Kale Caesar Salad

If you think a traditional Caesar salad is good, wait until you try this kale Caesar salad! It features everything you love about a classic Caesar. It has crisp romaine, garlicky croutons, a creamy, savory dressing, and Parmesan cheese, but I throw lea…


If you think a traditional Caesar salad is good, wait until you try this kale Caesar salad! It features everything you love about a classic Caesar. It has crisp romaine, garlicky croutons, a creamy, savory dressing, and Parmesan cheese, but I throw leafy green kale into the mix too. The dark, curly leaves make the salad feel lush and abundant. Plus, once they’re massaged with olive oil and a little salt, they take on a tender texture that contrasts beautifully with the crunchy lettuce. This kale Caesar salad recipe would be a perfect side dish for any meal this season […]

Favorite Balsamic Vinaigrette

This balsamic vinaigrette recipe deserves a moment in the spotlight. When you’re improvising a seasonal salad, no matter how simple or elaborate, balsamic vinaigrette is always an…

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balsamic vinaigrette recipe

This balsamic vinaigrette recipe deserves a moment in the spotlight. When you’re improvising a seasonal salad, no matter how simple or elaborate, balsamic vinaigrette is always an excellent choice. It’s a classic for a reason, and I love the lightly figgy flavor that balsamic vinegar imparts.

This balsamic dressing strikes a delicate balance between tangy and sweet. It’s just right.

balsamic vinaigrette ingredients

This homemade balsamic vinaigrette calls for basic pantry ingredients, yet tastes far superior to any store-bought dressing. This is true for all homemade salad dressings, even when they’re made exclusively with pantry ingredients like this one.

I can’t entirely explain why freshly-combined basic ingredients taste so much better than pre-made dressing from the same pantry shelf, but the difference is undeniable. It’ll smack you right over the head.

Continue to the recipe...

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Crunchy Winter Slaw.

My winter slaw is refreshing, crisp and crunchy, full of vibrant seasonal produce and loaded with flavor. Drizzled with a citrus vinaigrette, it’s perfect as a salad, side or sandwich topping. This may be the prettiest salad you make all season long! My winter slaw is super crunchy, crisp, refreshing and tangy, filled with cabbage, […]

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My winter slaw is refreshing, crisp and crunchy, full of vibrant seasonal produce and loaded with flavor. Drizzled with a citrus vinaigrette, it’s perfect as a salad, side or sandwich topping.

This may be the prettiest salad you make all season long!

winter slaw

My winter slaw is super crunchy, crisp, refreshing and tangy, filled with cabbage, pears, kale, pomegranate and more. It’s tossed in a citrus vinaigrette that highlights the flavors of the produce and keeps you coming back for bite after bite. 

If you love a dish with texture, this is for you. It’s incredibly crunchy and satisfying. 

Exactly how I like to eat my vegetables!

winter slaw

We are huge slaw fans over here. I love to make a slaw that acts as a salad, and it’s quite versatile because of course you can also put it on sandwiches. It’s the perfect side dish or topper and you can always find a version that complements the other ingredients on your plate.

winter slaw

So here we are! I made a classic winter slaw that has all the seasonal produce chopped into one big bowl. It can be your side dish for dinner, a salad where you can add additional ingredients or an accompaniment to pulled pork.

It’s so good. Head over to instagram today to see the video!

winter slaw

I also can’t handle how beautiful it is. I love jewel tones – and the greens, vibrant magenta and orange make for a stunning dish. It’s festive and fun and just feels… fancy.

But it’s as easy as can be, as long as you don’t mind chopping up some vegetables.  

winter slaw

This is what goes into our lovely winter slaw:

A head of green cabbage. I love to do regular green cabbage or savory and slice it very thin. It’s so crunchy!

A few cups of kale too. Same as the above – I slice it super thin. This brings a gorgeous emerald shade to our slaw and also holds up well in the fridge. 

Pears! Cut them into matchsticks for the best bite. 

Thinly sliced shallots. You can also use red onion, but I love a shallot because it’s milder and a bit sweeter. 

Shredded carrots. Just grab a bag of them to keep things simple. Easy as that. 

Pomegranate arils. You know how much I love these gorgeous jewels! Tart and beautiful, they add a juicy punch. 

Pepitas. These add more crunch and texture to our slaw.

