Every February it starts the same way. You run into the store for one thing and walk out with a buggy full of things you don’t need or you’ll never use. It adds up fast, and before you know it Valentine’s feels way more expensive than it ever should. This year I’m determined to change…
I don’t throw a Galentine’s Day party every year, but every February I start thinking about how nice it would be to do something simple — not in a “go buy twelve new things” way — more in the way that makes your kitchen smell like citrus, your counters cluttered with empty glasses, and your…
Every Super Bowl starts with good intentions — just watch the game. Then a few texts turn into a living room full of people, and suddenly you’re figuring out how to feed everyone without spending the whole night in the kitchen. That’s when you set the crock pot on the counter, start chopping, and realize…
There’s always that stretch right before kickoff when the house feels busy in the best way — kids hovering around the counter, someone asking if the game’s started yet, and you doing a last check of the snack table. That’s when little details matter. Football-shaped party food make everything feel pulled together, even when most…
There’s always that moment right before a Super Bowl party when you realize the snack table feels almost complete. Not missing anything big — just one more dip that pulls it all together. And you want it to be something better than the same queso or ranch that shows up at every party. That’s exactly…
We all know party plans don’t always come together neatly. Sometimes you’re hosting. Sometimes you’re asked to bring something last minute. Sometimes you just need a last-minute filler to complete a table so it feels full when people start showing up. This is where dips make the most sense. They’re forgiving and familiar, often built from ingredients you already have — a block of cream cheese, a bag of shredded cheese, and a few other…
After the holidays, everything feels a little quieter. The schedule settles back in, and the fridge becomes a holding place for all the plans you meant to get to. A forgotten can of cranberry sauce—tucked behind leftovers from a week that got away from me—and it ended up becoming the base for this Sweet Chili…
There’s a familiar calm that settles in after the holidays—the house is quieter, the fridge is a little too full, and you finally have a minute to breathe and take stock of what’s left. I was doing exactly that when I spotted an unopened can of cranberry sauce tucked behind a container I swore I…
Some dishes stay in the holiday rotation because they remind us that good food can be simple and affordable. These Sweet Chili Cranberry Crockpot Meatballs are one of mine. I first made them on a December evening with family coming and going, a house that needed cleaning, and no desire for another store run. A…
Christmas morning has its own kind of calm — the soft hum of carols, a quiet house, and the scent of something warm in the air. It’s a rare moment when time slows down, even just for a little while. That’s why I prep breakfast ahead. A casserole or quiche does the work while the…
