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 and 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 for you, so please forgive my absentmindedness. I'm just running behind on everything, but I’ll catch up on the next round.

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.

Bottom of the Mayo Jar Cucumber Salad

A nostalgic Southern cucumber salad inspired by the old “mayo jar” method - crisp cucumbers, red onion, and a creamy, tangy dressing you shake right in the jar.

If you grew up in the South, you may remember seeing that one jar in the fridge - the mayonnaise jar that never quite got thrown out because Mama kept topping it off with sliced cucumbers, onions, and a splash of vinegar.

It hung out on one of the shelves in the fridge all summer long, getting refreshed every few days, and somehow always tasted better the longer it sat. It's already been a regular in my refrigerator this summer!

Taco Skillet (TikTok - My Way)

A cozy, one‑pan Taco Skillet inspired by the viral TikTok trend - but made the sensible, real‑kitchen way. Seasoned beef, peppers, tomatoes, green chilies, corn, and tender rice all simmer together and finish under a blanket of melty cheese.

If you love a one‑pan dinner that’s comforting, budget‑friendly, and big on flavor, this Taco Skillet is going to be a regular in your rotation. It's another one of those recipes inspired by TikTok.

TikTok is full of fun videos, including this one‑pan taco rice, and I’ll admit, they do very often catch my eye. The idea is solid, but the execution can sometimes seem a bit, well... chaotic.

So, I took the inspiration, kept the flavors, and made it my way!