It is easy this time of year to slip into some not-so-healthy food choices. As the holidays approach, the abundance of sweet treats and more occasions upon which to eat them can get the better of us. We see this with the recipe submissions here on Tasty Kitchen these days. Pumpkin baked goods everywhere! And let’s not even mention the Halloween candy we’ve been noshing on the last few days, except to say we need to get it out of the house as soon as possible.

Even though the time for Thanksgiving desserts and Christmas cookies is just around the corner, we can keep some healthy snacks on hand to keep ourselves honest. These Peanut Butter and Honey Trail Mix Bars from TK member Katrina, have all the good stuff—ahem, chocolate—to satisfy that craving for sweetness without the guilt. They’re nutty and sweet and perfect as an afternoon snack or even breakfast on the go.

Hope you enjoy!

There’s a crispness in the air lately! Fall is in full swing. In fact, it’s almost time to turn back the clocks, at which time we’ll really want to hibernate in the evening and eat warm, comforting things! It might be all soup, all the time around here for awhile.

We’re especially smitten with nice, hearty seasonal soups like this Loaded Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup from TK member Karrie. It’s mostly veggie, but feels plenty satisfying when topped with pancetta and pepper jack. A little sour cream and green onion, and it’s perfect!

We hope you enjoy! And if you have a favorite soup of the moment, tell us in the comments. We’re all ears!

Chili season is in full force, folks. It’s classic weekend football-watching food or an easy, satisfying weeknight meal. I am always excited to find a new chili recipe to try. It gives me an excuse to make chili more often! A good white chicken chili is a nice change from the more common chili con carne, and veggie chili offers a tasty, healthy alternative, too.

This Turkey Chorizo Hatch Chili from TK member Lauren is going straight into my chili lineup. It’s a hearty but healthy recipe with Mexican flavors and delicious, slightly spicy chorizo, one of my favorite ingredients. If you can’t find turkey chorizo at your store, feel free to use regular chorizo. Just make sure you are buying Mexican chorizo. Spanish chorizo has quite a different flavor. If you can’t find chorizo at all, you can always make your own! Here’s a recipe for Homemade Mexican-style Chorizo from Tasty Kitchen member Rebecca. Just use ground turkey instead of ground pork, and you’re ready to go!

Hope you enjoy this flavorful chili. If you have a clever way to change up chili or a favorite recipe, share it in the comments!

It’s that time of year when my soup pot starts getting a workout. Just about every cool fall day, what sounds the absolute best is a hearty, comforting bowl of soup. It’s so easy to get it simmering and then put a quick salad together and throw some bread in the oven.

I have also been on a major lentil kick lately. A bowl of lentils cooked with onions, carrots, served with herbs and topped with a poached egg has been a favorite so far this season. I’ve been looking for something different to do with my lentils, though, and this Butternut Squash Lentil Soup from TK member Sarah of Thyme to Eat looks like it would hit the spot quite nicely. It has the deep flavor of cumin and coriander, and it’s thick enough to be satisfying as a meal on its own. It’s a great recipe to celebrate the flavors of fall and to introduce a lovely veggie option to your soup routine. Click on the photo to get the printable!

Happy fall, y’all!

At the beginning of the week, I have good intentions about preparing homemade ingredients for breakfasts and often end up falling back on frozen waffles or the same old scrambled eggs. We’re overdue for something different this week, and some crunchy, slightly sweet granola sounds like the perfect thing to get us out of our breakfast rut.

This Basic Granola from TK member Stephanie Walker works great when you just want a simple granola without all the extras, or if you’re serving it to those who might turn up their noses at additions like nuts. I’m looking at you, kids. Either way, this recipe is delicious as is, or can be customized with shredded coconut, dried fruit, or anything you can think to add! Enjoy with yogurt for breakfast or snack on it in the afternoon when you need a nibble of something sweet.

Have a tasty week!

At the beginning of the week, I always need some inspiration for healthy weeknight meals that aren’t too difficult to throw together. It’s also about this time of year that I realize I need to enjoy as much delicious summer produce as possible while it’s still available. More fresh garden tomatoes, please!

This Roasted Summer Vegetable Ragout, from TK member Lindsay, ticks all the boxes and looks so tasty. The combination of tomatoes, zucchini and eggplant is one of my favorites, and roasting the veggies really brings out their sweetness. We hope you enjoy! And share your favorite quick, easy weeknight summer meals with us below, if you like!

Welcome to the weekend! Aren’t summer weekends the best? Time to be outside, grill, swim or whatever your little heart desires. It’s also just about time for a cold, refreshing drink. Mojitos are most definitely cold and refreshing. The mint and lime get together and make magic with an icy mix of simple syrup and rum. There is just not much that can go wrong with that!

We have a bunch of amazing mojitos here on Tasty Kitchen to share with you, some classic and some versions incorporating different fruits that sound pretty darn great. We hope one will strike your fancy and inspire you to try it this weekend.

Classic Mint Mojito. It’s hard to improve upon the original. So refreshing. So limey. So minty. So rummy. So…mojito-y?

Watermelon Mojito. Watermelon and mint. Always a great combo.

Strawberry Pom Mojito. Strawberries and pomegranate juice for those who love the sweet and tangy!

Orange Mojito with Mint Skinny Syrup. A little orange juice to sweeten the deal.

Boysenberry Mojitos. The berry hits keep on coming! We featured this one earlier in the week, and it kicked off this whole mojito craving.

Cherry Lime Mojito. And a cherry option! Yum! And so pretty.

Blueberry Mojito Popsicles. We couldn’t let you go with out a frozen version. Don’t let summer pass without making some boozy popsicles!

Stay cool!

It’s officially the holiday weekend! Whether you’re traveling or just chilling at home, it’s a good bet there will be plenty of food involved. Sometimes, all the chips and dips and burgers and hot dogs and sides and desserts can be a bit much. Adding sweet cocktails might just take you over the top indulgence-wise. If you want to cool off with a fun, fruity cocktail but keep it light, these Skinny Blended Raspberry Lemon Mojitos from Taylor look pretty delicious. And bonus! They’re red, white and blue! Click on the photo above for the printable recipe.

We hope everyone has safe and fun festivities this weekend!

Happy 4th of July!

We’ve got raspberries coming out of our ears around here! So far, we have mostly picked them right off the bush and eaten them then and there, barely collecting enough in a bowl to take inside and use in any recipe. But today, I have resolved to accumulate enough to make a raspberry treat. This Lemon & Raspberry Summer Cake from TK member Lauren looks like the perfect thing. Soft and lemony, with a luscious creamy frosting, those fresh raspberries piled on top will finish it off nicely. I can’t wait to taste … and share!

Have a tasty weekend!

Flavorful things on the grill are just about all we crave these days, especially on summer weekends! Grilled steaks, burgers, sausages and tons of grilled veggies are all big hits around here. This weekend is Father’s Day, and we feel like grilling for Dad for a change! Chicken on the grill is sounding easy and tasty, and this Easy Jerk Chicken with Grilled Pineapple Salsa from TK member Karrie has all the right flavors going on—some nice heat from the jerk spice mixture balanced out by the sweet pineapple salsa. Click on the photo above to get the printable. Can’t wait to try it!

Hope you all have a delicious Father’s Day weekend!