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Brown Sugar Waffles with Orange-Ginger Cranberry Compote

ALL, Breakfast, Winter47

These delicious Brown Sugar Waffles with Orange-Ginger Cranberry Compote is a fun winter variation on your classic waffle.

Brown Sugar Waffles with Orange-Ginger Cranberry Compote

Breakfast is the one meal during the week that I put very little thought or planning into. While I have a meal plan for lunch and dinner that I sit down and create every Sunday, weekday breakfast always continues to stay consistent with yogurt, smoothies, and maybe a cottage cheese throw in there now and then. I think that’s probably why why, when the weekend rolls around, I love the indulgent treat of waking up late and slowly making an elaborate (compared to pre-made yogurt) breakfast for Wyatt and I. Often times, it’s pancakes or eggs with toast but lately I’ve been on a waffle kick and these Brown Sugar Waffles with Orange-Ginger Compote have been hitting all the winter comfort spots: warm, bright, carb-y, sweet, and a touch savory!

Brown Sugar Waffles with Orange-Ginger Cranberry Compote
Brown Sugar Waffles with Orange-Ginger Cranberry Compote
Brown Sugar Waffles with Orange-Ginger Cranberry Compote

These Brown Sugar Waffles with Orange-Ginger Cranberry Compote are from the cookbook, Breakfast, which I’ve been turning to for weekend brunch inspiration for the last few months. I realize I love cookbooks and talk a lot of them up but this one is super fun! It’s filled with bold text, bright backgrounds, beautiful photos, infographics, articles about the history of certain breakfast foods, and so much more. It reminds me of a fun adult activity book where you are learning without even realizing it! Anyhow, if you are into learning and making delicious breakfast food then this book is for you! And if not, at least enjoy these waffles from it. : )

Looking for other Breakfast recipes? Here are a few more:

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Brown Sugar Waffles with Orange-Ginger Cranberry Compote

This delicious winter variation on classic waffles is from Extra Crispy’s fun and colorful cookbook, Breakfast.

Ingredients
For the compote
  • 1 12 oz bag fresh cranberries
  • zest and juice of 1 orange
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 cup water
For the waffles
  • 4 Tbsp butter plus more for greasing
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 4 large eggs
  • citrus slices for serving
Instructions
For the compote:

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine all compote ingredients and bring to a simmer over medium. Let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl and cover. Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.

For the waffles:

  1. Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and set aside.

  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.

  3. In another bowl, whisk flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in milk, buttermilk, eggs, and butter. Whisk the wet ingredients and then whisk wider to incorporate dry ingredients into wet until combined.

  4. Heat waffle iron according to package directions and lightly coat with butter. Make waffles, again according to the waffle irons directions.

  5. Serve with compote and orange slices.

Brown Sugar Waffles with Orange-Ginger Cranberry Compote

Vegetarian Winter Cobb Salad

ALL, Appetizer, Salad, Winter47

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of OXO and California Olive Ranch. The opinions and text are all mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that make VV possible.

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Vegetarian Cobb Salad

You all still on your New Year’s resolution kick to eat healthier? Or did the polar vortex (for my Midwest and East Coasters) or Snowpocalypse (for my west coasters) knock you off coarse with temperatures so cold that nothing besides greasy french fries and gooey pizza would warm your soul? I feel that – I was there too. But it’s slowly thawing and time to get back on track with a bowl of addictively nourishing food!

I realize it’s hard to crave a salad in the dead of winter but that’s because so many people think of salads as light and made of flimsy cold lettuce when they can be so much more than that – they can be made with sturdy greens and piled high with warm roasted vegetables and filling proteins. Don’t believe me? Well, today I’m excited to partner with OXO and California Olive Ranch to bring you the exact hearty and filling winter salad I’m talking about.

Vegetarian Cobb Salad
Vegetarian Cobb Salad
Vegetarian Cobb Salad

But before we jump into talking about all the components of this Vegetarian Winter Cobb Salad, let’s talk about the partners featured in today’s recipe. Deciding to work with both OXO and California Olive Ranch was a no-brainer. For one, California Olive Ranch is the only extra virgin olive oil I buy at the grocery store and use it for my everyday cooking (literally – I cook with olive oil every. single. day.) so I already had a very strong brand loyalty to them. It’s the only extra virgin olive oil I’ve been able to find on the regular at my local store that has a harvest date (which lets me know it’s fresh) and it has a smoke point well above 425 degrees so I know I can safely bake, sauté, and fry with it without having to worry about burning. This means I can lean on it for almost all cooking situations and I don’t have to worry about buying a new oil every time I want to try out a new cooking method. Although I usually use their ‘Everyday’ Destination Series, I tried out their ‘Rich and Robust’ bottle for the dressing in this salad to let the flavor really shine through, and it was delicious!

I used OXO‘s Salad Dressing Shaker and Salad Spinner to make this salad. The Salad Spinner helped to dry my greens quickly so they could absorb the dressing with ease and not water down the salad. The Salad Dressing Shaker is not something I would have ever thought to purchase, but after using it to measure, shake, and pour the dressing, I honestly wouldn’t ever use something else again. The printed measurements on the side of the shaker means I don’t have to deal with dirtying additional measuring cups. And if there is anything we can all agree on it’s that less dirty dishes is always a good thing!

