Seasonal Recipes

Easy Pasta Salad for Cookouts and Potlucks

Most of the recipes I review are main dishes, but every now and then it’s nice to remember that the sides can steal the show too. With summer officially here, I wanted to try a recipe that would be perfect for backyard cookouts, family gatherings, or those last minute invitations where you’re asked to “just […]

Pesto Rigatoni: A Fresh and Easy Summer Dinner

Most of my recipe reviews come from websites, but this time I decided to pull a recipe from a cookbook. The cookbook was The “I Don’t Know How to Cook” Book by Mary-Lane Kamberg, and the recipe that caught my eye was Pesto Rigatoni. I chose it for a pretty simple reason: it looked easy, […]

Easy Double Strawberry Cupcakes for Spring

I don’t make desserts very often. Now, eating desserts? Absolutely. I definitely have a sweet tooth. But when it comes to actually baking them, I usually lean toward simpler recipes or just let someone else make them entirely. 😅 Still, I wanted to try something that really felt like spring, and these double strawberry cupcakes […]

Pizza Casserole (Pizza + Pasta!) Easy Family Dinner Review

Sometimes you just want something warm, filling, and easy to say yes to. That’s exactly why I chose this pizza casserole recipe this week. It’s pizza and pasta, and honestly, what’s not to love about that? Why I Chose This Recipe This felt like one of those “can’t go wrong” meals. We love pasta. We […]

The First Spring Pasta of the Season: Pasta Primavera

March always makes me crave something lighter. After months of cozy casseroles, slow cooker meals, and comfort food on repeat, I start looking for dinners that feel fresh, colorful, and a little more vibrant. Something that hints at sunshine, even if we’re still wearing sweaters. That’s exactly why I chose Pasta Primavera. It felt like […]

Easy Venison Spaghetti for a Cozy Family Dinner

Life is like a bowl of spaghetti… Nothing screams comfort food to me like a big bowl of pasta. And if you’re in the Midwest, you know venison is just part of the rotation. Just like I mentioned in the chili post, it’s classic around here. This week’s recipe was venison spaghetti, and it honestly […]

Pioneer Woman’s Baked Ravioli Review (Even Better Than Pizza?)

Some recipes surprise you. Some turn into instant comfort food. And some end up being a bigger hit than you ever expected. This baked ravioli landed firmly in that last category and honestly, I’m still thinking about it. I made Pioneer Woman’s Baked Ravioli, and while it didn’t quite qualify as a quick weeknight dinner […]

This Easy Venison Chili Is Perfect for Busy Winter Nights

Growing up in the rural Midwest, fresh venison is the definition of wintertime comfort food. It’s hearty, familiar, and tied to family in a way that grocery store meat just isn’t. So when my stepdad gifted us freshly ground venison (as fresh as it gets, thank you!), this venison chili immediately went on the menu. […]

Loaded Potato Soup Review: Rich, Cozy, and Worth the Hype

This week’s recipe is a little different because I didn’t pick it. This marks the very first Paul’s Pick, a recipe my husband specifically asked me to try after watching a new content creator he’s been into lately. With the temperature stuck in the teens and soup season in full force, this loaded potato soup […]

Simple Dinner Ideas for Busy Holiday Nights: My Top 3 Picks

Because December is magical and also absolutely unhinged, here are three simple dinner ideas to have in your back pocket for when you have no mental energy left. Between trying to remember where exactly the gifts are hidden in, church events, and the never ending “Mom, I need a snack” parade, the last thing I […]

The Recipe Reality Check