Welcome! I’m happy you’re here. You can call me Kate, one of many nicknames, or Kathryne, my full first name. Either way, I’m a self-taught cook from Oklahoma. I started this blog in 2010 and named it after my canine sidekick, Cookie. Now, I live in Kansas City with my husband and young daughter and work on this blog full-time. I love my job!
Follow Cookie and Kate
You should know that I’m totally obsessed with food. I daydream about new recipes. I devour cookbooks (I even wrote my own). I read up on food policy and nutrition. I love photographing food and hope my photos inspire you to step into the kitchen to cook a delicious, healthy meal.
Our cookbook, Love Real Food, is here! It has over 5,000 5-star reviews! Get Your Copy
Above all, I love eating food, especially while in the presence of good company. Good food in good company—does it get any better than that?
I believe that cooking should be fun and recipes, flexible. I choose not to cook meat, so all of the recipes on Cookie and Kate are vegetarian. I believe in eating whole foods, which are as close to their source as possible. I’m also an avid supporter of the occasional indulgence, and I laugh with friends over drinks as often as possible.
This blog is all about celebrating good food—real, sustainable food that delights the senses and nourishes the body.
About Cookie
Cookie is a jaunty spotted mutt who makes friends everywhere she goes. She is my eager four-legged assistant, my chief crumb catcher and the best companion a girl could ask for.
I adopted Cookie in the summer of 2009. She came with her name and nothing more. Whether she was named for being one smart cookie or for looking like cookies and cream, the name suits her well.
After five years of referring to Cookie as a “mystery mutt,” I finally caved and ordered a DNA test. My beloved, one-of-a-kind pup is half schipperke and half dachshund/Australian koolie mix.
Cookie left this world in 2023 after thirteen incredible years together. I miss her dearly, and this website will remain Cookie and Kate in honor of our time together.
Frequently Asked Questions
My cookbook, Love Real Food, can be purchased online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM!, Bookshop.org, and Indigo. Digital editions of the book are available for purchase and download at iBooks and Amazon Kindle. Look for the book in your local bookstore or Barnes u0026 Noble. More book details here.
I use a Nikon Z6 with a Nikkor Z 50mm lens. Check out my food photography tips for more details. As of 2023, I’ve outsourced my photography to my wonderful video team so that I can spend more time with my family.
Check out my top 20 tips for food blogging and how to start a food blog, which includes design and web hosting tips.
Thank you for asking. Please refer to my photo and recipe policy for details.
Get in Touch!
Please contact me here or comment below! You’re also welcome to check out my press page for interviews and other features.
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Hey, Just have to share this with you. We lost my in-laws within 11 days of each other in 2012. It was a crazy time. My husband’s mother passed away very unexpectadly at 80 and 11 days later her husband passed away at 82. Anyhow yesterday my sister-in-law was searching for a recipe and came upon your website. The funny part is that dad’s nickname was cookie and mom’s name is Kate. My daughter’s are vegetarian and are always on us about eating better. I guess this is another sign that we need to take up a more vegetarian lifestyle. At least concentrate on eating healthier :)
Well, that is a funny coincidence! I’m sorry to hear about your in-laws, that must have been a very difficult time. Hope my recipes inspire more vegetables on the table!
Just discovered your blog through Bark magazine. I’m vegan, so very interested in the recipes. I also read that Cookie came from Pet Adoption League …. 2 of my rescues came from there and we used to do some fostering for them. Yay for rescued dogs! She’s adorable!
Thanks for commenting, Jen! Hope you enjoy the vegan recipes. I have quite a few of them. Hooray for rescued dogs indeed. Cookie is probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me. :)
Hi Kate! I stumbled upon your blog as I was searching around for food related blogs via Google and I really like what you’re doing. Just wanted to drop in and say hi and give a huge thanks for including a tip section for ‘new bloggers! It’s just what I’ve been looking for :)
Thanks for commenting, Derrick! Really glad to hear that you’re finding my tips helpful. Best wishes with your new blog!
