A golden, buttery ham and cheese bake nestled in soft Hawaiian bread - warm, melty, and the kind of timeless comfort that works for family dinners or any gathering.

Hawaiian Bread Baked Ham and Cheese Sandwich

There’s something about a warm ham and cheese bake that just feels right on the table and we've pretty much all made some version of it. It's simple, cozy, and guaranteed to be one of the first things to disappear at a party.

This version has all the familiar comforts: soft, sweet bread, melty savory layers, and that irresistible buttery topping. It’s the kind of recipe that fits anywhere, from weeknight dinners to potlucks to holiday spreads, and it always brings people back for another slice.

And just like those old‑fashioned cone‑shaped croquettes that quietly evolved into flat patties, my earliest memories of this now‑viral “slider” recipe didn’t start with sliders at all.

A Gulf Coast Gumbo Collection: The Recipes I Make All Year Long

Gumbo is a dish with endless variations, and this roundup brings together the classics, the coastal favorites, and the seasonal bowls that define Deep South cooking. Whether you’re stirring a dark roux, simmering summer vegetables, or making a simple Lenten pot, you’ll find a gumbo here for every table.

A Deep South Gumbo Roundup: Classics, Seafood and Seasonal Favorites

If there’s one dish that tells the story of the Gulf Coast, it’s gumbo.

Every pot has its own personality - the roux, the stock, the meats, the seafood, the vegetables, the season, the occasion. Some gumbos simmer all afternoon, filling the house with that unmistakable aroma that feels like home. Others come together quickly for busy nights when you still want something warm and soulful.

Over the years, I’ve shared many different versions, each one rooted in tradition but shaped by the way real home cooks live and eat today. Whether you’re craving a classic chicken-and-sausage gumbo, a seafood feast, a Lenten-friendly bowl, or even a veggie-packed summer pot, you’ll find something here that fits the moment.

A cozy one‑pan beef tenderloin tips dinner with pan‑sauteed vegetables, a splash of white wine, and just enough broth to bring everything together. Tender, flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes, perfect for weeknights or entertaining.

Beef Tenderloin Tips with Vegetables

This dish, inspired by Jacques Pepin's Instant Beef Tenderloin Stew, isn't like the traditional, thick stew we think of in the South. This is more of a skillet meal, but with a stew vibe.

The focus stays on the beef tenderloin that cooks quickly and stays buttery‑soft, while the vegetables help it to feel hearty like a traditional stew, but without being overly heavy.

What comes out of the pan in the end, is tender beef tips, tossed with potatoes and carrots, earthy mushrooms, sweet peas, and just enough white wine and broth to pull everything together with a glossy, savory finish.

Cold Weather Favorites

Warm up with this collection of hearty, comforting cold‑weather recipes, from classic soups and stews to slow‑braised roasts, cozy casseroles, and Southern favorites. These tried‑and‑true dishes are perfect for chilly nights, busy weeknights, and Sunday suppers alike. Save this roundup for all your winter cooking inspiration.

Cold Weather Favorites: Cozy, Hearty, Stick‑to‑Your‑Ribs Comfort

When the temperatures dip and the days feel a little shorter as they have here lately, I always find myself reaching for the kinds of recipes that warm you from the inside out.

The dishes that fill the house with slow‑simmered aromas, that make you linger a little longer at the table, and that remind you why home cooking is such a comfort in the first place.

This collection brings together some of my most beloved cold‑weather favorites - recipes that have been simmered, baked, braised, and stirred in Southern kitchens for generations.

 

This Chicken Burrito Bowl is packed with seasoned chicken, Mexican rice, black beans, corn, pico, avocado, jalapenos, shredded cheese and topped with fresh cilantro, lime wedges and a creamy homemade dressing. It's a quick, customizable weeknight dinner everyone will love.

Chicken Burrito Bowl

There’s something so satisfying about a good burrito bowl. It has all the flavors you love, layered up in one big, beautiful dish you can customize to your heart’s content. This Chicken Burrito Bowl is one of those recipes that checks every box: easy to make ahead, quick to prep and full of color and texture.

