Avocado Salsa

This avocado salsa recipe is fresh, flavorful, and SO easy to make! Serve it with tortilla chips for a zesty summer appetizer, or add it to tacos and more.

This avocado salsa recipe is kinda like a mashup of two of my favorite things: mango salsa and guac. So naturally, I’m obsessed with it. It’s a super simple recipe – you can make it in all of 10 minutes! – but it still packs in a ton of contrasting textures and flavors. Creamy avocado plays off sweet, juicy mango, which in turn accents spicy chiles, crisp red onion, and cilantro. A big squeeze of lime juice adds the perfect zesty pop. I love to serve it as a fun, fresh appetizer with tortilla chips, but this avocado salsa is…

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Olive Tapenade

This olive tapenade recipe has a delicious mix of fresh, salty, and briny flavors. Serve it with crackers or baguette for a simple summer appetizer!

A few years back, if you’d offered me olive tapenade at a party or gathering, I would have politely declined it. I’d always thought of myself as an adventurous eater, but for some reason, olives just hadn’t been for me. But recently, I’ve finally(!) started to come around to them. I like them in Greek salad and on bruschetta, and now, I even love olives in tapenade! Who knows? If you’re an olive skeptic, this recipe might win you over too. If you’re not familiar with tapenade, it’s a salty, briny olive spread that originated in the Provençe region of…

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33 Best BBQ Sides

These BBQ sides will be the highlight of any summer cookout! They include easy, fresh, and delicious recipes for grilled veggies, salads, slaws, and more.

These BBQ sides will steal the show at any summer cookout. They range from creamy potato salad to summery slaws to herb-flecked pasta salad and smoky grilled watermelon. Even with this variety, these BBQ side dishes all have a few things in common. They’re easy to prepare, they spotlight summer produce, and they’re fresh and delicious. Make one for your next summer gathering. I promise it’ll be a hit! Our Best BBQ Sides Easy Pasta Salad If I’m tasked with preparing a side dish for a picnic or cookout, this recipe is my go-to. Packed with pasta, chickpeas, and tangy feta…

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Creamy Avocado Dip

This smooth and creamy avocado dip is a crowd-pleasing spring or summer appetizer. Serve it with crackers and lots of fresh veggies for dipping!

This creamy avocado dip is one of my favorite appetizers to make in the spring and early summer. To be clear, it’s not at all like guacamole, the other avocado dip we all know and love. Instead of fresh cilantro and lime juice, dill and lemon create its bright, refreshing flavor. Dijon mustard gives it a tangy kick, and Greek yogurt makes it extra-rich and creamy. Instead of scooping it up with tortilla chips, I recommend pairing it with lots of fresh veg. At this time of year, so many dip-able vegetables are coming into season (radishes, snap peas, etc.).…

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29 Best Radish Recipes

Stuck in a radish rut? These radish recipes are here to help! They include sides, mains, and more that'll make you fall in love with this crunchy veggie.

It’s spring, which means I’m cooking radish recipes on repeat! Here in Chicago, radishes are some of the first vegetables to pop up at the farmers markets. Every year, I eagerly wait for them to appear. And when they finally do, I fill my bag with as many bunches of them as I can carry. What can I say? I just can’t resist their peppery pink roots and lush greens. Luckily, when I bring them home, I have no shortage of ways to use them. Of course, I can munch on them raw, but I can also roast them, pickle…

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Dukkah

Dukkah is a blend of nuts, seeds, and spices that hails from Egypt and the Middle East. Crunchy and flavorful, it's delicious on dips, veggies, and more!

I made a full batch of this simple dukkah recipe last week, and within a few days, the whole thing was gone. It’s the sort of seasoning that you can sprinkle on everything, from your morning scrambled eggs and avocado toast to roasted veggies at dinner. Basically, anytime you want to pep up a simple meal, dukkah can help you do it. What is dukkah? Dukkah (also spelled duqqa) is a Middle Eastern and Egyptian nut, seed, and spice blend. The exact ingredients tend to vary, though various toasted nuts, sesame seeds, coriander, and cumin are among the most common…

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Pickled Asparagus

Garlic, shallot, and fresh dill amp up the flavor in this simple pickled asparagus recipe. Crisp, tangy, and refreshing, it's a delicious spring snack.

Right now, I have three jars of this quick pickled asparagus lined up in my fridge, which, for me, is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that the slender, green spears are absolutely delicious – crisp, grassy, tangy, salty, and sweet. The curse is, well, pretty much the same thing. Every time I open the fridge, I promptly forget what I’m looking for. Seconds later, I find myself standing at the counter, downing spear after spear of pickled asparagus as a refreshing (and surprisingly addictive) spring snack. …oops? As you start to work your way through different…

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25 Egg Recipes for Breakfast and Beyond

Who says eggs are just for breakfast? These tasty egg recipes include ideas for every meal of the day. Find frittatas, salads, bowls, and more!

Jack and I always have a carton of eggs in our fridge. And if you eat eggs, there’s a good chance you do too. I mean, why not? They’re quick to prepare, satisfying, and rich in protein, and they’re at home at almost any meal. Whip up a simple scramble for breakfast or shakshuka for dinner, or soft-boil an egg for a boost of protein at lunch. If you happen to be cooking for a special occasion (maybe Easter or Mother’s Day brunch?), egg recipes can come in handy then too. A frittata or breakfast casserole would make a great main…

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Garden Crisps with Herby White Bean Spread

These colorful garden crisps are such an easy healthy snack! I top puffed grain cakes with fresh veggies and a creamy white bean spread.

This post is in partnership with Lundberg Family Farms. Happy Friday! Is anyone else SO excited that it’s finally spring? Here in Chicago, the temperatures are gradually getting warmer, and I’m in the mood for all things fresh and bright. I’m making smoothies for breakfast, salads for lunch, and these veggie-topped puffed grain cakes for an afternoon snack. In case you’re looking for some new spring snack ideas, I’m sharing the recipe for these yummy puffed grain cakes below. To make them, I spread a creamy, herby white bean spread on Lundberg Organic Brown Rice Thin Stackers. Then, I top them…

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Ultimate Loaded Nachos

Learn how to make the BEST homemade nachos! Loaded with gooey queso and tons of fresh fixings, they're the ultimate appetizer or game day snack.

If you’re watching the Super Bowl this weekend, you have to make this nachos recipe. If you’re not watching the Super Bowl this weekend, you still have to make this nachos recipe. Jack and I may not be football fans, but we are fans of football food. These loaded nachos are as good as it gets. Every bite has the perfect blend of crispy, creamy textures and tangy, spicy flavors. Serve them as a party appetizer or devour them for dinner. Either way, the entire platter will be gone in minutes. Loaded Nachos Recipe Ingredients Ok, confession time: These homemade…

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Roasted Pecans

Nutty and rich, these roasted pecans are an addictive appetizer or snack. My recipe has two variations - one savory and one sweet. Both are delicious!

A few weeks ago, I made a double batch of these roasted pecans. I felt ridiculous when they all came out of the oven. We had jar after jar of roasted pecans sitting on our counter. I thought we’d be eating them for weeks! But, as it turns out, these roasted pecans are such a tasty snack that as soon as Jack or I polished off one handful, we’d inevitably circle back for more. Two days later, there wasn’t a pecan in sight. If you’re looking for an easy, festive treat to bring to a party or get-together this week,…

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A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.