Tuscan Marinated Olives with Whipped Ricotta

Meet the appetizer I'll be making all summer long: marinated olives with whipped ricotta! A Tuscan spice blend fills them with bold Italian flavor.

This post is in partnership with The Spice House. Jack isn’t usually an olive person, but every time I make these marinated olives with whipped ricotta, he can’t get enough. They’re quickly becoming one of my go-to appetizers for summer entertaining because they feel elevated, but they’re so easy to make. Citrus- and herb-marinated olives sit on a bed of creamy whipped ricotta cheese with a golden ring of olive oil pooling around it. It looks (and tastes!) like something you could get at a restaurant, but it comes together in under 30 minutes. The secret ingredient in this recipe…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Antipasto Salad

This Italian antipasto salad stars lush greens, marinated vegetables, a zesty dressing, and two types of cheese. It's a delicious no-cook summer meal!

This antipasto salad recipe is exactly what I crave on a hot summer day. Filled with a delicious mix of greens, cheeses, and tangy, briny marinated veggies, it’s refreshing, flavorful, and oh-so simple to toss together. You don’t have to do any actual cooking here. Just whisk up the zesty homemade dressing, rinse off some chickpeas, and do a little chopping. This vibrant antipasto salad will be ready in 30 minutes or less! Antipasto Salad Ingredients Here’s what you’ll need to make this antipasto salad recipe: Arugula and radicchio – These bitter greens make up the base of the salad.…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Red Wine Vinaigrette

This red wine vinaigrette recipe is better than any store-bought salad dressing! Zippy, bright, and balanced, it's easy to make in 5 minutes.

Meet my go-to red wine vinaigrette recipe! Made with basic ingredients like olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey, this 5-minute salad dressing has a delicious balanced flavor. It’s tangy, savory, and a tiny bit sweet—so much better than any bottled dressing you can get at the store. I’ve been slowly perfecting this red wine vinaigrette recipe over the last few years. When I first started making it, I used too much vinegar, giving the dressing an overly-acidic punch. I gradually tempered it with more oil, honey, and mustard to create a smooth, emulsified texture and complex flavor that…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Sauteed Zucchini

This sautéed zucchini recipe is a simple, flavorful weeknight side dish! Easy to make in 15 minutes, it's seasoned to perfection with garlic and lemon.

This sautéed zucchini recipe is on repeat in my kitchen every summer. Ready in 15 minutes, it’s such an easy side dish. The zucchini cooks on the stovetop with olive oil or butter, garlic, salt, and pepper. When it’s tender and browned, I season it with a squeeze of lemon for brightness, then add garnishes like red pepper flakes, parsley, and/or Parmesan for savory depth. Out of the many, many zucchini recipes I’ve shared over the years, this simple sautéed zucchini is one I make most often. It’s so quick and so flavorful, with delicious caramelization from the hot skillet.…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

White Sangria

This white sangria recipe is easy to make with white wine, orange liqueur, and fresh fruit. It's a refreshing summer cocktail that's perfect for a crowd!

This summer, this white sangria recipe is the pitcher cocktail I can’t stop making. It’s crisp, bright, and refreshing, a delicious blend of white wine, orange liqueur, and fresh fruit. I sometimes add a little peach schnapps to make it even fruitier, but it’s also lovely with just a touch of simple syrup for sweetness. A handful of mint rounds out the fresh summer flavors. It’s the perfect drink for summer entertaining. This easy white sangria recipe makes a whole pitcher and is designed to make ahead. Peaches, berries, and citrus infuse the wine with fruity flavor as it chills overnight…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Limoncello Spritz

This limoncello spritz recipe is easy to make with prosecco, limoncello, and club soda. This bright, bubbly Italian cocktail is my ideal summer drink!