Vegetarian Cobb Salad
Vegetarian Cobb Salad
Vegetarian Cobb Salad

And finally, let’s talk about this salad! Our local vegetarian restaurant makes a killer cobb salad that I always order when I go there. The one problem I have with the salad is that it’s just not nearly as good in the winter – the tomatoes are bland, and the lettuce lacks vibrancy (most likely because both are not as fresh as they are during peak produce season here in the Midwest). That is why I wanted to create a cobb salad that didn’t lean on those summer vegetables to make it delicious. I swapped out the tomatoes for roasted root vegetables and the lettuce for sturdy kale and cabbage.

I also swapped the meat for coconut bacon and roasted chickpeas because a little salty crunch in your salad is always a good idea. And finally, I made my salad with jammy eggs, but you are welcome to cook your eggs a little longer if you’d rather have a more traditional cobb salad egg experience (I will say that the jammy halves were delicious but a bit messy).

Vegetarian Cobb Salad
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Vegetarian Winter Cobb Salad

This Vegetarian Winter Cobb Salad is a fun seasonal twist that features heartier greens, roasted vegetables, and chickpeas in place of the meat.

Ingredients
For the coconut bacon:
  • 1 cup large coconut flakes
  • 1 Tbsp liquid smoke
  • 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp maple syrup
For the Roasted Vegetables & Chickpeas:
  • 1 cup chopped root vegetables (such as carrots, beets, radishes, etc) all chopped about the same size
  • 1 15 oz can of chickpeas drained and patted dry with a paper towel
  • 2 Tbsp California Olive Ranch extra virgin olive oil
  • dash of salt / pepper
For the dressing:
  • 2/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/3 cup champagne vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
  • dash salt / pepper
Everything else:
  • 1 small head cabbage rinsed and chopped
  • 1 bunch kale rinsed and chopped
  • 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
  • 5 soft boiled OR hard boiled eggs halved
  • 1 avocado pitted sliced
Instructions
For the coconut bacon:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the liquid smoke, soy sauce, and maple syrup in a bowl. Fold the coconut flakes into the smoke mixture until they are completely coated with the sauce. Transfer to the baking sheet and spread out onto a single layer. Bake for 20 minutes, shaking and stirring the flakes every 3-5 minutes to prevent from burning (do it more frequently towards the end as they are very prone to burning right before ready). Remove from oven and gently transfer the parchment paper with the coconut bacon on it to a cooling rack (so you can reuse the baking sheet for the veggies). Set aside to cool.

For the Roasted Vegetables & Chickpeas:

  1. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees and re-line the baking sheet with new parchment paper. Toss the veggies and chickpeas in 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil and a dash of salt and pepper. Transfer to baking sheet in an even layer and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until the veggies are starting to brown and the chickpeas are crisped. Remove from oven and set aside.

For the dressing:

  1. While the veggies are roasting, transfer all the dressing ingredients into the OXO Salad Dressing Shaker and shake until emulsified and combined. Set aside.

To assemble:

  1. Toss together the cabbage and kale and then place in a big salad bowl. Top with roasted veggies, chickpeas, crumbled cheese, eggs, avocado, and coconut bacon. Start by drizzling half the dressing over the salad and taste. Add more dressing as desired. Serve right away.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of OXO and California Olive Ranch. The opinions and text are all mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that make VV possible.

Vegan Chili Mac & Cheese

ALL, Entree, Winter54

This Vegan Chili Mac recipe from Power Plates is the ultimate comfort food: a vegan hybrid between macaroni and cheese and chili.

Vegan Chili Mac

I have a confession to make. I’ve been holding out on you. I literally have been meaning to photograph and share this recipe with you for over a year. I received Gina’s Power Plates cookbook last winter and fell totally in love with this recipe – it’s the ultimate comfort food meal: rich macaroni and cheese meets hearty bean chili. Chewy pasta is folded into an easy homemade “queso sauce” and then wrapped up in a quick homemade chili. Don’t let the lack of actual cheese (the queso is vegan) in this recipe deceive you – the homemade “queso” is smoky and creamy and totally as good as any cheese sauce I’ve made at home (including ones with real cheddar).

Vegan Chili Mac
Vegan Chili Mac
Vegan Chili Mac

So, if this vegan skillet chili mac recipe and book are so good, why did I wait so long to make this for you? Well, to be completely honest, it was because I knew that it was going to be a tough one to photograph (one bowl meals with all cooked ingredients tend to be) and I was really worried about doing it justice. So worried, in fact, that it took me over a year to get around to finally photographing it. So yeah – such a silly reason but here it finally is!

Make sure to check out Gina’s cookbook if you like simple and vegan recipes that are balanced, filling, and delicious! In addition to seeing it for sale online, I’ve also spotted it at Anthropologie (in case you want to go see it in person before snagging a copy). Oh and did I mention that there is even a recipe in the book inspired by one of mine? You are going to have to pick up the book to find out which one! : )

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Vegan Skillet Chili Mac
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 Tbso olive oil
  • 1 white onion diced
  • 1 green or red bell pepper diced
  • 1 poblano pepper finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • pinch of red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes preferably fire-roasted
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 15 oz can drained and rinsed
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked kidney beans or 15 oz can drained and rinsed
  • 8 oz elbow shaped pasta
Cashew Queso Sauce
  • 1/2 cup raw cashews soaked for at least 2 hours and drained
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
  • 3 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
To serve:
  • sliced scallions for serving
Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.

