Calabrian Chili Tomato Confit Labneh Dip

and a little announcement for the month of September!

Hi! Welcome to “good mood food” from Kale Me Maybe’s Carina Wolff. If you’ve made it here and aren’t yet a subscriber, come join! You can expect recipes in your inbox every Tuesday, and paid subscribers receive even more every Thursday! You can also try a week for free!

CATCH UP!

It has been over a month now since we got our new dog Willow, and I can finally say things have slowed down significantly (in a good way), and she is straight chillin’ (although, we are still working on that separation anxiety)!

August was a big work month for me, and September is about to be a big travel month. This year is flying by, and although I hate watching time pass, I’ve also really enjoyed having so many activities. It’s such a nice contrast from the mundane feelings of 2020.

I’ve been brainstorming a lot about what I want to do here and on my Instagram, after this month of hopping around, I’m going to start implementing some of my new ideas.

THINGS I’M LOVING

Kitchen Item: I have to be honest… I didn’t really need another blender. I have my trusty Vitamix that I love so much. But I found myself making my morning matcha’s in a smaller, hand-held blender because it was easier to clean, but then it started to zonk out. Then…. Zwilling sent me their personal blender, and I was instantly sucked in by the aesthetics. I was excited to use it in my videos, but then I realized, it was actually a GREAT blender to make my morning matcha in. Think of it as an upgraded Nutribullet, but prettier!!

Food: God I love this chocolate. If you are a mint + chocolate person, you need these Alter Eco Mint Creme Truffle Thin Bars. The perfect amount of sweet mintiness. I go through these too quickly. That’s all I really have to say.

TikTok Account: If you like gardening, or even just farm fresh food, I recommend following Carmen in the Garden on TikTok! I started following her on the app earlier this year because I was so impressed by how full and beautiful her garden is! She had me over this weekend and boxed up some of her produce for me, and it was just as beautiful in person!

RECIPE!

I’m sure you can tell by now how much I love using yogurt, especially as a dip. It’s just so versatile, and it adds creaminess without feeling heavy or rich. I used labneh (a strained yogurt used often in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking) as the base for this one, but Greek yogurt would work as well!

I love how the melty, sweetness of the roasted tomatoes pairs with the spicy kick of the Calabrian Chilis, and the herbiness of the za’atar on top finishes everything off. If you’re not familiar with za’atar, it’s a Middle Eastern seasoning typically made with oregano/thyme, sumac, sesame seeds and other spices. I use za’atar from Z & Z. It is my go-to, and it never lets me down! They source their za’atar from Palestinian farmers as well.

Calabrian Chili Tomato Confit Labneh Dip

Ingredients (serves 2-3)

• 1 pint cherry tomatoes

• Olive oil

• 1 tbsp crushed Calabrian chili peppers (from a jar)

• 1 1/4 cup labneh or Greek yogurt

• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

• Pinch of salt

• Fresh mint leaves

• 1 tbsp za’atar

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. In a small baking dish, add cherry tomatoes and drizzle on a generous amount of olive oil. Add in the Calabrian chili peppers and a pinch of salt, and mix together. Bake for 30 minutes.

2. While tomatoes are roasting, mix together labneh/yogurt, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt. Spread evenly on a rimmed plate. When tomatoes are ready, spoon them over the yogurt mixture, including the liquid. Top with fresh mint and za’atar, and serve with crispy bread!

DISCOUNT CODES

Fable: Code KALEMEMAYBE10 for 10% off ceramic dishware

Ruggable: Code KALEMEMAYBE10 for 10% off

Bindle: BEACHDAY for 20% off!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!

Last week’s paid member newsletter seemed to be a big hit, which made me so happy! If you’re trying to figure out how to use in-season produce, I’ve got you for the next month! This September Produce Guide includes everything that’s in season next month, the health benefits, how to shop for the best quality produce for each type, and recipes to use everything in! I plan to do more of these as the months go on, as I find them super useful!

Produce Guide: September

Don’t miss out on any posts!!! Become a subscriber and get even more in your inbox every Thursday (plus access to everything in the archives!!) Paid subscribers (aka my VIPS!!) receive extra recipes, behind-the-scenes content, articles, and more!