Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet

A cozy, one‑pan Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet with ground beef, stewed tomatoes, macaroni, and melty sharp cheddar. Hearty, comforting, and weeknight‑easy.

Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet

I know y'all are thinking by now that based on my recent posts, I've been living solely off of dips and pasta salads this summer, and you know what? You are mostly correct, I have!

But the husband, aka The Cajun, doesn't eat that kind of food, so yeah, I'm still cooking here and there because he can barely boil water y'all.

I'm always teasing him about those of you gals who tell me your husbands bring you a hot cup of coffee while you're still in bed in the morning.

"I don't know how to work that coffee thing you've got." he says.

Creamy Taco Corn Dip (TikTok – My Way)

 

Cool, creamy, and packed with taco flavor, this easy corn dip blends whipped cream cheese, sour cream, Ranch, taco seasoning, tomatoes with chilies, creamed corn, Mexican cheese, jalapeños, and green onion. Scoop it up with tortilla or corn chips for the perfect party or game‑day appetizer.

Creamy Taco Corn Dip (TikTok – My Way)

If you’re looking for a fun, scoopable party dip that disappears faster than you can set it out, this Creamy Taco Corn Dip is about to earn a permanent spot in your rotation.

It’s one of those simple, mix‑and‑chill recipes that somehow tastes like you spent way more time on it. The twist and what makes this version stand out is a surprising ingredient!

Classic Carol‑Style Chicken Salad (TikTok - My Way)

 

A creamy, simple chicken salad inspired by the viral Classic Carol trend - tender shredded chicken, crisp celery, and real mayo seasoned just right. Perfect for sandwiches, melts, salads, or snacking straight from the fridge.

Classic Carol‑Style Chicken Salad (TikTok - My Way)

If you spend any time on TikTok, you’ve probably seen the viral “Classic Carol” chicken salad recreations inspired by Chicken Salad Chick. We actually do have one in town, but I’ve yet to make it there and eat any of their many versions myself, so this isn’t meant to be a perfect copycat. It's just my take on that clean, creamy, simple chicken salad everyone seems to love.

I’m calling it Classic Carol‑Style Chicken Salad (TikTok - My Way), because it’s inspired by the social media chatter, shaped by the ingredients folks swear by, and finished the way I like it: tender shredded chicken, crisp celery, real mayo, and just enough seasoning to make everything hum. It’s different from my usual “classic” chicken salad that leans Southern deli‑style with boiled eggs and pickle relish and the one that I make the most, but every bit as comforting and versatile.

Shrimp Potluck Pasta Salad

A cool, colorful pasta salad loaded with tender shrimp, fresh veggies, a punch of Salad Supreme, and a creamy Italian dressing. Easy to toss together, perfect for potlucks, and even better after it chills.

Shrimp Potluck Pasta Salad

I know, I know. Guess I've been posting a lot of salads here lately but - it's what I've been eating y'all, and, well, there will probably be more coming until this heat turns off. Will fall ever get here?? I'm really ready for some of those fall and winter comfort foods!

Anyway...

Pasta salads with shrimp have been showing up at potlucks and church suppers around here for as long as I can remember, and this one is a bright, easy favorite when you need something quick, cool, and satisfying. I wrote this one to be more at home friendly, but of course just increase recipe as needed if it's a potluck or party!

Classic Ranch Dip

A classic sour cream based dip seasoned with ranch dressing and mixed with bacon bits and cheese. Candied jalapeños optional.

Classic Ranch Dip

No lies given, I have been living on dips and salads of all kinds this summer. Maybe it's just me getting older and less heat tolerant, but it's been awful here and I can't bear to be outside in it more than a hot minute y'all!

Of course, the Husband aka The Cajun, isn't a real salad eater, not at all. His idea of a salad is chopped up iceberg lettuce loaded with French dressing. Period.

Course, I don't let him get away with that when I make a nice, chopped salad to go with dinner.

Brandy's Okie Pasta Salad (TikTok - My Way)

A pasta salad made with rotini pasta, Colby Jack cheese, ham, grape tomatoes and other veggies, tossed in a restaurant-style buttermilk Ranch and Italian dressing.

Most of y'all know I don't do videos. I know, I know.

I just didn't grow up in this video central generation and even though my grandchildren think I should be participating, it's just awkward and not a natural fit for me! Plus, from what I gather you have to be in pajamas or full makeup, hair and have your nails professionally done and well... that ain't me anymore!

Eh, maybe one day??

Broccoli Slaw Shrimp Ramen Salad

 

Broccoli Slaw Shrimp Ramen Salad combines tender Gulf shrimp, crunchy slaw, and a Creole‑Italian dressing inspired by the classic Asian ramen salad. It's a perfect make‑ahead dish and great for these hot summer days.

Broccoli Slaw Shrimp Ramen Salad

If you grew up in the South, you probably remember that old‑school Asian ramen slaw that showed up at pretty much every potluck - crunchy noodles, cabbage mix, and a sweet‑tangy Asian-style dressing. So good!

This recipe is inspired by that nostalgic classic, but with a little of my own Gulf Coast flair.

Tomato Cucumber Salad

A cool, crisp Tomato and Cucumber Salad that comes together in minutes - the perfect refreshing bite for these sweltering Deep South days.

Sometimes the simplest things really are the best, especially when the heat is on - and brother, has it ever been on in the Deep South.

I am slap wore out, y’all. This heat has me so foggy and drained that I completely forgot to “style” a pretty picture with the original post so I had to come back. When I did that, I only had mini cucumbers (my favorite) and grape tomatoes, so the photo above won't exactly agree with the step by step below. 

What can I say?

Squash Creole

Fresh squash and tomatoes are paired with Vidalia onion and sweet bell peppers, topped with cheese and buttered breadcrumbs and baked.

Vidalia onions, okra, vine ripe tomatoes and green beans, freshly shucked corn, butter beans, southern peas and sweet bell peppers, yellow crookneck squash, zucchini and garden-fresh cucumbers.

I just love the veggies of summer.

Have you gotten your fill yet?

Spicy Mexican-Style Rotel Corn Dip

A quick and easy sour cream-based, Mexican-style corn dip featuring Rotel, perfect for entertaining.

I love corn dip and while I have a few favorites here on the website, I'm constantly trying different versions. Many have very similar ingredients with only slight variations, but those subtle changes often make quite a difference.

Though I've been in the kitchen working on new recipes pretty regularly, I've just had a hard time focusing here lately with this heat y'all. I'm just a bit slow moving on the publishing part these days!

This one is so easy though and with ingredients that most folks who love dips keep on hand all of the time, that I thought I'd slip it in over the holiday weekend, so not a lot of chit chat today.