This salad is one of my favorite to enjoy during the summer months because I feel like it has it all; juicy tomatoes, sweet grilled corn, caramelized peaches, chewy fibrous green beans, herbaceous basil, and a great balance of fresh to cooked ingredients. It’s wholesome and feels like the essence of summer cooking.

I also love that most (if not all) of the fresh ingredients used here can be found at a summer farmer’s market! It’s a true farm-to-table treat that’s satisfies in flavor and fullness. It’s a perfect addition to a summer barbecue to use as a side or the main dish.

Palomas are my all time favorite summer drink. Although I prefer them best beside a taco, they are the perfect outdoor patio/sip by the pool/enjoy any time of year cocktail as well. I even had a rosemary paloma as my signature drink at my wedding! I couldn’t wait to share it with my guests, and now I can share it with you, too. They are so easy to make and are a delicious balance of refreshing lime, punchy grapefruit, and sweet aromatic rosemary. Cheers!

I was never a fan of salads growing up but that really shifted when I started experimenting with creating my own dressings. A lot of store bought dressings feel goopy, under seasoned, and overly sweetened for my taste. They definitely have a place in my diet from a convenience standpoint but from a satisfaction standpoint, I prefer to make my own.

Caesar dressing always felt unapproachable to me because it usually requires ingredients that I don’t often have on hand — like Worcestershire sauce. I decided to make some tweaks and substitute…

My go-to summer dishes usually include a mix of fresh and cooked foods. I find that although fully raw dishes satisfy my desire for cool foods in the heat, they don’t really digest as well for me. I add a few cooked elements to give my gut a break, balance out the crunchy texture of raw veggies, and help keep me satisfied overall. To keep my kitchen and house cool, I tend to use my oven for as little time as possible. Enter: broiled salmon…

So few things say summer more than cooking skewers on the barbecue. The flavor of charred onions is truly unmatched! These chicken and veggie skewers are a favorite in my house because they are so versatile. Pairing them with various sauces and dips transforms them so you’ll never get bored. The three ingredient feta-yogurt dip in this recipe is also a queen of adaptability. She can do a dip, she can do a drizzle, she can do a dressing — all give or take a few teaspoons of water! I highly recommend making extra to pair with salads, wraps, and bowls throughout the week. I also love…

Possibly the one thing I love more than bread products is the spreads and shmears that accompany them. I love experimenting with flavored butters, cream cheeses, and dips that double as wrap or sammy spreads.

Enter: Tomato Butter. I worried that it might taste like tomato sauce on bread, but it’s the perfect balance of tangy, savory tomato and sweet, creamy butter. It’s ready in about five minutes and can be used for bread, bagels, or wherever else you might spread butter.

The magic of corn chowder is that, despite being a hot soup, it’s a late summer classic. Admittedly — aside from Mexican street corn, tortilla chips, and polenta — I’ve never been a corn lover. While exploring the Oregon coast this weekend, I had an amazing bowl of clam chowder. Even though it was a sunny 80 degrees out it still felt like the perfect, nourishing lunch. I wanted to try my hand at creating a lighter summer soup at home to capture that feeling.

I decided on a corn chowder because of the accessibility of the ingredients. I also didn’t want to spend an entire afternoon in the hot kitchen because it is still August after all. In this recipe, vegetable stock and coconut milk provide the light yet creamy base to the soup while frozen corn, potato, and onion add hearty texture.

Breakfast? Dessert? Snack? Get yourself a dish that can do all three! This sweet and savory peach bake is the perfect addition to your summer meal prep lineup. With an oat and walnut base, it’s a great source of fiber, healthy fats, and protein for sustainable energy any time of day. The lightly sweetened rosemary peach topping combines with the crust for delicious sticky and moist crumbles in every bite.

Think of it as peach-cobbler-meets…

After spending last weekend at a U-pick peach farm, I’ve suddenly acquired $32 worth of the juiciest, most vibrant peaches. As they begin ripening, I’ve been scrambling each day to get them frozen, eaten, or baked into something. We’ve had so many peach muffins and crumbles that I think I’m 80% peach at this point. And I’m 100% okay with that.

These peach honey cornbread muffins are all the fun flavors and textures of summer whipped into a few portable bites. The cornmeal base provides a subtle sweet crunch while diced peaches throughout give a balanced punch of sweet and tart flavor. Lightly sweetened with honey, these hearty muffins can easily be…

If you’re fortunate enough to have your own veggie garden, have access to a community garden, or have been to a summer farmer’s market, you know summer time is prime zucchini season. Growing up, my dad would plant summer squash in our garden and we would have buckets and buckets of zucchini. By summer’s end, we were sick of grilled squash and practically had a conveyor belt of zucchini bread shipping out to neighbors and friends.

