Rose Latte (Hot or Iced)

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This vanilla rose latte recipe is quick and easy to make with a lovely hint of floral flavor.

Back in Barcelona, we lived above the cutest little art café that served a gorgeous selection of cakes, pastries, coffees, and teas each day in their impressive collection of antique chinaware. It always felt like a step back in time cozying up at one of their bistro tables, sipping tea from a delicate antique cup while watching the modern world whirl by just outside the windows. But we absolutely loved it. And over the years, I came to know and love their delicious menu too.

Especially, you guessed it, their vanilla rose latte. ♡

This simple, floral, warm drink became one of my favorite treats during the wintertime, especially after chilly days of running errands all around the city. It was always wonderfully comforting and cozy without being too heavy. And as a bonus, I always loved that it was caffeine-free, which meant I could pop by to enjoy a latte at any time of the day or evening.

I pretty quickly figured out how to make my own homemade rose latte, which I rarely did in Barcelona because the café was simply too convenient and too charming to pass up. But now that we’re back in Kansas City and the weather is cooling off, I’ve been getting in the habit of making them in the evenings, and they’re just so delightful. All you need is your choice of milk, a splash of rose water, and a few pantry staples, and your own warm (or iced!) rose latte can be ready to go in just a handful of minutes. So if you’re looking for a cozy new drink to enjoy this winter, I hope you’ll join me and give this one a try!

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Butternut Squash, Sausage and Tortellini Soup

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This butternut squash, sausage and tortellini soup recipe features a silky sweet and savory broth topped with fresh herbs and Parmesan.

Say hello to our family’s newest favorite soup. ♡

I basically want to live on butternut squash soup each year once the weather begins to cool off. And our toddler is still on a months-long streak of requesting tortellini every night (like, every single night) for dinner. So this soup ended up being a bit of a family compromise one evening for dinner. And I have to say, it actually ended up being a fabulous success.

I more or less used my classic butternut squash soup recipe as the inspiration for this broth, thinned out a bit for this version yet still featuring my favorite combination of garlicky puréed veggies, green apple, a drizzle of cream, and earthy sage for seasoning. Then to that, we added crumbled Italian sausage, lots of fresh kale, cheese tortellini, and topped things off with a generous sprinkling of Parm. It ended up being the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and slightly-spicy flavors. And of course, off-the-charts cozy and comforting on a chilly fall night. We absolutely loved it!

There are plenty of variations that you’re welcome to try with this recipe, such as swapping gnocchi for the tortellini or using a plant-based sausage to make the soup vegetarian. I also highly recommend picking up some frozen diced butternut squash if you’d like to save yourself some time chopping. But however you end up making this soup, I think you’re going to love it.

Let’s get to it!

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Bacon Avocado Caesar Salad

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Everything you love about a classic Caesar salad with a few delicious extras!

I love fewer foods in life more than a really good classic Caesar salad. But while we were living in Barcelona, I fell head over heels for a leveled-up Caesar salad at one of our favorite pizzerias that I have been missing like crazy ever since we moved.

It featured all of the classics — crisp Romaine, crunchy croutons, and a boldly-flavored Caesar dressing. But to that, they also added in a generous sprinkling of crispy smoky bacon, a hint of rosemary, tons of shaved Parmesan, fresh chives (or paper-thin red onions), and these thin and garlicky baguette croutons that were downright irresistible (and easy to crunch!). I also got in the habit of adding in a few extra slices of avocado whenever we ordered this salad for delivery, and was convinced that extra layer of creaminess took this salad over the top. So if you also happen to love a good Caesar, I’m telling you — this ingredient combo is perfection!

Of course, now that we’re living an ocean away and I sadly can no longer just pop over to order this salad whenever the craving hits, I’ve been working on recreating it here in my Kansas City kitchen. It will never be exactly the same, but I’ve landed on a version that’s pretty darn close and brings back so many delicious memories of our time there. I think you’re going to love it too. ♡

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Crêpes

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This classic French crepe recipe is easy to make with 7 basic ingredients. Feel free to customize with your favorite sweet or savory fillings!

Is there anything more lovely than a plate filled with warm, delicate, buttery French crêpes? ♡

We were fortunate to have the opportunity visit a number of charming creperies during our years living in Europe, especially on our various trips to France. And I have to say, there is nothing like a well-made, paper-thin, lacy-edged crepe served fresh off of the pan. They are so effortlessly elegant and delicious in their simplicity. And, of course, the perfect blank slate for all of your favorite sweet or savory fillings!

The beauty of classic French crepes is that they are surprisingly easy to make at home too. All you need are 7 basic pantry ingredients, plus whatever fillings sound good, and your kitchen can transform into your own little French cafe in no time. I have always been partial to making crepe batter in a blender, which I find to be the simplest method, but you can just as easily make yours with a bowl and whisk if you prefer. Be sure to read the notes below for extra tips, plus bonus ideas for how to customize the batter or fillings to your liking.

Let’s make some crepes!

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Peanut Curry Lentil Soup

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This peanut curry lentil soup recipe is full of feel-good ingredients and features the coziest blend of sweet, savory, spicy flavors.

September soup season has finally returned and I, for one, am here for it. ♡

Unsurprisingly, I already have a long (ok, very long!) list of soup recipes to share with you this season, and it was hard to decide where to begin. But today I thought I’d kick things off with this Thai-inspired peanut curry lentil soup that we have been absolutely loving lately. It’s bursting with seasonal feel-good ingredients, including end-of-summer sweet potatoes, bell peppers and kale, plus a hearty serving of protein-packed lentils. Then the broth — which I could happily drink from a mug — features the classic blend of Thai coconut curry flavors, balanced out with a bit of sweetness from natural peanut butter and a bright citrusy tang of lime.

It’s one of those recipes that magically seems to hit every flavor note, and tastes wonderfully hearty and rich without being too heavy. It comes together easily with minimal chopping time and a simple simmer on the stovetop. It’s naturally gluten-free and vegan, although you’re welcome to add in an extra protein (such as chicken, beef or tofu) if you’d like. And leftovers arguably taste even better the next day, so be sure and tupper-up any extras for lunch tomorrow.

Let’s make some soup, friends!

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Lentil Bolognese

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This hearty lentil bolognese recipe is naturally gluten-free and vegan and simmered with the most delicious bold and savory flavors.

On those days when you’re craving a cozy bowl of pasta alla bolognese but prefer to skip the meat, this lentil bolognese is here for you. ♡

We end up making some version of this plant-based bolognese most often in our house, especially so that my vegetarian husband and lentil-obsessed toddler can enjoy it. But I’m pretty sure that any meat-eaters in your own house will love it too!

The earthy lentils here add a wonderfully hearty texture and earthy flavor to the sauce, plus a generous extra dose of protein, which I love. And it’s hard to see, but there are a ton of finely-chopped mushrooms hiding in there too, which help to add that classically “meaty” umami flavor to the sauce along with the traditional carrots, onion and celery. I admittedly like to go big on seasonings when it comes to bolognese, with lots of garlic, herbs, crushed red pepper flakes, and a hint of balsamic vinegar added in for lots of savory flavor. And while traditional bolognese is usually finished with dairy milk, you’re welcome to sub in your favorite plain plant-based milk if you would like to make this recipe vegan.

Heads up that this recipe makes a big batch of sauce! So you can either use it to make a big pot of pasta, or save some of the leftovers sauce to freeze for later or serve again with gnocchi, polenta, potatoes, or whatever else sounds good.

Let’s simmer up a big batch together!
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