  2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and poblano and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes or until onions are translucent.

  3. Add garlic and cook for another minute. Stir in cumin, chili powder, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, tomatoes, and beans. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.

  4. When the water is boiling, stir in the pasta and adjust the heat to maintain a low boil. Cool until pasta is al dente (reference package directions).

For the queso:

  1. Combine all the queso ingredients in a high speed blender and process until completely smooth. If the sauce is too thick to pour, add another tablespoon of water.

To serve:

  1. Fold tomato bean mixture, pasta, and queso together until combined. Top with scallions and season with more salt and pepper (if needed).

Vegan Chili Mac

Winter Citrus Almond Cake

ALL, Sweets, Winter59

This Winter Citrus Almond Cake With Yogurt & Mint recipe is an easy winter cake that can be enjoyed with coffee or tea. Make it when citrus is in season! This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bob’s Red Mill. The opinions and text are all mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that make VV possible.

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Citrus Cake

You know what gets me through a dark, dreary, wet February? Baking. Baking cookies. Baking bread. Baking biscotti. But you know what my favorite thing to bake is? Yup – you guessed it…cake! It gives me an excuse to get off the couch from binge watching TV, to heat up the house with the oven, and to get my creative ideas flowing endless flavor combinations. So I couldn’t be more excited to have this post made in partnership with Bob’s Red Mill because their numerous flour (and baking ingredients in general) make it even easier to get the creative ideas flowing by trying out different flour flavor profiles. I decided to focus on their almond flour for this cake because I’ve used it many times before to make super tender blueberry muffins so I knew that the flour would do the same to this cake.

Citrus Cake

I used to be obsessed with blood oranges this time of year but cara cara oranges have stolen my heart these days!

Citrus Cake
Winter Citrus Almond Cake With Yogurt & Mint

This winter citrus almond cake is perfect in it’s simplicity – it’s for weekend snacking, not big special occasions.

This versatile cake can be topped with plain yogurt or whipped cream (depending on how sweet you want your toppings), fresh citrus (I also added a few pomegranate seeds for color but it honestly didn’t need them), a touch of fresh mint, and a sprinkle of powered sugar. The cake itself isn’t over sweet but may be a touch too much for breakfast (at least to my liking) so I like to enjoy this as a snack cake with tea. A strong mint or earthy roobis would be a perfect accompaniment.

I went a little crazy with the different orange varieties when photographing this – tangerines, cara cara, and blood oranges. If you don’t feel like buying 3 different varities (I get it) then I’d recommend snagging the cara cara if you can. They have a slight red hue to them and they always seem to taste the perfect amount of sweet to me.

Citrus Cake
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Citrus Cake
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Winter Citrus Almond Cake With Yogurt & Mint

This Winter Citrus Almond Cake With Yogurt & Mint recipe is an easy winter cake that can be enjoyed with coffee or tea. Make it when citrus is in season! Recipe adapted from an Alison Roman recipe.

Ingredients
  • 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill almond flour
  • 3/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp orange zest
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature (+ more for greasing)
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 1/2 Tbsp powdered sugar
  • plain yogurt for serving
  • fresh orange segments for serving
  • mint for serving
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9 inch round cake pan with butter.

  2. Whisk together almond flour, all-purpose flour, salt, and orange zest in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside.

  3. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the beat together the butter and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy.

  4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating between each addition until completely incorporated. Increase speed and beat until mixture has doubled in size and is pale, about 5 minutes.

  5. Fold in the flour mixture just until incorporated.

  6. Transfer batter to prepared cake pan and bake for 30 minutes or until the top browns. Remove from oven and let cool. Dust with powdered sugar.

  7. To serve, dollop with yogurt, fresh citrus, and mint.

Citrus Cake

Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

ALL, Sweets27

These Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries are an easy dessert perfect for date night or to finish off a Valentine’s Day dinner menu.

Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Did I tell you that I got engaged a few weeks ago? Yes! I’ve been a little quiet about it around here because it feels…very personal. I was never that little girl dreaming of her perfect wedding day – I was too busy dreaming of being  independent in the form of having a cute little apartment on the top story of an old house with a big dog and vintage furniture. In fact, Wyatt and I have been together for almost 10 years (!!!) and we just started talking about marriage seriously in the last year or so because I thought I never wanted to get married. I always thought of marriage as something for old people and by not getting married then I just wouldn’t get old (which…we all know is just not true). And so when I talk about my engagement and a wedding, I almost just feel like a poser, an imposter. Marriage is not something I even knew I wanted but it feels so good now that I know it’s coming. I love Wyatt and I have no doubt that I want to spend the rest of my life with him so why not? Why not throw a big party to celebrate and make it official?

