From Market to Table

Slow Cooker Italian Beef

Slow Cooker Italian Beef is my “free pass” in life when I don’t have any time or energy to make something fancy and, by design, takes the least effort possible.

While my recipe always resulted in Italian seasoned, perfectly tender shredded beef, my phone didn’t start blowing up from people raving about how good it was and asking for the recipe. Nor did I expect it to. It’s the dish I throw together when I don’t know what to make and know it is easily customized with toppings to suit anyone’s palate.

torn open buttermilk biscuit with a pad of butter and a napkin on the side

Small Batch Buttermilk Biscuits

Let’s get this straight. I’m in no position to give anyone advice about buttermilk biscuits. I didn’t grow up in the South, and I hadn’t made one until six weeks ago. What’s the point? I thought as I stuffed an English muffin in the toaster, and 3 minutes later I walked away with a perfect breakfast. There is none.

Until I became obsessed with The Lost Kitchen series and saw Erin French make biscuits. I became perplexed and awed as I watched her cut biscuits in long rectangles, stack them, and then roll them out again. At the time, I wasn’t familiar with the term “laminated biscuits” and began googling terms that were far from it. I finally landed on Alexandra’s Kitchen Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits and saw how much work went into making them and decided that technique is for another day, or perhaps never.

andes mint cookies on a baking rack with one cookie broken in half

The Best Andes Mint Cookies

The first time I made Andes Mint cookies I didn’t actually use Andes Mints. No, I went out and bought fancy and luxurious mint chocolate and tried to pass them off as Andes Mint cookies.

This obviously didn’t work. Rather, I endured an explanation of what Andes Mints are and where they are located in the grocery store. As if I’ve never heard or tasted them in my life. You see, I grew up with Andes Mints, as my Grandma always had them on hand, neatly arranged on her buffet table, ready to be eaten at a moment’s notice. And that’s exactly what I did.

apple crisp for two with ice cream and two spoons with a napkin on the side

Double Apple Crisp for Two

Who knew you can make apple crisp taste more appley? Here, apples are simmered in apple cider before being topped with a crisp topping bursting with oats and fall spices. The result is a warm, cozy, double-dose Apple Crisp for Two unlike any you’ve had before (of course, in the best way possible).

cornbread muffin split open and smeared with honey honey butter on a plate

Small Batch Cornbread Muffins with Hot Honey Butter

I’ve been making these small-batch cornbread muffins for years, and nothing brings me more delight than seeing a baby smash it in their mouth every which way. Or adults glean in amazement as they pull it apart on their plate, spread with a dab of honey butter, and slowly savor it. I don’t know if the world needs another cornbread muffin recipe (there are 40M recipes on google and counting), though this one always lands on my holiday table. And for a good reason.