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Everyday Seasonal Recipes

Real food. Fresh ingredients. Zero boring dinners.

I don't plan meals six months out-I cook based on what's in season, what's in my fridge, and what I actually want to eat when the weather dips and the sweaters come out. If it's cold, I'm roasting everything in sight, loading up on browned butter, and pretending soup counts as self-care. If it's festive, I'm baking just enough cookies to make the house smell incredible (without ending up with three dozen leftovers I'll regret).

This is where you'll find what I'm genuinely cooking right now: simple, cozy recipes with a chef-y upgrade. Think weeknight-friendly meals that feel a little fancy, crowd-pleasers for holiday hangs, and seasonal bakes that make the whole kitchen feel warm. Mood-based cooking? Always. Cold-weather cravings? Obviously.

If you cook with vibes, crave flavor in every bite, and want your meals to match your moodboard-you're in exactly the right place.

Everyday Seasonal Recipes

  • Spring salad with garlic confit beets, halved kumquats, torn butter lettuce, pink radicchio, Tomme cheese, and focaccia croutons on a stone plate

Now Serving: Pumpkin Spice (don't tell anyone.)

Look-we all like to pretend we're above the pumpkin spice craze. But let's be honest: the moment the air gets crisp, we're lighting a maple candle, throwing on a chunky knit, and craving something spiced, sweet, and a little bit basic.

This is a safe space. Around here, we do pumpkin spice with intention. Real pumpkin, bold spice blends (no bland blends allowed), brown butter when the moment calls for it, and just enough indulgence to make it feel like fall is finally falling.

So go ahead. Lean in. Bake the cookie. Make the latte. Be the main character in your very own autumn montage. I won't tell if you don't.

Current Cravings

This section is pure mood. Maybe I want soft scrambled eggs with chili crisp at midnight. Maybe I need cold pasta salad on repeat. Whatever's getting heavy rotation in my kitchen right now lives here. No rules, just real-deal recipes I can't stop making-and you probably won't either.

  • A Dutch oven filled with chicken and dumpling soup, featuring shredded chicken, fluffy dumplings, and carrots in a flavorful broth.
    Hearty Chicken and Dumpling Soup
  • Swirled chocolate gingerbread fudge squares on a marble slab.
    Chocolate Gingerbread Fudge
  • Chocolate walnut fudge stacked on a plate, showing walnut pieces inside.
    Best Homemade Chocolate Walnut Fudge Recipe
  • A detailed shot of assorted chocolates and confections and marbled chocolate bark, in a bakery display.
    Behind the Ingredients: Exploring Chocolate and Cocoa

Fresh From the Farmer's Market

We've moved on from tomatoes and berries, and the fall produce aisle is giving full-on cozy girl energy. Right now I'm grabbing knobby squash that look like decorations (but roast like a dream), bushels of apples I swear I'll use for baking, and enough sage to make my kitchen smell like Thanksgiving on a Tuesday.

This is the section for recipes that start with what's fresh and in-season-but don't require a full spreadsheet to pull off. Whether you scored delicata, rainbow carrots, or a dozen pears because they were on sale (same), you'll find a way to make them taste like you definitely had a plan.


Want my go-to holiday recipes?

5 Holiday Recipes I Actually Make Every Year.

I pulled together 5 dishes I actually make every year-from cozy mains to small-batch sweets. No fluff, no filler-just real food that always hits.

Perfect for Friendsgiving, holiday potlucks, or baking in your PJs.

Pop your email in and I'll send them your way.

Send Me the Recipes

Party Planning: A Bloody Good Dinner Party

Gothic candles, red wine, and way too much garlic-welcome to the most unhinged (but delicious) Halloween dinner party you've ever hosted. We're skipping the dry ice and going full Transylvanian: moody lighting, rich flavors, deep reds, and dishes that feel like they belong in a castle.

Think blood-red sauces, dark roasted meats, inky cocktails, and decadent desserts that might tempt a vampire or two. It's classy, it's creepy, and it's definitely not for kids.


  • Maple brown sugar pecan cookies drizzled with caramel and sprinkled with sea salt, stacked on a wooden board.
    Maple Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies with Maple Fudge
  • A slice of pie topped with a generous swirl of fresh whipped cream, served on a white plate with a spoon.
    Homemade Whipped Cream: Easy & Customizable
  • Sliced chocolate protein pancakes topped with berries, whipped cream, and chocolate chips.
    Chocolate Protein Pancakes
  • Maple syrup being poured over a stack of fluffy pancakes
    Fluffy Protein Pancakes: Better Than Box

Party Planning: Friendsgiving, but better.

We don't do beige food and boring traditions here. This Friendsgiving is unapologetically elevated-think chef-style mains that still feel cozy, bold flavors that actually hold up to wine, and a menu that won't leave you stress-cooking for six hours.

It's all about prep-ahead dishes, flavor-forward sides, and a few unexpected twists to make your friends say, "Wait, did you make this from scratch?" (Spoiler: yes. You did. And you crushed it.)

  • Frozen cubes of Hidden Veggie Carrot and Onion Puree in a container on a marble counter, surrounded by fresh carrots, garlic, and parsley.
    Hidden Veggie Carrot and Onion Puree
  • A close-up of a sloppy joe sandwich with a side of seasoned potato wedges on a ceramic plate.
    Homemade Sloppy Joes
  • Stack of brown sugar protein pancakes topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of syrup on a ceramic plate
    Brown Sugar Protein Pancakes

Shop The Season

I don't believe in kitchen clutter-but when I fall for a tool, it earns a permanent spot on the counter. Right now, that means the roasting pan that handles everything from turkey to root veg, the tiny offset spatula I use for literally everything, and the cookie scoop that's pulling double duty all holiday season.

These aren't wishlist items. They're the behind-the-scenes heroes I actually use in my kitchen-on chaotic weeknights and when I'm stress-baking gingerbread at midnight. If it's here, it's been tested, loved, and probably used with brown butter.

Chef's Tip: How to reheat your leftovers, so they don't suck.

Reheat your leftovers like they matter-add broth, cover with foil, and skip the microwave unless you're into sadness.

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this is an image of taylor in a white chef coat and tan apron standing in a kitchen surrounded by vegetables

Hi, I'm Taylor! I’m Taylor McCain, a chef, recipe creator, and food enthusiast based in Nashville, TN. Cain Kitchen is a space where I share my love for cooking, my favorite recipes, and tips for making delicious meals that bring people together.

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