Quick 30-Minute Meals - cookingwithcassandra.com

Refreshing Strawberry Margaritas

Strawberry & slice of lime Margarita | cookingwithcassandra.com

I am a huge margarita fan! Aside from wine, tequila is my go-to for my cocktail of choice. Recently, I shared my margarita pitcher recipe which is great for serving big crowds. While a classic margarita makes for a delicious cocktail, sometimes I like to switch it up, especially if I’m feeling particularly creative. Today, I’m sharing a variation of the traditional recipe: a frozen strawberry margarita. This homemade strawberry margarita recipe uses frozen strawberries, tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and honey. When blended together, the mixture turns a very pretty pink...

Pasta With White Wine Lemon Sauce

Lemon Pasta topped with Cherry Tomatoes and fresh Basil | cookingwithcassandra.com

When life gives you lemons, what do you do? If you’re Cassandra Morris, you concoct a divine lemon sauce with white wine to go with fettuccine pasta. This lemon white wine pasta sauce recipe is the ultimate game changer. While I do love myself a rich carbonara and a light aglio olio, this white wine sauce is the perfect in-between. If you’re someone who loves to experiment with new flavors, you are going to love this one. This pasta is coated with a lemon-infused garlic cream sauce, and the white wine does wonders that you can only experience when you’re cooking this...

Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter

Salmon is one of my favorite seafoods to work with. One, because it's so versatile, and two, because it’s rich with Omega-3 fats and that makes for a healthy meal! This lemon butter salmon may look like a sophisticated dish, but trust me: it’s easy peasy, lemon squeezy. I just put all the ingredients together, then I let the oven do all the heavy lifting while I kick back and relax. No oven at home? Good news! You can also use a frying pan (See Tips & Variations section for details). It is especially a lifesaver for the days when I have guests coming over and...

Garlic Butter Baked Shrimp

Garlic Butter Shrimp | cookingwithcassandra.com

Does anyone else find themself frequenting the frozen dinners aisle at Costco a lot more than they should? That was 100% me before I began my cooking journey… There are just so many different things to try! Who can say no to an easy, no-frills, microwaveable meal every now and then? My days of frozen dinners are behind me, but I recently thought about this garlic butter shrimp scampi I once had which actually tasted amazing. I decided to recreate it with my own spin on it. I present you: the best garlic butter shrimp you’ll ever have. Instead of going the pasta route, this...

Easy Homemade Pico De Gallo

Homemade Pico De Gallo Recipe | cookingwithcassandra.com

What’s a tangy, fresh dip that goes super well with chips? You guessed it – salsa! No more buying bottled salsa, my friends. Today, I’m showing you exactly how to make authentic pico de gallo. It isn’t exactly salsa, though it is just one step shy. The only difference is that salsa is a puréed form of the same ingredients, whereas pico de gallo (or salsa fresca) keeps its vegetables in solid form. In Mexican restaurants and fast food joints, pico de gallo is found in fish tacos and meat burritos, acting as a sweet and spicy relish. Plus, it’s the perfect dip for tortilla...

Healthy Turkey Burgers With Spinach, Feta & Tzatziki

Spinach Feta Turkey Burger Patty | cookingwithcassandra.com

These spinach feta turkey burgers will transport you straight to Greece! They’re a classic family favorite at our house, with juicy patties and buttery burger buns. Slather the burgers generously with a refreshing, creamy tzatziki sauce made of yogurt, lemon, herbs and voila! This recipe is a tribute to Greek cuisine which is rich with cheeses, meat, olive oil, herbs, yogurt and citrus flavors. Still, Greek recipes are quite balanced, providing the nutrients our bodies need! These burgers are far from those at any fast food joints. I try to avoid highly processed foods when...

Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles

So, here is my recipe for fresh asparagus with puff pastry, a lovely side dish for any dinner party. I’ll be honest: it doesn’t look like much at first, and it’s definitely not as tantalizing as a colorful berry salad. But don’t be fooled, one bite into this asparagus with puff pastry and you’ll be amazed: glazed with honey, oozing with the best cheese mixture, and simply robust asparagus, this is definitely going to be one of the most memorable dishes you’ll ever have. It is very similar to cheesy asparagus tarts, except this one has already been apportioned and is shaped...

Earls Santa Fe Chicken Salad (Earls Restaurant Copycat)

For the Canadians frequenting this site, you are no doubt familiar with Earl’s restaurant. Earls changed their recipe for this and the salad, sorry Earls, just doesn't taste the same anymore. I went on a mission to recreate this recipe at home. After many attempts and ingredient variations, I finally crafted the perfect replica of Earls' famous Santa Fe Chicken Salad. The taste testers—the girls I went and had this with for so many years—couldn't believe it. Dare we say this version is even better than the original. I'm so excited to share it with you here! This salad is truly a must-try!...

Sheet Pan Shrimp Tacos With Cilantro Cream Sauce

Taco Tuesday meets Surf-n-Turf with this recipe, and oh, are you going to love this one. Imagine a warm, softshell tortilla filled with juicy shrimp that’s been baked in a hot cumin-chili-garlicky marinade. Accompanying the shrimps are sweet pineapple chunks, crunchy shallots, and creamy cilantro coleslaw. Flavor, texture, and nutrition – this recipe truly has it all. Also, depending on the type of tortilla wrap you use, these shrimp tacos can be gluten-free. It’s also a keto-friendly recipe and can be made low-carb by skipping the tortilla wrap and serving the shrimps over a bowl...

Easy Homemade Guacamole

BEST homemade guacamole recipe | cookingwithcassandra.com

This is the BEST homemade guacamole recipe! It’s healthy and filled with fresh ingredients like avocados, tomatoes, garlic, red onion, lime, cilantro, and salt. Unlike store-bought guacamole, this guacamole has no additives or preservatives. This recipe is gluten-free, vegan, and keto-friendly. If you have very little time and need to quickly fix a delicious dip, sandwich spread, or salad dressing, look no further. This guacamole recipe is so easy to make. It comes together in just 20 minutes and all you’ll need is a knife, a fork, and a bowl. It’s creamy, zesty, and tastes...

Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Do you know how some days you just crave a Snickers bar for no absolute reason? I don’t know about you, but I love me a good Snickers bar every once in a while. But every time I eat one I feel so sick and bloated after. Plus the high sugar content makes it impractical to make it a regular snack choice. So, I went out on a quest to create a healthier chocolate peanut butter tasting yummy treat! I’ve been CRAZY obsessed with these no-bake chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars! As a healthier replacement for the high-calorie and sugar-loaded Snickers, these are so addictive and for good...

How to Make French Toast

French toast with Syrup and Strawberries | cookingwithcassandra.com

French toast is a breakfast staple, though I don’t see anything wrong with enjoying it throughout the entire day. It’s yummy even at teatime or as an after-dinner sweet treat. This easy French toast recipe has soft Brioche bread soaked in an egg mixture that is milky and sweet which is then pan-fried with butter. Whether you are making French toast for two or twelve, this recipe is so quick and easy that it won’t feel like cooking at all. Read on for a no-nonsense guide on how to make french toast. What is the Best Bread to use for French Toast? This French toast recipe...