I was recently shown your site by a friend and am very much enjoying the recipes. Also, I wanted to say that the coloring of Cookie and her size makes me think she could also have some Blue Heeler in her (which is a type of Australian Sheperd) they are known for the spots and blue (gray/white mixed coloring) and are very smart and loyal dogs (we have one if that’s not apparent)… Thanks!!
Thanks for commenting, Tina! Cookie may well be part blue heeler. She’s the best. :)
Your about tag line is so cute! Your recipes are great! I love the vegetarian sweet potato chili!
Thank you, Adriana! Glad to hear that you’re enjoying the recipes!
Love this blog. I am going to try the sweet potato chili recipe and sometime some of the drink recipes. You have done a really good job. I will be back.
Thank you, Maryann. I hope you love the recipes. :)
Hi Kate! Just wanted to say thank you for the beautiful, inspiring blog. I’ve made several of your recipes, and each one is more delicious than the next (I’m tempted to try to zucchini brownies this weekend).
Also, your gorgeous hair is worthy of its own post!
Thank you, Brooke! :) I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes.
I love everything about your site. From the pictures of Cookie and you to the little blurb you wrote about yourself to the fantastic recipes and inviting photos. You give such a picture of health and freshness and affection. Every day I see something up at the top of my home page on Chrome. It is as good as joyful little prayer for the day. Thanks for all this. Just showed the bean and hummus salad recipe to my wife. Will think lots of nice thoughts about you as we eat it, indirectly in your company! Stuart (in London, UK)
Stuart, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. It made my day! I’m delighted that you enjoy my recipes so much and share them with your wife. Bon appetit!
Hi Kate,
Found your blog while looking for some tips for sweet potato fries. We’ll try them tonight!
Any thoughts on some vegetable options for my girls (aged 9 and 12)? We cook a wide variety of veggies for ourselves and put a raw carrot on their plates in the hope of boring them into trying something else. So far, no love.
Best,
Vicki
Vicki, I’m terribly sorry for my slow response to your great question. How did the sweet potato fries go over? If they liked them, I’d suggest roasting more veggies, especially as the weather cools down. I think that roasting brings out the best in sweet potatoes, eggplant, winter squash, and even broccoli and cauliflower!
Luv your site. Found it via DesignSponge.
BTW, Cookie looks more like a Queensland Heeler mix to me.
Mahalo.
Welcome, Tagati! Glad you found my blog. You’re right, Cookie sure looks like a Queensland. Maybe someday I’ll buy one of those dog DNA kits to find out for sure!
So happy to have found your sight–2 of my favorite things in life; food and dogs. I can’t wait to read through your blog.
Glad you found my blog, Leslie! Hope you enjoy the recipes. Cookie says hi. :)
Hi Kate! I recently found your blog and I love it. It seems we have almost the same philosophy around food – except I’m not a vegetarian. However I cook and eat mostly vegetarian food. I live in Sweden btw and will definitely be back here soon :-) //Sonja
Thanks, Sonja! Glad you found my blog! I’m a cheating vegetarian… I eat fish and bacon on occasion. :)
I had a Blue Healer that looked a lot like Cookie… they are great dogs. My girl’s name was Frieda, like Frieda Kahlo the artist. I am making your ginger beer concentrate tonight, addicted to the taste–crave it. :) Just found your blog, very well done. I have a background in catering and cooking and was a vegetarian for 7 years–love your message! Laura
Hi Laura! Thank you for your kind words. I love the name Frieda. :)
Hello Kate!
I would like to start a blog about cooking and I like to know what is your blog host? because I found the presentation is clear and simple
Thank you for all that you share with us!
See you soon
Juliette
Hi Juliette, you can find details on my host and blog design here: https://capital-fly.pro/how-to-start-a-food-blog/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Thank you a lot Katie !
