I got my computer fixed! Let’s celebrate with a new recipe for classic red sangria. I love a glass of wine at the end of a long day, but sangria is best shared with friends. So, this recipe has been in the works for a while.
Sangria is festive, fruity and fun. It’s a perfect party punch to pair with Spanish tapas or Mexican food. Cold sangria is undeniably great on hot summer days. The red wine base and versatile seasonal fruit options make it appropriate for cooler days, too!
Sangria hails from Spain, although funny enough, my friend Ali lives in Spain and says they don’t drink it often over there. I visited Barcelona with friends in college and we bought cheap cartons of sangria from the convenience store by the beach. I don’t recommend that stuff.
We’re going to make real sangria with good wine and fresh fruit today. Through research and trial and error, I’ve learned how to make the best red sangria. Ready?!
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Looking for a simple dessert? It doesn’t get easier than fruit compote over vanilla ice cream. Compote is fresh, saucy and sweet, and ready in as little as 15 minutes.
You can make compote ahead of time and warm it up or throw it onto the stove after dinner. Serve it on ice cream for dessert, yogurt or toast the next morning, or anything else that could use some fruity flavor. You really can’t go wrong.
What is compote, exactly? Compote is a simple fruit sauce made with pieces of fresh (or frozen) fruit and some sugar, cooked briefly on the stove. You could call the end result a textured fruit sauce or chunky fruit syrup. I call it magic.
Instead of sugar, I use a small amount of maple syrup or honey to make naturally sweetened compote. Since it’s liquid, you can easily add more to taste after cooking if your compote isn’t quite sweet enough.
Compote is not as thick as jam or jelly, and it’s meant to be consumed relatively soon after making (it will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator). It’s not designed to be canned or preserved for the months or years ahead. Compote is so easy to make that you can throw together a batch at a moment’s notice!
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I know, I’m a little early on the September recipe list. My computer’s in the shop and I’m making do the best I can. I have several recipes up my sleeve and can’t wait to share them with you.
September is when summer and fall produce collide at the farmers’ market. It’s the best of both worlds, so let’s make the most of it!
Links lately:
Conscious Eating with my hero Michael Pollan (podcast) Turn a pillowcase into a salad spinner! 20 ways to wear the same skirt (video) Seeds bred for flavor, with input from chefs The Toll of America’s Obesity Leave yourself wanting more (I’m working on this)The post What to Cook This September appeared first on Cookie and Kate.
Chunky doesn’t exactly have a ring to it, but let’s call this avocado salsa what it is! It’s also fresh, hearty and delicious. This salsa is basically a hybrid of guacamole and pico de gallo—are you sold yet?
This simple homemade salsa features diced ripe avocado and cherry tomatoes, chopped red onion and cilantro, and a hefty squeeze of lime juice to bring it all together. It’s more filling than your average salsa, thanks to the rich and creamy avocado.
This salsa is easy to make with just a cutting board and a good knife. Wait to dice the avocado until you’re almost ready to serve, but give yourself some time for the chopping and dicing. It’s worth the effort and then some!
Serve this dip at your next party or happy hour at home, and I bet you’ll get a few recipe requests by the end of the night. Speaking of, did you know that eating some healthy fat like avocado or nut butter before drinking will slow your absorption of alcohol? That means you won’t be feeling too silly too soon. Your future self will thank you.
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Ever tried fattoush? Once you do, you’ll never forget it! Fattoush salad is a colorful Lebanese salad that’s bursting with fresh produce, lettuce and mint. It’s refreshing, crisp and satisfying.
Fattoush is the salad to make if you have random leftover fresh vegetables (radish, carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, etc.) and pita bread. You really can’t go wrong with the proportions here.
Simply tear up the pita and bake it with some olive oil and salt. You’ll end up with crisp, toasted Mediterranean croutons. Fattoush is the Lebanese solution for stale pita bread, in the same way that French toast uses up stale bread. Isn’t it smart?
