Just~One~Donna

  15-Minute Meatball & Tortellini Soup (The Ultimate Freezer-Staple Dinner) When I need dinner on the table fast (and I mean really fast), this meatball and tortellini soup is what I make. If you keep frozen meatballs and refrigerated tortellini on hand, you’re about 15 minutes away from a hot, satisfying meal that feels homemade without a lot of effort. This is one of those dependable recipes I come back to again and again. It’s flexible, forgiving, and perfect for the days when cooking needs to be simple, but substantial.

  The Best Scoop for Every Season: Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream One of the best things about having an ice cream maker in your kitchen is that "ice cream season" never actually ends. While we usually think of cold treats in the summer, there is something incredibly special about a scoop of fresh, velvety vanilla melting over a warm dessert in the middle of winter. But let’s be honest: homemade ice cream has a reputation for being finicky. Most recipes either require you to cook a custard with eggs (too much fuss!) or they turn into a rock-hard, icy block after one night in the freezer. Today, I’m sharing my updated "No-Fuss" Vanilla Ice Cream 2.0 . This is an egg-free, no-cook recipe that stays perfectly "scoopable" for days, making it the perfect companion for your favorite year-round bakes.

  An Easy, Crowd-Pleasing Holiday Appetizer When the holidays roll around, I love having a few go-to appetizers that look impressive but don’t require hours in the kitchen. This festive cranberry topping for baked brie is exactly that kind of recipe. It brings together tart, jewel-toned cranberries, bright orange, and a touch of warm ginger to create a sweet-tangy topping that turns a simple brie wheel into a showstopper. This post contains affiliate links.  I may receive asmall  compensation if you shop with these links. What's not to love about a recipe that comes together with a single saucepan, a handful of ingredients, and about ten minutes of stirring-and you’re done. It’s the kind of recipe you can make ahead, tuck in the fridge, and pull out whenever guests arrive. You Will Need 1 cup granulated sugar 1 navel orange, zested and juiced.  A citrus juicer will come in handy for this step. 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 4 cups fresh cranberries wa...

A Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe for the Holidays There’s something about this time of year that pulls us back into the kitchen. Whether it’s the scent of vanilla drifting through a warm house or the comfort of familiar traditions, holiday baking has a way of grounding us.  I always make room for at least one batch of chocolate chip cookies in December, and today I’m sharing the recipe I’ve been making for years, which is thin, crisp, and buttery. This recipe started its life in the Cook’s Illustrated test kitchen, famous for perfecting cooking techniques down to the smallest detail. Their original version includes browned butter and a unique beat-and-rest mixing method.  Over the years, I’ve evolved the recipe to my liking.  If you’re a chocolate chip cookie lover, this one’s for you. When that craving hits for a cookie that’s  thin, crispy at the edges, and chewy in the center , this recipe never disappoints.