Hope it will work :)
See you soon
Juliette
Hi !I am very glad that I found your blog , it is so inspiring to see that exist people who like healthy food and try to share the experiences ! Greetings from Romania !
Kate, just wanted to let you know that I linked to your sweet potato, kale, and chickpea soup today over on my blog. That soup gets me through the winter, let me tell you! Love your blog and your recipes. Thanks for the kitchen inspiration! -Lauren
Hi Kate,
I came here through the Genesis twitter account. Looking at the nice web design, but this is not only a beautiful site but also a very interesting one. Thanks, also for the Vegan ones!
1 little remark, if I click the contact link my (unused) e-mail software wants to open itself. I would prefer a contact form.
Many greetings from France,
Petri
Hey Petri, thank you, and thank you for your feedback! I’ll work on a contact page soon.
Cookie & Kate.
I’m so happy I found you two – LOVE your blog! I’m always on the hunt for healthy delicious recipes and you make it all so inspiring. You are such a good writer and photographer (and Cookie is a supermodel).
This might sound weird but somehow I find myself so calm and at ease after I’ve red your posts, there’s just something really welcoming about it. Not one of those overdramatic – hyped up – extreme – food blogs.
So thank you for sprinkling some magic to my kitchen creations!
Greetings from south of Sweden…
Tina, thank you! Your comment really brightened my day. I’m so glad you appreciate my work. Have a wonderful weekend!
Love your blog! i didn’t realize until today that you are in KC! Are you going to Go Blog Social next weekend? i would love to meet up :)
-Angela
http://www.handmadeintheheartland.com
Hey Angela, I am in KC! I’m bummed, though, that I’m going to miss Go Blog Social. I’ll be in Minneapolis.
I absolutely adore your website. Your dog Cookie is so special! Cookie’s picture made me smile so big! Thanks for sharing all your ideas. I live in the Junction City, KS area, about 2 hrs away from you. Best wishes and God bless!
Thank you! Cookie says hi from Kansas City. Hope you enjoy those pumpkin pancakes if you get a chance to try them!
Hi:) I have never followed blogs and never (until now) comment on them. But I think I will be fan of yours because of those great recipes and your nice life philosophy.
I am 30 something wife and mom from Serbia (Europe) and I live in Indiana for four years now, with hope that I will move home some day.
Wish you all the best! :)
Nikoleta, thank you for your comment! I’m happy to hear that you are enjoying my blog. I hope you get to move home someday, too! All my best.
Curried Cauliflower Soup brought me to your food blog and now I’ll never leave! I just had a yen for something different to do with cauliflower, and was surprised to find that my pantry had every ingredient listed. I’m subscribing today, and I’ve printed ten recipes to keep me busy this month. I’m a vegetarian, leaning mostly vegan, so I think I’ve found veggie heaven here! Cookie’s adorable and you are both lucky to have each other. >^;^<
Hope you love all the other recipes, too, Sandy! Thank you for your sweet comment.
I just found this blog (about to make the sweet potato & black bean tacos, now that it’s finally summertime in Chicago!!) and I’m in love with the layout, the photos, the recipes, etc.. I used to visit wholeliving.com but exhausted their recipes, and since the publication stopped they just stopped updating the website. Besides, this is way better!
Thank you for creating such a great blog!! Can’t wait to try everything!
-marjorie
Thank you so much, Marjorie! I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog so much! Happy cooking.
Hi Kate,
I just discovered your blog and I love it! I just started out with one of mine own and will definitely refer to your site for inspiration. If you have any helpful tips to get a new blog off the ground I would love to hear them.
Tara
Hey Tara! Thanks for commenting! I’m glad you found my blog. Here are a couple of pages full of tips for you:
How to Start a Food Blog, Food Photography Tips and 20 Blogging Tips.
Your website is absolutely awesome. I came across it last night and I’m so anxious to try so many of your recipes that are so beautifully photographed.I have been a vegan for over 20 years and I am so inspired by the flavors you have combined. Keep up the beautiful work you create and give Cookie a pat on the head. She always looks like she’s smiling. dogs bring such joy. look forward to receiving your emails. Keep smiling.
