Easy Daily Recipes

08/23/2026

🍗🥣 OLD-FASHIONED CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS ❤️

If you grew up eating chicken and dumplings, you already know this one tastes like HOME! 🥹❤️ Tender chicken, rich buttery broth, creamy chicken soup, and soft homemade dumplings all simmered together in one comforting pot.

🛒 INGREDIENTS
Bone-in chicken
2 sticks butter, divided
Salt & black pepper, to taste
1–2 cans cream of chicken soup
Self-rising flour
2 eggs
👩‍🍳 DIRECTIONS
Place the bone-in chicken in a large pot and cover with water. Add 1 stick of butter, salt, and pepper. Boil until the chicken is tender.
Remove the chicken, take off the bones, and shred the meat. Set aside.
Reserve 2 cups of chicken broth and let it cool. Stir the remaining stick of melted butter into the cooled broth.
Add the cream of chicken soup to the broth remaining in the pot. Stir until smooth and creamy.
Add about ¾ bowl of self-rising flour to a mixing bowl and make a well in the center.
Pour in the cooled broth mixture and add 2 eggs. Mix until a stiff dough forms.
Roll the dough out on a floured surface and cut into small squares.
Return the shredded chicken to the pot and bring the broth to a gentle simmer.
Carefully drop the dumplings into the simmering broth, one at a time.
Reduce the heat and simmer gently for about 15 minutes, or until the dumplings are tender and cooked through.

🥄 Creamy. Hearty. Homemade. Just pure comfort in a bowl. ❤️

08/23/2026

🫘 Creamy Pinto Beans for Baby

Ingredients

1 cup dried pinto beans
4–5 cups water, plus more as needed
1 small piece of onion (optional)
1 garlic clove (optional, for older babies)
1 tsp olive oil (optional)

Directions

Soak: Rinse the beans and soak them in plenty of water for 8–12 hours. Drain and rinse.
Cook: Add beans to a large pot with fresh water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a very gentle simmer.
Slow-cook: Cover partially and simmer for 2½–4 hours, stirring occasionally and adding hot water as needed. Cook until the beans are extremely soft and creamy.
Make baby-friendly: Remove the onion/garlic if used. Mash the beans thoroughly with a little of their cooking liquid until you reach a smooth, soft texture.
Serve: Let cool before serving. For younger babies, make sure there are no whole beans or firm pieces that could pose a choking risk.

❤️ Tip: The secret to super-creamy beans is low, slow cooking. Don’t let the pot boil hard—gentle simmering gives you that melt-in-your-mouth texture!

06/27/2026

Everything You Need to Bring to the Cookout This Weekend

Hosting or heading to a backyard cookout? These crowd-pleasing recipes are guaranteed to be a hit. From creamy mac and cheese to flavorful dips, fresh salads, and a comforting squash casserole, there's something for everyone.

Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

* 1 lb elbow macaroni
* 6 tbsp butter
* ½ cup all-purpose flour
* 5½ cups milk (2% or whole)
* 1 tsp ground mustard powder
* ½ tsp salt
* ¼ tsp black pepper
* ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
* ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
* 5 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
* ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Topping

* 1 cup panko bread crumbs
* ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
* 2 tbsp butter, melted

Crab, Pea, and Bacon Salad

Ingredients

* 8 oz imitation crab, chopped
* 10 oz frozen peas, thawed
* 8 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
* ½ cup mayonnaise
* ¼ tsp onion powder
* Salt and black pepper, to taste
* Fresh dill, chopped

Grilled Potato Salad

Ingredients

* 1 lb small potatoes
* 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
* 1 tsp salt
* 1 tsp black pepper
* 1 tsp garlic powder
* 1 tsp ground mustard powder
* 1 large yellow onion, sliced
* 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
* 1 tbsp spicy brown mustard

Bacon Jalapeño Popper Dip

Ingredients

* 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
* 5 jalapeños, diced
* ¾ cup mayonnaise
* 12 oz cream cheese, softened
* 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Layered Bacon Ranch Dip

Ingredients

* ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
* ½ cup sour cream
* 8 oz cream cheese, softened
* 2 tbsp ranch dressing mix
* 1½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
* 12 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
* ⅓ cup green onions, sliced

Yellow Squash Casserole

Ingredients

* 1 tbsp olive oil
* 1 medium yellow onion, diced
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 4 cups yellow squash, sliced
* ¼ cup water
* 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
* 1 heaping cup cheddar cheese, shredded
* 2 large eggs
* ¾ cup 2% milk
* ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
* 1 tsp salt
* ½ tsp black pepper
* 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (for topping)

