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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Kate, I think I could eat only recipes from your blog for the rest of my life. So beautifully presented and delicious. Your ideas inspire me to get creative and eat the healthiest I can! You do such great work, never stop.
Lauren, thank you! :D
I was traveling them KC for work a few weeks ago when I discovered Manifesto. I was entranced with the Beautiful Red Bell, and delighted to find your take on the recipe when I was searching for the ingredients. They were a hit last night!
Love that bar! Glad you enjoyed this cocktail when you made it at home.
I love this blog – I’m a mother of three, working full time and two of my girls have recently turned vegetarian. This blog has been brilliant – we’ve been living off it for a month. I love that it’s seasonal, quick and that you have clearly tested the recipes thoroughly before posting them as they always work well.
We use a lot of your salds for packed lunches as well.
The food is really nutritious, clean and simple to prepare but not boring in anyway.
Thanks from Cambridge in the UK
xxx
Thank you, Sonia! You make my work worthwhile. So glad you all are enjoying my recipes.
Hi Kate,
In the short few months since I’ve discovered your site I’ve been inspired to cook numerous dishes (all delicious) and I’ve certainly noticed that most recipes – even the extra tasty deserty kind – are health-conscious and considered.
So… having recently made the decision to go back to university to begin a BSc I’ve been doing a lot of reading on biology basics… most recently on lipids! It got me to thinking about the foods I eat in my diet, more specifically the ‘good’ (unsaturated) vs ‘bad’ (saturated & trans) oils.
I was horrified to learn that my ‘good fat’ peanut butter was being artificially hydrogenated – to make it last longer and look better on shelf – and I was infact eating a transfat. Suffice to say I’m now happy to pay the extra price for all-natural non-hydrongenated peanut butter. But this revelation prompted me to take a closer look at the few naturally occuring plant-based saturated fats that might be included in my diet, primairily coconut oil, which is about 90% saturated fat. And I noticed that this is often an ingredient (though usually optional) in recipies you post.
After much reading it seems there’s no clear conclusion. Scientists seem to be erring on the side of caution, suggesting that we only use coconut oil “ocassionlly”. While it does boost “good” HDL cholestrol, studies so far have only been short term and therefore we can’t really know how it affects our risk of heart disease.
So that’s my ‘thought for the day’ :) I’m sure many of your readers & followers are well aware of this already but I certainly wasn’t. I won’t stop using coconut oil – it tastes great and is wonderful when I need to do any vegan baking – but I’ll limit my intake and go with proven good-oils like soybean and olive oil.
Cheers,
Ali
NZ
(As far as ‘google’ resources goI found this link to be quite helpful:
http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/coconut-oil
)
Hi Ali, thank you for sharing! I’m not a doctor or a nutritionist, but I’ve researched coconut oil and believe it’s a healthy fat to cook with in moderation. I’m far more concerned about the vats of cheap, hydrogenated vegetable/soybean oil used to fry food at restaurants than I am about cooking with quality oil of any kind at home. I actually wouldn’t recommend soybean oil unless it’s organic. The latest research on olive oil indicates that it is safe for cooking up to 425 degrees, so olive oil is my go-to oil. I just got my cholesterol checked and it’s remarkably low (both HDL and LDL are in the 70s), so I feel comfortable recommending my recipes to others. They work for me, at least! All just food for thought.
Kate,
I just found this site! Yea! I’m making a list for the store tomorrow to try some of your recipes.They sound really yummy and very healthy. I live on the Kansas side of the city in Overland Park, so I wanted to say Hi.
Ellen
Hey neighbor! Thanks for saying hello!
Loved to see your recipes! Cannot wait to try them.
Thank you,
My new favorite food site!!
Thank you!
Kate, I love your curls! Do you put any products in them to lock in those curls?
Thank you! I do! Tigi curls rock curl amplifying cream, followed by Kevin Murphy’s motion lotion.
