Monthly Cooking Challenge

Yumna Jawad

Updated May 05, 2026

The Feel Good Foodie Cooking Challenges are a fun recipe challenge initiated in May 2021 to make a recipe together as a community and be entered for a chance to win a prize!

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Welcome to the Feel Good Foodie Cooking Challenge! Join us to make the recipe of the month, leave a rating and a comment for the recipe, and you’ll be entered to win a prize!

Our May Cooking Challenge recipe is my Mini Quiche!

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How it Works

  1. Make the featured challenge recipe anytime during the month.
  2. Leave a review on the recipe post telling me what you thought of the recipe.
  3. Share your pictures on Instagram or Facebook if you take any or post them and tag me @feelgoodfoodie. I love to see them!

April Cooking Challenge Recap

In April, you helped us generate 15 new ratings and over 16 new comments on the Carrot Salad recipe! We were able to give a financial donation to No Kid Hungry and Cee won a $100 gift card! Thank you so much for joining us and for all of the photos and tags on social media!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Feel Good Foodie Cooking Challenge?

This Cooking Challenge is a fun way for us to join together and cook or bake the recipe of the month! It also allows us to collect feedback from all of you on your experience with the recipe, changes you’d make, ingredients you’d add, and more. It helps you get in the kitchen and try something new!

How does it work?

We’ll announce the Cooking Challenge at the start of the month on all social channels and in our Facebook Group. You will have until the last few days of the month to make the recipe and leave a rating and a comment on feelgoodfoodie.net. At the end of the month, we’ll share photos of some of your creations and announce a winner of a grand prize of a gift card to Amazon or gadget. This month’s winner will win a $100 gift card and the prize will go to an individual with a U.S. shipping address.

How do I enter the challenge?

To enter the challenge, it’s required that you leave a rating and comment on the recipe and tagging @feelgoodfoodie or in our Facebook group (optional).

Where can I find the full set of rules?

You can find the official Cooking Challenge Rules here.

Giving Back

I believe in spreading love and kindness however I can. I’m going to give $1.00 for every recipe rating to the American Heart Association. Thank you for supporting my goal of giving back to missions and non-profits that I feel passionate about!

