Olivia Hartwell

A Pot of Good Memories This pasta recipe always makes me smile. I first made it for my grandson on a rainy Tuesday. He said it was the best “red pasta” he ever had. I still laugh at that. It is a simple dish. But it feels like a warm hug in a bowl.…

A Little Toasty Warm-Up First, we wake up the nuts. Toasting them makes their flavor sing. I spread them on a pan and pop them in the oven. When they turn golden, my whole kitchen smells wonderful. I let them cool before giving them a little chop. It’s a simple step that makes a…

A Soup from a Movie I first made this soup after watching a cartoon. It was about a little rat who loved to cook. He made a beautiful vegetable dish. I wanted that cozy feeling in a bowl. So I turned his idea into a simple soup. It has all the garden vegetables. It…

A Cake That Tastes Like Sunshine This lemon lavender cake is my happy place. It tastes like a bright summer day. The lemon is zesty and fun. The lavender is calm and sweet. They dance together in your mouth. Doesn’t that sound lovely? I think so. This cake always makes me smile. I want…

A Funny Little Kitchen Mistake My grandson, Leo, invented this recipe by accident. He was making a snack and got his chips all over the chicken. I still laugh at that. He was so proud of his messy creation. We decided to make it a real meal together. It reminds me that the best…

The Secret to a Crispy Potato My grandson once asked me for the secret to perfect potatoes. I showed him how to dry them with a kitchen towel. He was so surprised. I still laugh at that. Getting them really dry is the most important step. It helps them get crispy in the oven,…

A Cake Full of Holes This cake starts with a little bit of mischief. You bake a simple chocolate cake. Then you take a wooden spoon. You poke holes all over the top. It looks funny, I know. But trust me, this is where the magic happens. We are making little tunnels for sweetness…

The Secret to a Happy Chicken We all want our chicken to be juicy, not dry. The secret is a simple step. You must dry the chicken well with paper towels first. Then, poke it all over with a fork. This feels a little funny. But it lets the tasty flavors get deep inside…

A Drink That Makes Me Smile This swirled slushie reminds me of my grandson. He visited me one hot summer day. His face was as red as a strawberry. I whipped up this frosty drink for him. His whole face lit up with a big smile. I still laugh at that. Why This Simple…

A Sweet Treat from My Kitchen I love making little treats that make people smile. These gummies are like tiny, juicy jewels. They are so much better than the ones from a store. You can feel good about eating them. Making them is a fun little project. It reminds me of being a kid…