August 29, 2026
Hi Friends,
Like so many of you, I am still sad that we lost Dolly Parton. She was 80.
I don't think there's ever been a bigger heart in country music, or a better cook behind a home kitchen counter. Dolly grew up dirt poor in the Smoky Mountains, one of twelve kids, and she never let go of that Southern table she was raised at. She wrote cookbooks, ran restaurants at Dollywood, and talked about biscuits and gravy the same way she talked about songwriting, with real love.
So this week, in her honor, I want to share some of the recipes she was known for. Simple, comforting, made with whatever you had on hand and a whole lot of heart. That's Dolly all over.
We're starting with her famous 5-ingredient casserole. It's the kind of dish she'd have made for family on a Sunday, and it felt like the right place to begin.
Happy Cooking,
Anisa
Did you love Dolly Parton?
I did. She was probably one of the best human beings and certainly one of the kindest celebrities. Take a moment to watch her sing
"I Will Always Love You" by
Visiting Here
And Dolly RIP, WE will ALWAYS love you!
Photo: Shredded chicken, cheddar and a buttery cracker topping. Pure comfort.
Today's Recipe Dolly Parton’s 5-Ingredient Casserole | Serves 5-6 |
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Ingredients | ● | Boneless skinless chicken thighs–or chicken breasts | | ● | Cream of chicken soup–or cream of mushroom | | ● | Sour cream | | ● | Salt and pepper–to taste | | ● | Cheddar cheese–or Colby Jack | | ● | Ritz crackers–or butter crackers or panko mixed with melted butter |
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Directions | 1 | Add chicken into slow cooker and spoon the cream of chicken soup over the top. | | 2 | Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours. | | 3 | Break the chicken up with a spoon or shred the chicken. | | 4 | Stir in the sour cream. Taste test and add salt and pepper to taste. | | 5 | Heat oven to 350° F. | | 6 | In a 8×8 inch baking dish layer half of the chicken, half of the cheese–then repeat. Sprinkle the crushed Ritz on top. | | 7 | Bake for 25-30 minutes. |
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| Steamed white rice or buttery egg noodles, soaks up the creamy sauce Mashed potatoes for double comfort food Warm biscuits split open, casserole spooned on top |
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Anisa's Kitchen Hack:
Melt a tablespoon of butter and toss it with the crushed crackers before you sprinkle them on top. That little extra fat is what turns the topping from crunchy to golden and toasty.
Shred your chicken while it's still warm, it pulls apart so much easier than once it's cooled.
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