Cookie and Kate

Quinoa Vegetable Soup with Kale

January 16, 2019 296 Comments

We’ve been living in a winter wonderland lately. We’ve gotten so much snow that Cookie can barely keep her head above it when we go outside (she’s smaller than you think). I’m thankful to have power and gearing up for more winter weather this weekend.

This hearty soup is exactly what I need. It’s brimming with fresh veggies and warms me right up. Soup to the rescue!

This homemade vegetable soup with quinoa is light but filling and packs great for lunch. Like most soups, it tastes even better the next day. Bonus? It freezes well, too. I love keeping my freezer stocked with hearty soups and defrosting one whenever I need a quick but nutritious meal.

This soup is vegan unless you want to top it with Parmesan cheese, which isn’t a bad idea if you ask me. The ingredients list, while a little on the long side, includes mostly pantry items. Every single one of them is nutritious!

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Roasted Cauliflower and Farro Salad with Feta and Avocado

January 14, 2019 161 Comments

Trying to eat better this year? I know, it’s extra-hard when it’s freezing cold outside and delivery pizza is just one call away. This warm, fresh yet hearty salad is the perfect solution. It packs well for lunch, too.

I really love the combination of garlicky farro with roasted cauliflower and salty feta and olives. Farro is an ancient grain related to wheat that you should be able to find in the health section of grocery stores. It’s nutty in flavor, freezes and defrosts well, and offers some heft to salads.

Fresh greens, sliced avocado, and lemon round it out. This seasonless salad is bursting with bold Mediterranean flavors.

You might recognize this salad from the archives. We have a lot of new visitors this year (hello and welcome!), and I’m trying to make sure my favorite recipes have appealing photos.

I love revisiting existing recipes because they give me more creative energy to devote to new recipes. I’m working on a new batch this week and can’t wait to share the results with you.

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Best Lentil Soup

January 11, 2019 2,392 Comments

Updated with new photos and video.

This soup recipe was a long time coming! Over the years, I made some lackluster lentil soups that never saw the light of day on this website. No vegetarian food blog would be complete without a proper lentil soup, though, so I perfected one of my own.

Here it is. My lentil soup is made with mostly pantry ingredients but includes hearty greens and a squeeze of lemon for bright, fresh flavor. It’s seasoned with a few of my favorite spices and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Honestly, it’s the best lentil soup I’ve ever had.

The original title of this recipe was “Spiced Vegan Lentil Soup,” which is accurate, but a mouthful. With over 500 five-star reviews, I think it’s safe to call this the Best Lentil Soup. Period.

Whether you’re looking to lighten up your meals or warm up with a steaming bowl of soup, this healthy lentil soup recipe is for you! It’s one of my all-time favorites and I hope it becomes a staple in your kitchen as well.

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Hearty Sweet Potato, Arugula & Wild Rice Salad with Ginger Dressing

January 8, 2019 54 Comments

Thank you so much to everyone who filled out our 2019 reader survey. With over 5,000 responses (holy moly!), I’m still reading through and taking notes on your answers.

Thank you for your kind encouragement and suggestions. I’ve already implemented a few of the most frequent requests. You’ll now find a “jump to recipe” button at the top of every recipe post, in case you’re in a hurry or working on your grocery list.

I’m also investigating better search solutions, and I’ve fixed an issue with the mobile version of the menu so you now have easier access to all of the recipe filters.

I’m carefully considering your responses. Since I’m both the website developer and recipe developer, working on one side takes time from the other. I love stretching my brain in both directions, though, and keeping the Cookie and Kate team small. I’d rather grow slowly than burn out, because this is my absolute dream job.

These things take time. I also need time to sleep, and Cookie wants to go on more walks. Maybe I’ll make another cookbook. I’m definitely going on more vacations and hope you do, too.

Anyway, let’s move on to the main attraction—this stunner of a salad! Cheers to many more fresh and wholesome recipes this year. Thank you for being here.

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What to Cook This January & 2019 Reader Survey

January 2, 2019 54 Comments

High fives all around! We have officially survived the holidays. If you’re looking for wholesome, satisfying, veggie-packed recipes, you’re in the right place. You’ll find a bunch of them in my guide to seasonal produce below.

For more in-depth resources and tips on how to eat real food, don’t forget about our cookbook and mobile app.

This year, I created our first-ever reader survey. If you have two minutes to spare, would you please fill it out? Your answers will provide valued direction for new content and features this year. Click here to fill out the survey!

Cheers to a healthy and happy 2019. Thank you so much for being here.

Beets

Simple Beet, Arugula and Feta Salad

Gluten free and easily vegan

“This is, quite literally, my new favorite salad! I have made it for several friends – who all have adored it – and have added it to my weekly food staples. I’ve never actually made it with pumpkin seed – I substitute pistachios instead, or omit the nuts altogether if I am not eating it right away, and the homemade balsamic is fantastic…YUMMMM!” – Franki

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Your Top 10 Recipes of 2018

December 30, 2018 14 Comments

Drumroll, please! Yesterday, I shared my favorite recipes from 2018, and today I’m sharing your favorite recipes. I’m thrilled that these recipes have become staples in your kitchen.

I had a hunch that the blueberry muffins and cauliflower soup from Love Real Food might make the list. The crispy potato wedges were a clear winner, and I’m happily surprised that you’re as crazy about my sunshine salad dressing as I am.

Thank you so much for your feedback on the recipes. I work hard on them and I love hearing from you in the comments and seeing how your recipes turn out on Instagram (don’t forget #cookieandkate)! You keep me inspired.

If you are looking for healthy recipes to start the new year right, you will find a bunch of great options here. Which recipe was your favorite?

1) Classic Minestrone Soup

Easily gluten free and easily vegan

“I have been looking for a good minestrone soup recipe for quite some time and this one is OUTSTANDING. I’ve already shared it with several friends because I was so blown away by how delicious this turned out. It is easy to make yet the taste is so spot on that you think it took a lot of effort and time. This is my new go-to soup recipe and I know I will continue to make this for years to come. Thank you for sharing!” – Mary

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