Olivia Hartwell

My First Stir-Fry Fumble I tried making stir-fry for my husband when we were first married. I was so nervous. I used a big, heavy pot instead of a pan. Everything steamed instead of getting that nice, crispy sear. It was a bit soggy. He ate it all with a smile, though. I still…

A Better Way to Get That Crunch I love fried chicken. But my old back doesn’t love standing over a pot of hot oil. So I found a better way. We bake our chicken to get that perfect crunch. It’s just as good, I promise. And your whole house won’t smell like a fryer.…

A Sweet Start Making ice cream feels like magic. You start with simple things. Then you end up with a frozen treat. First, we get our strawberries ready. We mix them with honey, sugar, and a little lemon juice. Then we let them sit. I love watching them get all juicy. It’s like they’re…

A Salad with a Secret This salad is my little secret. It looks so fancy with its bright pink color. But it is really just simple, good food. My granddaughter calls it “pink confetti salad.” I still laugh at that. It makes eating vegetables feel like a party. Do you have a favorite colorful…

Why a Water Bath? My first cheesecake cracked right down the middle. It looked so sad. I learned the secret is a water bath. The steam keeps the cake gentle and calm. It stops the top from drying out and cracking. This matters because a smooth top makes a beautiful cake. It feels like…

A Memory in the Pan My grandson once called this “fancy cowboy food.” I still laugh at that. He saw the steak and the colorful veggies all together. He thought it was a campfire meal gone elegant. That is the magic of this dish. It is simple, but it feels special. It shows you…

My Favorite Morning Pan I love a one-pan breakfast. It makes the whole kitchen smell wonderful. Everything cooks together and becomes friends in the skillet. Doesn’t that sound cozy? This recipe reminds me of my grandpa. He cooked a big breakfast like this every Sunday. I still laugh at how he’d always “test” the…

A Taste of Sunshine I first tried this chicken on a trip to Greece. The sun was warm on my face. The smell of lemon and oregano filled the air. I knew I had to learn how to make it at home. This marinade is like a big, happy hug for your chicken. It…

My Favorite Kitchen Helper I love my slow cooker. It feels like a warm hug for my kitchen. You just put everything inside and walk away. It makes the whole house smell wonderful. Doesn’t that smell amazing? This lemon chicken is one of my easiest meals. It gives me time to read or call…

A Cozy Kitchen Memory My grandson calls this my famous crunch-munch casserole. I still laugh at that. He asked for it every Tuesday for a whole year. It makes the whole house smell like a happy fiesta. Doesn’t that smell amazing? This dish matters because it brings everyone to the table. It is more…