Thank you very much, Cheryle. Welcome to the site! I hope you love the recipes. Cookie says hi.
Howdy. I stumbled across your blog (literally – using StumbleUpon) and added you to my Feedly feed. My spouse is a vegetarian/Celiac Disease, so any gluten free adaptable recipes are a huge plus for me to try out. Thanks again, and awesome blog.
John, I’m so glad you found my blog! I hope you both enjoy the recipes. Maybe you already saw it, but I have an index of all of my gf/vegetarian recipes here: https://capital-fly.pro/gluten-free-recipes/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Hi Kate,
I recently discovered your blog and I’m absolutely in love! I’ve made several of your recipes and they are all devine. I especially like the ‘notes’ section at the end of each recipe . About six months ago I cut meat out of my diet and your recipes have showed me that I never have to go back! I’ve even converted my husband to a mostly vegetarian diet after making your recipes and using many of your suggestions and ideas. A HUGE thank you for being so creative and inspiring.
Courtney
Courtney, I owe you a very belated thank you! Thank you for your sweet comment. I’m so glad you found my blog. Also happy to hear that you appreciate the recipe notes! I’m never sure if anyone reads those. Thanks again!
Hey, fellow-Kansas Citian! I just stumbled across a pin that led me to your blog. I’m loving it! Can’t wait to pickle some radishes. I’m a GF/vegetarian and always seeking new, delicious foods to make — looks like your blog will keep me busy and happy. :)
Hello, Alice! Thank you for commenting. Hope you love the recipes. Maybe we will cross paths soon.
Hi Kate!
Just stumbled upon your blog and I can already tell it will be one of my bookmarked favorites. My husband is coming home for exactly 12 hours and spoiling him with one of your recipes is going to be a treat! Your dog is A-dorable and I can’t wait to dive in to this piece of your lives. Thanks for all you do and keep it up! Peace&Love
Amy, I’m so glad you found my blog! Thank you for saying hello! I hope you and your husband enjoy my recipes.
This is one of my new favorite blogs! I love cooking and I love my dogs! I have an Aussie and a Redbone Coonhound. Your Sweet pup definitely has Aussie in her! Fantastic blog can’t wait to read more!
Thank you, Brandi! I’m glad you found my blog. I thought Cookie was part Australian shepherd, too, but I got her DNA tested recently and she’s part Australian coolie!
hmm I have never heard of that breed but she is super cute!
I’m excited to find this site and already bookmarked it! So far I’ve only tried the sweet potato fries (I added garlic) and I’m looking forward to experimenting with other recipes. Great website. Thanks.
Sander, thank you! I hope you love my other recipes, too!
Just found your blog on Yummly.com. Cannot wait to try your recipes. Don’t know where to start. Have to shop. My pantry is full and I don’t have room for anything and my refrigerator always seems to be packed. I need to get rid of stuff to have a good frame of mind.
Hope you love my recipes, Vickie!
I just came across your blog by searching for new vegetarian blogs; and I’m so glad I read your bio, because I’m from Oklahoma, too! (still here finishing college) It’s always nice to find other Oklahomans that care about eating healthy, whole foods. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one in the whole state! Haha! Love the blog, and I’ll be trying out the recipes soon.
Hey Kaitlyn! It’s nice to hear from you! I went to OU. Glad you found my blog!
Hi Kate (and cookie),
I am French and I follow you regularly for several months. First, I apologize for my English mistakes, I unfortunately don’t speak English very well.
I just wanted to say that I find your great recipes, I love the joyful spirit of your blog and your photos and articles are for me an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
I thought to be serious this time to change my diet to move towards vegetarianism. Do you have any advice for a beginner vegetarian? Maybe there it has an article about it that I might have missed, oops …
Thank you so much for everything you share here and hope to hear from you soon again and again.
