Pasta Salads

Smoker

Mother’s Day

Grill

A white rectangular plate with several slices of toasted bread topped with Eggplant Caponata and fresh basil leaves.

Appetizers

A stack of pancakes topped with cooked apple slices sits on a white plate with a fork. Green apples, cinnamon sticks, and a cup are in the background.

Breakfast

Lunch

Roasted chicken with seasoning displayed on a slate board with cutlery on the side.

Chicken

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole on a black plate with a fork.

Casseroles

Baked Pesto Salmon on a plate.

Seafood

A white bowl filled with Quick Marinated Cucumbers sits on a checked cloth next to a fork, with a glass jar of more salad and whole cucumbers in the background.

Side Dishes

A delicious cabbage roll soup in a white bowl.

Soups/Stews

A white rectangular plate with several slices of toasted bread topped with Eggplant Caponata and fresh basil leaves.

Appetizers

A stack of pancakes topped with cooked apple slices sits on a white plate with a fork. Green apples, cinnamon sticks, and a cup are in the background.

Breakfast

Lunch

Roasted chicken with seasoning displayed on a slate board with cutlery on the side.

Chicken

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole on a black plate with a fork.

Casseroles

Baked Pesto Salmon on a plate.

Seafood

A white bowl filled with Quick Marinated Cucumbers sits on a checked cloth next to a fork, with a glass jar of more salad and whole cucumbers in the background.

Side Dishes

A delicious cabbage roll soup in a white bowl.

Soups/Stews

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  • Desserts

    Copycat Crumbl Biscoff Cookies (Thick, Soft, Bakery-Style at Home)

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Chef Jenn Allen sits at a marble kitchen counter, smiling, with an open cookbook, wine bottle, lemons, and folded linens in front of her—ready to cook what you love.

Meet Chef Jenn

I’m Chef Jenn Allen, a retired professional chef and the voice behind Cook What You Love, where real-life cooking meets bold, craveable flavor. After years in professional kitchens, I traded restaurant service for something closer to home—helping everyday cooks put satisfying, no-fuss meals on the table without sacrificing taste. My recipes lean into comfort, nostalgia, and smart shortcuts, with a focus on dishes that actually work in busy kitchens and get asked for again. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner, a backyard cookout, or something a little indulgent, everything here is tested, practical, and built to be cooked, shared, and loved.

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Top 10 Favorites

Recipes Favorites

  • Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches with Smoked Rib Roast (The Best Way to Use Leftover Prime Rib)

  • Peameal Bacon Recipe — Authentic Ontario-Style, Made at Home

  • BBQ Chicken Pizza With Rotisserie Chicken, Jalapeño & Fresh Herbs

  • Greek Salad With Chicken That’s Fresh, Filling, and Easy Enough for Any Night

  • Creamy Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas

  • Slow Cooker Hatch Chili Salsa Chicken

  • Instant Pot Charro Beans

  • Air Fryer Wings with Alabama White Wing Sauce

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Recipes

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    The Backyard Table

    Recipes for Summer Cookouts

    With over 50 pages of foodie love, The Backyard Table features Chef Jenn's BEST recipes for outdoor eating and entertaining. Every recipe is created, tested, and loved by Chef Jenn, with NO AI! Get it now, at a special introductory price of $7.99 and level up your outdoor dining.

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    Get ad-free recipes like Grilled Corn Guacamole, Grilled French Onion Burgers, Deviled Egg Pa​sta Salad, Blueberry Grunt, and so many more!

  • Gooey Butter Cake

    Gooey Butter Cake is a St. Louis classic that’s rich, buttery, and impossibly decadent. It

  • Buttermilk Fried Chicken

    Buttermilk Fried Chicken is everything crispy, juicy chicken should be: tender inside, crunchy on the

  • Cranberry Dip

    This Cranberry Dip is sweet, creamy, and a little bit tangy, with bits of dried

My Favorite Kitchen Accessories: Elevating the Heart of the Home

The kitchen is undeniably the heart of any home, where culinary creations come to life and cherished memories are made around the dining table…

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