Lemony Swiss Chard Pasta

Looking for a quick and easy dinner recipe? This simple Swiss chard pasta is just what you need! It's fresh, flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes.

Did you catch Tuesday’s post? It was all about Swiss chard, one of my favorite leafy greens. After going on and on about how much I love working with this versatile veggie (and why you should love it too!), I thought I owed you another Swiss chard recipe. So here you are! This lemony Swiss chard pasta is what weeknight dreams are made of. It calls for a short list of pantry ingredients, and it comes together in right around 30 minutes. Still, it’s filled with a delicious mix of textures and flavors. Sautéed chard stems add crunch, while the…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Creamy Mushroom Polenta

This mushroom polenta recipe is my favorite kind of comfort food. Topped with a zingy chimichurri, it's rich and satisfying, but still bright and fresh.

winter / gluten free

I make this mushroom polenta recipe when I’m craving something comforting, but still light and fresh. For that reason, I think it’s perfect for this time of year. I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready for spring. Warm weather, sun, trips to the farmers market, and picnics in the park… Sadly, Chicago weather is not quite there yet. So for the next few weeks, while it’s still chilly and we still have the occasional snow, this mushroom polenta recipe will continue to hit the spot. It starts with a base of creamy polenta. Then, I layer on sautéed mushrooms.…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Creamy Polenta

This creamy polenta recipe comes together in a flash, thanks to one simple prep step. Serve it as a side dish, or add flavorful toppings to make it a meal.

vegetarian / cooking basics

Everyone raves about Italian pasta and pizza, but if you ask me, polenta deserves just as much love. A north Italian porridge made of coarsely ground cornmeal, polenta is wonderfully creamy, with a lightly sweet, buttery corn flavor. Unlike oat porridge, it’s not a traditional breakfast food. Though I do eat it for breakfast on occasion (see page 49 of Love and Lemons Every Day!), I most often enjoy this smooth, savory porridge for dinner. Topped with cheese, herbs, cooked vegetables, or a flavorful sauce, it transforms into a mouthwatering comfort food. Below, you’ll find my go-to method for making…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Roasted Cauliflower Steak

A bright, nutty topping and creamy arugula pesto amp up the flavor in this roasted cauliflower steak recipe. It's a simple, satisfying, and delicious meal!

vegan / dinner

Jack and I made this cauliflower steak recipe for Valentine’s Day last week. We loved it so much that I knew I had to share it with all of you! As a cook, one of my favorite things to do is to turn a vegetable into a main dish. This cauliflower steak recipe is a fantastic way to do just that. I start by searing thick slices of cauliflower in a hot cast-iron skillet until they’re deeply golden brown. Then, I transfer them to the oven and roast until they’re nutty and tender. To make them a meal, I serve…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

14 Delicious Vegan Pasta Recipes

Even meat and cheese lovers will fall for these vegan pasta recipes! They include delicious riffs on fettuccine Alfredo, mac and cheese, and more.

vegan / dinner

When I’m in the mood for comfort food (which, at this time of year, is like…all the time), one of these vegan pasta recipes always hits the spot. Sure, they’re made without meat, cheese, or cream, but they still deliver everything you want from a big bowl of pasta. Bold flavors, chewy, al dente noodles, maybe a creamy sauce or tangy marinara. Even Jack, our resident meat and cheese lover, will go back for seconds—even thirds—of these vegan pasta recipes. So the next time you’re craving something comforting and delicious, check out the recipes below! They include many vegan pasta…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

25 Best Pizza Topping Ideas

Tired of the same old pizza toppings? These fresh, flavorful pizza topping ideas are here to help. Mix and match them to create a combination you love!

cooking basics

It’s pizza night! Jack is already prepping the dough, and later, I’ll be in charge of the toppings. When it comes to pizza toppings, I certainly have a few favorites (I’ll always use fresh basil, roasted tomatoes, and artichoke hearts if I have them on hand), but what I love most is coming up with new pizza topping ideas that I haven’t tried before. Butternut squash and sage? Yes, please. Fennel, mushroom, and tarragon? Delicious! Grilled pineapple and pickled jalapeño? Bring it on. I’m sharing 25 of my best pizza topping ideas in the post below, along with suggestions on…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

31 Healthy Freezer Meals

On busy nights, these easy freezer meals will help you get a healthy dinner on the table without a lot of fuss. They include cozy soups, pastas, and more!