Marlene
Hi Marlene! Your English is very good. Much better than my French! I don’t have a straightforward post on becoming a vegetarian, but I hope you find this one helpful: https://capital-fly.pro/2014/a-week-in-the-life-of-a-vegetarian/%3C/a%3E. I showed a week’s worth of meals in that post. Personally, I find that I’m satisfied as long as I’m filling up on vegetables and whole grains. I eat beans or lentils and eggs whenever I need a more substantial meal. I like cheese and yogurt, too! Good luck!
Thank you very much for your answer and for the link to the article. I think I’ll try to change my way of eating slowly. All your recipes and Week in the life of vegetarian will be a good start to help me. And like you I love yogurt (I’m a fan of my yogurt-maker) and more cheese (but for a French rightly so:-)) ans eggs and pulses, so I hope to get there even if those around me still has troubles to understand.
Good evening or have a nice day (I don’t know what time is it in USA!!!lol)
Hi Kate! I just wanted to share with you what an inspiration Cookie+Kate has been for me. SO many amazing recipes, and such thoughtful posts (and of course that ADORABLE little Cookie). Actually, reading your blog has made me realize how much I love cooking, and how much I really need to make more room in my life for things that make me happy. I just published my first post on my own brand-new food blog (http://hummusandhoney.wordpress.com – I’m giving it a couple of months before I sink real money into the domain!), which I can only hope will be half as amazing and successful as Cookie+Kate is!
Thanks again, Emily. Best of luck with your lovely new blog!
Hopeless-in-the-kitchen bachelor trying to eat as healthy as I can, with as much nutrition as possible, and move away from meat. I have a pretty active life, so I need to cram a lot in my meals to help me keep up with my pups and my job. I’ve struggled with it, because as much as I like to cook, I can’t design a recipe to save my life. I found you by way of your sweet potato fries, promptly messed those up the first go round (really, I’m hopeless), but got it eventually, and I’ve been trying almost a recipe a day.
People at work keep remarking on my lunches, and I feel faaaantastic. That Lemony Lentil and Chickpea salad is going to be a staple, and I have Celiac friends who are duly grateful for the kale and black bean burritos (with corn tortilla, of course). Thank you, from the bottom of my Canadian heart!
-Jordan
Windsor, Ontario
The furry fam says hi!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gt5ht6k6lcg/U97cqhIX4oI/AAAAAAAAANk/nSHlgumhvE4/s1600/Blackandtanman.jpg
Hey Jordan! Thanks for the note! I’m glad you’re enjoying the recipes. Thank you for sharing them with your friends, too! Cute family. :)
Your brownie recipe is divine!
I have no idea why I decided to make this whilst I was sick, but whatever the reason was, I’m certainly glad I came across your blog.
Tried using homemade chocolate from the Philippines, and it seems to do the trick.
I’ll be propagating this recipe throughout my thesis group ^.^ Thanks for sharing the recipe!!
Thank you, Dani! So glad it turned out well. Thank you for sharing with your study friends!
I was searching for a recipe for sweat potato fries and came across your site. I enjoyed looking around. Good luck to you!
Thanks for the pecan butter recipe. You might want to link to dr. Bernsteins diabetes website, as pecans are very low carb. Im going to try your recipe on my 1 net carb cinnamon flatbread and I think it will be terrific. Thanks for sharing it.
What a beautiful site. I can’t wait to get lost in your archive.
Thank you, Jac!
Nice to find a blog by someone in the Midwest! We live in Kansas City too. We also have two dear Aussies – one blue heeler and one is part coolie :-) Awesome breeds – very active, smart dogs! Your site looks amazing and I can’t wait to try some of your wholesome recipes. Keep up the great work!
