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.

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…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

20 Easy 4th of July Desserts

Our best 4th of July desserts! Round out your Independence Day menu with one of these delicious sweet treats. Find pies, ice cream, cookies, and more!

Looking for 4th of July dessert ideas? You’re in the right place! I’ve rounded up our best 4th of July desserts below. They include no-bake sweets, easy frozen treats, portable options like cookies and bars, and TONS of delicious baked goods packed with summer fruit. You’ll even find some red, white, and blue ideas in the mix! All these desserts are easy to prepare, and many are great for making ahead (ideal for when you’re hosting or attending a gathering, if you ask me). Choose one for a sweet ending to your Independence Day BBQ—you can’t go wrong here! Fruity 4th…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

25 Easy 4th of July Appetizers

These easy 4th of July appetizers will get your Independence Day cookout off to a delicious start! They include fun finger foods, party dips, and more.

Need 4th of July appetizer ideas? We’re here to help!  I’ve rounded up 25 of our best 4th of July appetizers below. They include show-stopping snack platters, fun finger foods, crowd-pleasing party dips, and more. Most showcase fresh summer produce (my favorite 4th of July recipes usually do!), and all of them are delicious. Take a look through—I’m sure you’ll find some you love! Finger Food 4th of July Appetizers Elote If you ask me, grilled corn on the cob is a must at any 4th of July party. But instead of serving it as a side dish, dress it…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

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…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

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…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

10 Easy Father’s Day Grilling Recipes

These easy grilling recipes would be perfect for a Father's Day cookout! They include fun appetizers, mouthwatering mains, and more.

Father’s Day is coming up this weekend! To celebrate, my family is getting together for a backyard cookout (complete with my favorite Father’s Day side dish—see yesterday’s post!). In case that’s how you’re celebrating too, I’ve rounded up 10 easy grilling recipes below. They include fun appetizers, simple sides, mouthwatering mains, and even a dessert—all of which you can cook on the grill. They minimize cleanup and maximize the time you get to spend outside, which I consider a huge win on any summer holiday. I hope you find some you love…and to all the dads reading, happy Father’s Day!…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Easy Fruit Salad

This easy fruit salad recipe is a perfect summer side dish! Kids and adults love this one—it's made with colorful fruit and a bright honey-lime dressing.

This classic fruit salad recipe has become one of our go-to summer side dishes. It’s fresh, it’s colorful, and—best of all—it’s kid-friendly. Our kiddo has always loved fresh fruit, so when I want to bring a dish to a gathering that I know he’ll go for, fruit salad wins every time. I call for a vibrant blend of pineapple, mandarin oranges, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, and kiwi in this recipe, but I want to say up front that this fruit salad is super flexible. I’m sharing some of my go-to subs and swaps below, but honestly, almost any fruit tastes delicious with…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

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…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Negroni

This Negroni recipe is easy to make with equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. It's a delicious, classic cocktail—bitter, citrusy, and sweet.

A Negroni is one of Jack’s favorite summer cocktails. If I’m sipping an Aperol spritz or a glass of white wine (or even better, rosé), there’s a good chance he’s enjoying this classic Italian drink. He’s not the only one who’s a fan—the Negroni cocktail became a bit of a (ok, a major) trend in the last few years, so I thought it was about time we shared a recipe here, especially now that we’re heading into summer. You can find our go-to Negroni recipe below. This classic recipe is easy to make with 4 ingredients, and it has a boozy,…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

35 Easy Memorial Day Recipes

Our best Memorial Day recipes! We've rounded up summer salads, sides, dips, desserts, and more—everything you need for a delicious cookout.

The unofficial start of summer is just a few days away—it’s time to plan your Memorial Day menu! I’ve rounded up our best Memorial Day recipes below. They include fresh appetizers, salads, side dishes, drinks, desserts, and more. They’d all be perfect for a Memorial Day cookout…and cookouts all summer long. I know I’ll have many of these recipes on repeat this summer. I hope you also find some you love! Memorial Day Appetizer Recipes Antipasto Platter Bring an Italian vacation to your own backyard with this aperitivo-inspired platter! It’s loaded with marinated mozzarella balls, gigante beans, olives, and more.…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Easy Bruschetta

Learn how to make bruschetta! This classic Italian appetizer is simple and delicious. Fresh tomatoes and basil top crisp slices of toasted bread.

This bruschetta recipe is simple and classic. Topped with juicy tomatoes, ribbons of basil, garlic, and a touch of balsamic, it’s a delicious reminder that the best way to enjoy peak-season produce is often the simplest. It’s one of my favorite appetizers to make when I’m entertaining in the summer. It’s SO easy, so flavorful, and so fresh. If bruschetta isn’t already in your summer rotation, it should be! Keep reading to learn how to make it. Tomato Bruschetta Ingredients You only need a handful of ingredients to make this bruschetta recipe, so quality counts. You’ll really taste each one! Good…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>
A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.