Anyhow, I somehow just turned this Valentine’s Day post into a post about my engagement but it feels pretty appropriate with the theme being love. And because I know you are going to ask, the proposal was perfectly chill which is very in line with our relationship. After a date night a few Friday’s ago, we were getting ready for bed and talking about his 30th birthday coming up in a few weeks. We started talking about how we had imagined our lives would be at 30 and I told him I guess I had assumed I’d get married at 30. He left the room and came back with a ring…and I said yes. : )

Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Now onto Valentine’s Day – our tradition is to skip the restaurant madness and make a meal together (which is a rare thing in our home since Wyatt usually leaves the cooking to me). We usually make dumplings or homemade pasta or something a little more special occasion so a simple dessert like these Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries will keep the mood fancy without causes us to eat dinner at 10 PM because we over did it.

For the white chocolate, I used Ghiradelli White Chocolate melting wafers (not sponsored, just what I found works best) which I easily found at Target. I’d imagine you could use melting wafers from Michael’s or the craft stores but I can’t speak to the quality of those. Let me know in the comments if you end up finding another wafer for these that you prefer better – I’m definitely interested!

These festive strawberries get a pink hue from beet powder or freeze dried strawberries that have been blended into a powder. I offered the option for either because they are both delicious and not everyone can easily find beet powder at their local store (freeze dried berries should be easy to find in the snack section of your grocery store – I buy mine at both Kroger and Target). Just pop the berries into a blender (make sure the lid is on tight at the powder will blow everywhere) and blend until a fine powder forms. Easy? Easy as chocolate covered strawberries!

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Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

These Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries are an easy dessert perfect for date night or to finish off a Valentine’s Day dinner menu.

Ingredients
  • 1/2 tsp ground pink peppercorn
  • 1/2 tsp ground pink himalayan salt
  • 10 oz white chocolate wafers (I used Ghirardelli)
  • 1 quart whole fresh strawberries washed and patted dry
  • 2-4 Tbsp beet powder or strawberry powder (see my intro for more info on this)
Instructions

  1. Mix together the peppercorn and salt and set aside.

  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the white chocolate wafers on 50% power level in 20 second intervals, whisking between intervals, until the white chocolate is melted. You'll want to do it this way to avoid burning the chocolate as it will ruin the chocolate.

  3. Once melted, whisk in powder, starting with 1/2 Tbsp and adding in more until it reaches the desired pink hue.

  4. Working quickly, hold the stem of the dried strawberries and dip them into the chocolate until completely covered. Transfer to parchment paper and continue with the rest of the strawberries. Sprinkle a small pinch of the salt and pepper mixture over the strawberries and then let them harden for at least 15 minutes before enjoying.

Smoky Quinoa Vegetarian Nachos

ALL, Appetizer, Entertaining, Snack51

Looking for a munchies recipe to make for your next movie marathon or game night? These Smoky Quinoa Vegetarian Nachos are easy to make, addicting, and super versatile so you can easily adapt the recipe to what you like most about nachos (cheese…lots of melty cheese).

Smoky Quinoa Vegetarian Nachos

You all ready to eat your hearts out on Sunday during the Super Bowl? I have no idea who is playing, where it’s at this year, or who will be performing at half time but what I do know that our living room table is going to be filled with delicious snacks. I’m planning to make a huge mound of these nachos along a Pumpkin cheeseball, this Roasted Beet dip, and a batch of Tahini Chocolate Chip cookies. Once you factor in all the time I’m going to spend making and eating all of this, who has time to watch a sports game anyway? ; )

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Warming Ginger Lemon Honey Tea

ALL, Drinks, Winter27

This simple 3 ingredient warming Ginger Lemon Honey Tea recipe is a go-to when feeling under the weather or like my body needs a little boost. I love that it doesn’t require a juicer and can be whipped up in a blender in just a few minutes.

Anyone else feel like everyone around them is sick? Thank you, January, for not only being dark and cold but also spreading all the germs. To try to build up a little extra immunity power for my body, I’ve been drinking this lemon ginger tonic mixture every few days for the last few weeks. It’s been soothing on my sore throat while giving my body a little extra boost from the ginger and lemon.

A lot of similar recipes to this online have you boil everything in a saucepan to let the ginger steep but my local coffee shop juices it all and the flavor of this method just packs such a bigger punch. I used to think you could only make this version in a juicer but I found a nice little cheat system though where you blend everything in a high speed blender and then just use a fine mesh strainer. The end result is deliciously sweet, spicy, and tart and the great way to mix-up your afternoon tea routine.

Here are a few fun variations for this Ginger Lemon Honey Tea recipe for when you want to mix it up:

  • Carrots Ginger Tonic: Add 1 peeled and trimmed carrot to blender along with the ginger and lemon.
  • Spicy Black Pepper Lemon Ginger Tonic: Add 1 tsp whole peppercorn to tonic after you pour hot water in and let steep for 3-5 minutes.
  • Thyme Lemon Ginger Tonic: Add 3 fresh thyme sprigs to tonic after you pour hot water in and let steep for 3-5 minutes.

Note that I like my Ginger Lemon Honey Tea super spicy and tart so you may end up wanting to adjust your ratios a bit from what I have listed below. If the drink is too tart or spicy for you, just add more water and honey until you find the right equation for your taste buds.

 

 

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Warming Ginger Lemon Honey Tea

This Warming Ginger Lemon Honey Tea is my go-to when feeling under the weather or like my body needs a little boost. I love that it doesn't require a juicer and can be whipped up in a blender in just a few minutes!