All Cooking Challenge Recipes

Carrot salad in a serving bowl garnished with sesame seeds, chopsticks dipped inside, small dish of extra sesame seeds nearbyCarrot SaladBest Baklava rolls in the baking dish garnished with crushed pistachios.Burma Baklava (Baklava Rolls)No-bake cheesecake deviled strawberries on a platter with extra crushed graham crackers nearby.Deviled StrawberriesItalian chopped salad ingredients in a serving bowl before tossing together with a homemade dressing nearby.Italian Chopped SaladWhite chocolate bark squares with cranberries and pistachios on a round plate.White Chocolate BarkBaked pistachio cheesecake recipe on a platter with a slice cut out.Pistachio CheesecakeA few pumpkin oatmeal cookies stacked up with a bite taken out of one.Pumpkin Oatmeal CookiesHomemade invisible apple cake recipe.Invisible Apple CakeStack of chocolate chip pancakes on a plate with butter on top and syrup being poured over them.Chocolate Chip PancakesTwo glasses filled with ice and watermelon juice with pitcher nearby and mint leaves on top, extra watermelon (triangles) nearby.Watermelon JuiceGrilled shrimp salad on platter with extra dressing drizzled on top, salad set dipped into salad, platter at an angle, fresh ingredients around.Grilled Shrimp SaladStrawberry blended overnight oats in a small jar topped with fresh strawberries with a spoon lifting some up. More blended overnight oat flavors nearby.Blended Overnight OatsTwo Dubai chocolate bars with one split in half to show green pistachio filling.Dubai Chocolate Bar RecipeHomemade pistachio cake topped with cream cheese frosting, crushed pistachios and rose petals with a slice cut and pulled away from cake, small dish of pistachios nearby.Pistachio CakeTwo bowls of cottage mac and cheese.Mac and Cottage CheeseChicken pasta salad recipe in a serving bowl.Chicken Pasta SaladStack of chocolate sugar cookies with one halved and cut forward to show texture.Chocolate Sugar CookiesCheesecake on a cake plate with a few slices with a slice removed, garnished with fresh strawberries.Classic CheesecakeCardamom cake on a round platter with a slice being removed.Cardamom CakeApple cinnamon oatmeal cups on a round plate.Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal CupsMini Banana MuffinsSalmon kabobs with vegetables on a large platter, garnished with fresh herbs and lemon wedges.Salmon KabobsOverhead of a small bowl of tahini pasta salad with dressing and a serving bowl of the salad nearby.Tahini Pasta SaladPlate of homemade falafel with one piece cut in half to show bright green bready insides. Small bowl of tahini sauce on plate for dipping.Falafel RecipeCloseup of fork digging into a slice of chocolate olive oil cake on a small white plate.Chocolate Olive Oil CakePink beet pasta in a skillet garnished with fresh chopped parsley.Pink PastaSmall bowl of quinoa avocado saladQuinoa Avocado SaladPeanut butter blossoms stack on a round plate with more Hershey kisses nearby.Peanut Butter BlossomsVegan sweet potato pie in glass pie dish with a few slices cut.Vegan Sweet Potato PiePumpkin banana muffins stacked on a round plate on a decorative board.Pumpkin Banana MuffinsCottage cheese alfredo pasta in a pot with tongs tucked into the pasta, garnished with fresh chopped parsley.Cottage Cheese Alfredo PastaZucchini bread on parchment paper cut halfway up into thick slices with a serrated knife nearby.Zucchini BreadGrilled yogurt chicken burgers on a cutting board.Grilled Chicken Burger With YogurtItalian pasta salad in a large serving bowl with a spoon dipped in a serving plates nearby.Italian Pasta SaladMaple syrup being poured over a plate of cottage cheese pancakes topped with fresh berries and butter with the serving plate of more pancakes nearby.Cottage Cheese PancakesDate Snickers on a round white plate topped with chopped peanuts on top, a small jar of creamy peanut butter with a spoon dipped in and a few chocolate pieces nearby.Date SnickersClose up of carrot cake cookies on a wire rack with a zig zag drizzle of icing on top of each cookie.Carrot Cake CookiesHomemade chocolate truffles decorated three different ways stacked in a bowl with a few next to it.Chocolate TrufflesPrepared chickpea "tuna" salad in serving bowl with spoon dipped in, garnished with fresh dill and a few slices of bread nearby.Chickpea ‘Tuna’ SaladOverhead shot of whole pecan pie.Pecan PieFinal plating of recipe on a round white plate with butter and syrup on top, a fork to the side, and small pumpkin decoration around.Pumpkin PancakesPinwheel sandwich with spinach, turkey, cheddar cheese, and spinach, stacked on a round plate with extra ingredients in background.Pinwheel Sandwiches – 4 WaysPlate of frozen yogurt barkFrozen Yogurt BarkOverhead shot of watermelon pizza with a slice being removed.Watermelon Pizzaone bowl creamy cucumber saladCreamy Cucumber SaladSushi shrimp stack made with spicy mayo shrimp, avocado, cucumbers and riceShrimp Sushi StackTwo large bowls of chicken shawarma salad with tahini sauce drizzled on top and served on the sideChicken Shawarma SaladOverhead shot of two vegan creamy tomato pasta bowlsCreamy Vegan Cashew Tomato PastaClose up shot of homemade souffle dusted with powdered sugarChocolate Soufflebowl of Roasted red pepper soup bowl with baguette next to itRoasted Red Pepper SoupWhite plate on marble background of sugar cookies dipped in white chocolatePeppermint Sugar CookiesSlice of pumpkin pie on a small plate with whipped cream on top with cinnamon sprinkled on top and a fork sitting on plate.Vegan Pumpkin PieApple crisp served with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce and spoon inside bowlEasy Apple CrispUpside down pizza on cutting board with parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper and basilUpside Down PizzaSalad bowl with the Mediterranean chicken saladMediterranean Chicken SaladMonthly Cooking Challenge3 strawberry oat bars stacked on top of each other with large strawberry in frontStrawberry Oat BarsLarge plate of olive oil cake with slice cut out on plateOlive Oil Cake

Post AuthorYumna Jawad

Post PostedApril 01, 2024

Comments

  1. Jill M says:

    Absolutely love the Pistachio Cake! I made it for a lunch gathering and it was a hit.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Yay, so glad you loved it! Thanks, Jill!!

  2. Amy Boyle says:

    I made these gluten free using Bob’s Red Mill GF flour. They are soft and crispy, and the coffee gives them the perfect kick.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      So happy you liked them, Amy!! If it isn’t too much trouble, I would be so appreciative if you could also leave this comment on the Chocolate Sugar Cookies recipe so people know that you had success using gluten-free flour. Thank you!

