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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Seed Crackers

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This healthy seed crackers recipe is easy to make, packed with nutrients, and irresistibly delicious!

With so many fun crackers on the market nowadays, I can generally never be bothered to make homemade crackers from scratch…except when it comes to these magical seed crackers. ♡

I owe the credit for this recipe to my friend, Angela, who so kindly brought me a batch of crackers along with a lovely homemade meal a year or so ago when I was stuck in the hospital for a week with a sick kiddo. And after taking a bite of one cracker…and then another…and another and another (couldn’t stop!), I immediately texted her begging for the recipe. These seed crackers are just perfection!

They’re made with a simple mix of three seeds (sesame, sunflower and pepitas), flax meal, and dried seasonings. Then Angela introduced me to the magic of psyllium husk powder to bind all of the ingredients together. (I know it may be a special buy, but one bag of psyllium husk powder will last for dozens of batches and it’s by far my favorite binding ingredient for this recipe!) Simply add boiling water to the ingredient mix to bring everything together, spread it out evenly on a parchment-covered baking sheet, and bake until crispy. Then the absolute yummiest batch of seed crackers will be yours to enjoy.

They also happen to be naturally gluten-free and vegan. They’re packed with protein, fiber, omega-3s and other great nutrients. And they are perfect for snacking, dipping, serving with cheese boards, you name it. We seriously make a batch at least once a week and the whole family absolutely loves them. So if you love a good cracker as much as we do, I hope you’ll give them a try!

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Roasted Tomato Soup

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My favorite roasted tomato soup recipe always tastes so fresh and flavorful and it’s easy to make with a handful of simple ingredients.

End-of-season tomatoes are overflowing in gardens and farmers markets everywhere right now, which means it’s time to make my favorite roasted tomato soup recipe! ♡

It features a short and simple ingredient list, including a few of my favorite seasonings plus whatever variety of small- to medium-sized tomatoes you have that are ripe. It’s easy to make in just a little over a half hour with minimal prep time. It’s naturally gluten-free and vegan, although you’re welcome to add in a splash of cream or some cheese if you’d like. And if you happen to have some leftover bread on hand, I’d highly recommend making some homemade croutons or grilled cheese (or grilled cheese croutons, see below!) to go with your tomato soup, which is always such a nostalgic and delicious combo.

In my book, it doesn’t get any better than homemade tomato soup that’s made with fresh, ripe, in-season tomatoes that have been roasted down until they are irresistibly concentrated and sweet. So let’s make the most of tomato season while it’s still here!

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Bruschetta Pasta

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This bruschetta-inspired pasta is tossed with fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, onions, balsamic and finished with a sprinkling of crispy garlicky breadcrumbs. Ready to go in 30 minutes!

Everything you love about fresh tomato basil bruschetta…tossed into a simple pasta! ♡

We are huge bruschetta fans in our house and love making a quick batch in the summertime whenever the season’s tomatoes are at their peak. But for a fun change recently, I decided to try adding our usual bruschetta topping mix (chopped fresh cherry tomatoes, basil, garlic, red onions, olive oil and balsamic) to a batch of spaghetti, sprinkled with a batch of my favorite garlicky breadcrumbs. And we absolutely loved it!

The raw ingredients in the bruschetta mix gives the pasta an extra burst of fresh flavor. And those golden garlicky breadcrumbs — inspired by the crostini in traditional bruschetta — add the perfect pop of crunchy texture to each bite. If you’re craving some protein, you are more than welcome to add in some chicken, shrimp, or salmon too.

This pasta seriously tastes like summertime in a bowl. So grab a big bowl of the ripest cherry tomatoes you can find, and let’s make a big batch together!

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