Ingredients
  • 1/2 small lemon (or 1/4 large) peeled and deseeded
  • 1 inch ginger knob peeled
  • 1 1/4 cup water divided
  • 1/2 Tbsp honey
Instructions

  1. Place lemon wedge, ginger, and 1/4 cup water in a high speed blender and blend on high for 2-3 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, boil the additional 1 cup of water in a water boiler or on the stove top.

  3. Use a fine mesh strainer to strain the lemon ginger mixture into a mug. Add honey and pour in boiling water.

  4. Let cool slightly and enjoy right away. Add more honey and/or water as needed.

 

 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette

ALL, Entree, Salad, Winter72

This Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad With Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette is inspired by Martina McBride’s new cookbook, Martina’s Kitchen Mix. It’s a hearty savory winter salad with a touch of sweet from the apples and cranberries.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette

I’m one of those girls who wishes she was a salad person. I do this thing all the time where I’ll pick out a restaurant based on a salad I know they have that I really like and then we’ll get there and I’ll be like ‘dang but that (insert carb dish) looks so much better’ and guess what I end up ordering? Yup, you are correct – that carby cheesy dishes that wasn’t even on my mind when I picked out the restaurant. Ahhh well.

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15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

ALL, Entree, Round-Up72

Looking to incorporate more veggies into your diet? Check out these 15 delicious and easy vegetarian recipes which range from tacos to pizza to soup to more!

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

This Purple Corn Veggie Fritters recipe is so easy to make for weeknight dinner and can be altered to fit whatever ingredients you may already have on hand.
                                                                                   
                                                                

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

Pizza time! Make sure to try this homemade Sweet and Savory Vegetarian Potato Grape and Rosemary Pizza Recipe!

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

This Vegetarian Polenta Pizza Stuffed Peppers recipe is the perfect weeknight plant-based meal. Chocked full of nutritious vegetables, filling polenta, and gooey cheese, this main is sure to please everyone in your family!
15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

These Healthy Vegetarian Lentil-Walnut Meatballs are the perfect meat-free meal. Serve them with spaghetti and your favorite tomato sauce for a hearty main.

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

This Vegetarian Quinoa Taco Meat Tostadas recipe is a quick and simple meat-free weeknight main entree. The quinoa taco meat is a healthy substitute for crumbled beef and a must-try for any vegetarian!

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

Creamy Vegetarian White Chili recipe that is cozy and filling (with vegan option). Ideal for healthy weeknight meals or chilly afternoons.

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

These Fried Eggs with Green Tahini and Pita are packed with spices and herbs and make a perfect simple dinner or weekend breakfast for two.

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

This Vegetarian Baked Ziti With Chorizo-Spiced Chickpeas recipe is packed with vegetables, protein-rich beans, gooey cheese, and deliciously carb-y pasta.

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

This Smoky Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice recipe is loaded with up melt-in-your-mouth vegetables that are tender and packed with flavor.

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

These Curried Veggie Patties with Coconut Quinoa are the perfect meal to throw together when you are trying to get rid of leftover vegetables or just looking to incorporate more veggies into your diet!

Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears

ALL, Breakfast, Winter29

Sharing the recipe for this Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears along with some meal prep breakfast ideas! This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bob’s Red Mill and

Happy new year!! You all ready to conquer all your 2019 goals? I was so excited when Bob’s Red Mill andBlue Ribbon Orchard Choice Orchard Choice), creamy milk, and crunchy seeds or nuts to create a perfectly addictive meal.

Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears

Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears

A few tips for prepping this ahead of time and eating throughout the week:

  • Cook the Bob’s Red Mill farro on Sunday afternoon and store it in an airtight container (it should keep in your fridge for 3-4 days). This will speed up your morning process because it just means everything will need to be warmed.
  • Stock up on 

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    Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears

    This Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears can be meal prepped ahead of time for a quick and delicious weekday breakfast or snack!

    Ingredients
    • 1 cup farro
    • 1 cup milk of your choice (whole milk, hazelnut, almond, etc)
    • 1 Tbsp butter
    • 1 package Blue Ribbon Orchard Choice California Figs (you can slice them in half if you buy the regular size figs or enjoy whole if you purchase the figlets)
    • 1 small pear cored and sliced thin
    • 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon
    • dash of salt
    • 4 Tbsp fresh orange juice
    • 1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
    • seeds from 1 small pomegranate
    • 4 tsp maple syrup (+ more to taste depending on how sweet you want it)
    • 2 tsp sesame seeds
    Instructions

    1. Rinse the farro and place in a saucepan with 3 cups water. Bring to a oil and reduce heat to medium-low. Let simmer for 30 minutes. Drain excess wate and set aside (you can also transfer to an airtight container and place in the fridge at this point if you are making farro ahead of time).

    2. In a small saucepan, heat butter over medium heat and add in figs, pear slices, cinnamon, and a dash of salt. Saute just until the pears are soft and fragrant and the figs are warmed through. Remove from heat and add stir in orange juice. Use right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge (and just rewarm right before serving).

    3. When ready to serve, warm farro in a medium saucepan with milk (if only making one serving at a time, warm 1/4 of the farro with 1/4 cup of milk). Place farro in 4 bowls (if making a full batch). Serve with warmed figs and pears, seeds, and maple syrup.

