Classic Martini

Classic and classy, a martini is one of our favorite cocktails to make at home. This 2-ingredient recipe uses gin and dry vermouth. We love it with a twist!

This classic martini recipe was one of the first cocktails Jack learned to make at home. It entered our rotation years ago, back when we had regular poker nights with a group of friends. I would always lose, but I still joined in every time for the company—and the drinks. Jack thinks (and he’s convinced me too) that a martini is a cocktail that’s actually best made at home. You only need 2 ingredients—gin and dry vermouth—and you have complete control over the ratios. We both like ours dry, which is how I’ve written the recipe below, but I’ve also included notes…

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Apple Cider Sangria

I'm making this apple cider sangria for every party this fall! Made with white wine, fresh apples, and warm spices, it's fruity, festive, and serves a crowd.

This apple cider sangria recipe is my new favorite cocktail for fall entertaining! It’s my family’s favorite too—they liked it so much the first time I served it that I made it again for another family gathering the next weekend. It’s been a staple at our fall get-togethers ever since. Sweetened with apple cider, packed with fresh apples, and warmly spiced with cinnamon and star anise, it’s full of festive fall flavor. If you’re looking for a fun cocktail to serve at Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or any celebration this season, I can’t recommend this apple cider sangria enough. It’s easy to…

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Whiskey Sour

This classic whiskey sour recipe is sweet, tart, rich, and refreshing. Easy to make with 4 simple ingredients, it's one of our favorite whiskey cocktails.

A whiskey sour is one of Jack’s favorite cocktails to order when we go out to dinner. Made with bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and optional egg white, it’s brighter than most whiskey drinks, which Jack thinks makes it the perfect start to a good meal. It also means that though I’m not usually a whiskey drinker, I do enjoy a whiskey sour. I love its sweet/tart flavor, rich texture, and foamy top. Since we’re both fans of this classic cocktail, Jack and I have gotten into making whiskey sours at home. Turns out, you don’t need to be at a…

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Apple Cider Cocktail

This apple cider cocktail is my idea of the perfect fall drink. Easy to make with 5 ingredients, it's bright, boozy, and packed with warming fall flavors.

Jack and I love making this apple cider cocktail recipe for cozy fall nights in. It combines some of his favorite cocktail ingredients (bourbon and Angostura bitters—this man loves an old fashioned!) with some of mine (ginger beer and a squeeze of lemon). Then, we throw apple cider into the mix for a sweet, seasonal finishing touch. As much as we enjoy making this apple cider cocktail for ourselves at home, I really wanted to share it with you because it’s perfect for fall entertaining. This fruity, fizzy, and warming drink fits right in at a holiday party or gathering…

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Moscow Mule

Learn how to make a Moscow mule! Served in an iconic copper mug, this classic cocktail is a refreshing combination of vodka, ginger beer, and lime.

Have you ever made a Moscow mule? Served in a copper mug, this cocktail looks fancy, but don’t be fooled. With just three ingredients—vodka, ginger beer, and fresh lime juice—this classic drink couldn’t be easier to make at home! A Moscow mule is fizzy and refreshing, with a delicious gingery bite. I love sipping one on a warm summer evening or a crisp fall night. The combination of bright lime, warming ginger, and, well…being served in a mug makes it a great all-seasons drink. I’m sharing my go-to Moscow mule recipe at the bottom of this post, with my best tips…

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Affogato

An affogato is an Italian dessert made with two simple ingredients: hot espresso and cold gelato. It's the perfect easy, delicious treat for a hot day!

Let’s make an affogato! This classic Italian dessert is a delicious marriage of two simple ingredients: espresso and gelato or ice cream. You barely need a recipe to make one (it’s as easy as pouring hot espresso over cold ice cream). But because I think an affogato is the best way to enjoy coffee on a hot day, I couldn’t resist sharing this simple affogato recipe—my preferred ratios and variations included. I hope you’ll take it as an invitation to enjoy this delightful Italian treat for the rest of the summer, no trip to Italy required! How to Make an Affogato…

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Homemade Lemonade

This homemade lemonade recipe is just the thing for a hot summer day. Made with 3 simple ingredients, it's sweet, refreshing, and deliciously tart.

summer

This homemade lemonade recipe is so refreshing on a hot day! Made with 3 simple ingredients—water, lemon juice, and simple syrup—it’s sweet, citrusy, and deliciously tart. In the summer, I’d happily drink an ice-cold glass every day. (Not surprising given that you’re on Love & Lemons, right?) This lemonade recipe makes a big batch, so it’d be a great refreshment for your next cookout or BBQ. However, you can easily scale it down if you’re serving a smaller group. Garnish glasses with fresh mint leaves or basil for an aromatic, summery twist, or keep things classic and top each one…

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Hugo Spritz

I love sipping a Hugo spritz on a hot day! Made with prosecco, elderflower liqueur, and fresh mint, this Italian cocktail is floral and refreshing.

Have you ever tried a Hugo spritz? This Italian cocktail is bubbly and bright, with floral notes from elderflower liqueur and herbal depth from fresh mint. It’s just as refreshing as an Aperol spritz, its better-known cousin, but it doesn’t have any of Aperol’s bitterness. Instead, it’s lightly sweet and delicate. It’s one of my favorite cocktails to sip on a hot summer day—always on a patio, and preferably in Italy…though more likely in my own backyard. Luckily, this Hugo spritz recipe is easy to make with 5 ingredients, so it couldn’t be simpler to mix up at home. Hugo…

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Strawberry Banana Smoothie

This classic strawberry banana smoothie recipe is a delicious healthy breakfast or snack! It's sweet, creamy, and super refreshing.

summer / smoothie

In the last few weeks, I’ve made this strawberry banana smoothie recipe more times than I can count. Now that it’s summer, my whole family has been having it for breakfast almost every morning. Thick, creamy, and sweet, it’s super refreshing on a hot day. This strawberry smoothie recipe couldn’t be simpler to make. It calls for a handful of basic ingredients and comes together in the blender in less than 5 minutes. It’s the kind of thing you can easily pull off for breakfast on a busy weekday morning (yes, even if you have a toddler running around!) or…

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Tom Collins Cocktail

This Tom Collins recipe is easy to make with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. Served over ice, this classic cocktail is bright and refreshing.

It’s probably not surprising that I love a Tom Collins cocktail. This sparkling gin drink is only one step removed from homemade lemonade, after all. Made with gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda, it’s bright, fizzy, and super refreshing. Plus, because it’s a long drink, meaning that the alcohol is mixed with a good amount of soda water, it’s not as strong as some other cocktails. This makes it perfect for sipping on a hot summer day. If you’re new to making cocktails at home, I think this Tom Collins recipe is a great place to start. You…

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How to Make Iced Coffee

Learn how to make iced coffee at home! Easy to customize with any milk or sweetener, this recipe is just as delicious as iced coffee from a coffee shop.

Iced coffee is my favorite way to start a warm spring or summer day. Sorry, hot coffee—when the temps are high enough, only the iced stuff will do. In the last few years, iced coffee drinks have exploded in popularity. But I find that people often get them at coffee shops instead of making them at home. This iced coffee recipe is here to change that! It’s SO simple, you can customize it with your favorite milk or sweetener, and it’s more affordable than ordering iced coffee out. If you’re an iced coffee fan, give it a try. I think you’ll…

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Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.