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Baked Feta with Tomatoes

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This easy baked feta recipe with tomatoes makes into a warm, creamy Greek-inspired appetizer in under 25 minutes. Scoop it up with crusty bread for a delicious snack! Here’s a recipe inspired by my trip to Greece a few years ago: I came to love a certain baked feta appetizer. I had it prepared in different ways but it was always delicious: melty, gooey feta in a tomato sauce, sometimes with onions or red peppers, sprinkled with a few herbs.  One server brought it out to us and declared, “Feta in the oven!” and I learned this was the English translation on most menus. Alex and I even recreated it a few times while in Greece in the kitchen of our rental home. This baked feta is the version I make now whenever friends come over, and it disappears faster than anything else on the table! Why You’ll Love This Baked Feta Recipe It’s absolutely delicious. The best appetizers are often the simplest. A block of feta goes into a small dish w...

Non Alcoholic Aperol Spritz

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This non alcoholic Aperol spritz has all the herbal citrusy flavor of the Italian classic, but no alcohol required. It’s bubbly, gorgeous, and ready in minutes! So here’s the thing: I love a good Aperol Spritz , but lately I am drinking less alcohol. So I came up with a way to drink it NA: my non alcoholic Aperol Spritz mocktail! Personally I don’t like mocktail recipes that call for non-alcoholic spirits, because I don’t want to go out and buy something. So I came up with an orange simple syrup to infuse the drink with bittersweet citrus flavor: just like real Aperol! It is so refreshing and tastes like more than just juice: I love serving it at summer parties alongside the real thing. Why You’ll Love This Recipe It gives Aperol Spritz vibes without buying NA spirits! I don’t like having to buy or order non-alcoholic Prosecco or Aperol. My secret ingredient (olive brine!) and orange simple syrup give it real depth. Ev...

Easy Cucumber Salad

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This cucumber salad recipe is crisp, tangy, and cool, tossed with onion and fresh dill in a quick vinegar dressing. It’s the easy summer side you’ll make on repeat! Here’s one of my favorite summer side dishes that’s packed with flavor and fits almost any diet: my cucumber salad! It’s simple and punchy, with a vinegar-based dressing that packs in sweet and tangy flavor. I grew up with this salad on the BBQ table, and if you did too you know why it’s so great (right?). It has the perfect summer vibe for just about any occasion: summer cookouts or pitch-ins, lunches, or an easy make-ahead side dish you can keep in the fridge for dinners all week. Thin coins of cucumber and onion marinade in a sharp, sweet-salty vinegar brine, and if just keeps getting better over time! 5 Star Reader Review “Super-delicious!!! I made this tonight with the Cajun Salmon and Easy Lemon Orzo. What a great combo. It was a big hit with my husband...

How to Make Cucumber Water

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Turn plain water into a refreshing drink in 5 minutes with this cucumber water recipe! Here are my tips for the perfect infused spa water, plus creative variations with herbs and citrus. Want to make your hydrating more fun? Try cucumber water! You may have seen it at resorts or spas, and the botanical flavor tastes like poolside relaxation in a sip. I love making a pitcher of this tasty infused water for parties, or simply when I want to make my daily water intake more enjoyable. Do you simply combine cucumber and water? Well, kind of. Here’s what you need to know about how to make this tasty drink! 5 Star Reader Review “I harvested so many cucumbers from my garden that I didn’t know what to do with them until I came across this recipe. It’s quick, easy, and deliciously refreshing. It also makes drinking water so much more enjoyable.” -J How to Make Cucumber Water, Step-By-Step Cucumber water requires two ingredients: cu...

Bijou Cocktail

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The Bijou cocktail is a classic gin drink named for the colors of jewels, using gin, sweet vermouth, and green Chartreuse in equal parts. Here’s how to make it at home! If you love unique classic cocktails , here’s a fun one to try: the Bijou cocktail. This drink is named for the colors of glittering jewels of the three liquors that make it up: diamond, ruby, and emerald: how fun is that? It has a spirit-forward flavor that’s crisp and herbaceous. Take one sip and you’ll be reminded of a Manhattan , but with an herbal undertone to the finish. This one is full of surprises: and all your guests will be impressed. Here’s how to make the Bijou! What Is a Bijou Cocktail? The Bijou cocktail is a classic cocktail featuring gin, sweet vermouth, and chartreuse . The father of modern bartending himself, Harry Johnson, invented the drink in the 1890’s. He named it for the colors of jewels represented by the liquors: clear gin for diamond,...