I’ve cooked a lot of chili over the years, and this Pepper Belly Pete chili keeps rising to the top. It works in any weather, feels like comfort food, and has even earned awards for its flavor, so I trust it for family dinners and cook-offs alike. You don’t need the original cookbook to make…
I love the punch of flavor a good pepper relish adds to a sandwich. My version aims to capture the same bright mix of sweet, sour, and mild heat that wakes up meats, cheeses, and simple bread without overwhelming the palate. I make this relish at home because it’s fast, easy, and keeps well in…
Candy Cane Pie has been a holiday must for my family for years. I grew up getting a slice after tree decorating or shopping, and that cool peppermint filling with a chocolate cookie crust became a holiday tradition I still crave. When the restaurant stopped selling it, I taught myself to make the pie at…
I love recipes that turn a favorite restaurant dish into something you can make at home. When I recreated Chicken Salad Chick’s loaded potato soup, I wanted a simple, faithful version that uses easy-to-find ingredients and gives the same creamy, cheesy comfort without the restaurant price. This soup is straightforward to prepare and fills the…
You want a rich, creamy potatoes au gratin like the one at Texas de Brazil, and you can make it at home without a lot of fuss. I’ll show you how to get tender, thinly sliced potatoes layered in a velvety cheese sauce that bakes to a golden, bubbly top — restaurant flavor from your…
You love bright, tangy dressings that wake up a simple salad. I’ll show you how to make a lemon vinaigrette inspired by First Watch that tastes fresh and restaurant-worthy with just a few pantry staples. This lemon dressing uses fresh lemon, olive oil, a touch of honey, and optional preserved lemon or thyme to give…
You want a steakhouse-worthy pork chop without leaving home. I’ll show you how to get a thick, bone-in chop seared for a crisp, charred crust and finished tender and juicy, plus how to top it with a buttery, tangy glaze that lifts every bite. You can make a LongHorn-style Cowboy Pork Chop at home that…
I make beef jerky at home because I enjoy the process and the result. I use my smoker, oven, or food dehydrator depending on the day, and I like that homemade jerky lets me control flavor and texture. Store-bought Buc-ee’s Bohemian Garlic jerky is a favorite for its bold garlic taste and convenience, but the…
I first tried the peppercorn sauce at Texas Roadhouse and wanted to recreate it at home. I learned that the sauce blends cream, butter, and a punch of crushed black peppercorns to give steaks a rich, peppery finish that tastes like a steakhouse meal. My goal is to share a simple, reliable recipe you can…
I keep a few go-to sauces in my kitchen, and Mission BBQ’s Alabama white sauce quickly became a favorite. It blends creamy mayo with bright, tangy flavors and traces back to an Alabama barbecue tradition that started in the early 20th century. I like how easy it is to make with simple pantry ingredients and…
