When I host my family’s 4th of July cookout, I always serve fresh corn in some form. Sweet, juicy, and vibrant yellow, it’s one of my favorite summer vegetables (if not my favorite vegetable, period). I can’t imagine a July 4th meal without it. Corn salads have made appearances, as has simple boiled corn on the cob. But the corn dish that my family absolutely can’t get enough of is this Mexican-inspired elote recipe. Here’s why we love it: It’s so easy. I’m talking 6 ingredients and 30 minutes! Just make classic grilled corn on the cob, then add all…

The 4th of July is coming up this week, and I’m busy planning what to make for my family’s cookout. I still haven’t decided between these veggie burgers and these black bean burgers, between grilled asparagus and grilled zucchini, but I know one thing for certain: my go-to pasta salad will be on the menu. If you’ve been following for a while, you know that I like to share at least one new pasta salad recipe every summer. I love coming up with fun, flavorful combinations of veggies, herbs, a cheese, and a dressing, with a just-right pasta shape thrown…

On Mother’s Day, we make brunch. On Father’s Day, we grill! That’s how it is in my family, anyway. While we might sit down to a frittata or Dutch baby on Mother’s Day morning, by the time Father’s Day rolls around, the weather is wayyyyy too nice for an indoor meal. So my family gets together in the late afternoon for a cookout. My brother-in-law Josh is in charge of the mains (thanks, Josh!), and I’m on side dish duty. I like to change up the menu from year to year, but there’s one recipe that I make every single…

I’ve shared a lot of slaw recipes over the years. There’s this colorful cabbage salad that’s tossed in a lightly creamy peanut dressing and this vinegar coleslaw that features a tangy apple cider vinaigrette. My broccoli slaw has a base of broccoli stem matchsticks (waste not, want not!), and this kohlrabi slaw includes apples for sweetness. I love them all, but this creamy coleslaw will always be my favorite. Here’s why I love this coleslaw recipe: It’s classic and nostalgic. Coleslaw has been one of my favorite cookout side dishes since I was a kid. With its creamy, sweet, and…

A few weeks ago, I went out to dinner with friends at a neighborhood Mexican restaurant. As we looked over the menu (I was deciding between portobello tacos or veggie enchiladas as my entree), we agreed to kick things off with guacamole for the table. It seemed like a no-brainer. Restaurant guac may not be cheap (that one bowl cost us $16!), but it would certainly be delicious. At least, I thought it would be. In reality, it…wasn’t great, filled with watery tomatoes and not nearly enough lime or salt. I mean, $16?! It reminded me of the major benefit…

This post is sponsored by Culligan. I’ve been a huge fan for years! Who else is ready for spring?! The temps have (finally) been warming up around here lately, which has put me in the mood for refreshing spring salads and iced drinks. For the past few weekends, I’ve been making a big pitcher of iced hibiscus tea to drink throughout the week. It has tart, cranberry-like flavor that I love, and it’s packed with antioxidants like vitamin C and beta-carotene. I feel especially good about drinking it because I make it with fresh, filtered Culligan water from my kitchen tap.…

And so it begins: my egg salad kick. Every year after Easter, I make this egg salad recipe to use up the hard boiled eggs left over from my family’s celebration. That first batch of egg salad reminds me just how fresh, bright, and flavorful this recipe is, and I end up making it on repeat for lunch throughout the spring. The funny part about all this is that just a few years ago, I thought I didn’t like egg salad. I wrote it off because it fell into my least favorite category of food—mushy. I also had a few…

My husband Jack and I don’t usually see eye to eye when it comes to holiday side dishes. He’d take creamed spinach over a spinach salad any day, and I’m team salad all the way. His favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner is the mashed potatoes, whereas I’d be just as happy with mashed cauliflower. But at Easter dinner, we both agree: Scalloped potatoes are the best part of the meal. They’re the one side dish my family makes for Easter every single year, and they’re always my favorite part of dinner. If you’re not familiar, they consist of thin potato…

I know what you’re thinking—“Soup?! But isn’t it spring??” It’s certainly felt like it in Chicago over the past few days. We’ve had a gorgeous stretch of sunny weather that’s made me start craving asparagus, carrot cake, and other spring-y things. But I’m not switching over into full-on spring mode just yet. I’m holding onto soup season until at least March 17. That’s because I make this cabbage soup for St. Patrick’s Day each year. Packed with potatoes, carrots, and a full pound of cabbage, this humble, hearty dish is a delicious way to honor my Irish heritage. My favorite…