The Ultimate Summer Recipes - Cooking with Cassandra

Baked Halibut Recipe with Garlic Tomato Butter Sauce

Baked halibut with cherry tomatoes, garlic, parsley, and lemon in a white baking dish with a spoon lifting a piece of fish

Baked Halibut Recipe This baked halibut recipe is tender, flaky, and cooked in a rich garlic tomato butter sauce. It’s an easy, elevated dinner made with simple ingredients and ready in under 45 minutes. 6 garlic cloves (minced)1 shallot (finely chopped)1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (plus extra for drizzling)2 ½ cups cherry tomatoes½ cup chicken broth1/2 teaspoon salt4 tablespoons salted butter (cubed)3 tablespoons fresh flat leaf parsley (chopped, plus extra for garnish)1.5 lbs fresh halibut1/2 large lemon (freshly squeezed)salt and pepper (to taste) Preheat oven: Set your oven to...

Lemon Parmesan Salad

Bowl of chopped romaine lettuce topped with finely grated Parmesan cheese, with a lemon half and white pitcher nearby

Lemon Parmesan Salad is one of those simple recipes that proves a few good ingredients can make something truly delicious. Crisp romaine, freshly grated Parmesan, olive oil, and fresh lemon come together in a way that is bright, fresh, and full of flavor. What makes this lemon Parmesan salad so special is its simplicity. There is no heavy dressing, no long ingredient list, and no extra fuss. The olive oil lightly coats every piece of romaine, the Parmesan adds that salty, savory bite, and the lemon keeps the whole salad tasting fresh and vibrant. What really makes it stand out is the...

Fudgy Avocado Brownies

Square avocado brownies topped with smooth chocolate fudge frosting, showing a thick chocolate drip and a dense interior.

Avocado Brownies with Chocolate Fudge Frosting These avocado brownies are rich, fudgy, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. Made with almond flour and dark chocolate, they bake up moist and chocolatey with a smooth chocolate fudge frosting on top. Avocado Brownies2 small avocados (ripe, pitted and skins removed (about 3/4 cup once pureed))1/2 cup pure maple syrup1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract1/2 teaspoon espresso powder3 ounces 70% dark chocolate (melted)2 large eggs1/4 cup cocoa powder1/2 cup almond flour1/2 teaspoon kosher salt1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chipsChocolate Fudge...

Basil Pesto

Homemade pesto in a glass jar with a spoon, surrounded by basil, Parmesan, lemon, and bread.

One of my favorite parts of summer is all the fresh herbs—and this is the best basil pesto recipe to make when you’ve got a big bunch of basil ready to go. It’s bright, garlicky, and cheesy, with just enough richness to cling to pasta, grilled veggies, or a slice of crusty bread. The secret? Toasting the garlic cloves with the pine nuts—it mellows the bite and adds that buttery, savory flavor. Once you make this homemade pesto, you’ll never go back to store-bought. Whether you’ve got basil from the garden or just picked up a bunch at the market, this is my go-to all summer long. I swirl...

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Zucchini chocolate chip muffins are everywhere on the internet—but this is the recipe I’ve tested over and over until I could confidently say: these are better than any bakery muffin I’ve ever had. They rise high, stay moist for days, and have the perfect balance of cozy spice, melty chocolate, and fluffy texture without being oily or too sweet. Plus, they’re super quick and easy to make! What makes this version different? No squeezing the zucchini, no watery batter, and no flat tops. The secret is the high-heat oven start (for a big rise) and just the right combo of brown sugar and oil...

Sheet Pan Chicken Quesadillas

I love a good quesadilla, but standing over a skillet flipping them one by one while everyone else is already eating? Not exactly my idea of a good time. That’s why these Sheet Pan Chicken Quesadillas are such a game-changer. They bake all at once, slice beautifully, and the best part? I get to sit down and enjoy them with everyone else. It might just be the easiest, most crowd-pleasing appetizer I’ve ever made. These chicken quesadillas are crispy, cheesy, packed with flavor, and made to feed a crowd—no stovetop required. This isn’t your average Tuesday-night quesadilla situation. It’s...

Lemon Bars Recipe

Close-up of a thick lemon bar with a buttery shortbread crust and vibrant lemon filling, dusted with powdered sugar and surrounded by lemon wedges.

Who else LOVES lemon bars?! For me, they’re one of my all-time favorite desserts—bright, tangy, buttery perfection. This lemon bars recipe is one I’ve tested to perfection, made with an easy, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread crust and a smooth lemon filling that strikes just the right balance of sweet and tart. I love a generous bite, which is why I created this recipe in a 9x9-inch pan, giving you that perfect ratio of thick lemon filling to buttery crust. If life gives you lemons, this is the recipe to make. Whether you’re bringing dessert to a spring brunch, prepping for a holiday tray,...

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...

Easy Creamy Lemon Chicken

Overhead view of creamy lemon chicken breasts in a skillet, garnished with lemon slices and fresh parsley, with a gold spoon resting in the sauce.

If you’re craving a quick and easy one-pan meal that’s bursting with flavor, this creamy lemon chicken is just what you need! In just 25 minutes, you’ll have tender, pan-seared chicken breasts covered in a rich, tangy lemon garlic butter cream sauce that’s absolutely irresistible. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish uses simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry—think butter, garlic, and a splash of heavy cream. The best part? This family-friendly dinner is incredibly versatile and can be served over pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice, making it a guaranteed favorite every...

Easy Steak Marinade

How do you like your steak done? Cooking steak to a certain degree of doneness is hands-down one of the hardest things for me to get right. The perfect steak needs to be juicy, tender, and flavorful. Whenever I got a chance to practice, I’d try on so many cuts of steak. Walt became my taste testers when I started get comfortable with the grill. My practice steaks were always the cheaper cuts of beef. We couldn’t afford to burn an expensive steak every time – what a waste that would be. I also learned to make a steak marinade to add some flavor to the steak. My poor taste...

Strawberry Lemon Blondies

If you're looking for the perfect spring and summer treat, these strawberry lemon blondies are it. With fresh strawberries and bright lemon, this easy dessert is full of flavor and so simple to make. My family loves to remind me that as a baby, they called me "Strawberry Lips" because I was so obsessed with strawberries that I’d leave a red mess all over my mouth. That love has never faded—and it’s exactly what inspired this recipe. These blondies are soft, chewy, and buttery—not dry or crumbly—just the way a good blondie should be. Whether you’re hosting a brunch, packing a sweet snack...

Easy Bruschetta Recipe

One of the reasons why I enjoy summer (besides barbecues and sunshine) is because of all the produce that is in-season. Melon and berries often get the spotlight as summer fruits, but think about all the fresh tomatoes! This fruit (we aren’t going to debate on whether tomatoes are fruits or vegetables!) is perfect for one of my favorite appetizers: bruschetta. Bruschetta — a traditional Italian antipasto — is essentially a tomato mixture on grilled bread slices and is great as an appetizer, snack, side dish or even on its own. They look fancy, but are so easy to make! With...