  3. Tim G says:

    Easy to make, great flavor, and oh so good!
    The family is loving them, too.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Yay! So happy you and your family loved the apple cinnamon oatmeal cups, Tim!

  4. Zel says:

    This easy recipe of apple cinnamon oatmeal cups is perfect to make and freeze. They are delicious when you need a healthy snack. I’m enjoying them very much.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Thank you, Zel! So happy you’re enjoying them!

  5. Nikki Bey says:

    Loving these oatmeal cups! Quick & easy too! I substituted honey for maple sugar & pumpkin seeds for pecans. Great alternative to my usual oatmeal breakfast.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Love your substitutions! They sound so good. Thanks, Nikki!

  6. Salma says:

    These tiny but big flavor mini banana muffins turned out so good. Simple and easy to make, and they are packed full of flavor.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Yay! So happy you liked them, Salma!!

  7. Cheryl says:

    I no longer have little ones needing a packed lunch, but I do pack my own lol. These are a wonderful afternoon treat with a cup of coffee. IF I forget I have it in my lunch kit, its a welcomed surprise on my drive home after a long day in the office.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      So glad you like the muffins, Cheryl! Love that they sometimes end up being an exciting surprise on the drive home, that’s awesome!!

  8. Samira Yazbek says:

    Super Easy recipe! They came out super soft and the cinnamon gave them an “autumn” flavor. I mixed some walnuts in since I love having some crunch and it worked great 😃

  9. rogue1 says:

    So delicious and fresh for the hot weather. I’m challenging myself to empty my freezer, so I substituted ahi tuna for the salmon. I also added cut chunks of fresh corn and homegrown shishito peppers . I served it over lemon thyme rice. It would a good recipe to meal prep for a weeknight dinner or lunches.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Oooh emptying your freezer is a great challenge, I might try it too! I love what you served your ahi tuna kabobs with, everything you made sounds so good. Thank you!!

  10. Jacqueline Kogan says:

    I greatly appreciate your website, recipes, and IG posts. Recently, I made shish tawook on the grill (no skewers) and it was met with rave reviews from family and friends! In fact, I’ve made it several times-it’s that good! I don’t have your cookbook, but will order it soon. Thank you for providing delicious and healthy recipes that are easy to follow and enjoyed by all, including my pickiest eaters.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Aww thank you so much, Jacqueline! I’m so glad your shish tawook was a hit and that your picky eaters love my recipes too. I hope you enjoy my cookbook, thank you for all the support!!

  11. Janice says:

    I love your cookbook! I have one thing I wish you would consider. Please add nutritional information to each recipe in revised book issues. Thanks. Also would be happy to purchase a “booklet” that would have just the nutritional information. Thanks!

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Thanks so much for the suggestion, Janice! I love your idea of creating a booklet with nutrition facts and will let you know if I end up publishing this info in one form or another!

  12. Sara Soliman says:

    It looks so pretty. I didn’t have olives, but it’s still good.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Yay, so happy you enjoyed it!! I love how it looks too—perfect for a summer backyard party!

  13. Ashley K says:

    I have always loved tahini but struggled to get my family to eat it too. This salad was a hit in our house! My kids love pasta and this have a cool new twist on pasta salad!

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Yay, it’s so exciting when we find a recipe our kids love!! So happy it was a hit—thanks, Ashley!

  14. Tasha Sanders says:

    Definitely my new favorite salad for summer! Love your page & recipes!!

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Yay! Thanks so much, Tasha!!

  15. Diane Maloley Dumont says:

    I loved making this recipe. Very healthy and I make it as a meat replacement recipe because of the chickpeas and the tahini.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Yay, happy to hear it!!

  16. Heidi says:

    My husband and I loved the tahini pasta salad. It was super quick and easy to make. It was great for a late night snack and lunches for work!

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Yay, so happy you loved it!! I have to try it as a late night snack—great idea!

  17. Mary walton says:

    I love tahini and had all the ingredients so this was perfect! We loved it!

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Yay, so happy you enjoyed it!!

  18. Noreen Ahmed says:

    The tahini pasta salad was delicious! Can’t wait to make it during the hot summer months!

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Aww, so happy you liked it!! It’s a great salad for the summertime!

  19. David Martin says:

    This month’s recipe was delicious.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Thank you, David! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!!

  20. Vanina says:

    I love this recipe!! I did it in the air fryer and they came very crispy. Love it!
    Yumma, I love your recipes! thank you!!