Kate,
My husband and I recently decided to radically change our diet from meat and potatoes to vegetarian with a little fish for health reasons. I want to say a BIG thank you for your website. I seem to find myself here everyday looking for inspiration. We have tried the Roasted Ratatouille with Spaghetti, Butternut Squash Frittata and and the Portobello and Poblano Fajitas. All of the recipes were easy to follow and so satisfying. We really haven’t been missing the meat at all. This weekend, I am going to attempt your Easy Whole Wheat Pizza, wish me luck I’ve never been very successful with dough but this looks doable.
Jeni, thank you for saying hello! I’m thrilled to hear that you two are enjoying my recipes! I hope the pizza dough worked out great for you. I always appreciate feedback on my recipes!
Hi Kate, I love your blog! I found it via an internet search and am so glad I did:) You have great information and excellent healthy recipes. I think it’s neat that you ordered a DNA test of your dog; I have a mix as well and have often wondered what breeds she is comprised of. Thank you for all your amazing content! Best, Sara
Thanks for saying hello, Sara! I’m so glad you found my website. The DNA results were so interesting! The test cost me about $80 through wisdompanel.com, if you’d like to settle your mystery!
I just discovered your blog, and love it! I look forward to trying the Soba Noodle Salad this afternoon, and many more soon. Thank you for your passion and tenacity!!
Frannie and Pat, a Papillon and her loving servant
Hi Frannie and Pat! Hope you enjoy the soba noodles!
Your food is great, your dog is cute and I love the smile on your face!
I just came across your site and I am so excited that I have found delicious meatless recipes that are healthy! Thank you for the wide variety of items you have posted! Can’t wait to try all of them!!
Thanks for saying hello, Klaudia! I hope you enjoy my recipes! All my best.
Hello,
Just happened on your blog and I love it. The recipes and the pictures are fabulous. Currently in Bali doing yoga (I love to be able to write that sentence:-) ). Your blog made me look at going back to Norway not so bad, because then I can make all these delights in my kitchen. Thank you for a wonderful blog. Have a happy day.
You’re in Bali, doing yoga! Jealous!!! Thank you for saying hello, Katja!
Love your blog and Cookie is the cutest puppy I have ever seen!! :) Love, Mia xo
Thank you, Mia! :)
Kate: I just recently found you!!!! I probably have downloaded most of your recipes. Have you published a book – it would be so much easier than having lots of paper in a folder. Thank you for all your blogs/insights into your life. Love Cookie!!!
Hi Kate, so glad you found my blog! Thank you for saying hello! I haven’t published a book yet, but I am working on one!!!
Hi Kate & of course Cookie,
I ate vegetarian for nearly a decade & after 15 plus years (and declining health), I am returning to a mostly plant based diet. Your blog has been my go to for meal ideas and inspiration for quite some time now. Thanks for all you do to make meal time something I look forward to again.
Jen
Jen, thank you for saying hello! So glad you found my blog. I hope my recipes help you feel better!
Hi Kate,
I have been having upper GI issues for the past few months and refuse to take pills forever. I’m only in my thirties and I know I need to change my diet so here I am (exhausted and sluggish on my first day without coffee and processed protein bars). Your gluten free vegetarian food looks delicious and healthy. I’m excited to start this new lifestyle! Tonight’s dinner: West African Peanut Soup!
Erica
Hi Erica! I hope you start feeling better soon! I’m sure a more wholesome diet will help.
Dear Kate
Came across your blog perchance and just LOVE it. I was looking for a radish recipe and found your radish pickles recipe. I made it with my freshly harvested radishes from my veggie garden. It tastes yummy! Chopped it, didn’t do your nice fancy slim slices, as the ants got hold of the radishes and I had to cut away quite a bit of skin. The normal issue when you try and not use pesticides in your veggie garden. I hope you don’t mind that I added a link to your blog on my recipe group on Facebook https://facebook.com/groups/tradSArecipes/. Keep up the fabulous work!
Hi Agatha! I’m so glad you found my blog. Thank you for sharing my blog with your group!
Googled kale salads and found your blog. Your words and your viewers’ comments make me really want to eat better, especially your salad recipes. So I’m taking back grocery shopping and cooking from my dear husband today, and we’re having kale salad for dinner. I know it will be delicious! Thanks so much.
