Olivia Hartwell

A Cozy Kitchen Secret I have a little secret for you. The creamiest pasta sauces don’t need any cream at all. I learned this from my own granddaughter. She asked for a “fancy” pasta night. I looked in my freezer. I saw that bag of frozen squash. It was a happy accident. Roasting it…

My First Pot of Red Beans My first pot was a little too spicy. I was so proud of it. I gave my grandson a big bowl. His face turned all red. He drank a whole glass of milk. I still laugh at that. It taught me to go easy on the cayenne. Cooking…

A Little Story About My Grandson My grandson used to turn his nose up at broccoli. He thought it looked like tiny trees. One day, I hid it inside this chicken. He ate every single bite. He even asked for more. I still laugh at that. Sometimes, the best way to enjoy something is…

A Little Slice of Sunshine I think everyone needs a little sunshine on a plate. These lemon raspberry bars are just that. They are sweet, a little tart, and so pretty. The pink and yellow swirl together like a summer sunset. Making them always makes me happy. The smell of lemon fills the whole…

The Story Behind the Casserole My grandson calls this my “famous mess.” I still laugh at that. He asked for Sloppy Joes one night, but I had no buns. So I got creative with what was in my pantry. We ended up with this casserole instead. Now it’s his favorite meal. This matters because…

A Little Sunshine in a Loaf My kitchen smells like a sunny morning. I am making my Lemon Blueberry Bread. The lemon zest makes the air feel fresh and happy. It is a simple joy that never gets old. This bread is my go-to for a quick snack. It is not too sweet. The…

A Sweet Start Let’s make something special today. These raspberry buns are like little hugs from the oven. They are soft, sweet, and filled with joy. We start by waking up the yeast. Stir it with warm milk and sugar. In five minutes, it will get all frothy and happy. I love watching it…

Why I Love This Salad I first made this salad for my book club. My friend Susan took one bite and her eyes got wide. She asked for the recipe right there. I still laugh at that. This salad feels like a hug in a bowl. It is packed with good things. Every bite…

A Little Story About Pork Chops My grandson used to turn his nose up at pork chops. He said they were too dry. I told him we just needed a little magic. One day, he helped me mix the brown sugar and spices. He was so proud of his work. When he tried the…

The Magic of Browned Butter Let me tell you about browned butter. It is just butter, cooked until it turns a golden color. It gets a warm, nutty smell. It makes your whole kitchen feel cozy. I learned this trick from my own grandma. She would make simple cookies taste incredible. I still laugh…