The base starts with fluffy Mexican yellow rice, which brings instant flavor without any extra work. Make your own from scratch or pick up a mix.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips, get a simple but bold seasoning from a packet of taco seasonings or your own homemade version and a quick sear in a hot skillet. It’s the kind of easy weeknight technique that still gives you those caramelized, flavorful edges.

Poor Man's Meal of Hot Dogs with Potatoes and Onions

A skillet mix of fried potatoes, onions and sliced hot dogs, born out of ingenuity and necessity during the 1930s Great Depression era and known as a Poor Man's Meal, because of the low cost, easy prep and ingredient availability. This dish continues to carry comfort that never goes out of style.

Poor Man's Meal - Hot Dogs with Potatoes and Onions

There are those days where you know you need to eat, but you just don't really feel like cooking or even know what it is that you want!

Enter one of my favorites. Fried potatoes. 

I can certainly make a meal of those alone, or really any other potato central dish to be honest - set a pot of those smothered potatoes in front of me and I'm a happy gal - but if you want to get in a little protein too, it's excellent with some sliced smoked sausage or hot dogs tossed in and I make it regularly because I love it!

This easy sheet‑pan dinner layers fresh green beans, tossed with olive oil and bold Italian seasonings, with cooked and crumbled Italian sausage and a silky “cheater Alfredo,” baked under a blanket of melted cheese. It’s weeknight‑friendly, family‑approved, and perfect as a hearty side or a full meal.

Sheet Pan Green Beans with Italian Sausage

This was another one of those recipes that passed through my timeline on social media video shorts.

For someone who isn't particularly active on social, that seems to happen a lot because those little Facebook reels that are featured in our timelines seem to draw me in. I don't do videos and doubtful I will although my eldest grandson, soon off to college already (how does that happen so fast??) tells me I need to.

I told him that since most of the videos I see appear to require me to be cute, in full hair and makeup, bejeweled and with highly decorated and maintained fingernails, well... don't hold your breath! 😂

Nonetheless, I sure do seem to get alot of inspiration from those short videos here lately!

 

Burst cherry tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and melty mozzarella come together in this easy roasted tomato dip. A simple, crowd‑pleasing appetizer served with toasted baguettes.

Roasted Tomato Mozzarella Dip

So, a video passed my social media timeline of a remake of a viral Roasted Tomato Burrata Dip, that I had apparently missed. Since I had a container of cherry tomatoes I needed to use or lose, it was timely.

Don't you love when that kind of thing happens? 

Anyway, I thought somehow, I could adapt what I had on hand to make something like that dip, and this was the result. Talk about tasty!

A cozy, clean-out-the-fridge bake that layers your holiday leftovers into one comforting casserole finished with gravy and a crunchy topping. Serve with cranberry sauce on the side for the perfect follow-up feast.

Holiday Leftovers Casserole

I love sandwiches from my leftover turkey or ham and that's usually the first thing out of the gate.

That's very closely followed by a soup or gumbo made from the turkey bones or any number of things made from a ham bone and leftover ham, but honestly?

While there are many ways to repurpose holiday leftovers (tap that link to find my favorites), one of my favorite all-in-one ways is to turn what's left into a casserole!

This easy baked ham gets a Southern‑style upgrade with a sweet‑tangy pineapple glaze, a touch of bourbon or whisky, and the bold kick of Creole mustard. Whole cloves perfume the smoked ham as it warms, while the quick stovetop sauce caramelizes it into a glossy finish that’s perfect for holiday tables or Sunday suppers.

Carver Ham with Tangy Heinz 57 Sauce

A boneless carver ham, is just a smaller, high-quality ham that's designed for easier slicing, making it a popular choice for gatherings, special occasions and perfect for holiday serving.

Online, Kansas City Steaks, Corky's and Rastelli's all sell carver hams, often with their own glazes which for this you'll reserve for another use.

You can usually find a carver ham right at your local grocery market or Walmart also and Frick's brand is a widely available carver ham. Bonus? Their pork is USA raised and typically sourced from Midwest states like Iowa, Missouri or Illinois.