Kathy Hester's Blog, page 19

Easy Sesame Cucumber Noodles

These Sesame Cucumber Noodles are part yummy Asian sauce and part spiralizer love. That adds up to the easiest lunch you can pull out of the fridge! Cucumber spaghetti is easy to make and you can spiralize them the night before. 

What Inspired this Spiralized Cucumber Recipe?

Today I’m sharing my latest favorite lunch – Easy Sesame Cucumber Noodles. It’s kind of a PF Chang’s Copycat with spiralized cucumber instead of cut into chunks.

To me, that makes it seem more like a real meal and more...

28 Easy Vegan Slow Cooker Recipes

I’ve gathered up the best vegan slow cooker recipes for you. A combination of easy recipes, including soups, stews, pasta, taco fillings and so much more. You’ll have to see them to believe just how much your crockpot can do.

You can use your slow cooker in the summer to keep your house cool and it’s amazing in the winter for all the hearty recipes that you can prepare in it. 

I recommend that you prep the ingredients in the evening so all you have to do is grab them out of the fridge in the...

Slow Cooker Eggplant Tapenade

My Slow Cooker Eggplant Tapenade will prove that your crockpot is eggplant’s best friend. This warm slow cooker eggplant tapenade is perfect for summer dinner and it doesn’t heat up your kitchen. Eat it cold on crackers or in lettuce wraps.

Photo by Kate Lewis

Are You Feeling the Summer Yet?

The hot and humid North Carolina summer weather wears me out after a simple walk around my tiny garden or after a few hours working on the deck. The heat makes me feel less motivated and more time thinkin...

Homemade Blueberry Thyme Syrup

Blueberries are one of the best treats of summer. My Homemade Blueberry Thyme Syrup bottles it up so you can flavor your iced teas, mocktails, or cocktails. Personally, I like it paired with gin or in an herbal tea.

It’s that time of the year! What time? Cocktail and mocktail time! It’s hot and I’m working a ton, so when I stop for the day I want a special drink. That could be with or without alcohol, as long as it’s refreshing and bursting with flavor. My Homemade Blueberry Thyme Syrup take...

Instant Pot Indian Potato Salad

This Instant Pot Indian Potato Salad is a complete summer meal in itself. I make it ahead of time, then eat it cold straight from the fridge!

This is another post in my series of recipes sponsored by the Idaho Potato Commission. You can never have too many recipes for potatoes and this is one that will really impress your summer dinner guests.

What Do You Eat When It’s Hot Outside?

First I do everything possible to not heat up the house. Years ago that meant getting up and cooking in the wee...

Instant Pot Potato Panzanella Salad

Brighten up your summer dinners with this Instant Pot Potato Panzanella Salad. It’s got fresh juicy tomatoes and crunchy bread to make it hearty. Plus you cook the potatoes in your Instant Pot so your house stays cool!

This is another post in my series of recipes sponsored by the Idaho Potato Commission. You can never have too many recipes for potatoes and this one makes an easy and delicious summer dinner!

The recipe I’m sharing with you today for Instant Pot Potato Panzanella Salad, gives...

Mini Kitchen Redo: ShelfGenie Cabinet Inserts

I want to share my new ShelfGenie cabinet inserts with you. It may not be a new recipe, but having an organized kitchen makes it so much easier to cook everyday!

This post is sponsored by ShelfGenie. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. In fact, I love them so much we’re saving up to get the pantry done!

I literally jumped up and down once I was told that I was selected for ShelfGenie’s promotion. Why? Because my kitchen cabinets are always stuffed to the brim with 10 of everyt...

Gluten Free Vegan Sausage Patties with No Nuts or Soy!

These gluten-free vegan sausage patties use whole food ingredients like black beans, quinoa, and potato. It uses oat flour and ground flax seed to bind it all together. It’s easy to make and I have a breakfast sausage spice blend for you to customize too!

This hearty recipe for a Gluten Free Vegan Sausage Patties is sponsored by the Idaho Potato Commission. I believe you can never have too many recipes for vegan breakfast sausage or potatoes. 

All sausage – vegan or not –  gets its amazing f...

Vegan Thai Iced Tea Concentrate

Making your own Vegan Thai Iced Tea Concentrate is easy. All you need is some tea, a few spices, and little time. You can make it with sweetened condensed coconut milk to make it in the traditional style or make it sugar-free with just some unsweetened nondairy milk. The choice is yours!

How Do You Make Vegan Thai Iced Tea Concentrate?

The concentrate isn’t hard to make and the ingredients aren’t as unusual as you might think. My homemade version doesn’t have is artificial colors like the Th...

18 Vegan Broccoli Recipes You Need to Make Now!

I bet you have a bunch of fresh broccoli in your fridge now. Today I have 18 vegan broccoli recipes that will help you use up your stash. You can use frozen broccoli in most of the recipes if that’s what you have on hand.

How do you clean fresh broccoli?

First wash the broccoli with water to remove all the dirt and any any small insects that could still be attached.

Cut the florets into similar-sized pieces to help them cook evenly. If the stems are thin and tender you can keep them attached...