The Ultimate Summer Recipes - Cooking with Cassandra

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...

Easy Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with cherry tomatoes | cookingwithcassandra.com

Growing up, I was surrounded by loads of Mediterranean food influences. I had a family full of amazing cooks and I was always served the best dishes from scratch, and now that I’m older, I realize that I was incredibly lucky to have had someone cook for me. In Mediterranean cooking, we use a lot of flavorful plant-based foods like legumes, grains, and herbs. But, we also love our sauces and dressings. People tend to think of Mediterranean food like Italian, but it actually is a melting pot of European, Middle Eastern, Asian, and African cuisines. This Mediterranean pasta salad...

Easy Red Sangria – Perfect for Summer

Red Sangria Wine | cookingwithcassandra.com

There is no better drink to enjoy during summer than a red sangria! Traditional sangria is a cocktail made of Spanish red wine and a variety of fresh fruits and berries. Think of it as a fruit punch that has red wine and is infused for a few hours. This allows the taste of the wine to change depending on the types of fruit mixed in. It’s the best beverage to cool down with whether you’re by the beach, at the pool, or winding down in the summer evening. If you’re having a few friends over dinner, why not try pairing it with this summer berries, candied almonds and goat cheese...

Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Cocktail

Watermelon Cucumber Cocktail | cookingwithcassandra.com

Picture this: you’re on a camping trip to Banff, and you’ve been hiking all day. Finally, you get to the top, exhausted and parched. Your hiking buddy whips out a flask filled with… no, not cold water, but a chilled watermelon cucumber cocktail. LIFE. SAVER! Honestly, wouldn’t that be the best thing ever? Whenever you’re thirsty and feeling like a fresh, fruity drink, this recipe will be there for you. Whether it’s for happy hour, a family holiday or a bridal shower, this drink will get the party going. Cheers! Recipe Ingredients Watermelon - Seedless watermelons are...

Simple Shirazi Salad

Shirazi Salad | cookingwithcassandra.com

I’m so excited to share another Persian recipe with you guys because whenever there’s food involved, it’s always a good idea to go back to your heritage, am I right? With that said, I love trying new things and tasting food from different cuisines. What is your favorite dish from your culture or heritage? Let me know by commenting on this blog post – I’d love to know! Shirazi salad or Salad-e Shirazi is a vibrant, colorful salad that is commonly served in any Iranian household, including my own. It is known for this really uniform look since everything is cut to about the same...

One Pan Parmesan Crusted Chicken With Potatoes And Zucchini

Parmesan Chicken with Potatoes | cookingwithcassandra.com

Here is a one-pan meal that I can never get sick of, and for good reason: parmesan crusted chicken. It features oven-baked chicken tenders that are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Together with the baby potatoes and zucchini, the garlicky parmesan crust is so delicious, people will be grinning from ear to ear. Say cheese! Why I love this recipe: It’s a one-pan recipe, which means less time spent cleaning and more time spent relaxing. I count it as a blessing when I’m having an extremely busy day and still want to put something yummy on the table that’s...

Mexican Flatbread Pizzas

Can we both agree that Mexican street corn (also known as elotes Mexicanos) is the single most exciting way to eat Canada’s third most grown crop? Yep, I’m talking about corn! We’ve become so used to cooking recipes that name corn as just another topping, but it rarely gets the spotlight, you know? This humble vegetable always contributes itself to dishes like salads, salsa, pizza toppings, and more, going unnoticed and staying in the background. But not this time. Oh, no! In today’s Mexican street corn recipe, we let corn take center stage. The sour cream and...

Peach Arugula Salad With Honey Balsamic Dressing

Summer is here!!! Aside from the fact that I can finally stash away those bulky jackets, the warmer weather and sunnier days are welcomed by more time at the cabin, playing outside with Pete followed by ice cream! Guess who loves getting out of the house more than I do? Woof, woof! Summer also means an array of ripe and juicy fruits just waiting to be picked and brought home. The first thing I’m getting my hands on is fresh peaches. These plump and fuzzy fruits are great eaten as-is, but they’re even better in a crispy peach cobbler and a boozy red sangria. One other peach...