My only twist on traditional fattoush salad is that instead of making a basic lemon dressing, I used my fresh mint dressing. The dressing is super easy to make in the food processor, and infuses the salad with even more irresistible mint flavor.
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Meet my latest salad dressing obsession! This mint dressing is as refreshing as they get. It’s made with freshly squeezed lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, and lots of fresh mint. Honey, Dijon mustard and garlic round out the flavors and make it irresistible.
This dressing is delicious on salads, of course, and I’ve listed some salad ingredients that play especially well with mint dressing below.
This “dressing” is also a fresh and lightly creamy sauce. I bet it would be great on orzo salad, in a pita sandwich, or on cooked fish, if you’re a fish eater. I’m eager to hear how you put it to use.
One of my favorite local salads includes a mint dressing that I love (the chisaya mama at The Mixx, which is made with kale, arugula, quinoa, fennel, radish and Parmesan).
I finally developed one of my own for my fattoush salad recipe, but it’s so good that I decided it deserves its own post.
Homemade salad dressings, as a whole, taste infinitely better than the stale store-bought options. This one tastes particularly fresh since it’s loaded with fresh mint!
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This avocado salad is for you if:
You’re craving avocado salad. You have a surplus of avocados (lucky you). You’re sick of avocado toast and guacamole (is this a thing? surely not).
This salad features ripe avocado slices covered in a fresh lime dressing, topped generously with a contrasting crisp-and-crunchy blend of chopped radish, green onion, jalapeño, and herbs.
I can’t get enough of that garden-fresh combination lately, and it perfectly balances the rich, creamy avocados in this salad.
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This summer is the summer of heirloom tomatoes. Ripe, juicy heirloom tomatoes in all shades of red, yellow and orange. My friends have gifted me a few from their gardens this summer, and they’re so perfect when sliced and sprinkled with a little olive oil and flaky salt.
I couldn’t walk by the overflowing bins at Whole Foods one more time without stocking up and making something big and bold out of those gorgeous tomatoes. What better than a classic Caprese salad, made with the simplest of ingredients?
Traditional Caprese salads are made with slices of tomato, mozzarella, sprinkled generously with basil, salt and pepper, finished with a drizzle of olive oil.
Caprese salad literally means “salad of Capri,” an Italian island in the Mediterranean. I can’t confirm that it actually originated there, but it is Italian and it is delicious.
A well-made Caprese salad will make a statement at your summer parties, but it’s easy and simple enough to enjoy on a regular weeknight.
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Eating clean doesn’t mean giving up on your favorite flavors! Make everything taste like your favorite bagel by making a healthier, homemade version of the (Better than!) Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel Seasoning!
Sweet dreams are made of bagels with cream cheese, I’m telling ya. Oh, that crispy, smooth, savory deliciousness.
There are some pretty great bagels out there, but nothing beats an everything bagel. I used to go ahead and buy the Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel Seasoning to make some of the recipes I make at home taste like my favorite bagel, but with time, realized that not only is making Everything Seasoning yourself super easy, it’s also so much better for you.
When you’re making something yourself from scratch, you know exactly which ingredients you’re using. Making homemade Everything Seasoning allows you to control the amount of sodium in the seasoning so it fits right into your clean eating plan.
Also, you can make it to your own liking. Perfect, right?
You know I’m all about making your favorite comfort foods healthier so you can enjoy them without any guilt. That’s why the first time I made Everything Seasoning at home, I knew I just have to use it on my Homemade Bagels recipe.
Making healthy bagels and home has never been easier. They are made with baking powder and require no rising time. Sprinkle them with the Everything Seasoning and there you have it — an easy-to-make, healthy version of your favorite bagel.
If you’ve got some leftover seasoning, you can always add it to hummus or an avocado for some extra crunch and flavor. Yum!
Ok, let’s do this!
