Cookie and Kate

What to Cook This February

February 1, 2023 82 Comments

February is here! If you bookmarked any hearty soups and stews that you haven’t gotten to try yet, this is the month to make them. In just four weeks, March and glimmers of spring will greet us. This butternut squash mac and cheese has been our go-to dinner lately, and I’m so delighted by your feedback on it!

It’s been terribly cold here in Kansas City. We’re planning a trip to Maui to warm up—any suggestions on where to eat or what to do with a toddler?

Here are more seasonal recipes to enjoy this month with winter produce. I have more recipes photographed and almost ready to share with you, so stay tuned.

Broccoli

Favorite Broccoli Salad

Gluten-free option and vegan option

“Sooooo good! My husband and I devoured a whole batch of this for dinner (And I usually hate raw broccoli) I made second batch right away and put it in the fridge to marinate for tomorrow!” – Rachel

More broccoli recipes »

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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

January 24, 2023 62 Comments

This butternut squash mac and cheese recipe strikes the perfect weeknight balance. It’s creamy, it’s cheesy, it’s comforting and completely delicious. This mac and cheese is not so rich that you’ll get a belly ache or fall asleep immediately after dinner.

This recipe is redeeming, too—it’s full of luscious roasted butternut squash, which amps up the golden hue without overwhelming the flavor. This mac and cheese is a real crowd pleaser. Our toddler loves it and so do we.

The cooking method is a thrill. This pasta comes together in one pot. You don’t ever strain the pasta. You don’t have to fuss with a béchamel sauce. You don’t have to get out the blender for the butternut.

If you roast your squash in advance, this recipe comes together in about 30 minutes. This is a unicorn of a pasta dish and I’m so excited to hear how it turns out in your kitchen.

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What to Cook This January

January 3, 2023 92 Comments

Let’s hear it for the New Year! Last year was a year of rest and recovery over here. It wasn’t the most productive, by a long shot, but that’s ok. I learned how to be present in the moment. I learned how to feed a baby, but definitely not how to convince one to sleep through the night. After quite a stressful pregnancy, holding my baby while she slept has been my therapy.

All that said, I’m excited to share some brand new recipes with you very soon! This year, I’m focusing on dinner recipes because wow, getting dinner onto the table can be hard. If you’re struggling, I’m right there with you and hope we can share strategies soon.

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 in-depth resources and tips on how to eat real food, be sure to check out my cookbook, Love Real Food.

Cheers to a healthy and happy 2023. Thank you so much for being here.

Beets

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese & Pistachios

Gluten free and easily vegan

“This salad is delicious! Made it tonight and it was just as good as a beet salad that I would typically order at a local restaurant. Will definitely make it again!” – Heather

More beet recipes »

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Cowboy Caviar

December 30, 2022 170 Comments

Y’all know I’m from Oklahoma, right? I grew up eating cowboy caviar, also called Texas caviar. It’s a classic bean salad recipe popular in the South. You can serve it as a side salad or as salsa. Either way, people go crazy for cowboy caviar at potlucks.

Cowboy caviar is made with black-eyed peas and black beans, chopped tomatoes, corn, bell pepper, onion and cilantro tossed in tangy Italian dressing. I typically think of cowboy caviar as a warm weather salad, but it’s made with ingredients that are readily available year-round.

Cowboy caviar is actually perfect for New Year’s if you’re craving something fresh yet hearty, and trying to hit your black-eyed pea quota!

I have one issue with most cowboy caviar recipes—they’re often swimming in store-bought Italian salad dressing. As such, they can be way too oily and contain some unnecessary preservatives. Instead, I whisked together a simple, homemade Italian dressing from scratch. It’s easy to do and tastes fantastic.

This recipe yields a big bowl of dip, but I don’t think you’ll have any trouble polishing it off. I hope you enjoy this cheekily titled delight!

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Classic Martini

December 22, 2022 10 Comments

How about a martini? Sometimes a martini sounds just right. I’m often disappointed by restaurant martinis (unless I’m at The Campground in Kansas City—Chris makes the best martini of all time).

So, I’ve been studying the martini and perfecting my at-home martini game. Today, I’m sharing what I’ve learned!

While martinis may seem intimidating, they are actually the perfect cocktail to make at home. The ingredient list is short and basic. The method is easy—stirred, not shaken, to bring out gin’s best flavors.

Now then, the “perfect” martini is very much determined by your personal preferences. I’ve typed up a foolproof classic martini recipe below. I’ve also provided suggested ingredients and details to help craft your perfect martini.

Whether you like your martini with gin or vodka, wet or dry, with a lemon twist or dirty with olives, this recipe is for you.

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Italian Dressing

December 14, 2022 14 Comments

Italian dressing has been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember. My mom always served a simple green salad with dinner, and I gravitated toward Wish-Bone’s Italian dressing for drizzling on top. I was especially glad to reach for the extra zesty variety when we had it.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—homemade salad dressings taste so much better than store-bought. This classic Italian vinaigrette is bold, lively and irresistible! My collection of salad dressing recipes was incomplete without it.

This dressing is easy to make with basic pantry ingredients. You’ll need olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, and dried oregano. You’ll also reach for salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (if you like mild heat). Finely grated Parmesan is entirely optional, but lends a familiar Olive Garden vibe.

The beauty of making your own Italian dressing is that you know exactly what’s going into it—like real olive oil and no preservatives.

You can also adjust the flavors to suit your preferences. Whether you like extra zesty or more mellow dressing, you’ll find guidance in the simple recipe below. It’s ready in under five minutes and keeps for a week!

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What to Cook This February

Broccoli

Favorite Broccoli Salad

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

What to Cook This January

Beets

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese & Pistachios

Cowboy Caviar

Classic Martini

Italian Dressing

Perfect Roasted Delicata Squash

Perfect Roasted Butternut Squash

Easy Honey Butter

Fresh Turmeric Tea

Easy Blue Cheese Dip

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Broccoli

Beets

Winter Recipes

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