     

    Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears

     

Easy Vegetarian Chickpea Noodle Soup Recipe

ALL, Entree, Fall, Soup, Winter103

This Chickpea Noodle Soup recipe is chocked full of healthy vegetables, hearty beans, and chewy egg noodles. This soup is a great way to get more vegetables into your meal while still enjoying the comfort of delicious pasta.

Easy Vegetarian Chickpea Noodle Soup Recipe

Happy New Year! Ready or not, it’s time for 2019! Can you believe this will be the last year in this decade?! I’m a bit in shock since I’m still listening to music like it’s the early 2000s (just joking…sort of). Anyhow, it’s sort of become a tradition for me to share a soup recipe (like this one and this one) as the first recipe of the year. I decided to share this Chickpea Noodle Soup recipe because it’s chocked full of vegetables (helloooo 2019 goal of eating more vegs) and beans but its not totally indulgent free because there are plenty of filling egg noodles in this as well.

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Vegetarian Lunch Ideas + 2019 Goals

ALL, Entree, Round-Up, Salad, sandwich, Wrap Up71

Need less microwave meals and more vegetables in your life? I’ve got you covered with a round up of easy and delicious vegetarian lunch ideas.

Healthy and Easy Vegetarian Lunch Ideas And Recipes

Woooweee! We are really at the finish line now for 2018. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for 2019! Before I jump into sharing a few vegetarian lunch ideas, I wanted to quickly jot down some goals for the new year. I’ve always been that obnoxious overachiever that insists on writing down my goals every year and this year will be no different. Although I don’t always succeed with all of them (I see you goal of mastering video), it’s always so rewarding to go over my goals at the end of the year and see how much I did manage to accomplish.

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Holiday Stollen Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

ALL, Bread, Sweets, Winter31

This batch of Holiday Stollen Homemade Cinnamon Rolls are perfect for Christmas morning or for a lazy weekend around the holiday season.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

A few Christmas seasons ago, I somehow talked my mother, aunt, and grandma into helping me make our family stollen recipe. The recipe called for several bags of flour, obscene amounts of fruit, required all of us to knead the huge pile of dough by hand, and took several days from start to finish. Needless to say, no one has suggested we make that recipe since. Even though our family recipe was beyond labor-intensive, I still loved the end result which was yeasty, boozy, and studded with just enough fruit to be sweet but not overly sweet. I made a stollen cookie in my first cookbook and although it’s a delicious shortbread, it doesn’t have the yeasty flavor I crave. After a few trial and errors, I was able to translate all my favorite parts of stollen into cinnamon roll form with these little rolls. It’s a pretty amazing hybrid with yeasty base, rum-soaked fruit, cream cheese frosting, and a touch more cinnamon than traditional stollen has (but more of other spices that a cinnamon roll usually would).

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Cardamom Coffee Chocolate Biscotti

ALL, Breakfast, Snack, Sweets, Winter46

This Cardamom Coffee Chocolate Biscotti recipe is perfect for the holidays or when you are planning to have friends over for tea or coffee. The biscotti can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

Cardamom Coffee Chocolate Biscotti

Checking in for a quick one today and to share this amazing biscotti recipe! I made an addicting hybrid of the Spicy Double Chocolate Chip Biscotti recipe found in my Vegetarian Heartland cookbook and the Cardamom Coffee Cream Scones found in my Platters and Boards cookbook! These end results are a subtly sweet biscuit meant to be dunked in teas and coffee. I promise that the instructions look more complicated than they are – you are basically going to make one dough that splits off into two bowls (so you can add two different flavors) and then pile one part of the dough over the over so you end up with an impression looking two flavor biscotti.

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Cranberry Orange Punch With Cranberry-Rosemary Ice Ring

ALL, Drinks, Winter35

This Cranberry Orange Punch With Cranberry-Rosemary Ice Ring is only 6 ingredients and a totally show stopper for your holiday parties!

Cranberry Orange Punch

It’s the holiday season (*queue holiday music*)! If I wasn’t so wrapped up in binge watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season 2 then I would probably be out celebrating the season at holiday parties. Jk Jk – I do plan to go to a holiday party eventually this season (next weekend, to be exact) and will most certainly be bringing a big batch of this punch to the event. I’ll be bringing this punch not only because I need alcohol to tame my social anxiety (I kid…sort of) but because it’s an easy and delicious way to serve up something festive. …View More

Vegetarian Ventures 2018 Gift Guide (All Under $50!)

ALL, Round-Up, Winter, Wrap Up39

Here we are again! It’s already the holiday season and time to pick out the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Luckily for you, I’ve went ahead and piled a list of 18 gifts under $50 that would be perfect for almost every women in your life – whether she is an obsessive cook, all-natural beauty goddess, design forward homebody, compassionate animal lover, or giver that already has everything (see giving options below for more ideas for that one!).

 

Vegetarian Ventures 2018 Gift Guide (All Under $50)

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Farro Salad with Pistachios Apricots and Herbs

ALL, Entree, Salad, Side, Winter37

This Farro Salad with Pistachios Apricots and Herbs is my go-to meal prep lunch. It can be made in under 30 minutes and lasts several days in the fridge when tightly sealed. The chewy farro balances perfectly with salty pistachios, a bright citrus dressing, and sweet apricots pieces.

