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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Um….but your hair. Can we talk about that for a minute? Do you have any tutorials on how to make THAT magic happen?? It’s gorgeous!
Aw shucks, thanks Rhonda. It’s naturally curly, but I fixed up the frizzy parts that day with a curling iron held vertically. I swear by Tigi’s Curls Rock curl amplifying cream and a blow dryer with a diffuser.
Hi Kate,
I’ve only tried your banana bread recipe because it was linked somewhere else (with due credit to you of course). But I just took a quick look around here and absolutely love your work !!
Hoping to make some of these lovely dishes soon !
Thank you for your effort and time in giving us this blog.
Regards,
Gayathri
Belated thank you for your hello, Gayathri! I hope you have enjoyed the recipes.
Hi Kate,
I discovered your blog today at work, looked at your corn/black bean taco recipe, and got the ingredients on the way home. Going to make it tonight. I eat very little meat, for humane reasons, and am always on the lookout for meatless recipes. Yours look great. And Cookie is a bonus – such a cute doggie! I have two mutts, Wilson and Audrey, and they are good kitchen floor cleaners, too!
Mary
Hi Mary! I’m sorry I missed your comment until now. I hope you loved the tacos. Cookie sends her best to Wilson and Audrey.
I just discovered your blog and it is love at first sight..
When I first started cooking I was in love with Molly Katzman’s cookbook – for some reason your style reminds me of her’s.
Your blog is just so fantastic and I want to try all yoru recipes. I will be sure to try your plum crisp first as my trees are full of juicy plums!
Not sure how I came across your blog but I’m so glad I did. There are so many times when I get stuck not know what make for dinner with my veggies. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed with all the recipes out there. Thanks for your blog!
I’m glad you found my blog, too, Veronica! Thank you for saying hi!
Hi Kate, As of today I’m going to try to eat healthier. So I goggled and found your blog. I love all your pictures and your dog. You are so right when you say a girls best companion. I love to cook and am going to try some of your recipes. They look great and not too complicated. I will let you know how it comes out. I love your personality and sense of humor. Makes for fun reading.
Haidee, I’m owe you a belated thank you for your comment. I’m so glad you found my blog, and hope you’re enjoying the recipes!
Just a quick comment to say my family LOVES your Sweet Potato Burrito with Avocado Salsa! We have it at least once every two weeks! My daughter even chose it for her 14th Birthday Party Dinner. Her friends loved it, as well! Thanks so much for posting it!
Thank you, Anatastia! I’m so glad you all enjoy the burritos. Happy belated birthday to your daughter!
Hello Kate!
Thank you for your wonderful recipes! I can’t tell you how many of them I have tried and shared with family and friends.
I am stopping in Kansas City later this summer (for the first time!) on a cross-country road trip, and I was wondering if you had any recommendations for vegetarian-friendly restaurants in your hometown?
Hi Rachel! Thank you for saying hi. KC is pretty awesome. My favorite restaurants are The Rieger, Gram and Dun (best patio on the Plaza, not tons of vegetarian options, but awesome French fries app), Westport Cafe (more for drinks than the food), Ça Va (super cute little Champagne bar in Westport), Beer Kitchen (also in Westport, great brunch!), The Mixx (epic salads) and Westside Local. Manifesto is a speakeasy in the basement of The Rieger (enter through the door on the back of the building) with great cocktails and a cool ambience. Check their website for reservation details. Go to Glacé for amazingggggg ice cream (it’s near Loose Park/The Mixx) or Little Freshie (Westside area) for fun natural snow cones/sodas/floats.
Wow, that was a long way down the page to leave a comment. First off, i love your site. I have been vegetarian for only a short while and found your site soon after. The amount of help your site and recipes have given me in staying on my healthy living plan has been incredible. I am still cooking in bulk your spicy lentil soup and still loving it, amongst other delicious treats found on your site. And i love Cookie. It helps that she is part Australian though, but a gorgeous animal none the less. Also as a healthy male i would like to see more cooking videos with you and Cookie. That might be fun. Only if you have time of course. You must be busy. Thank you for your hard work and this quality and helpful site Kate.
