Cucumber Salad with Mint, Basil and Trader Joe’s EBTB Seasoning

Guys, I am so into mint and basil chopped up on and in everything (see: herbed turkey meatballs). One of my 2019 Bucket List items was finishing dishes with fresh herbs or lemon/lime, and I’ve been all over it all year, but especially so now that the weather has finally broken.

This time of year begs for fresh flavors, crisp veggies, and overall light and quick meals. Really, who wants to turn on the stove anyway?! And less time in the kitchen means more time outside, or at the beach, lake or pool. Sign me up!

Tomato Ricotta Toasts

Toast-for-dinner is one of my go-tos for nights when I have no time, or get home late, or feel incredibly uninspired. And then, every time we do actually have toast, it always feels like such a little treat!

It’s such a simple idea that once you make a few different variations, you’ll have them in your back pocket when you need a quick meal or are having one of those no-idea-what-to-make-for-dinner kind of nights.

Homemade Bagel Chips & Everything Bagel Dip Recipe

What’s brunch without carbs, eh? For my latest Ladies Who Brunch, I made the Australian Folded Eggs and Smoked Salmon Nicoise, but I wanted one more dish to tie it all together. Serving actual bagels felt like it would be too heavy, but I wanted something carb-y. Enter bagel chips & dip: because seriously, who doesn’t love bagels and who doesn’t love dip?

I do have to admit, I’ve never been a fan of store bough bagel chips, so when I was testing these out I wasn’t 100% sure I would like them. I’ve always found store bough to be too crunchy. I wanted these to be like a bagel you accidentally toasted a bit too much, but you could still enjoy.

I tried making these a few different ways, and they all came out pretty much the same, so in the recipe I’ve given you all three options: brush with olive oil, melted butter or spray with cooking spray; then you sprinkle salt on them and bake them up until they’re nice and toasted!

6 Things I Buy Every Week at the Grocery Store

Okay, this should probably be called “6 Things I Buy Every Week at the Grocery Store but Mostly Trader Joe’s.” Loving to cook, I rarely make the same exact thing every week, but I do have a few staples I can’t live without. And there’s something about those Trader Joe’s goodies that are just superior to basically all major chain things I buy!

I love these peppers, and they’re better priced than the peppers at our major chains. A roasted pepper is so versatile, too! Throw it into pasta salad, into an omelet, on a sandwich, in a salad, and even with meats and cheese for impromptu guests. We go through at least a jar a week.

Another TJ’s must have: low fat feta. I’m obsessed. Again, crumbled over eggs, in a salad, sprinkled into rice (with spinach, kalamata olives & lemon? mmhmm, yes please). It lasts forever, but in our house, it lasts about a week.

Artichoke hearts are another perfect pantry item – keep them around to throw on a meat and cheese plate with your roasted red peppers! Trader Joe’s has delicious artichokes (and awesome grilled ones that have so, so much flavor!). I’m partial to throwing these on a cold pasta salad, especially now in the summer months, my regular salad, baked with spinach and cheese over chicken….they do all the things!

Okay. Do y’all know the joy of this Herdez Guacamole Salsa? I am literally obsessed. On salad, on chicken, on steak, on sauteed veggies, on grilled veggies, on raw veggies, on tacos. Give me all the guacamole salsa! This is the one thing I absolutely have to go to the big chain grocer for each week. I will make a special trip just for this salsa when it runs out. You can find it in the Mexican section at the store.

I’m sure everyone buys some sort of greens every week. I actually get this spring mix at Costco. It lasts longer than the regular grocery store, is so super delicious, and is like $3.99 for the ginormous size. I have a salad most days for lunch, so we can easily go through 1-2 of these a week. But they last about 10 days! Especially if you do the paper-towel-on-top-of-the-greens trick. You know, to sop up all the condensation from the lid?

I l-0-v-e mustard. This mustard is the best, we go through a jar every 5 days, easily. I’ve even sauteed zucchini in this mustard! But really it’s the secret to my creamy vinaigrette dressing, and what I use to make a traditional vinaigrette, too (which I put on everything).

 

What are your go-tos each week that you have to have?