This limoncello spritz recipe is one of my favorite drinks to sip on a hot summer day. Bright, fizzy, and refreshing, this Italian cocktail is a simple combination of three ingredients—limoncello, prosecco, and club soda. I first tasted limoncello, an Italian lemon liqueur, on the island of Capri, just after Jack and I got engaged. The sweet, citrusy liqueur seemed to magically appear at our table after dinner every night. I (obviously) love lemon, so I thought it was the perfect way to end each meal, dining al fresco on a summer night in Italy. It wasn’t long before my love…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Rhubarb Muffins

These rhubarb muffins are moist, tender, and bursting with tart, juicy summer rhubarb. I love them for breakfast or as a snack with coffee or tea!

These rhubarb muffins are so good, I just ate two fresh from the oven. They’re moist, tender, and perfectly puffy, with chunks of juicy rhubarb strewn throughout. I love that they’re not too sweet—the tartness of the rhubarb really shines through, as does the warm flavor of the vanilla extract in the batter. Bonus: they’re a fully acceptable choice for breakfast! I often reach for one as a snack with my afternoon coffee too. This rhubarb muffins recipe is easy to make in right around 30 minutes. If you have rhubarb on hand, you can have them ready in no time.…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Strawberry Lemonade

This strawberry lemonade recipe tastes like summer in a glass! It's sweet, tart, and easy to make with 4 fresh ingredients. My whole family loves it!

When I made this strawberry lemonade recipe for the first time, my son Ollie gave it a thumbs up after just one sip. Easy to make with four ingredients—strawberries, lemon juice, water, and sugar—it’s sweet, tart, and incredibly refreshing. Around here, it’s becoming our go-to summer drink. Ice-cold, bright pink, and packed with fresh flavor, this strawberry lemonade is everything I crave on a hot day. I’ll be making it for cookouts, BBQs, and gatherings all summer long. I hope you will be too! Strawberry Lemonade Ingredients This strawberry lemonade recipe calls for four basic ingredients: Strawberries, of course! If…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Easy Crepes

This easy crepe recipe comes together with 8 simple ingredients and yields thin, tender pancakes with crisp edges. Delicious with your favorite fillings!

Learn how to make crepes! This easy crepe recipe calls for 8 basic ingredients you likely have in your pantry already. The batter comes together in a blender and cooks in a regular nonstick skillet. These delicate French pancakes might seem intimidating to make at home, but trust me—with this simple recipe, you can absolutely pull them off. I started making crepes with my son Ollie after taking a trip to Paris last fall. For something that feels fancy, they’re a surprisingly fun thing to cook with kids, and they’ve since become one of our favorite weekend breakfasts. Ollie helps…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Homemade Whipped Cream

This homemade whipped cream recipe is light, airy, and easy to make with 3 ingredients! Better than store-bought, it's delicious on cakes, pies, and more.

Learn how to make whipped cream! This homemade whipped cream recipe is easy to make in minutes with just 3 ingredients: heavy cream or heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. It’s plush, airy, delicate, and lightly sweet. Take it from me, as someone who bought the canned stuff for years and thought it was pretty great—homemade whipped cream is so much better. I recently made this whipped cream recipe to serve with my lemon olive oil cake and realized that I’d never shared it on the blog. It’s such a lovely finishing touch for desserts like cakes, pies, crisps, and…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Caesar Wrap

This Caesar wrap combines the best parts of a Caesar salad in a soft tortilla. Easy, fresh, and flavorful, it's a perfect make-ahead lunch!

Meet my favorite Caesar wrap recipe! It combines everything I crave about a classic Caesar salad—crisp lettuce, nutty Parmesan, and a creamy, tangy dressing—in a soft tortilla for a make-ahead lunch or easy dinner. Like in my kale Caesar salad recipe, there are a few extras in here too. You’ll find chickpeas for protein, avocado for creamy texture, and kale, radicchio, and onion for crunch. I’ll be making this recipe for healthy lunches all spring. I love that it’s super satisfying, yet fresh, and packed with bold, briny flavor. I hope this Caesar wrap becomes one of your go-to lunches…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>
A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Welcome to Love & Lemons!

I'm Jeanine Donofrio, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author and recipe developer. I share fresh, delicious vegetarian recipes that celebrate seasonal ingredients and flavors.

More about us...