Thank you for your kind words, Robert! Cookie is a beauty, I agree. :) I’m going to work on some videos with my brother soon. Have a great day!
Just found your blog! Going to make your Mango Salsa. Sent Hubby to the store for a few ingredients. We don’t have room for a garden this year, but moving soon to a home with a nice back yard. Will be growing many veggies next year! Will be stopping by to check your blog on a regular basis. Thanks for the great advise. we too have a helper in te kitchen, Named Toby James. He loves to clean up!! LOL
Thanks, Jan
Hi Jan and Toby! Thanks for saying hi. I hope you loved the salsa. Congrats on your new home!
Hello Cookie + Kate,
I am just starting out to be a vegetarian. Good thing I found your blog. I love to see recipes with pictures! I already have a couple of recipes in mind to try and cook.
Thank you for sharing.
Hi Melissa! You are definitely in the right place. Hope you’re enjoying the recipes!
I love your focus on whole foods Kate! It is a game changer for people who want to look and feel healthy! I love that you adopted your dog too! Keep up the great work :)
Thank you so much, Kelly!
Hi Kate! I simply love your piece of writing and you dishes are amazing..I m spell bound to look at your blog..It every bit informative and every bit delicious..Beautiful piece of writing i must say..Keep rocking..more power to you… love Monika
Found your blog from a new coworker who heard you speak while he was working for a company in Tampa that deals with bloggers and self employed people. I mentioned that I want to start a food blog and just bought my domain name. He mentioned that I should look at your site and I love all of the tips that I am seeing and I will definitely be using them, if I get the guts to go through with this!
Karen, I’m glad you found my blog! Best of luck with your food blog—I think you should go for it!
Hi Kate and Cookie! I found your blog recently when I was looking for more creative vegetarian meals. I made your lentil and cauliflower tacos with the chipotle sauce – delish!! Looking forward to trying more of your recipes. On a side note – we used to have a Schipperke – I read that Cookie is part Schip – they are amazing little dogs! They have no clue they’re little and can be quite feisty..so it’s probably a good thing that she’s mixed LOL. Also, they can have quite long life spans – so here’s hoping Cookie will too! :)
Hi Kate!
I stumbled upon your blog many weeks ago and have been cooking many of your recipes! Your site has now become my go-to spot for recipes and I wanted to say Thank You!
My husband and I recently made a lifestyle change to Whole Foods and Plant Based Nutrition and your recipes are a perfect match for delicious food and nutrients for us!
I am a Kansas City Native now living in NYC.
Your recipes make my end of the day late meal healthy, delicious and easy! Just made your Colorful Beet Salad recipe and already want to make it again tomorrow (maybe next week!) :)
Best,
Meghan
He Kate,
Thank you for all that you do here! My wife, daughter and I all really enjoy your recipes, we’ve been vegetarian for a long time, but you have for sure taken our repertoire up a notch!
Just a quick question. I was going to make up a batch of your recently posted roasted cauliflower tonight, but while at the market I saw a spice that intrigued me: Ethopian Berbere. I ended up making a recipe I found for Berbere Cauliflower, with an amazing sauce made of Berbere, vegan butter, salt, and lemon juice. It was delicious, but I think your method of roasting the cauliflower would work a lot better, and I would probably use coconut milk next time. I LOVED the spice though, and searched your site to see if you have used it in anything. Nothing came up, have you ever used Berbere?
I think your skills are a step ahead of anyone else I’ve found on the web, I would be very curious how you would put the spice to work if you ever dabbled in it!
Thanks!
Henry
Whitefish, MT
ps, I’ll put the recipe I found in the website link below. (I also skipped the bacon on it)
Hi Kate,
First off, I love your recipes! I’m grateful for the recent collection of Thanksgiving recipes – I’m looking for something to make for my sister, who is newly vegetarian, and the Butternut Squash Risotto sounds delicious.
Second, my name is Katye, and I spell my full first name Kathryne as well!!! I’ve never found someone else who does, so I’m pretty excited :) I’ve been using your recipes for a few years now, so it was delightful to find that connection.
Thanks,
Katye
Trying your healthful version of cranberry sauce this year. I just can’t bear to put sugar in my food or my body. Love a good c-sauce. I’ll let you know what the hubs thinks. Not too much to go wrong here. :)
Thanks!
