I was in a Food Network competition show!!

I still can’t really believe I’m typing that sentence.

6 months ago, on a random Thursday night, I got a DM from someone saying they were a producer from the Food Network. I honestly assumed it was fake. I almost ignored it. But something told me to respond anyway.

Within minutes, they were calling me!

They asked if I’d be interested in competing on Guy’s Grocery Games. My answer was obviously yes. By the next day, I had three separate interviews with three different producers. And shortly after that, they asked if I’d be willing to fly out to California.

Again, HARD yes.

The turnaround was fast. Like really fast. I was on a plane the following weekend. My husband held down the fort at home, and I left Olive for a few days which felt huge for me. There was a part of me that wanted to say no just because it felt so far outside my comfort zone.

But I’m so grateful I didn’t.

Walking onto Flavortown market on the Guy’s Grocery Games set was surreal. The grocery store is massive and set up like a real supermarket. What surprised me the most was how many globally inspired ingredients they had. Tons of Middle Eastern spices, I was so excited to see it.

I didn’t know who I was competing against until I got there. Meeting the other food creators was one of the best parts. Everyone was talented, kind, and just as nervous as I was.

And speaking of nerves, I was nervous the entire time.

I’m so used to cooking in my own kitchen, with my phone propped up, my daughter running around, and my husband behind the camera. Being surrounded by huge lights, cameras, microphones, and a full production crew was a completely different experience.

Filming took over 12 hours. Which is wild when you realize the episode itself is only about 45 minutes long.

If you want to watch it, it’s Season 41, Episode 2 on the Food Network. It aired on my birthday, which still feels like a little wink from the universe. My younger self would be absolutely freaking out knowing she was going to cook on the Food Network for judges she once looked up to.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity. Truly.

And now that it’s out in the world, I wanted to bring you back to what I do best and what I share here every week… SIMPLE HIGH PROTEIN DINNERS

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Here are my go-to protein dinners lately

If you’re new here, or if you’ve been here a while, you know this already. I’m all about 30-minute dinners with 10 ingredients or less. Meals that actually fit into busy weeks and don’t require a million specialty items.

Here are 3 dinners I’ve been making on repeat lately. I’m linking each recipe so you can click straight through to the full instructions on my site!

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Apple Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan Meal

This is one of those throw everything on a pan and walk away meals. It’s cozy, a little sweet, a little savory, and perfect for busy nights.

What I love about this one is that it checks all the boxes. It’s protein and veggies mixed with my favorite olive oil all on a sheet pan! Best part is has minimal cleanup if you use pre-chopped veggies! It’s flexible and forgiving which is my favorite kind of recipe.

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Honey Mustard Salmon

If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you know salmon is my comfort food. This honey mustard salmon is one of those recipes that feels fancy but takes almost no effort. My 2 year old loves it.

The sauce is simple but so good. Slightly sweet, slightly tangy, and perfect with potatoes and green beans. This is one of my go-to weeknight sheet pan dinners when I want something nourishing but don’t want to overthink it.

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Garlic Parmesan Chicken

This one is a favorite for a reason. It’s simple, comforting, and great for the whole family. I usually serve it with roasted potatoes and broccoli on a sheet pan.

It’s one of those meals that feels like something you’d order out, but it’s crazy how easy it is to make. The microplane is my best friend here, because it adds so much lemon flavor from the juice you would already be using!

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My thought process on recipes..

I don’t want cooking to feel overwhelming! I don’t want you staring at your fridge wondering what to make. I want these recipes to feel like something a friend would text you and say, “Make this tonight. It’s easy.”

If you click through to the recipes, you’ll find all the details. Ingredients, steps, tips, and swaps to make them work for your life! And here are my favorite gadgets to make cooking easier in your own kitchen.

That’s always the goal here - real food for real life.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for cheering me on. And thank you for making my kitchen feel a little bigger than just my own.

If you make any of these, let me know. I truly love seeing what you cook.

🤍 Jazz