Hi Reader, I've been making this meatloaf for years, and it's one of those recipes that just works. Simple, satisfying, and the kind of thing that makes dinner feel easy even on busy nights. 👉🏾 Here's my tried-and-true meatloaf recipe Now, here's the thing about meatloaf - it's all about the little details that make it extraordinary instead of just "meh": 🥩 The Meat Mix – I like using 85/15 ground beef as it has enough fat and flavor, but not too much to make the meatloaf greasy. Some people...
12 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, You know how sometimes you make something and it completely surprises someone? That happened to me with this smothered chicken recipe. My mom is Caribbean, so she gets her Southern food exposure through me. When I made this dish for her, she couldn't stop talking about the gravy and how tender the chicken was. Coming from someone who knows her way around bold flavors, that was high praise! Smothered Chicken Recipe This is comfort food at its absolute best. Chicken thighs coated in...
17 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I love biscuits, but man, the traditional ones are kind of a pain to make. All that cutting cold butter into flour, then rolling and cutting... I just don't have time for all that most days. These mayonnaise drop biscuits are a good replacement when I need a quick and easy biscuit. These biscuits are incredibly simple to make: just stir the ingredients in a bowl, place them on a baking sheet, and bake until golden and done. Mayonnaise Biscuit Recipe The best part? These beauties...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Whenever I'm craving something crispy, saucy, and slightly sweet for dinner, I make General Tso's Shrimp. This dish features crispy golden shrimp, paired with a perfect sweet and tangy sauce. It comes together so easily and tastes like you got it from a restaurant. 👉🏽 Here's the recipe: General Tso's Shrimp 🍤 The Secret to Perfect Crispy Shrimp – It's all in the cornstarch batter and not overcrowding your pan. I fry mine in two batches in my 12-inch skillet, and they come out...
26 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I've been making roast chicken for years now, and let me tell you, it took me way too long to figure out the secret to getting it right every time. You know how it goes; sometimes the skin is rubbery instead of crispy, and the meat is dry. I'd stand there, thinking, "Why can't I just make a decent roast chicken in the oven?!" Then I tried this method where you start with high heat and then turn it down, and WOW. Golden, crispy skin and juicy meat every single time. I use my baking...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Okay, so okra is literally everywhere right now. Those beautiful green pods are having their moment, and I'm totally here for it. But I get it, okra has a reputation. Maybe you've had a bad, slimy experience before (we've all been there). I've got two foolproof ways to make okra that'll completely change your mind. The Crispy One: Roasted Okra This is my go-to for converting okra haters. Just slice it up, toss with olive oil and some basic seasonings, then blast it in a 450°F oven...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I was at my local butcher's a few weeks ago and spotted pork steaks on sale. I'll be honest—I had no clue what they were, but the price was right and I'm always up for trying something new. I added them to my weekly menu and went down a total rabbit hole researching the best ways to cook them. It turns out that mine were on the thin side (about ½ inch), so I decided to try a simple pan sear. The result? Perfectly tender, juicy cuts of pork that had way more flavor than I expected!...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, These steamed cheeseburgers first appeared in our kitchen a few years ago, and I turn to this method whenever I want a no-fuss, flavor-packed dinner. Steaming keeps the patties incredibly moist, cooks everything in a single basket (so there’s no greasy splatter on the stove), and delivers unbeatable flavor every time. For this recipe, I form fresh patties from ground beef and season them with my favorite burger spice blend. After eight minutes under the steamer lid, I crown each...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, We make BBQ year-round over here. Doesn’t matter if it's summer sun or a rainy Tuesday—BBQ is always in rotation. These BBQ Oven Baked Chicken Thighs come through every single time. They are juicy, flavorful, and finished with that perfect caramelized BBQ crust—this recipe gives big cookout energy straight from the oven. For this recipe, I start with a dry rub to add extra flavor to the chicken, then layer it with my favorite BBQ sauce. In my opinion, using both a dry seasoning and...
2 months ago • 1 min read