Thanks, Donna! So glad you found my blog. I hope your kale salad turned out great!!!
Hi Kate, greetings from Canada!
I have to say, your blog has pleasantly surprised me! My fiancé and I usually gravitate towards the Brits (Jamie, Rick Stein, Hugh Whittingstall) for cooking inspiration, so when I stumbled across your bog I was instantly refreshed and re-inspired. Your recipes are delicious, (usually!) healthy, and all-around feel good. We love to cook, but had been lacking our usual culinary pizazz as of late. That’s changed now because of you!
Thanks for reminding us (me in particular) of why we cook. Hanging out in the kitchen cooking with our salsa playlist on repeat and a smokey pinot noir is what makes us happy. You brought us back!
Thank you, Sasha! So glad you two are finding inspiration from my blog. Wish I could clink wine glasses with you!
Kate – thanks for your beautiful blog – just discovered it while looking for a lentil soup recipe. We really enjoyed the soup to tonight! Delicious!
Hi Linda! Thank you for saying hello. So glad you enjoyed that soup. It’s one of my favorites!
Hey Kate! I’m always a fan of your blog. I am coming to visit Kansas City next month, and possibly move there if plans work out. Any recommendations for delicious restaurants and/or things to do? Best always, Mariah
Hi Mariah! That’s exciting! Definitely visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum while you’re here. It’s free to the public! Loose Park is one of my favorite places, too, if it’s nice outside. Areas to check out include the Rivermarket, Downtown, the Crossroads (artsy area), Westport (hip area with lots of local restaurants) and the Plaza (great shopping). My favorite restaurants are The Rieger, Gram and Dun, Westport Cafe (more for drinks than the food), The Mixx (epic salads) and Westside Local. Here are a couple of guides you might find helpful, on Foodie Crush and Design Sponge.
Kate, I love your website! I am just starting with food blogging and your photography tips are excellent. I have a Canon DSLR and the tips are much appreciated. I, too, have a mutt and am thinking about DNA testing. :)
Thank you, Rachael! I used Wisdom Panel to test Cookie’s DNA and it was probably the best $80 I ever spend. Curiosity satisfied!
Kate, just sending you my compliments. Very beautiful blog! I switched to vegan diet recently, so now I’m adapting my cooking. Will certainly search for inspiration here!
Olga, thank you for saying hello! I hope you find some new favorites here.
Excellent site; good recipes But PLEASE use centigrade temperatures.
No-one in the world. except the USA (& maybe Canada) uses Fahrenheit.
I’ll try to do better about that!
Good for you, Kate! This website is absolutely wonderful! I am not a vegan, or vegetarian, and I never subscribe to food blogs. But you had me at your lentil soup! I am actually doing an assignment for school on my favorite healthy recipe, and I am focusing on your vegan lentil soup as my topic. I love that I can incorporate more meatless meals into my dinner rotation with a ton of amazing meals to choose from. Keep up the great work. I love seeing someone doing so well at what they love. And your website and pictures are absolutely beautiful! Two thumbs way up!
Thank you, Brittni! How awesome that you picked my lentil soup for your assignment. :) Thank you for your note!
——Kate
I must agree with BRITTNI F on how great of a job you have done on this website! I typically don’t subscribe to blogs or even feel an emergence to comment, but for awhile now, I have seen and sensed how much of your efforts have gone into the making and upkeep here, so I felt with it being the holidays, it was time to share some love with some positive thoughts. I too am self taught in many areas, including photography and cooking, and I see how talented you are, not only in your ability to put together a website that flows amazingly from fonts to photos, but your meals! You have great taste & imagination, it’s awesome to see true passions expressed/represented with such success! As many of us know, things these days have the tendency to become quite complicated, your site is able bring a little bliss and enjoyment for the simple things in life, truly motivating no matter how busy a day has been. My 6 yr old daughter and I are total “foodies”, and although we do not live a vegetarian specific lifestyle, we try keeping it balanced through the weeks—the more veggie foods, the better we feel!
P>S: My daughter enjoys sitting in on little moments when I browse through your site, and she believes, your little Cookie does look cookies+cream’ish.. (:
Thank you much!
