Carrot Muffins

Love carrot cake? Then you HAVE to try these healthy carrot muffins! Moist, tender, and warmly spiced, they're a delicious breakfast or on-the-go snack.

These carrot muffins combine two of my favorite things: carrot cake and muffins! They’re exactly what I want to eat on a spring morning (or any morning, really). They’re moist, warmly spiced, and studded with chewy raisins and crunchy walnuts. Seriously, who wouldn’t want to start their day with one of these? If you need a little last-minute something to round out your Easter menu tomorrow, I think these carrot muffins would be perfect. But if you don’t celebrate Easter, or if your menu is all set to go, I hope you’ll find a time to make them anyway. I adore…

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Baked Eggs

These oven baked eggs are an easy, delicious breakfast or brunch. Serve them with garnishes like fresh herbs and veggies to take them over the top!

How cute are these baked eggs?! Lately, Jack and I have been making them for breakfast and the occasional dinner, and with Easter coming up this weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to share the recipe with all of you. These baked eggs have runny yolks and just-set whites, and they’re SO simple to make in the oven. Sprinkled with toppings like fresh herbs, peas, and sautéed asparagus, they look elegant and inviting, and they taste delicious. They’d be a lovely main course for a holiday brunch, but you could easily pull them off for a regular…

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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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Healthy Carrot Cake

Our favorite healthy carrot cake recipe! Moist, warmly spiced, and topped with cream cheese frosting, it's easy to make and perfect for celebrations.

It’s carrot cake season! I don’t know about you, but when the weather warms up, my dessert cravings shift away from chocolate towards lighter, brighter treats. This change works out well for me, because carrot cake is Jack’s all-time favorite dessert, and we make it every year for his April birthday. You’ll find our go-to healthy carrot cake recipe below. It’s based on my mom’s, and it uses her secret ingredient: applesauce. It steps in for some of the oil and sugar that you’d find in a traditional carrot cake recipe without compromising on taste. This healthy carrot cake is…

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49 Best Healthy Snacks

Stomach growling in the middle of the afternoon? Tide yourself over with one of these healthy snacks! They include granola bars, dips, and more.

If I don’t have a stockpile of healthy snacks on hand, I will, without fail, reach for a cookie at 3pm. Now, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to something sweet in the afternoon, but if I’m working on a new cookie recipe, there’s a good chance that snacking on sweets will become less of a treat and more of a habit. Over the years, I’ve learned that filling up on healthy snacks like veggies and dip, smoothies, or trail mix will only make those sweets more rewarding in the end. I’ll be more energized and focused throughout the day, my…

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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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How to Use a Watermelon Radish

Whether roasted, pickled, or raw, watermelon radish will add color and crunch to almost any dish. Learn how to prepare it with this simple guide!

I love the moment when I first slice into a watermelon radish. From the outside, this root veggie looks so humble, its skin grubby and pale green. But when I cut into it, I reveal a radiant pink interior. On a gray day in late winter or early spring, nothing makes me happier than bold, bright color like that. So at this time of year, watermelon radishes are a staple in my kitchen. But apparently, not everyone cooks with them as often as I do. In fact, each time I share a new watermelon radish recipe, I hear from readers…

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11 Healthy Pancake Recipes

Have your (pan)cake, and eat it, too! Made with wholesome ingredients, these healthy pancake recipes are perfect for a fun breakfast or brunch.

On a weekend morning, I love starting my day with a stack of healthy pancakes. Pancakes, because it’s the weekend. And healthy (or healthy-ish), because they leave me feeling satisfied, energized, and ready to take on the day. You’ll find my go-to healthy pancake recipes in the post below. Some showcase fresh fruit, others call for whole grain flour, and still others are made without grains at all. They’re all similar in that they rely on simple, wholesome ingredients, they’re easy to mix together, and they’re absolutely delicious. If you’re looking for a fun way to kick off the morning,…

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Lemony Swiss Chard Pasta

Looking for a quick and easy dinner recipe? This simple Swiss chard pasta is just what you need! It's fresh, flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes.

Did you catch Tuesday’s post? It was all about Swiss chard, one of my favorite leafy greens. After going on and on about how much I love working with this versatile veggie (and why you should love it too!), I thought I owed you another Swiss chard recipe. So here you are! This lemony Swiss chard pasta is what weeknight dreams are made of. It calls for a short list of pantry ingredients, and it comes together in right around 30 minutes. Still, it’s filled with a delicious mix of textures and flavors. Sautéed chard stems add crunch, while the…

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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.