Toasted pecans or walnuts. Either works! I like to chop them up so there are bits of nuts all throughout the slaw.

winter slaw

The entire thing is tossed with my citrus vinaigrette. That adds incredible flavor and goes so well with the pears, kale, shallots and nuts. It’s such a delicious combo! (more…)

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Thanksgiving Cobb Salad.

This Thanksgiving cobb salad recipe is loaded with crispy pancetta, roasted squash, pomegranate, apples and more. It’s crispy and crunchy and drizzled with a warm maple bacon dressing. Delicious! I’ve got one more Thanksgiving recipe here for you this week! This is a special one. It’s a fancy salad that can work all fall long, […]

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This Thanksgiving cobb salad recipe is loaded with crispy pancetta, roasted squash, pomegranate, apples and more. It’s crispy and crunchy and drizzled with a warm maple bacon dressing. Delicious!

I’ve got one more Thanksgiving recipe here for you this week!

thanksgiving cobb salad

This is a special one. It’s a fancy salad that can work all fall long, one that you can serve for any fall holiday and it’s even simple enough to make for dinner one night. 

I love those ones! 

thanksgiving cobb salad ingredients

Cobb salad has my name all over it. The traditional cobb salad with crispy chicken, eggs, bacon, avocado, blue cheese… wow. Lots of my favorite things! 

This isn’t exactly that – in fact, we don’t have any chicken (but you can add leftover turkey!) or eggs but we do have so many delicious ingredients that come together to create a loaded fall salad that is a showstopper on any table. 

And everyone loves it! 

Because this over-the-top salad is great for two things: it can be your fancy Thanksgiving salad (or even meal!) or, it is the perfect platter to use up Thanksgiving leftovers. Either way, grab a few of the ingredients so you can have it on or after the holiday! 

thanksgiving cobb salad

Here’s how I throw together the  fall cobb salad:

First up, a big bed of chopped romaine. I like to get the stalks of romaine and chop the lettuce myself. It’s perfect.

Next, bacon! In this case, pancetta. You can use whatever bacon-ish product you have on hand. And then we’re using the bacon fat to make a warm maple bacon dressing. 

Squash is the name of the game here. I like to roast acorn squash and I love to keep it in the skin, which becomes so chewy and delicious. However, any variety of roasted squash works for this recipe. Whatever you love!

Sliced apple for crisp tart and sweetness. You could also do sliced pear! 

Avocado, for extra creaminess.

Pomegranate arils, for that jeweled tangy pop of flavor and color.

Blue cheese, because it’s my favorite salad cheese. You can do cheddar if you wish!

And finally, toasted pecans. I love the buttery, nutty flavor of pecans with fall produce like squash and pomegranate. Pepitas would also work here!

thanksgiving cobb salad

Then I just layer everything on in the pretty cobb salad way! No special or exact way – I place everything on top of the romaine. 

The dressing may just be my favorite part. Warm bacon dressing is something I grew up – it was my grandma’s favorite dressing for spinach salads. It was definitely a special indulgence and something we rarely had, but when we did have it… oh boy. It was delicious!

thanksgiving cobb salad

I took my favorite warm bacon dressing recipe and added a bit of maple syrup. Oh my deliciousness. It is so wonderful. I love this dressing! It is one that you want to make right before serving – and you do serve it warm. But if you happen to have leftovers, they reheat pretty well on the stovetop.

thanksgiving cobb salad

And that’s that. The most delicious, crisp and crunchy fall salad that is incredibly satisfying too.  (more…)

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Favorite Holiday Green Salad

My favorite holiday green salad features a festive mix of seasonal ingredients and a delicious shallot vinaigrette. Can we just agree to bejewel all our salads with pomegranates this time of year? ♡ I always think these lovely little red gems add such a festive touch to green salads for the holidays, and this pomegranate […]

My favorite holiday green salad features a festive mix of seasonal ingredients and a delicious shallot vinaigrette.

Favorite Holiday Green Salad

Can we just agree to bejewel all our salads with pomegranates this time of year? ♡

I always think these lovely little red gems add such a festive touch to green salads for the holidays, and this pomegranate salad in particular is one of my favorites. It’s tossed with your choice of greens, sliced apples, toasted walnuts, creamy avocado, crisp fennel, salty shaved Parmesan, and my favorite shallot vinaigrette. I make some version of this salad every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas (and plenty of winter evenings in between), and it’s always just as delicious as it is gorgeous.