Cheers & Happy Holidays!!
Hi Briana, thank you so much for your kind words! They are very much appreciated. Cookie says hi to you both, and happy holidays! :)
Greetings from Kuwait! Pineapple fried rice was great! Thanks for the fab recipe and happy new year!
Hi Dave! Glad the pineapple fried rice turned out well for you on the other side of the world! Happy New Year!
Hi Kate, I just came across your blog when I was searching for some useful advise on photoblogging. Thank you. This is very helpful, I am just starting out and I have a long way to go, but your site is very inspirational for me.
Happy 2016 to you.
Geraldine O’Connor
moodyfoody.org
Your website is lovely. I was looking for a kale salad and found your recipes. Besides the yummy recipes I like everything about your website. Cookie is so sweet and the cookieandkate choice for the domain is perfect. You inspire me :)
Simona
Hi Kate,
Came across your blog last year and tried the Roasted Berry and Honey Yogurt Popsicles. They were delicious! Back this year for more and looking forward to trying out some of your soba noodle recipes, among others. Thank you!
Thank you for saying hi, Anya! I’m glad you enjoyed the popsicles and hope you like the soba noodle recipes just as much!
Found your blog 3 days ago and LOVE it! It just seems so real and down-to-earth compared to some of those “cutesy” blogs. I’m a senior citizen and your ingredients tend to be available and affordable. And I’m in love with Cookie–thanks for creating this wonderful blog!!!
Anne
Belated thank you, Anne! I’m delighted that you found my blog and appreciate my work. I am very purposeful in my ingredient selection and always aim to be real and approachable. Cookie says hi! :)
Cookie and Kate,
I was searching for an interesting lentil salad today and ran across your lemon lentil and chickpea salad… Perfection!! I can’t wait to make it for lunch today. I’m so excited to have found your blog, as a vegetarian (and dog lover!), these are exactly the types of recipes I LOVE. Thank you! Can’t wait to try many more! :)
Thank you, Kami! I’m so glad you enjoyed that one, and that you found my site in the first place!
Wonderful curry coconut kale and sweet potato recipe! I happened to add @ 2T of red wine vinegar just for a little improve (jazz) or was it because it was Valentine’s weekend?! Also I did not have enough kale so half of my greens were Bok choy and it sure didn’t hurt it any. Thanks Kate for putting together a keeper/repeater that my wife and I enjoyed greatly.
Thank you, Michael! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the curried kale and sweet potatoes. Thanks for letting me know!
I meant improv not improve!
Hi Kate! Thank you so much for sharing so many delicious & healthy meal inspirations. Your blog has become the only one I turn to when I’m stuck on dinner ideas for the week. As someone who rarely follows a recipe exactly because I tend to just use what I have on-hand rather than buying anything special at the store, I find that I almost always have all the ingredients in stock to whip up one of your amazing creations. Thanks for making mealtime simple & easy, as well as tasty & nutritious!
Thank you so much, Caitlin! That’s music to my ears. :) :)
Love your blog. Inspired by the recipes and photography!
Thank you, Andrea!
Hi Kate,
Wonderful blog; congrats on a simple and elegant design, great photography and scrumptious recipes. I made most of your Feb 2016 suggestions (the Brussel sprouts pizza x4), and enjoyed them all.
I would guess you have helped a great many people become vegetarians; it’s blogs like yours that carry on the traditions of the Moosewood Cookbook and the Vegetarian Epicure, where I first learned what vegetarian cuisine could really be.
Great work all around, and thank you !
Anthony
Thank you, Anthony! I really appreciate it. I’ve spent SO many hours on the design and photos! Thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the February recipes and hope you’re enjoying my March suggestions now! Thanks again for your kind words.
Hi Kate,
Like your blog and recipes. I am using one of your fresh green salad recipe for my daughters wedding. I was born and raised in Kansas City and now live in Piedmont Oklahoma which is between Oklahoma City and Kingfisher. Miss The Plaza !
