About

My Culinary Journey

I grew up in the heart of the Midwest, where family dinners were sacred and comfort food was a way of showing love. My grandmother's casseroles, my mother's slow-cooked roasts, and countless potlucks taught me that the best meals are the ones that bring people together around the table. For the past 14 years, I've been building on those Midwestern family traditions while developing my own approach to feeding a busy household.

Beyond what I learned at my family's table, I've completed several self-taught baking courses to refine my skills with breads, pastries, and desserts. Baking has become one of my favorite ways to slow down and create something special for my family.

Before launching MollieMeals, I worked as a school cafeteria coordinator, where I learned to cook in volume, plan efficient menus, and create meals that appealed to kids with varying tastes. That experience was invaluable—it taught me how to maximize kitchen time, reduce waste, and make food that actually gets eaten. Those skills now inform every recipe I create.

Why I Started MollieMeals

I launched MollieMeals.com in 2018 because I was tired of searching for recipes that actually worked for large families like mine. As a mom cooking daily for a family of five, including three kids with different preferences, I needed recipes that were hearty, practical, and could often be made ahead or frozen for those chaotic weeks.

What began as a personal collection of family favorites has grown into over 600 recipes, all tested in my Madison kitchen and designed with real families in mind—especially those who cook in larger quantities and need meals that can stretch, freeze, and reheat beautifully.

What Makes MollieMeals Different

My Specialty: I focus on comfort food, casseroles, baked goods, and slow-cooker meals—the kind of cooking that fills your home with warmth and your family with satisfaction. My recipes celebrate the hearty, stick-to-your-ribs dishes that Midwestern families have loved for generations, with practical updates for today's busy schedules.

My Cooking Style: Warm, hearty, and designed for family-size portions. I believe in cooking once and eating well multiple times, which is why many of my recipes are freezer-friendly, make-ahead, or perfect for batch cooking. My goal is to help you spend less time stressing about dinner and more time enjoying it with your family.

Who I Cook For: My recipes are designed for large families, meal preppers, and anyone who wants high-volume dishes that don't sacrifice flavor or quality. Whether you're feeding a crowd, planning ahead for busy weeks, or just love having leftovers that taste even better the next day, these recipes are for you.

What You'll Find Here

• Comforting casseroles that feed a crowd and freeze beautifully
• Slow-cooker meals for hands-off dinners
• Baked goods from scratch, including breads, cookies, and desserts
• Freezer-friendly recipes perfect for meal prep
• Family-size portions that make leftovers a joy, not a chore
• Budget-conscious meals that feed many without breaking the bank
• Practical kitchen tips from my years coordinating school cafeteria meals

Every recipe on MollieMeals has been prepared in my own kitchen and tested on my family of five. I'm a firm believer in real-world cooking—if it doesn't work on a busy Tuesday night with hungry kids waiting, it doesn't make it onto the site.

Let's Connect

I love hearing from fellow busy parents and home cooks! Whether you've tried one of my recipes, have a question about freezing casseroles, or just want to share what's on your dinner table this week, I'd love to hear from you.

Email: [email protected]
Pinterest: pinterest.com/molliemeals

Follow along on Pinterest for daily recipe inspiration, meal prep ideas, and practical tips for feeding families from my Madison kitchen.

Thank you for being part of the MollieMeals community. I'm so glad you're here.

— Mollie Anderson
Creator & Recipe Developer
MollieMeals.com
Madison, Wisconsin