    1. Yumna says:

      So glad to hear!

  21. Chris Detwiler says:

    I really liked the falafel! I did the air fryer one but think I would like the crispier fried version better.

    1. Yumna says:

      Thanks, Chris!

  22. Belle says:

    I am a fan of falafel and all of the mixes I find at stores never work out, usually chunky or too thin. But then I tried the air fryer version of the recipe, and it worked perfectly!

  23. Rebecca says:

    My oven stopped working! Your Air Fryer recipe came at the perfect time. Really easy!

  24. Courtney Turner says:

    This recipe was reasonably easy to make and absolutely delicious! I made them for a party, and all my friends love them!

  25. Patricia SR says:

    My first time making falafel, it was very easy to follow and turned out great. This recipe inspired me to buy a food processor and it was so good I doubled the recipe and shared it with family who also thought it was delicious! Love the option for baking or frying.

    1. Yumna says:

      So happy to hear!

  26. Nancy says:

    So good and so easy to make! My first time making homemade falafel

    1. Yumna says:

      So glad to hear!

  27. Yeema Rashid says:

    My first time making Falafel from scratch. The recipe is super easy to follow. My husband loved it so much. Am now planning on serving it as an Eid appetizer. Thanks Yumna!

    1. Yumna says:

      So happy to hear!

  28. Debbie says:

    I will be joining the cooking
    Challenge this is where I write everything? Just checking.

    1. Yumna says:

      Hi there! So glad you will be joining! To enter leave a rating and a comment on the recipe page, and you’ll be entered to win a prize!

  29. Diane Horvatin says:

    Made the chocolate Olive oil cake . It turned out amazing . Best part of this recipe is that the ingredients are simple things that we would usually have in our pantry . It’s quick to put together , and it is delicious 🤤on Its own ,or you can jazz it up with some icing , whipping cream , or ice cream .

    1. Yumna says:

      Thank you!

    2. Anzy says:

      I really like Italian cuisine, so have tried Italian pasta salad and it was so yummy…no words. It’s a must try, very delicious and healthy too.

      1. Yumna says:

        So happy you liked it!

  30. Carol says:

    Just made the cake yesterday, very easy and very delicious!!

    1. Yumna says:

      So glad to hear!

  31. Emily B says:

    I saw this when it was first posted and thought it could be a great dessert for a meal package to a friend who just had a baby.
    I ended up using decaf instant coffee powder and the next time plan to use something a little stronger. I also baked this in our Ninja Air Fryer. It turned out a little dry (but I attribute that to leaving it in too long, my error) but overall it was an easy cake and I plan to make it again.
    I’m also interested in trying it with gluten-free flour and possibly adding a hint of cayenne powder for a little spice.

    1. Yumna says:

      Thanks so much for you feedback!

  32. Verda says:

    I made this with some substitutes like oat flour and oat milk due to gluten and lactose sensitivity. It was absolutely one of the most delicious cake ever 🍰

    1. Yumna says:

      So happy to hear this!

  33. Hasini Achanta says:

    This recipe tasted so good.

  34. Gabriela Eisenberg says:

    My kids loved the PINK color and their curiosity led them to taste it and they loved it. The recipe ingredients and putting it all together was easy to follow for a beginner cook myself. We’ll definitely have this again in any month (ha!).

  35. Carolina says:

    I made the strawberry pancakes for breakfast today, and everyone loved! A must try for sure!

    1. Yumna says:

      So happy you enjoyed them!

  36. Dena says:

    Made them with my daughter this morning! So fluffy !

    1. Yumna says:

      So happy you enjoyed them!

  37. Susie Ryan says:

    I made the strawberry pancakes for breakfast today and my toddler and I really enjoyed them

  38. Marina says:

    Wow! I never thought this pink pasta would even be a thing, but let me tell you it was such a crowd pleaser when I made it for a girls night get together. Everyone thought I bought it ready from a fancy Italian place. This will definitely be on repeat…….
    SO GOOD!!!

    1. Yumna says:

      Yay! So happy to hear.

  39. Theresa says:

    Love this idea! Never tried pink pasta until now!

    1. Yumna says:

      Hope you enjoy it!

  40. Amany Nab. says:

    This looks so good, it will be my potlock dish for valentines with my friends. Can’t wait yo try it

    1. Yumna says:

      Love this! So festive and fun.

  41. Chloe says:

    So excited to try this! So creative!!

    1. Yumna says:

      Thank you!!

Comments are closed.