Doran Kristen 
Creamy Garlic Shrimp Over Mashed Potatoes: Comfort Food Worth Embracing The first time I tried to make this creamy garlic shrimp over mashed potatoes, I nearly burned my kitchen down—or at least that’s how my husband told the story later. I was juggling a toddler on my hip, and the shrimp were having a not-so-great … Read more
Garlic Miso Chicken Ready in 25 Minutes: A Weeknight Miracle The first time I attempted this Garlic Miso Chicken, I nearly had a meltdown. I was trying to be all fancy and impress my husband, James, who knows his way around a spice rack much better than I do. It started with a well-meaning "just … Read more
Scallion Pancakes: A Crispy, Flaky Adventure You’ll Want to Make Again and Again The first time I attempted to make scallion pancakes, I ended up with a pan that looked like a crime scene. Seriously, I had flour on the ceiling, dough stuck to every surface, and not a single recognizable pancake in sight. My … Read more
Chicken Pesto Tortellini Soup: A Bowl Full of Comfort and Chaos The first time I tried to make this soup, I nearly set my kitchen on fire. Okay, that might be a tad exaggerated, but it felt like it at the time. Picture this: a kitchen full of steam, me frantically looking for the basil … Read more
The Magical Mystery of Cruffins: Why These Pastries Will Steal Your Heart The first time I made cruffins, I was elbows-deep in dough and listening to an overly dramatic playlist that made me imagine I was in a baking competition – you know, the kind where they slow-mo cut to your flour-covered face right before … Read more
Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Lasagna: A Cozy Kitchen Adventure The first time I attempted to make this Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Lasagna, let’s just say it wasn’t a hallmark moment in my kitchen. There was definitely flour on my nose, a bout of “oops, I meant to sauté,” and a whole lot of chaotic energy. … Read more
The Emotional Depth of Comfort: My Rich High-Protein Bean Soup The first time I set out to make a bean soup, I swear my kitchen turned into a scene from a horror movie. You know the kind, where the heroine is startled by the bubbling pot and makes a frantic dash for cover. That was … Read more
The Black Bean Burger That Saved My Summer BBQs The first time I tried to make a black bean burger, I went in with all the confidence of someone who, well, had not burned water but definitely was one step above it. Midway through mashing the beans, my cat, Mr. Whiskers, decided it was the … Read more
Brownie Cookie Dough Sandwich Cookies: A Little Slice of Heaven The first time I attempted to make these Brownie Cookie Dough Sandwich Cookies, I was a hot mess. I’m talking flour dust clouds and the battle cries of a frustrated mum trying to keep my two kids from turning the kitchen into a WWE ring. … Read more
Savory Hot Honey Flatbread Pizza: A Cozy Night In Recipe The first time I tried to make this Savory Hot Honey Flatbread Pizza, I got so distracted by my husband Gary’s incessant chatter about his day that I misread the instructions and ended up slathering far too much hot honey on the bubbling dough. (Yes, … Read more