I came across your blog while googling “sugar free banana bread,” and I’m so glad I did. I tried your healthy banana bread recipe, but I omitted the honey/syrup, used unsweetened soy milk, and I folded in a bit of 85% cocoa dark chocolate into the mix. Came out GREAT!! Thanks so much!
Whenever I’m looking for something delicious and on the healthy side I come here and everything is just so tasty! The banana bread is now an all the time staple in my freezer :) And it helps that you have a super cute dog too! ❤️
Hello!
I have been making some of your recipes for a while now (made your healthy banana bread tonight as it’s a household favorite!), and I have a dear friend who also absolutely loves baking. Her wedding is coming up, and I am looking for the perfect gift. So, I came here in search for a cook book. I was wondering if you have any available or if you have ever thought about publishing one.
Thanks so much
Hi, Kaitlyn! My book, Love Real Food, is going to be released in May of this year. You can pre-order it from Amazon, though I’m not sure if it will be in time for your friend’s birthday! Thanks so much.
Hi, Kate.
Just dropping by to let you know I nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award:
https://israelisalad.wordpress.com/2017/01/31/blogger-recognition-award/
Love your site!
Miriam
Thank you so much, Miriam! I’m honored to have landed on your list! Hope you have a great day.
I have made three of your recipes this week after discovering your blog – Delicious !!!!!
Thank you, Lisa!
Hi Kate,
I like your website, I have used a handful of your recipes as I have turned a new leaf and become a vegetarian.
However, I have a complaint about something regarding your website. Recently you added an “Our Videos” section to your webpage, and for some reason, the video forces my browser to scroll up to that video every time it starts over. It has become very bothersome and it is making me not want to use your website.
Can you please fix this very annoying video so I can continue using your great recipe pages, stress free?
Thanks and appreciation for your dishes,
Andi
Hi Andi, I’m really bummed to hear about your negative experience on my site. I’ve put many, many hours into designing this website and that shouldn’t be happening! I talked to my ad guy and he said that sometimes a bad ad will sneak in and cause that behavior. Ad serving is really complicated these days so it’s not easy to track down the problematic ad but I hope it’s stopped happening for you by now. Please let me know if you’re still having trouble. If you are, it would be super helpful if you could send a screenshot or tell me the brand name for the ad that’s shown after the scroll. My email address is hello@cookieandkate.com. Sorry again!
Big Loser program at work… online looking for 11week meal plan. Found your page. Beautiful, wonderful, fantastic. Appreciated the fact that you made a program easily print recipes. Thank you, for having so many varied dishes to choose from. Maybe your sight will be visited after 11weeks.
I hope you do!
Thanks for sharing! This is by far the best way to cook steel-cut oats that I have found.
Wonderful!
You’re welcome, Chris!
Found your chilli recipe! Fantastic, all my friends love it. Keep on cooking!
Thanks, Dan! Glad you found my blog.
Hi Kate, Stumbled across your great site and glad I did! The recipes look great! I’m going to try the kale and coconut one this weekend. Cute pup you have there too!
I put out a newsletter that goes out each Friday morning and every week, I include a vegetarian or vegan recipe. I’d love to link to your site on occasion to feature a recipe. The link below is a sample of what my newsletter looks like and how I link to the blogger’s site for the recipe. Just let me know if this is okay. Best, Rick
http://conta.cc/2n3CAJS
Hi, Rick, Thank you for the kind comment! Please make sure your recipe feature follows the guidelines of my photo policy: https://capital-fly.pro/cookie-and-kates-photo-and-recipe-policy/%3C/a%3E. Thanks!
Absolutely. I’m featuring your Lentil Baked Ziti this upcoming Friday. I’ve been on a vegan recipe posting bent lately so I’m sure my readers will be grateful to see some real cheese!
I’m also a fan of the Newman’s Own products. Paul Newman was a great humanitarian as well as a great actor.
Hey Kate:
Its not always easy to find sweet recipes which are tasty, beautiful and still very healthy but you did it!!!!