Came across your blog name in a Health magazine email. Been looking through your recipe pics and they all look so amazing! I gotta try some soon. I’m trying to lose some weight and don’t believe in ‘diets’ per se, rather eating healthy and wholesome. Trick is to cut down on the amount we eat. And manage the stress in life, that’s what kills my resolve. TTYS
Hey Pra, I had no idea that my blog was mentioned in Health magazine’s email, awesome! I hope you enjoy the recipes. I am absolutely with you on the diets front and I know that many of my other readers have found success with my recipes!
I love your website and recipes. Any chance you will release a cookbook in the future? Your photography would make such a beautiful cookbook!
I hope so! :)
Hi Kate,
Just wanted to drop you a note to tell you how much I enjoy your blog and your photography! Just made your Sweet Potato, Kale and Chickpea Soup for the billionth time last week! Great recipes and so easy for someone such as myself who is a bit challenged in the kitchen! Your photography is beautiful and so is Cookie!
Thank you for sharing your gifts with us!
Anne, thank you! Really happy to hear that you are enjoying my recipes. :)
Kate – you’re a rockstar!
Thank you for coming up with healthy and delicious recipes – I can confidently say I am slowly making my way through your posts, and I absolutely love it! My latest achievement was your Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato and Broccoli Pasta – I normally don’t love goat cheese, but this recipe has turned me into a believer.
Keep it up!
Thanks, Alyssa! I’m glad you’re coming around to goat cheese. Took me a while to get used to it but now I can’t get enough!
Hello!
I randomly came to your blog when googling vegetarian lunch ideas. I was looking at your Lemon-Parsley Bean Salad recipe and saw you talk about The Mediterranean Deli in OKC. LOVE that place! I am also from OKC and moved to Kansas City 2 years ago. I’m sure there are plenty of vegetarian blogs out there, but I think I’m going to stick to yours since you are a fellow OKC/KC girl :)
Stephanie Petralie
Hey Stephanie! What a coincidence! I moved here about two and a half years ago myself. Thanks for saying hello, maybe our paths will cross someday!
I am so happy I found your blog tonight! I love what your site is all about; celebrating whole foods! That is wonderful! Cookie is also adorable, my 2 dogs are my partners in crime as well (and chief peanut butter taste testers) I can’t wait to look around some more and find some tasty recipes to make : )
Thanks, Heather! Welcome to my blog! Cookie says hello to you and your fam.
I’ve finally found a food blog that’s worth saving to my “favourites”!
I thought I would never find a source that catered to my numerous requirements: healthy, delicious, vegetarian, adabtable for friends/relatives with further diet restrictions, tasty enough for the meat eaters in my life, versatile enough for those tiring, long ‘I just want to use what is in my kitchen’ days, inspiring enough for the ‘I want ro cook up a storm!’ weekends, relatable enough for a Kiwi girl in the Southern Hemisphere, photographed for inspiration, and finally, peppered with friendly hints, ideas and a personable commentary.
From the far reaches of Aotearoa: a profound thank you!
Ali, thank you SO much. You made my day! Glad you found my blog. :)
I just stumbled across your website this afternoon and its now 4 hours later and i’m still here and loving it!! I’ve even followed you on instagram and Liked your facebook page! Keep up the great work!!
Wow, thanks Kristen! Welcome! Thank you for saying hello. :)
Hiya Kate!
I just had to add to the gazillion praises here and tell you some more about how much my husband and I LOVE your recipes. I am a former vegetarian (I love cheese WAY TOO MUCH to ever be a vegan, ha!) and my husband is not. I stumbled upon your blog after new years when I took a somewhat serious vow to make more wholefoods, healthier foods but gosh darn it still frickin’ delicious foods, I thought this was an impossible feat hence the somewhat seriousness… So far I have made 3 recipes …mango lettuce cups, sweet potato tacos, farro & cauliflower (and 2 more on the menu for next week)…and have now become obsessed with your recipes, posts and well, ideas. WELL DONE.
Jen, thank you! So glad you guys are enjoying my recipes! Thank you for saying so. Healthy food can be crazy delicious!!! :)