The Ultimate Summer Recipes - Page 3 of 11

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!...

Homemade Margarita Pitcher

Margarita Drinks | cookingwithcassandra.com

The margarita is a drink that needs no introduction. Every Mexican bar or restaurant has a margarita on its menu, and it’s a popular cocktail everyone can recognize from a mile away. Those salt-rimmed glasses filled with an iced cocktail and a fancy lime wedge? Iconic. But what really sets a good margarita apart is the cocktail mixture. If you combine just the right amount of high-quality tequila, sweet cointreau, and tangy lime juice, you’ll get a smooth margarita that tastes divine! In this recipe, I’ll be showing you my best homemade margarita recipe for a serving of 12....

Dirty Banana Cocktail

Dirty Banana Cocktail This Dirty Banana Cocktail recipe makes for the best boozy dessert and is ready in less than 5 minutes. Chocolate syrup and a maraschino cherry make it almost too cute to drink! 2 oz Appleton Special 2 oz RumChata 1 oz Crème De Cacao Liqueur4 oz Milk2 Bananas2 ½ cups IceChocolate syrupWhipped cream (for topping)maraschino cherries (for topping) Add all of the ingredients into a blender and blend it all together until smooth and creamy.Prepare your glasses - In two tall glasses, drizzle chocolate syrup around the inside of the glasses before pouring in your drink....

Paloma Cocktail

One of my favorite cocktails in the summer? A boozy Paloma cocktail. The Paloma is a highball style cocktail with its origins in Mexico. Tequila, grapefruit soda, and lime juice are the essentials of this thirst quencher and it always gets me in a celebratory mood. Though it is traditionally served with only these three ingredients, I thought I’d put my own spin on it. I stepped it up with the addition of an orange liqueur (Cointreau, sometimes Triple Sec) and sweetened the cocktail with homemade simple syrup. All the liquid ingredients go into a cocktail shaker, and...

Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake

Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake Make the famous Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake at home. Layered with creamy vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream and a hot fudge-filled cookie crumble center, this frozen treat is a perfect replica of the beloved DQ classic! Ice Cream Cake Layers1 tub Good quality chocolate ice cream (1.5 quarts )1 tub Good quality vanilla ice cream (1.5 quarts)Cookie Crunch Layer20 Crushed Oreos (with cream center)4 tbsp Salted butter (melted)1/2 cup of semisweet chocolate chips1 tablespoon of refined coconut oilHot Fudge Layer (pro tip: alternatevely you can use a 11.75...

Delicious Steak Salad With Yogurt Dressing

I LOVE summer barbecues! However, too often, hearty dishes steal the spotlight. Think burgers and potato salads! I mean I adore these recipes. But sometimes I just crave a mouthwatering summer salad! And right now, Summer Salads are having their moment! For readers who have been here for a while, you know my beliefs on dressings, vinaigrettes, and sauces—they can truly make or break a recipe. It's all about that sauce! It adds that extra pizzazz and can be conveniently prepared ahead on the weekend for easy weeknight meals. This steak salad features scrumptiously marinated, thinly sliced...

Easy Pulled Pork Burgers

Pulled Pork With Coleslaw | cookingwithcassandra.com

This recipe is a true labor of love. There are quite a number of ingredients to prepare and it takes time to cook the different parts of it. Each time I’ve served this though, it never fails to put a smile on people’s faces. So, so worth it! It consists of tender, juicy shredded pork cooked for 3 to 4 hours and marinated in a spiced dry rub. Sandwiched between toasted brioche buns, this pulled pork burger is finished with homemade barbecue sauce and fresh coleslaw. Every bite packs a punch and is bursting with flavor – savory, sweet, spicy, buttery, smoky, tangy. Just writing...

Creamy Zucchini Pasta With Avocado Spinach Sauce

Creamed spinach Tagliolini | cookingwithcassandra.com

Toss out that packet of spaghetti and swap it for zoodles. These zucchini noodles are ten times healthier than store-bought spaghetti: they are low-carb, nutrient-packed, and are better for the gut, too. If you’re someone who doesn’t hesitate before digging into regular pasta, I’m sure your body will thank you for changing things up a bit. With a bit of spiralizing and sauce-making, you’ll have a hearty bowl of soft zucchini pasta with the creamiest avocado spinach sauce that’s just as healthy. We get the cream entirely from the avocado, and the blended spinach turns into a...

Persian Chicken Joojeh Kebabs

This recipe has a special place in my heart. I called my Dad in for this joojeh kabob recipe because he knows it like the back of his hand. To give you some context, my maiden name is Shahinfar. My Dad moved from Iran to Canada with my Shahinfar family when he was 16 years old. Even though we were born in Canada, my Dad made it a point to keep our heritage and our traditions. I have memories of growing up eating the most delicious Persian cuisine and my Dad’s flavor-packed joojeh kabob recipe was always one of my favorites. My cousins and I would drop whatever we were playing...

Summer Berry Salad With Candied Almonds & Goat Cheese

Berry Salad on Platter | cookingwithcassandra.com

Call me obsessed, but anytime I get to add berries to a dish, I’ll do it. I mean, what’s not to love? They’re juicy, bite-sized and rich in antioxidants! Plus, they bring back all of those happy childhood memories of snacking on blackberries by the pool with my family. This summer berry salad is loaded with blueberries, blackberries, arugula, cucumbers, avocados, goat cheese and sugared almonds. Sweet, refreshing and just a hint of balsamic vinegar to top it off! It is the perfect side dish to go with a seafood or red meat dish. Recipe Ingredients Let me preface this by saying that...

Best Canadian Caesar Cocktail

Canadian Caesar Cocktail Recipe| cookingwithcassandra.com

If you could be any cocktail, what would you be? For me, it’s gotta be a Canadian Caesar. Why? It’s funky, it’s spicy, and a unique fusion of the best things! I love myself a Canadian Caesar cocktail - always have and always will. It is our country’s national drink, after all, and it’s perfect for Canada Day which is just around the corner! Walk into any bar, order a Caesar, and get ready to be mind blown by this funky fusion of clamato juice, vodka, sauces, and toppings. Or better yet, make it yourself with the best recipe below. Oh, and in case you were wondering –...

How to Grill the Perfect Hamburgers

Burger with Feta Turkey patty | cookingwithcassandra.com

Look no further - here’s a recipe for a mouthwatering gourmet-style hamburger that you can handcraft at home. It features a juicy beef and pork patty, marble cheddar, pickles, onions, and garlic, laced with fragrant Italian herbs. Stop right here if you’re hungry because this post will get your stomach growling even louder! Burgers have always been my thing, and I can never say no to a meaty, juicy grilled burger that’s slightly burnt and covered in melted cheddar cheese. The cheeseburger at Brazen Hall Kitchen & Brewery a local favourite of mine in Winnipeg is...