I also LOVE how you have a Notes section which allows flexibility for Vegans, Gluten Free baking, Dairy Free etc. Your blog has revolutionized the way I cook. I’m trying out a gluten free diet for my son and SO happy I can still use your recipes . Thank you a million!Everyone in our household loves your recipes :)
So kind of you, Bubu! I’m so glad my blog has made things a bit easier with all of the dietary needs in your house. Thanks for reading!
Hi! I’m writing a paper for my Health, Wellness, and Safety class for LUO. I am trying to create 5 days of 3 ingredient snacks for 3 year-olds by combining fruits and veggies. For one day I combined snow peas, strawberries, and mango. They have different textures and the children can cut their chunk of mango and strawberries themselves. Can you help me with some more ideas? I’ve been using Google and found your blog.
Thank you!
Debby
Hi Debby, that sounds like a fun assignment. Maybe carrots, apples and broccoli? Oranges, blueberries and red bell pepper?
I stumbled upon your blog once quite some time ago. Ever since then, I have found myself coming back to visit time and again to browse and try new recipes! I have not been disappointed yet! Love finding tasty recipes that promote healthy moderation, flavor, and whole foods!
This is so kind, Carissa! Thank you so much, and I’m so glad you found my blog.
Hi! I thought I’d share that ever since I decided to cook vegan at home I use your blog as inspiration! I have cooked so many amazing recipes from it and love reading it for new ideas when I have free time. Thanks :)
So kind of you, Becky! Thank you for reading. :)
Hi Kate! Thank you for making vegetarian food that tastes good. Your photos make each dish appealing, even those that contain ingredients I’m not inclined to try. Being a vegetarian for 25+ years meant that I was uncreative in my eating, sticking to a mostly bread and cheese diet. NOT healthy! It was either that or embrace the whole macrobiotic thing that just did not ring my bell. Either you and I have the exact same taste in food, or you’ve brought to life my taste buds! Such great sauces and fresh veggies – yummers! Thank you for inspiring me to eat healthier!
Thanks for the great recipes!! By chance I came across your website looking for a red thai curry recipe, then I saw your dog!! She is a SPITTING image of my Blue whom we rescued about 7 years ago. We were told he was an Australian Shepherd mix, but we always wondered what he could be mixed with. The only difference is Blue doesn’t have a tail.
She is beautiful!!
Thank you for these amazing recipes. I think that you’re blog is a great idea.
P.S. your dog is adorable
Thank you, Melanie! Cookie says hello. :)
I found your blog a few months ago and fell in love with the food you are making (and Cookie)! My carnivore husband’s new favorite soup is the Mexican Quinoa Stew. He has asked for it at least once a week since I first made it!
Your cookbook just arrived, and it’s really beautiful. We’re excited to try all the recipes. I just wanted to say that the book looks really beautiful!
This is so kind of you, Rachel! I’m so glad your family enjoys the soup, and I hope you love the book!
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.
That’s so kind of you, Melanie, thank you!
Made your roasted cauliflower, farro, and arugula salad with tahini dressing from your cookbook today for Fourth of July celebration. I am gluten free, so I used quinoa instead of farro. Everyone was losing it over how delicious this salad was. My niece exclaimed, “You make THE BEST salads.” Glad to add this to my list of THE BEST salads!!
Hooray! I am so glad you enjoyed the salad, Jeanne! That’s one of my favorites, too.
Hi Kate & Cookie,
Michelle and my Persian cat Gabby here (literally she is right here while I type).
I just came across your amazing blog while I was looking for a gluten free waffle recipe. I recently was at the best gluten free restaurant while on vacation in Florida. They had eggs Benedict on a gluten free waffle. This was right up my alley since I have been a vegetarian for 20 years but recently went gluten free for health reasons. I am hoping to recreate this at home and now I am one step closer due to your blog. I am not a cook, but since I am a teacher I have some time to experiment this summer. Your blog will be my go to. Luckily my fiance will eat almost anything which makes experimenting so much easier.
Thanks so much for all the specific information you include.
Michelle & Gabby
Oh, I’m so glad you + Gabby found my blog! I hope you can make a close approximation to that eggs benny dish–it sounds amazing.
Hi Kate!
