Healthy Banana Bread

This healthy banana bread recipe is super moist, delicious, and easy to make! It calls for simple ingredients like whole wheat flour and maple syrup.

This healthy banana bread recipe is moist, tender, and packed with sweet banana flavor. It’s every bit as delicious as my traditional banana bread, but it’s made with wholesome ingredients like whole wheat flour and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. My favorite thing about this recipe is that it’s bursting with banana. I use 2 cups mashed (about 4 large bananas!), which gives it an incredible moist texture and fruity flavor. Try a slice for breakfast, as a snack, or even dessert. I guarantee you’ll reach for a second. This healthy banana bread is easy to make with basic equipment,…

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No-Bake Energy Balls

My family loves this energy balls recipe! Chewy, nutty, and easy to make with 8 ingredients, these energy bites are a delicious healthy snack.

This energy balls recipe is my family’s favorite healthy snack. Adapted from my protein balls, it’s easy, delicious, and entirely no-bake. These energy bites are chewy, nutty, and lightly sweet—and they also happen to be good for you. They’re made with simple ingredients like peanut butter, flaxseed, and whole rolled oats…with a handful of chocolate chips thrown in for good measure. These no-bake bites keep well in the fridge for several days and freeze well for months, so they’re a great grab-and-go snack to keep on hand. My son Ollie loves eating one after school, and Jack and I reach…

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Vegan Pho

This vegan pho recipe is a delicious vegetarian spin on the Vietnamese noodle soup! It has a rich, spiced broth filled with tender veggies and herbs.

This vegan pho recipe is a delicious plant-based spin on the classic Vietnamese noodle soup. It’s an updated version of a recipe I first shared in 2016, inspired by the vegetarian pho from a Vietnamese restaurant near our house. The richly spiced broth is full of shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, and tons of slurp-able noodles. Topped off with fragrant herbs and a squeeze of lime juice, it’s vibrant, bright, and comforting all at once. It’s a perfect recipe to make when you’re craving something cozy, yet fresh (which for me is just about every day in winter). Heads up that…

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Chickpea Curry

This coconut chickpea curry recipe is easy to make in one pan with pantry ingredients. Creamy and flavorful, it's a delicious, healthy dinner!

This chickpea curry recipe is the weeknight dinner of my dreams. It’s easy to make with pantry ingredients. It comes together in one pan. And it’s delicious, with a rich, creamy texture and deeply spiced flavor, thanks to coconut milk, curry powder, and fresh ginger. This chickpea curry is healthy too. The chickpeas pack it with fiber and plant-based protein, and a few handfuls of spinach give it a nice veggie kick. It’s the kind of fresh, yet comforting meal I’d be happy eating every single week (and lately, I have been). I hope you love it as much as…

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White Bean Soup

This white bean soup recipe is a cozy, healthy, and delicious one-pot meal! It's filled with creamy white beans, tender vegetables, and flavorful herbs.

This white bean soup recipe is the perfect cozy meal for a cold day. A savory, garlicky broth surrounds tender vegetables, kale, and creamy, protein-packed white beans. Fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice round out its bright, earthy flavor. This white bean soup comes together in about 30 minutes, so it’s a perfect easy dinner for a busy weeknight. It’s also great for meal prep. In the winter, I love to make a big pot on the weekend and eat it for lunch all week. It tastes even better on days 2 and 3, after the flavors have had…

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Paper Plane Cocktail

This paper plane cocktail is easy to make with equal parts bourbon, Aperol, amaro, and lemon juice. A modern classic, it's boozy, bright, and delicious!

Have you ever tried a paper plane cocktail? Invented in 2008 by New York City bartender Sam Ross, it consists of equal parts of four ingredients: bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice. Bitter, sour, citrusy, and deliciously complex, this drink has become a modern classic, and I’m here for it. I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t actually get on the paper plane bandwagon until last year. Jack and I were snowed in at home for the week after Christmas, and for a fun, festive, and cozy activity, we made a new classic cocktail every night. This paper plane…

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Lentil Soup

Meet the BEST lentil soup recipe! Made with dried lentils, fresh vegetables, flavorful spices, and hearty greens, it's simple, healthy, and delicious.

This easy lentil soup recipe is warming, nourishing, and delicious. It’s packed with hearty greens, tender vegetables, and fiber- and protein-rich lentils. Fresh herbs and spices fill it with complex flavor, and a splash of vinegar adds a bright, tangy kick. It’s not just my best lentil soup recipe—it’s one of my best recipes, period. It’s been a staple in my rotation for years. Easy to make with pantry ingredients, it’s the perfect healthy dinner for a winter weeknight (save any leftovers for lunch the next day!). I hope you love this simple lentil soup as much as I do. Lentil…

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Pomegranate Martini

This pomegranate martini recipe is sweet, tart, and delicious! Easy to make with 4 ingredients, this ruby red cocktail is perfect for winter celebrations.

Let’s make a pomegranate martini! I love pomegranate anything, so this fruity cocktail is one of my favorites. It has a delicious sweet-tart, citrusy flavor, and the pomegranate juice makes it ruby red. It’s like the (way more) fun cousin of a classic martini, perfect for celebrations like New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, or girls nights in. My pomegranate martini recipe is easy to make with 4 ingredients. It starts with pomegranate juice and vodka. Then, I add orange liqueur and a splash of orange juice for a bright, citrusy kick. Garnished with a sprig of rosemary, it’s such a refreshing winter drink.…

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Amaretto Sour

This amaretto sour recipe is an updated take on the classic cocktail. Easy to make with 5 ingredients, it's nutty and bright, with a delicious foamy top.

This amaretto sour recipe is frothy, nutty, and bright. Easy to make with just 5 ingredients, it’s such a festive cocktail for Christmas or New Year’s Eve. The amaretto’s almond notes remind me of marzipan (or the almond extract I use in many of my favorite Christmas cookies). It feels perfect for the season. When I was in college, I had a good friend who always ordered an amaretto sour when we went out. The first time I tried one was with her. I remember liking the nutty flavor but thinking it was too sweet for me. I recently learned…

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French Toast Casserole

This overnight French toast casserole recipe is the perfect breakfast for a crowd! It's simple and delicious, with a crisp topping and custardy middle.

This French toast casserole recipe is the easiest way to make French toast for a crowd. Instead of standing at the stove, flipping slices to order, you pile cubed bread into a casserole dish, douse it in a rich, cinnamon-spiced custard, and bake it with pecans and brown sugar on top. It’s a breeze to make on the morning you plan to serve it, but you can also assemble it a day ahead and let it sit overnight in the fridge. The next morning, just add the nutty topping, pop it in the oven, and bake! This French toast casserole…

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Christmas Salad

Brighten up your holiday table with this Christmas salad! It's fresh and colorful, made with juicy pomegranates, roasted squash, and winter greens.

This Christmas salad is a fresh, festive addition to a holiday table! It features ruby red pomegranates, candied pecans, shaved pecorino, and roasted squash over a bed of winter greens. My go-to apple cider vinegar dressing ties it all together. I make a version of this Christmas salad recipe every single year. I love the mix of tangy, sweet, and bitter flavors and creamy and crunchy textures. The jeweled tones of the winter produce are so pretty too. If you want to add a pop of color to your spread of Christmas side dishes, this stunning salad is the best…

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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.

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