That said, this pomegranate salad is also incredibly flexible. So if you feel like swapping in a different kind of nuts, greens, cheese, or even vinaigrette, please feel free. I’ve also written this recipe to be naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, but you’re welcome to add in an extra protein (such as chicken or bacon) if you’d like. I just insist that you generously sprinkle lots of beautiful pomegranate arils over the top like confetti, and then share and enjoy.

Happy holidays, everyone!

Holiday Green Salad Ingredients (pomegranate, apple, arugula, avocado, walnuts, Parmesan, fennel, lettuce, shallot vinaigrette) (more…)

Wild Rice Pilaf

This wild rice pilaf is a simple combination of some of my favorite fall ingredients. It starts with chewy, nutty wild rice. Then, I add caramelized roasted sweet potatoes and umami shallots. I toss in some shaved Brussels sprouts, which wilt against t…


This wild rice pilaf is a simple combination of some of my favorite fall ingredients. It starts with chewy, nutty wild rice. Then, I add caramelized roasted sweet potatoes and umami shallots. I toss in some shaved Brussels sprouts, which wilt against the heat of freshly cooked rice and roasted veggies, and I finish it with dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and lots of thyme and parsley. I love eating this wild rice pilaf for lunch in the fall, the wild rice and roasted sweet potatoes making it hearty enough to be a satisfying meal on its own. But this wild […]

Homemade Caesar Salad

Raise your hand if you love a good Caesar salad. (Me! I do!) I have many favorite salads, but Caesar salad has been a favorite for as…

The post Homemade Caesar Salad appeared first on Cookie and Kate.

homemade Caesar salad

Raise your hand if you love a good Caesar salad. (Me! I do!) I have many favorite salads, but Caesar salad has been a favorite for as long as I can remember. A great Caesar salad hits a satisfying balance between fresh and crisp, and creamy and cheesy.

The Caesar salad is a versatile one. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a generous bowl of soup or your favorite homemade Italian meal. It will also round out a special occasion—whether that’s a weekend dinner or a big holiday.

Caesar salad ingredients

When I was expecting our baby, Grace, I started craving all of my creamy childhood favorites, ranging from baked potatoes to ranch dressing to crisp but creamy Caesar salads. Clearly, it was time to develop a proper Caesar salad recipe, and here it is.

This recipe combines my Caesar salad dressing (it’s so simple!) and simple homemade croutons with crisp romaine lettuce and a final sprinkling of additional Parmesan cheese. You’ll find the full recipe below, written from start to finish.

Continue to the recipe...

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Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Brussels sprouts sometimes have a bad reputation, but they’re one of my favorite vegetables. They’re a go-to veggie in the fall and winter, and in my opinion should be included on any Thanksgiving or Christmas menu. This Shaved Brussels Spr…

Brussels sprouts sometimes have a bad reputation, but they’re one of my favorite vegetables. They’re a go-to veggie in the fall and winter, and in my opinion should be included on any Thanksgiving or Christmas menu. This Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad is a great way to add a fresh element to a holiday meal. The…

Beet Salad

Whenever I go out to eat and see a beet salad on the menu, I always order it. I LOVE beets! They are so good. If you haven’t tried them or don’t think you are a fan, you have to give them a chance. I love a good restaurant beet salad, but d…

Whenever I go out to eat and see a beet salad on the menu, I always order it. I LOVE beets! They are so good. If you haven’t tried them or don’t think you are a fan, you have to give them a chance. I love a good restaurant beet salad, but did you know…

Apple Slaw

I am normally not a huge lover of coleslaw, but this Apple Slaw is my absolute FAVORITE. It is light, fresh, and the flavors and textures are SO good. The slaw is made with cabbage, apples, chickpeas, celery, pepitas, dried cranberries, and a creamy ta…

I am normally not a huge lover of coleslaw, but this Apple Slaw is my absolute FAVORITE. It is light, fresh, and the flavors and textures are SO good. The slaw is made with cabbage, apples, chickpeas, celery, pepitas, dried cranberries, and a creamy tahini dressing. It’s crispy, crunchy, sweet, and satisfying. It has a…