Cookie and Kate

July 2, 2022 37 Comments

July is here! I love long summer days and warm summer evenings. I hope you have a fun long weekend in store. Independence Day has always been one of my very favorite holidays, since it’s an annual family reunion on my mom’s side. Now it’s also the anniversary of my brother’s wakeboarding accident. After a month in the hospital and learning to walk again on a prosthetic leg, he’s doing well. This is my public request to be careful out there, especially on the water.

Last month, I mentioned that my dog Cookie was not doing well. She’s actually doing much better! She has been cycling through some health issues for a while, but she’s in good shape right now. At the moment, she is trying to steal my breakfast. She’s ornery as ever, and her little sister, Clover, keeps her on her toes.

If you’re looking for Fourth of July recipes, here are some of my favorites. The more salads, the better! Browse with pictures here.

• Dips: Mediterranean Tomato and Feta Dip, Pimento Cheese or Strawberry Salsa
• Salads: Favorite Quinoa Salad, Black Bean Salad, Garden-Fresh Corn Salad, Herbed Potato Salad, Layered Panzanella or Watermelon Salad with Herbed Yogurt Sauce
• Main Dishes: Caprese Sandwiches, Favorite Veggie Burgers or Grilled Pizzas
• Desserts: Almond Cake with Berries on Top, Mixed Berry Crisp or Simple Blueberry Cake
• Extras: Classic Mojito, Easy Pineapple Mint Popsicles, or Strawberry Smoothies

Avocado

Gaby’s Cucumber Salad

Gluten free and vegan

“Made this immediately last night and loved it – my daughter as well! Quick and easy for when you get home from work – served alongside pasta.” – Connie

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June 2, 2022 199 Comments

Why is this year is going by so quickly? Watching our baby grow bigger makes me acutely aware of the days going by, though the months are a blur since the nights are still so long.

I’m also watching my dog, Cookie, grow older. A few weeks ago, I realized that she can’t hear me any more. She’s not feeling well at the moment and I’m working with the vets to get her better. Cookie is approximately fourteen years old now, and we’re having more conversations about her quality of life. Watching her slow down makes my heart ache and I’m loving on her as much as possible. I know she has a lot of fans here, so I wanted to fill you in. Send her some love if you will?

This month, seasonal produce options are expanding to include fresh fruit like blueberries and strawberries, rhubarb and cherries. I think I’ll make a crisp soon—the only question is which kind (blueberry, mixed berry or strawberry rhubarb?). Asparagus and spring peas are on the decline, so get them while you can. Stay well!

Avocado

Creamy Avocado Dip

Gluten free and vegan

“Another dinner success! This was surprisingly tasty. I honestly passed this up thinking “eh” but then my friends had a fiesta dinner and I was dying for an excuse not to eat their steak or ground beef tacos so I made the refried beans for my tacos. Tonight I made the avocado sauce and pickled onions with it….YUM. And super easy!!” – Erin

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May 1, 2022 67 Comments

May is here! The trees are greener by the day and I’m thriving on the abundant sunshine. Baby Grace is happy, wiggly, and giggly. She’s an enthusiastic and adventurous little eater so far. Cookie is recovering well from a minor paw-under-stroller accident. Life is good.

After last year’s failed tomato seedlings, I’ve given up on growing our garden from seed. Grace and I picked out this year’s tomato, pepper and basil plants this week, with an emphasis on yellow tomatoes since we decided we like those best. She plucked a few basil leaves off the plant to munch on before I even knew what was happening!

We have a couple of holidays coming up. For Cinco de Mayo, browse Mexican recipes here (start with the guacamole and margaritas). For Mother’s Day, check out my spring brunch roundup.

The farmers’ markets will become more colorful each week this month. Below, you’ll find some of my favorite spring recipes so we can make the most of our fresh produce.

Asparagus

Perfect Roasted Asparagus

Gluten free and easily vegan (skip the cheese)

“This is an easy and very tasty way to prepare asparagus. I could eat it every day. My 8 year old loves it too. I add parmesan and lemon. I roast the asparagus in my oven for 9 minutes. Thank you for the recipe!” – Anna

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