busy weeknight. These are freezer friendly and a perfect make ahead dinner! We love Mexican food here in our Southern kitchen. Like Italian, Mexican food is diverse enough that there’s usually something for everyone. If you don’t eat …

We had a large Christmas party last year—about 60 people for dinner—and this chicken dish is one of the things I served. I’ll share more about the party and menu later, but right now I need to tell you about my new favorite chicken recipe. It comes together relatively quickly and is full of complex …

The last few months have been filled with happy busyness…wedding planning is fun but time-consuming. And since David and I have been on what we called, “Wedding Boot Camp,” I have not even cooked much. We’ve eaten a lot of salads and roasted vegetables and not a lot of home-cooked sit down meals. So it …

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 …

Easy Salmon Recipe with Lemon Zest and Fresh Herbs makes a great dinner for company or a quick weeknight dinner for family! If you’re looking for an easy salmon recipe for grilling or broiling, this is it. Originally published in the New York Times, and then adapted by famed Southern Chef Virginia Willis, this recipe uses …

Chicken is a go-to weeknight dish for many busy moms, and keeping it from becoming boring can be something of a challenge. This recipe is easy to prepare but the complexity of flavors will delight your family and even make for great leftovers. I like to use a whole cut-up chicken, but have also used …