Farro Salad with Pistachios Apricots and Herbs Recipe

Hiii! I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving week (if you are US based)! I am just now getting back into the swing of things and am SO ready to start getting festive! We put our tree up over the weekend along with a bunch of lights and I’m planning to spend Sunday working on a new holiday cookie recipe for you all.

A few housekeeping things before we dive into today’s recipe. First up, did you see my instagram post about gifting my cookbooks for the holidays? Basically, since I can’t meet all of you in person and give you a big ‘Thank you’ hug, I’m offering to send a signed recipe card to anyone who emails me a proof of purchase for one of my books. I’m hoping it’ll help give an extra special touch to your gift and a small way to show how appreciative I am to you for supporting my book adventure!

Secondly, I will be signing copies of my book this Saturday in Indianapolis at the Indiana Historical Society’s Annual Author Fair! If you live in the area, I’d love to see you there! The event is from noon to 4 PM and I’ll be the awkward looking introvert in the back peddling my recipes. Hope to see you there! : )

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Apple Cider Gravy From Now and Again

ALL, Sauce, Side, Thanksgiving, Winter48

This Apple Cider Gravy recipe from Julie Turshen’s Now and Again cookbook is both savory and tangy. It’s a perfect gravy for a special occasion like Thanksgiving or a lazy morning with biscuits and eggs.

Apple Cider Gravy From Now and Again

Thanksgiving is officially a week from today – are you ready? This is the first year we will be hosting at our new home and I’m beyond excited / nervous / overwhelmed. There will be about 15 of us and I have no idea how they will all fit into our 900 square foot home (ha). To calm my nerves a bit, I’ve started testing some of the recipes from the menu ahead time and this Apple Cider Gravy from Julie Turshen’s Now and Again. I was drawn to this Apple Cider Gravy recipe because I always think of gravy as super savory so I was very curious to see how a healthy helping of acid would alter the flavor. The results were still deliciously savory with a tint of tang that was surprisingly wonderful on top of a pile of biscuits and eggs. I dare say this could even replace our go-to recipe we’ve been making for years!

This Apple Cider Gravy is from Julie Tushen’s newest cookbook, Now and Again. I was beyond excited to receive a copy of this from Chronicle Books since I was such a big fan of her first cookbook, Small Victories. This has a similar approach in that all the food in the book is very accessible while still being creative and feeling new. Now & Again is sorted by seasons and then again by menu themes. What makes it extra unique is that Julie then gives recipe ideas on how to use the leftovers so nothing goes to waste. It also has an ideal mix of everyday recipes and special occasion recipes. I highly recommend you checking it out if you are a cookbook fan and looking for new inspiration!

Apple Cider Gravy From Now and AgainApple Cider Gravy From Now and Again

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Apple Cider Gravy

This Apple Cider Gravy recipe from Julie Turshen's Now and Again cookbook is both savory and tangy. It's a perfect gravy for a special occasion like Thanksgiving or a lazy morning with biscuits and eggs.

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 Tbsp fresh sage
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups vegetable broth (she used chicken but veg worked great for me!)
  • 2 cups apple cider vinegar
Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.

  2. Add onion, garlic, sage, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring often, until everything is softened, about 8 minutes.

  3. Add flour and, stirring often, cook until it turns the color of a milky cup of coffee, about 5 minutes.

  4. Next, while whisking constantly, slowly pour in the stock and the cider.

  5. Bring the mixture to a bowl and then lower heat and simmer, stirring often, until thickened, about 10 minutes.

 

 

 

20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes You Should Try This Year

ALL, Entertaining, Entree, Fall, Round-Up, Sweets, Thanksgiving, Winter94

Thanksgiving is less than a week away – do you know what you are making yet? Whether you are planning the whole menu or just looking for a dish or two to bring to the party, I’ve got 20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving that are perfect for the occasion.

 

Quick Starters and Appetizers

This Roasted Beet Hummus with Hazelnut Oil & Rosemary recipe is a bright and easy snack worthy of serving to guests.

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Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives

ALL, Appetizer, Drinks, Entertaining, Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter35

In a hurry? Click here to JUMP TO RECIPE!

This Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives recipe is an easy appetizer that can be made ahead of time and is a great starter to serve at your holiday parties!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Day Owl Rosè. The opinions and text are all mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that make VV possible. Msg 4 21+Tracking Pixel

Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives

 

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Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe

ALL, Appetizer, Fall, Side, Snack85

In a hurry? Click here to JUMP TO RECIPE!

This Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe is perfect For Halloween themed parties and any fall entertaining you are planning to do!

Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe

As you may remember, we completely redid our backyard this past spring and I am SO SO SO excited that it’s finally cool enough to have a fire back there and not break into a sweat. This also means it’s time to host! I’m planning to make this festive Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball the next time we have guests over for a fire because it’s not only delicious but super festive (black and orange!) and can be whipped up ahead of time. I’m thinking I will also probably make this for Halloween so Wyatt and I can have a delicious treat while we hand out candy on our porch – we deserve a treat yo ‘self moment too for the holiday, right??