I recently received a copy of your cookbook as a gift – it is beautiful! Your recipes have inspired me to step into the kitchen (which I had previously found to be a daunting place) and try new things. :-)
Also, having previously lived in (and loved) Kansas City, I have been living vicariously through your blog (and Gimme Some Oven)….so thank you!
Aaah! I’m so glad you like the book. Hello from KC!
I just dropped by to compliment you on your wonderful site here! All of your recipes are so beautiful, healthy, and wonderful! I have been following your blog for about a month now and have tried several recipes. I also just bought your cookbook last night and have already read through half of it and dog eared most of it lol. Your style of cooking is so me! I was a strict vegan for 6.5 years but for very personal reasons have begun to include some local/pastured/organic dairy and eggs back into my diet here and there though not everyday, and am trying to be a little more flexible with food while keeping it as whole and real as possible. I really appreciate your open ended and nonjudgmental/nonshaming approach to vegetarian food and health. Kudos to you for all the work you have put into your site and your cookbook!
Yes everything Elaine said. I told my wife that I’ll make every recipe in the cook book (last night we dined on the burrito bowls and margaritas and she was in love) and she agreed I should (and she’s not even vegetarian like me)
This is just the sweetest comment, Elaine! Thank you for taking the time to write it. I’m so glad you found the blog, and really happy that you dig the book so much! I’ve definitely had a complex relationship with food (as many of us have, I think!) and so keeping things non-judgmental and making my readers feel empowered to make their own choices is really important to me. Thank you so much for your kind affirmations! I’m so happy to have you here.
I’m so excited. Searching for a vegetarian tortilla soup, I came across your blog. Curious about where it came from, I ended up here, and am even more excited about it. I am a pescatarian and my dog Hank is also a rescue, and we also cook, and do photography, and create many many things together. Love the cookbook idea, I’m looking forward to trying some more of your veg recipes!
Your blog has the nicest, sweetest name i have ever come across! And i love the recipes you share! :)
Hello, yes i am a fan too.. you look lovely and your Cookie too..
What do you feed your dogs? I give mine chicken and sometimes beef with carrots and zucchinis and pasta or rice , sometimes dry food but that is “artificial” food since it is industry food so i was just wondering what do you feed your dogs?
Thank you for all so nice recipes
Hi Maha! I currently feed Cookie a brand of dry dog food called Organix that I buy from Whole Foods or Amazon. That, and she gets lots of veggie scraps (no onions/garlic/grapes, though).
Hello Kate! My name is Josh, I’m a general contractor/ home remodeler in Seattle. My girlfriend, Raquel, is vegetarian, and would be vegan except for that cheese addiction she can’t shake. I would say that I am vegetarian between steaks. While I’m able to easily find vegetarian food that tastes good, I always have a hard time finding vegetarian dishes that satisfy me such that I don’t feel I need to augment those meals with an egg or a side of fish or something. So I made this enchilada recipe, including the homemade sauce, and am happy to report that it was all an absolute delight. The taste was incomparable (cinnamon? Who would have thought, but it was perfect), and I didn’t feel like I needed to wash all those veggies down with a turkey sandwich afterward. I needed to write and tell you that you have a new set of fans here in the Pacific Northwest: Raquel , Lou (Jack Russell), Chloe (Cockapoo), and me. We will continue to seek you out. Thank you! Oh yeah…FIVE STARS!!!
Hi Josh! Thank you so much for your note. I’m so glad you found my blog and hope you find more recipes to enjoy soon. All my best to you and Raquel and pups!
Just made the famous Favorite Quinoa Salad. Supper yummy and so simple to make thanks again Kate your the Best :)
Love Your Blog! amazing wonderful recipes of all time :)
I am an avid cook and love organic, healthy and sometimes not so healthy recipes to please the people I love. I look at recipes for ideas but ultimately adjust them to my liking. Rarely do I follow a recipe fully. I find myself drawn to your site, thank you for the inspiration.
Thank you for saying hi, Shirley! I’m so glad you found my site.
I LOVE your recipes, passion and energy. Thank you so much for sharing your talents with the world. Your elegant style is a really nice touch. Keep up the good work.
You are so sweet, Michelle! Thank you :)