Thank you, Troy! Happy to hear that my salad will make an appearance at your daughter’s wedding. I’ve stopped in Kingfisher a million times on the way to visit my grandparents in Woodward, so I’ve been close! The Plaza is as lovely as ever. :)
Your recipes look delicious! I was curious how you avoid gluten cross-contamination when you cook for your gluten-free friends. Some gluten-eating friends offer to cook gluten-free for gatherings, but I’m so paranoid about possible contamination from appliances, cookware & utensils, and it doesn’t take much to make a celiac or sensitive person sick, I was hoping you have some tips.
Hi Rebecca, that’s a good question, and I’m guessing you’re far less likely than the average bear to cross-contaminate since you’re so cautious about it! None of the gluten-free friends that I regularly cook for are celiac, and I’m sure they encounter small traces of gluten here and there at restaurants (it’s really impossible to avoid entirely). I just do what you do and try to clearly label what’s not gluten free and be aware of serving utensils and whatnot. The easiest thing to do is just serve an entirely gluten-free meal.
What is the difference between almond meal and almond flour?
They’re often the same thing, but sometimes the meal still has the almond skins on it so you’ll see little specks of brown in there and/or almond meal can be a bit more coarse. Both almond meal and flour vary by brand.
Hi Kate and Cookie,
This is probably the best banana bread I’ve ever tried in my entire life. I surprised my wife with it when she came home from work. The banana bread was moist and light. I used organic maple syrup and added fresh organic blue berries. It was awesome. And I also love your pictures. Five stars for you and Cookie.
Whenever I visit your site, I have to come to this “about” page to see the picture of Cookie. So cute!
Love that! :)
Hi Kate! And Cookie! I’m so glad I found your blog. It sprung up in my iPad newsfeed one day. I was pretty excited. We have very similar taste buds.
I’ve been a vegetarian since the age of 12. Self converted the summer before the 7th grade started. Also, I was born and raised in Tulsa! Love finding other Vegetarians from Oklahoma!
I recently moved into a house with one hell of a kitchen. All the bells and whistles at my disposal. And every piece of equipment I could ever hope for. This has got inspired me to seriously work on my food game. And I am cooking my way through your blog.
You’ve inspired me! And I love your fur baby! I have a chihuahua named Bentley.
Thanks for being awesome.
Namaste!
Kodee
Thank you for saying hi, Kodee! I’m glad my blog popped up in your newsfeed! I was just in Tulsa for a wedding and remembered how much I like it. I’m so jealous of your new kitchen! My rental kitchen is about to get the best of me. Please put it to good use for me! :)
Hello! I also live in KC and I LOVE your blog! I look forward to your emails and make dishes off of your archives all of the time. They always turn out great! Your page and passion has inspired me to try to start a blog of my own! Something to look forward to after my day job – thanks for the inspiration and for sharing your delicious recipes and blogging tips! :)
Thank you for saying hi, Amanda! Hope we run into each other sometime. Congrats on your new blog, that’s really exciting!!!
After reading the new post from GimmeSomeOven (one of my other favorite blogs) I should have guessed you knew each other. Maybe I’ll see you at a farmer’s market or something! Thanks again for sharing all your recipes, tips, and inspiration!
I went Full Vegetarian about a month ago, lost 10 pounds just in doing that, and feel 15 years younger.
Tonight I discovered your blog in search of Vegetarian Recipe Ideas.
The creativity of the recipes, the anecdotes, and everything else are amazing.
Belated thank you, Lance! I’m so glad you found my blog, and happy to hear that vegetarianism is treating you well. Happy cooking!
Thank you for all your positive effort & input! Inspiring to me.
Thank you, Gloria! I appreciate your kind words.
Hey Kate, it has been three years now that my friends and family are grateful for the deliciousness of your recipes :) I think I made your West African peanut soup 10 times! Absolutely yummy. Can’t wait to get your cookbook!
Oh and your hair is gorgeous.
Thank you very much, Clémentine! :)
Really cool recipes here! Thanks for taking the time to post all of this up for us food nerds online :)
Thank you, Daniel! I’m so glad you appreciate it. :)
I love your recipes and your dog too!! :-)
Thank you, Aneta! Cookie says hi.