Cacio e Pepe

Cacio e pepe is a classic Roman pasta with a glossy sauce made of pecorino cheese and black pepper. Learn how to make it with this simple recipe!

Cacio e pepe is like mac and cheese’s cool Italian cousin. It’s creamy and comforting, sure, but it’s also simple and elegant. Traditionally, this Roman dish consists of three ingredients: Pecorino Romano cheese, freshly cracked black pepper, and pasta. A little pasta water helps the cheese and pepper come together to form the pasta’s silky sauce. I’ve been a fan of cacio e pepe since I first tasted it on a trip to Rome years ago. I love the salty funk of the cheese against the bite of the black pepper. I’ve made it at home many times…with mixed success. Despite…

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Air Fryer Sweet Potato

Learn how to cook a perfect air fryer sweet potato with crisp skin and fluffy insides! This easy recipe is quicker than baking sweet potatoes in the oven.

By popular request: air fryer sweet potatoes! I’ve gotten a lot of questions about how to cook a sweet potato in the air fryer, so today, I’m finally sharing my go-to air fryer sweet potato recipe. It’s super simple. I use the same method that I do in my baked sweet potato recipe: Poke holes in the sweet potatoes Cook them (with no foil!) until puffed and fork-tender I won’t say that one is better than the other—oven or air fryer. Both yield perfect baked sweet potatoes with lightly crisp, puffy skins and soft, flavorful insides. But if you’re only…

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Steel Cut Oats

Learn how to cook steel cut oats! Creamy and flavorful, they're a delicious, healthy breakfast. Enjoy them with toppings like fruit, nuts, and more.

Steel cut oats are a delicious, healthy breakfast! If you haven’t tried them, take this recipe as your sign to buy a bag. Steel cut oats are creamy and nutty, and they pair well with so many flavorful toppings. Bonus: these oats reheat perfectly, so you can make them ahead. Ten years ago, if you’d told me that I’d one day be excited about oatmeal, I would have laughed at you. Back then, oats and I didn’t mix. I’d eaten a few too many packets of instant oatmeal during college, and I’d sworn off the stuff. I thought oatmeal in…

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Thai Red Curry

Craving Thai food? Instead of ordering takeout, make this red curry recipe at home! It's comforting, flavorful, and easy to make in 30 minutes.

Who else loves Thai red curry?! When we go to our favorite Thai restaurant (or more likely, get takeout from it), red curry is nearly always part of our order. I can’t get enough of the crisp-tender vegetables and soft tofu in the rich, fragrant coconut broth. So naturally, I had to develop my own Thai red curry recipe to make at home. It’s just as delicious as takeout…and it’s almost as easy. With the help of store-bought curry paste, this homemade red curry comes together in less than 30 minutes on the stove. Comforting, flavorful, and easy, this Thai red…

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Red Lentil Soup

This red lentil soup recipe is cozy, flavorful, and bright with lemon. Easy to make with simple ingredients, it's a delicious, healthy one-pot meal.

This red lentil soup recipe is exactly what I’m craving these days. It’s cozy and warming, but nourishing too. Blended red lentils thicken the broth (no cream here!) and give each bowl a boost of plant-based protein. Aromatic veggies and cumin add earthy depth of flavor. This red lentil soup is healthy and delicious. The recipe is inspired by Turkish red lentil soup, which is one of my favorite dishes to order at Middle Eastern restaurants. Unlike lentil soup made with green or brown lentils, it has a vibrant orange-yellow color and bright, lemony taste. On a cold winter day,…

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85 Best Vegan Recipes

With everything from creamy pastas to burgers and beyond, these 85 vegan recipes will get you excited to cook (and eat!) plant-based meals at home.

Most days in our house, Jack and I eat vegan recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Of course, there are exceptions, but the food I most enjoy cooking and eating often happens to be plant-based. I love putting vegetables at the center my plate. It’s not just good for my health and for the world—it’s also downright delicious. To kick off the New Year, I’ve rounded up my top 85 easy vegan recipes. This list includes everything from hearty vegan dinner recipes (think creamy pastas, veggie burgers, tacos, etc.) to vegan basics that can serve as starting points for improvising…

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Bloody Mary

Skip the Bloody Mary mix—this Bloody Mary cocktail recipe is easy to make from scratch! Spicy and savory, this classic vodka drink is great for brunch.

Skip the Bloody Mary mix—this Bloody Mary recipe is easy to make from scratch! This classic brunch cocktail is a simple combination of tomato juice, vodka, and a few salty, spicy ingredients you likely have on hand. Fresh lime and lemon juice give it a bright, tangy kick, horseradish adds peppery flavor, and Worcestershire sauce and celery salt make it deliciously savory. I can’t promise that this Bloody Mary recipe will be an effective hangover cure, but I can tell you that it will wow guests at any brunch. Want to seal the deal? Load it up with garnishes like…

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Waffle Recipe

This easy waffle recipe is a delicious breakfast! These classic waffles are crisp on the outside and fluffy inside. We love them with maple syrup.

This waffle recipe is one of the best breakfasts for lazy weekend mornings. I love it because it’s super simple. This waffle recipe calls for basic pantry ingredients and comes together in a matter of minutes. It’s also delicious. These homemade waffles are crisp and golden on the outside and light and fluffy inside. I always load mine up with a pile of fresh fruit, but they’re great with a pat of butter and maple syrup too. So break out your waffle maker! This waffle recipe is a fun treat to have in your morning rotation. I hope you enjoy! What You’ll…

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Roasted Fennel

These roasted fennel wedges are tender, sweet, and deeply caramelized. Garnished with lemon zest and/or Parmesan, they're a delicious side dish.

This roasted fennel recipe is one of my all-time favorite side dishes. I adore roasted broccoli, roasted cauliflower, and roasted carrots, but I might love roasted fennel most of all. Raw fennel has a distinct anise flavor and crunchy texture. Roasted fennel, on the other hand, is beautifully tender, almost silky. As it caramelizes in the oven, its licorice flavor transforms into something sweeter, nuttier, and richer. There’s nothing else quite like it. If you’ve never tried roasted fennel, I hope you will soon. Serve it as a side dish with any weeknight dinner, or dress it up with garnishes like lemon…

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French Toast

This French toast recipe is a delicious, easy breakfast. The thick slices are fluffy, tender, and warmly spiced with cinnamon. Serve with maple syrup!

This French toast recipe is one of my favorite things to make for brunch. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a holiday or a regular old lazy weekend morning: just thinking about French toast makes my mouth start watering. What could be more crave-worthy than thick slices of bread with tender, fluffy middles, crisp edges, and a mound of fresh fruit on top? This French toast recipe is delightfully quick and easy, so I make it whenever we have day-old bread in the house. Still, it has the flavor of a special occasion treat. An egg batter makes it nice and rich,…

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45 Christmas Breakfast Ideas

With recipes for cinnamon rolls, breakfast casseroles, French toast, waffles, and more, these Christmas breakfast ideas include something for everyone.

All our best Christmas breakfast ideas, all in one place! In case you’re still figuring out your menu for the holiday morning (don’t worry, I’m right there with you…), I thought I’d share some of my favorite festive brunch recipes today. They include Christmas breakfast ideas of every size and style—sweet ones, savory ones, ones you can make ahead, and ones you can whip up at the last minute. Some are great for a group, while others are meant for smaller celebrations. I hope you find some you love! Christmas Breakfast Ideas for a Crowd Serving a crowd on Christmas…

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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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