Pasta Alla Norma

Pasta alla Norma is a traditional Sicilian pasta dish made with a flavorful tomato sauce and eggplant. Learn how to make it with this easy recipe!

Eggplant lovers, this pasta alla Norma recipe is for you! Eggplant skeptics, I think you’ll actually get behind this Sicilian pasta too. It stars a garlicky tomato sauce filled with tender eggplant slices. The eggplant practically melts into the sauce, thickening it and adding rich flavor. I round it out with ricotta salata cheese and a shower of fresh basil. Pasta alla Norma is a classic Italian pasta dish that originated in Sicily, in the city of Catania. My recipe has traditional flavors, featuring a tomato sauce with eggplant, ricotta salata, and basil, but I roast the eggplant instead of frying…

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Ramen Noodle Salad

This ramen noodle salad recipe is filled with crunchy ramen noodles, colorful veggies, and a tangy dressing. It's a delicious cookout side dish!

Who else grew up eating ramen noodle salad at potlucks and cookouts? This recipe is my updated take on the nostalgic summer side dish. It stars crisp veggies, juicy orange segments, a sweet and tangy vinaigrette, and the best part: a crunchy mix of toasted ramen noodles, nuts, and sesame seeds. I’ve made this ramen noodle salad recipe for a few BBQs already this summer, and it’s always been the first side dish to disappear. I hope you try it for a gathering soon—I promise it’ll be a hit! Ramen Noodle Salad Ingredients Here’s what you’ll need to make this…

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Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

This grilled portobello mushrooms recipe is an easy 15-minute side dish! A simple balsamic marinade fills the mushrooms with delicious savory flavor.

I make these grilled portobello mushrooms on repeat all summer. They’re such an easy side dish—meaty, savory, and ready in just 15 minutes on the grill. Their edges are lightly crisp and nicely charred, while their insides stay perfectly juicy. A quick balsamic marinade fills them with rich, smoky, tangy flavor. Below, I’m sharing my tips and tricks for how to grill portobello mushrooms, my go-to seasoning, and my favorite ways to serve them. They’re the sort of ultra-flavorful, super simple side dish I think everyone should have in their back pocket in summer. Try them for your next cookout…

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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…

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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…

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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.…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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5 High-Fiber Smoothie Recipes You Can Make in 5 Minutes

Trying to eat more fiber? These high-fiber smoothie recipes are easy to make in 5 minutes! Find vibrant green smoothies, berry blends, and more.

These high-fiber smoothie recipes are some of my favorite healthy breakfasts and snacks. Easy to blend up in just 5 minutes, they’re full of high-fiber ingredients like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. These good-for-you foods make these smoothies energizing and satisfying, but that’s not all. They also pack in the health benefits of fiber, including promoting gut health, aiding digestion, and lowering cholesterol. Whether you’re actively trying to eat more fiber or are just looking for breakfast or snack ideas to try, you’ll love these high-fiber smoothies. They’re quick, easy, and nourishing…not to mention delicious! 5 High-Fiber Smoothie Recipes to…

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Salad Pizza

This salad pizza is just what it sounds like: a zesty Italian salad is piled onto crispy, cheesy pizza crust. It's my favorite way to make pizza at home!

Have you tried salad pizza?! It’s as simple as putting salad on pizza. The best of both worlds, it’s one of my favorite dinners to make throughout the spring and summer. Ready in 30 minutes, my recipe starts with a crisp pizza crust that’s loaded up with garlic and mozzarella cheese. When it comes out of the oven, I sprinkle on a zesty Italian salad made with arugula, radicchio, red onion, and a bold red wine vinaigrette. Nutty Parmesan, tangy pepperoncini, and red pepper flakes take it over the top. The fresh, acidic salad perfectly balances the rich crust and gooey cheese.…

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Jeanine Donofrio in her kitchen

I'm Jeanine, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and founder of Love & Lemons, a trusted recipe resource for millions of home cooks. I create fresh, easy, and delicious vegetarian recipes that celebrate seasonal ingredients and flavors.

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