You do need to plan ahead just a bit by making sure you give the cheeseball time to chill in the freezer before rolling it in the poppyseed and black sesame seeds. I like to serve my cheeseball with some crackers and veggies but potato chips would also work great here as well.

Oh and if you are into pumpkin recipes, make sure to check out all the other amazing recipes being featured on the Virtual Pumpkin Potluck!

Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe

How is your fall shaping up so far? It’s been pretty quiet over here – the weather FINALLY turned cold yesterday so I’m hoping we can finally start getting in some fall activities like hiking and apple picking. Wyatt and I are also celebrating our 8 year anniversary (woot woot!) next week with a little weekend trip to Cincinatti (a place neither of us have really spent any time in but is close enough for a weekend trip and has some pretty awesome looking restaurants to check out. Let me know if you have any recommendation for musts while we are there and make sure to follow along on my Insta!

Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe

5 from 1 vote
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Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball

This Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe is perfect For Halloween themed parties and any fall entertaining you are planning to do!

Servings: 2 cheese balls
Ingredients
  • 2 8 oz packages cream cheese softened
  • 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp crushed black pepper
  • 1/4 cup black sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup poppy seeds
Instructions

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

  2. Add cream cheese, pumpkin, cheddar cheese, paprika, salt, and pepper to a food processor and process until completely combined and a smooth paste remains. 

  3. Using clean and damp hands, divide the dough in half and each half into a circle using the palm of your hands. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and place in the freezer to chill for at least 20 minutes.

  4. Mix together the sesame seeds and poppy seeds in a shallow rimmed dish. Remove chilled balls from freezer and roll each ball in the seed mixture until completely coated.

  5. Transfer to a serving dish to serve right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve. Serve with veggies, chips, and crackers.

 

 

 

Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe

Chai Spiced Apple Cider Cocktail

ALL, Drinks, Entertaining, Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter90

In a hurry? Click here to JUMP TO RECIPE!

This festive Chai Spiced Apple Cider Cocktail recipe is a delicious fall drink that can be easily made with booze or as a mocktail.

Chai Spiced Apple Cider

I seem to be on a roll with chai-spiced apple recipes this season which I am not at all sorry about (because both of these makes your house smell A M A Z I N G and oh so fall). Ever since my mom moved into her beach home near Lake Michigan in May, I’ve been up to visit her at least once a month. We’ve already worked ourselves into a little Saturday routine which consists of browsing her nearest farmers market and then stopping at both a small Swedish bakery for pastries and a cute little grocery store / coffee shop for sandwiches to pack for a lazy afternoon at the beach. One the last trip up there a few weeks ago, I picked up a really delicious iced Chai Cider which should honestly be the official drink of September because it was the perfect mix of fall spices while still being a refreshing warm weather thirst quencher. As I was sipping on it, I couldn’t help but think about how simple it was – I’m sure it was just half local apple cider and half of their homemade chai mix they use in lattes. Genius! I knew I had to create my own.

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Chai Apple and Almond Puff Pastry Tarts

ALL, Appetizer, Fall, Snack, Sweets69

In a hurry? Click here to JUMP TO RECIPE!

Today we are covering how to enjoy ‘me’ time this fall before the holiday busyness begins. Plus, I’m sharing a recipe for these delicious and easy Chai Apple and Almond Puff Pastry Tarts.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Oregon Chai®. The opinions and text are all mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that make VV possible.

Chai Apple and Almond Puff Pastry Tarts

It’s no secret that chai lattes hold a special place in my heart (one of the first recipes on VV was a chai spiced cupcake recipe and I’ve featured the spice combo in many recipes since). My obsession with them first started when I worked at a coffee shop in high school, as it was my favorite drink item on the menu. Over the years, I’ve also come to associate the smell of a steaming cup of chai latte with fall – with the crunching of leaves, a big cozy sweater, pumpkin picking, and so much more. A spicy chai latte always seems to be my first choice when packing up a warm drink for a brisk walk in the woods to wander among the changing leaves.

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10 Vegetarian Soup Recipes To Get You Excited For Cooler Weather

ALL, Entree, Fall, Side, Soup, Winter114

10 Vegetarian Soup Recipes To Get You Excited For Cooler Weather featuring chilis, stews, dumpling soup, minestrone, and more!

Here in the Midwest, we are at that point in the year where I’m just so ready for cooler weather and comfort food in the form of easy and flavorful soups. Any else with me? Well here are 10 vegetarian soup recipes to add to your dinner menu in the coming weeks:

10 Vegetarian Soup Recipes To Get You Excited For Cooler Weather

1. This Creamy Vegetarian White Chili recipe that is cozy and filling (with vegan option). Ideal for healthy weeknight meals or chilly afternoons. 

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Heirloom Tomato Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing

ALL, Appetizer, Salad, Side, Summer94

In a hurry? Click here to JUMP TO RECIPE!

This Heirloom Tomato Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing recipe is a great way to use up those heirloom tomatoes currently ripening on the vine in your garden.

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing

Dropping in for a quick post today and to give one last ode to summer with this late season Heirloom Tomato Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing. The humidity has already started to drop here in the Midwest so I know fall is on the horizon but my garden is still bursting with these late summer beauties. I’d probably be wishing summer away altogether (fall is my favorite season) if it wasn’t for all the fresh herbs and tomatoes currently thriving in the garden.

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