I really took those summers for granted — all the missed opportunities to experiment with zucchini recipes! — and I still find myself nostalgic every time I see or make zucchini bread. Now, it seems zucchini has become best known as…

With August just around the corner (next week already?!) and temperatures reaching an unheard of 100 degrees in Portland, I thought I’d break out my favorite replenishing summer beverage.

Staying hydrated in the summer is hard, especially if you’re surrounded by soda or fruity cocktails during a fun afternoon at the beach or at a neighborhood barbecue. Consider bringing this recipe into the mix — a functional mocktail that satisfies that sweet iced drink craving while providing beneficial electrolytes and water.

I know what you’re thinking — quinoa for breakfast?? — I get it but trust me, this is a game changer! For me, one of the most difficult parts of breakfast is finding a quick meal that’s going to fill me up and fuel my busy mornings. A lot of traditional breakfasts can be carbohydrate heavy (toasts, granola, cereal, instant oats) and leave us hungry way before lunch when they’re not paired with enough fat and protein.

Quinoa is a great morning grain option because it provides complex carbohydrates, or fiber, and protein. In fact, quinoa is one of the few plant-based protein sources that…

For me, the ideal summer 30 minute meal has fresh greens, seasonal produce, and a grilled protein. This salad checks all those boxes: Delicious sweet and tangy barbecue chicken breast paired with sweet, juicy peaches, creamy burrata cheese, crunchy greens, and drizzled with a light oil and vinegar dressing. It perfectly combines my need for a light yet nutrient dense dinner when it’s too hot to spend more than a half hour in the kitchen.

If you asked me for a fool-proof, crowd pleasing appetizer for all your summer adventures (BBQ, picnic, lazy pool day, etc)… this would be it! A perfect blend of tangy-salty-sweetness paired with bright mint and a hint of spice, this summer salad hits the spot every time!

It’s so easy to make, I’d barely even call this a recipe. It can also easily be adjusted to suit any serving size and palate.

In the hot summer months, there are few things more satisfying than having tacos for dinner. This recipe combines shrimp with subtle heat, tart mango and tomatillo, fresh herbs, and bright citrus notes. In essence, it’s all my favorite parts about summer! I often pair this salsa with black beans for a simple yet satisfying vegan alternative.

You can find me enjoying the leftover salsa with just about anything from chips to bean bowls, and honestly, by the spoonful. It’s just that good.

With summer in full swing and the 4th of July in my rearview, I’ve had such a craving s’mores! It seemed like everyone I know has been on social media sharing the delicious campfire dessert…

My initial goal was for the mini marshmallows to be melted and fluffy when the cookies were finished baking. Instead, the marshmallows completely melted, got slightly burnt, and turned into the most magically crunchy, sticky toffee. They are even better than I could have imagined. I hope you give them a try! They’re perfect for a random Wednesday afternoon, social-distancing BBQ, and just about anything in between.

If you were to ask me right now what I’d want my death row last meal to be, I would tell you pasta shells with some variation of pesto. Or maybe thats just because I was going through all my pictures of pesto for this post?

The great thing about pesto is that its actually so versatile! If you follow me on Instagram, you’re familiar with how often I customize my pesto to what ingredients I have on hand. My favorite being the classic, basil and pine nut combo! I’m also a huge fan of using walnuts instead of pine nuts for a cheaper, nuttier option.

To make a pesto work, you need:…

The recipe that I’m about to share with you is famous. Some might say. In some (small) circles. Specifically those who have been invited to the same Super Bowl parties as me or have ever gotten an invite to our super cool game nights.

Anyway, although this recipe is pretty basic it serves a punch of fun, unexpected goodness. I used to exclusively make it once a year for the Super Bowl when we lived in Pittsburgh, but now it just feels too delicious not to enjoy all year round!

Guacamole often gets a bad rap because it gets lumped in with other party snack foods but it can actually make a healthy, satisfying snack any time! Avocados, a delicious fruit (yes, fruit!) originating from Mexico, contain…

This is one of my all time favorite summer meals because it is so light, colorful, and bursting with bold fresh flavors! Its simple to prep and only takes 15 minutes to cook - perfect for when you’re minimizing oven use in the warm weather! Plus, it pairs perfectly with a margarita!

Salmon is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids which have shown to have health benefits on…

If you’re looking for a way to spice up your plant-based meals, look no further. Lentil Sloppy Joes have become a fast favorite in my home and are an easy staple dinner during the warmer months!

Lentils make a great swap for ground meat in recipes because they’re a great source of protein, iron, folate, and complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates, also found in whole grains, are great for supporting healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels and improving digestion.