05/10/2026

05/09/2026

Soft, creamy, and packed with delicious cannoli flavor, this Cannoli Poke Cake is the perfect sweet treat for any dessert lover 🍰

Ingredients

For the Cake Base
15.25 ounces white cake mix, we used Pillsbury brand (432g)
1 ¼ cup water
½ cup vegetable oil
4 egg whites
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk, divided ¾ cup for drizzling and ½ cup for frosting (we used Great Value brand) (396g)

For the Frosting
1 ½ cups Ricotta cheese, we used Great Value brand
1 ½ cups Mascarpone cheese, we used BelGioioso brand
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon pure almond extract
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional
1 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips, we used Nestle Toll House brand

Method

Preheat the oven according to the cake mix package directions. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

In a large bowl, combine the white cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and egg whites. Mix until smooth and fully combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake according to the package instructions until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool for about 10 minutes. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cake.

Drizzle ¾ cup of the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the cake, allowing it to soak into the holes. Let the cake cool completely.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together the ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, almond extract, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and the remaining ½ cup sweetened condensed milk until creamy and smooth.

Fold in half of the mini chocolate chips.

Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top.

Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours before serving for the best flavor and texture.

05/08/2026

Italian creme cake for my husband's birthday today. Made with White Lily Flour of course!
Edited to add: Recipe
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
5 eggs, separated; egg whites beaten till stiff
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Cream shortening and butter. Add sugar, beating till mixture is fluffy. Add egg yolks, beat well. Sift flour and soda together. Add alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla, coconut, and nuts. Fold in egg whites. Pour batter into 3 greased and floured round pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 22 minutes, give or take depending on your oven. Cool 5 minutes in pan and then turn out to cool completely,
Frosting:
2 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 32 oz. box powdered sugar
1 stick butter, softened
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
Combine cream cheese and butter; mix well. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix well. Add nuts. Frost cake when cooled completely.

05/07/2026

My momma was the baby of 13 and she raised 10 kids of her own. Folks still talk about eating at mommas house. Her meatloaf was excellent and always a hit in my restaurants❤️
My Mommas Meatloaf
2 lb ground chuck
1 onion
1 Bell pepper
1 can Rotel
2 pieces wet bread
20 crushed saltine crackers
1 egg
Ketchup ( idk maybe 1/2- 1 cup)
Salt
Black pepper
Mix it up
Put in iron skillet cover top with ketchup
350 for about 1 1/4 hour

05/06/2026

🥪 Chicken Salad BLT Sandwich

A rich, creamy, and satisfying sandwich layered with flavor—perfect for lunch or a quick dinner.

Ingredients:
2 slices artisan bread, toasted
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
2 tbsp chopped green onions
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt & black pepper to taste
4 slices crispy bacon
2 lettuce leaves
2 tomato slices

Instructions:
In a bowl, mix the shredded chicken with mayonnaise, celery, green onions, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until creamy and well combined.
Toast the bread until golden and crisp.
Spread a generous layer of chicken salad onto one slice of toast.
Add lettuce, crispy bacon, and tomato slices on top.
Close with the second slice of bread, slice if desired, and serve immediately.

05/04/2026

Coconut Cream Pie
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
4 egg yolks
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1 (12 oz) can water
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp butter
1 3/4 cups coconut
Place everything except the coconut into a microwave-safe mixing bowl (like a batter bowl). Microwave for 4 minutes, then remove and whisk well. Stir in the coconut.
Return the bowl to the microwave and cook another 3–4 minutes. Take it out and stir again until smooth. If the filling is thick enough, divide and pour it into two baked pie crusts.
Prepare a meringue and spread it over the pies. Sprinkle a small handful of coconut on top.
Bake in a 375°F oven until the meringue is lightly browned.
Tip: I used to brown my meringue under the broiler, but it only browned the top and didn’t fully cook it. Baking it instead helps cook the meringue from the bottom so you don’t end up with runny egg whites on the pie.

05/04/2026

Cheesy Grilled Chicken Rice Bowl

Quick Steps:

Season chicken breasts generously with your favorite spices, then grill until fully cooked and juicy.
Prepare the rice according to the package directions.
Scoop the fluffy rice onto a plate, add sliced grilled chicken on top, and generously drizzle (or smother!) everything with warm queso sauce.

Note: I picked up the rice and queso from Ingles.

Easy, cheesy, and ready in no time — the perfect weeknight comfort meal! 🍗🍚🧀