Freezer meals are what I turn to when I want to get a quick, healthy dinner on the table on a busy weeknight. I’m not talking about store-bought frozen dinners, but the soups, stews, and casseroles that I make ahead and freeze myself. Stored and reheated the right way, these freezer meals are just as flavorful as they were on the day they were made. When I have a stash of them on hand, making a delicious, healthy dinner is as simple as heating one up! Below, you’ll find my favorite freezer meals to make ahead, along with my best…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Cauliflower Pasta

Packed with bright and briny flavors, this roasted cauliflower pasta recipe is a simple, delicious dinner. Crispy toasted breadcrumbs take it over the top.

dinner / vegetarian

Where to start with this cauliflower pasta recipe?! Friends, this one’s a keeper. Caramelized roasted cauliflower mingles with ruffly pasta, capers, parsley, and toasty, lemony breadcrumbs. I love the mix of bright and briny flavors and how the tender cauliflower contrasts with the breadcrumbs’ crunch. The combination feels elevated, but don’t let it fool you. This cauliflower pasta is surprisingly simple to make. Jack and I ate it for dinner early last week…and then again last night. Can you tell that we’re hooked? Cauliflower Pasta Recipe Ingredients To make this cauliflower pasta recipe, you’ll need these simple ingredients: Cauliflower, of…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Crispy Tofu Bowls

This tofu bowl is one of my favorite feel-good meals! It's packed with brown rice, crispy tofu, roasted broccoli, and a zingy carrot-ginger dressing.

vegan / lunch / dinner

If your lunch or dinner rotation needs a refresh, add this tofu bowl recipe to the mix! These bowls have a hearty base of brown rice, crispy tofu for plant-based protein, and roasted broccoli and radishes for color and crunch. Creamy avocado adds richness, and my go-to carrot-ginger dressing takes them over the top. They’re nourishing, satisfying, and, above all, delicious! These tofu bowls are perfect for meal prep. The dressing keeps well for up to a week, and you can cook the rice, tofu, and broccoli up to 3 days in advance. Store the components separately in the fridge…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Curry Lentil Soup

Packed with fiber and protein, this curry lentil soup is a delicious one-pot meal. Fresh ginger, coconut milk, and spices fill it with rich flavor.

The first night that I made this curry lentil soup, my family came over for dinner. Every time I’ve seen my mom since, she’s asked, “Where is that curry lentil soup recipe?” That says a lot about this soup, because my mom has very strict criteria for recipes that make it into her rotation. They have to have minimal prep, they have to be easy enough to eventually memorize (because cooking goes faster that way), and they have to be either batch-able or freezer-friendly so that she can eat them for multiple meals. This curry lentil soup recipe checks all…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Mushroom, Leek, and Cauliflower Soup

This mushroom, cauliflower, and leek soup is rich, creamy, and deeply savory. Pair it with crusty bread for a comforting winter meal!

This mushroom, leek, and cauliflower soup is one of my favorite dishes to make on cold nights. The mushrooms and leeks create its savory, umami base, and blended cauliflower gives it a wonderful creamy texture. It’s SO comforting, but also healthy and fresh. Thanks to the cauliflower, this soup doesn’t require any heavy cream or other dairy. It’s rich and flavorful…and made almost entirely of veggies. I hope you love it as much as I do! What’s In This Soup Recipe This soup isn’t creamy because it contains cream. Instead, blended cauliflower creates its luscious texture. When you puree the soup, the cauliflower…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Welcome to Love & Lemons!