WHAT IS EVERYTHING BAGEL SEASONING?Everything Bagel Seasoning is one of the most used and loved seasoning mixes, and for a good reason. It adds the perfect salty, nutty, crunchy finishing touch to every dish. Follow these super easy steps and, in just a few minutes, you’ll have your first jar of the (better than!) Trader Joe’s Everything Seasoning ready to go! If you’re wondering what’s in Everything Bagel Seasoning, here it is:
Black sesame seeds White sesame seeds Flaked sea salt Dried onion flakes Poppy seeds Dried minced garlicAnd that’s it — thats what you’ll need to make Everything Bagel Seasoning at home. So simple, you might not even have to run to the store to make it yourself right now! Sure, you can buy the everything bagel spice blend, but as I always say, why buy something you can easily make yourself!
Once you’ve got all your ingredients, let’s turn them into your favorite bagel seasoning, mmmkay?
Here are the super easy steps to make Everything Bagel Seasoning:
Measure out the spices and add them to a small bowl or jar. Use a spoon or fork to mix up the ingredients well, or put on a lid on the jar and shake until all the ingredients are mixed. EAT — Top your bagel, avocado, hummus, eggs, or whatever you fancy with this deliciousness. Store your Everything Bagel Seasoning in the pantry in a sealed container until ready to use.Trust me, you’re gonna find so many new amazing ways to use this delicious and easy Everything Bagel Seasoning recipe.
Is there anything Everything Seasoning CAN’T go on? It gives an extra savory punch and some texture to well, everything.
Here are some of my favorites:
Healthy Homemade Bagels Avocado Toast Hard-Boiled or Soft-Boiled Eggs Scrambled Eggs Homemade Hummus Sliced Avocado Cottage Cheese Plain Greek Yogurt HOW TO MAKE EVERYTHING BAGEL SEASONING WITHOUT POPPY SEEDSIf you aren’t the biggest fan of poppy seeds in general, but love Everything Seasoning, you can easily skip the poppy seeds. The taste will vary a little from the original, but it will still be pretty great! It’s always important to actually enjoy the food your eating, and the best way to do that is to adjust the recipe to your liking.
To make Everything Bagel Seasoning without poppy seeds, you can simply not add them to the recipe or replace them (with the same ratio) with chia seeds or another spice that you love.
Yes, you really can use Everything Bagel Seasoning on everything and it will make any dish taste so much better. That’s what Everything Seasoning is for! Plus, it kind of makes everything taste like a bagel, and that’s always good. Here are some of my favorite recipes that taste even better with some Everything Bagel Seasoning sprinkled on top.
HOMEMADE BAGELSThese Homemade Bagels are super easy to make! You will need only 4 ingredients, they are clean-eating and require no rising time. Learn how to make healthy Homemade Bagels, sprinkle them with some Everything Bagel Seasoning and enjoy your new favorite weekend breakfast or quick lunch on the go option. GET THE RECIPE!
A good Avocado Toast with thick, whole grain bread and a perfectly ripe avocado can really make my day. Top it off with a perfectly soft boiled egg and sprinkle with Everything Bagel Seasoning to make a hearty, delicious and nutritious snack. GET THE RECIPE!
Love baked eggs? Let me show you how to make Baked Eggs in Spaghetti Squash Nests for a beautiful, easy, paleo, and gluten-free grab and go breakfast idea. Sprinkle your Spaghetti Squash Nests with homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning for some extra flavor and crunch! GET THE RECIPE!
Eating clean doesn’t mean giving up on your favorite flavors! Make everything taste like your favorite bagel by making a healthier, homemade version of the (Better than!) Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel Seasoning!
In a mixing bowl, combine, combine the poppy seeds, white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, dried minced garlic, dried onion flakes, and flaked sea salt.
Mix this together until well combined.
Sprinkle liberally over the top of your bagel, eggs, greek yogurt, avocado, etc.
Store in an air-tight container in your pantry.
This post contains affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
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Easy to make peanut butter and jelly oatmeal bake that’s naturally gluten free and dairy free. The perfect way to enjoy a childhood favorite for breakfast. Over 8g protein per serving. Great for meal prep! All I could think about last week was peanut butter and jelly variations. Peanut butter jelly breakfast toast with extra crunchy [...]
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