Lemon Orzo

This lemon orzo pasta is lightly creamy and bursting with bright lemon flavor. Easy to make in one pot in 20 minutes, it's perfect for weeknights!

This lemon orzo recipe is an easy, delicious one-pot dinner or side dish. This spring, it’s been one of my go-to weeknight meals. It calls for just 10 ingredients, cooks up in 20 minutes, and—best of all—is a hit with the whole family, kiddo included! I love this lemon orzo pasta because it’s bright, fresh, and creamy without any cream. The starches from the orzo and a little Parmesan perfect its comforting texture, while fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and herbs supply its zingy flavor. I often mix in some chickpeas and sautéed asparagus to make this lemon orzo a meal on…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Thai Green Curry

This 30-minute Thai green curry recipe is a delicious weeknight dinner! Store-bought curry paste, fresh ginger, and lime juice fill it with bold flavor.

This Thai green curry recipe is a restaurant-worthy weeknight dinner! It’s fresh, flavorful, and bright, yet it still comes together in 30 minutes thanks to an easy pantry shortcut: store-bought green curry paste. Made with aromatic ingredients like green chilies, lemongrass, and makrut lime leaves, the curry paste is packed with bold flavor. Simmered in coconut milk with fresh ginger and lime juice, it creates a curry sauce that’s rich, fragrant, and a little bit sweet. I can’t say it’s better than my go-to Thai restaurant (sometimes, nothing but takeout will do), but it comes pretty darn close. You could use any…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Easy Fried Rice

Got leftover rice? This easy fried rice recipe is the best way to use it up! I mix it with veggies and eggs in this delicious Chinese-inspired dish.

I make this easy fried rice recipe whenever I have leftover rice in the fridge. If you ask me, this Chinese inspired-dish is the best way to use it up. When the dried-out rice is cooked in a hot skillet, it takes on a delicious lightly crispy texture. Mixed with veggies, scrambled eggs, and seasonings like soy sauce and sesame oil, the humble rice becomes an incredibly flavorful side dish or quick meal. I’m sharing my basic vegetable fried rice recipe at the bottom of this post, but don’t feel like you have to follow it to the letter. One…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Easy Veggie Stir Fry

This easy stir fry recipe features colorful veggies in a delicious sweet and savory sauce. Ready in 20 minutes, it's a quick, healthy, and flavorful meal!

This easy stir fry recipe is the ultimate weeknight dinner. It’s quick, flavorful, and healthy too, packed with colorful vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and peppers. Add your favorite protein and serve it over rice for a satisfying 20-minute meal! Years ago, when I first started cooking for myself, I made a veggie stir fry nearly every night. It was the easiest (and cheapest) thing I knew how to make, so I put it on repeat. Fast forward to now, and stir fry is still a staple in my weeknight rotation…but it’s gotten a lot tastier. I’ve perfected my sweet and…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

A Beautiful Spring Appetizer Board

Hosting a spring gathering? This gorgeous board would be the perfect appetizer. It's filled with fresh veggies, hard boiled eggs, and whipped feta.

Jack’s parents are visiting for Mother’s Day this weekend. After the rush of the last few weeks—we launched Simple Feel Good Food! Our son Ollie turned 2!—I’m hoping to keep the cooking simple. A spring appetizer board like this one will definitely make an appearance sometime over the weekend. I love these types of platters because they look gorgeous (check out those pretty spring radishes!), they offer lots of contrasting textures and flavors, and they’re surprisingly easy to put together. Bonus: you can prep all the components in advance! If you need an appetizer idea for a gathering this season, I highly…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Pasta Primavera

This pasta primavera recipe is light, fresh, and simple to make. Packed with colorful veggies, it's the perfect easy dinner for spring or summer night.

I love to make this pasta primavera recipe after a trip to the farmers market in early summer. I come home with bags full of produce. Some contain spring veggies like asparagus and peas that will only be available for a few more weeks. Others hold summer finds like zucchini, squash, and cherry tomatoes whose season is just starting. The moment when all these spring and summer vegetables collide is so brief that I feel like I have to celebrate it. So, I cook a pot of pasta, sauté the veggies, and toss them together to make this pasta primavera…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Spring Quinoa with Asparagus, Peas & Pickled Onion

This spring quinoa recipe is super fresh and satisfying! Packed with tender herbs and green veggies, it's a perfect light dinner or make-ahead lunch.

This post is in partnership with Lundberg Family Farms. When I want to make a simple, yet satisfying, dinner or lunch, quinoa is one of the first ingredients I turn to. I always have a bag of Lundberg’s organic quinoa on hand – it cooks quickly, it’s rich in nutrients like fiber and protein, and it’s super versatile, too. At this point, I’ve used it in smoky veggie burgers, hearty stews, and salads galore. All that, and I’m still finding new ways to use it! This spring quinoa dish was one of my more recent experiments, and we liked it so…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Watercress Salad

This watercress salad recipe is a light, fresh spring side dish. It's filled with crisp veggies, creamy avocado, and a bright champagne vinaigrette.

If you need a last-minute side dish for Mother’s Day, I think this watercress salad would be perfect. It’s exactly the kind of dish I like to serve at a special occasion meal. Light and refreshing, it provides a welcome contrast to heartier fare like cinnamon rolls (at brunch) or a saucy, cheesy lasagna (at dinner). And while it’s simple to make, it’s a bit more unexpected than a regular green salad. The watercress gives it a peppery bite, which I tame with sweet, juicy orange segments and a bright champagne vinaigrette. Mozzarella and avocado add creamy richness, and toasted…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Baked Eggs

These oven baked eggs are an easy, delicious breakfast or brunch. Serve them with garnishes like fresh herbs and veggies to take them over the top!

How cute are these baked eggs?! Lately, Jack and I have been making them for breakfast and the occasional dinner, and with Easter coming up this weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to share the recipe with all of you. These baked eggs have runny yolks and just-set whites, and they’re SO simple to make in the oven. Sprinkled with toppings like fresh herbs, peas, and sautéed asparagus, they look elegant and inviting, and they taste delicious. They’d be a lovely main course for a holiday brunch, but you could easily pull them off for a regular…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Asparagus Soup

This creamy asparagus soup recipe is perfect for spring! Made with asparagus, peas, and leeks, it has a bright green color and fresh flavor.

This asparagus soup is practically spring in a bowl! A vibrant blend of asparagus, peas, herbs, and leeks, it’s light, nourishing, and full of fresh spring flavor. If you’re craving a classic cream of asparagus soup, you can add a splash of heavy cream, but this simple recipe is also delicious without it. I love this soup as a spring dinner with some crusty bread or focaccia on the side. It comes together in under 45 minutes (and most of the cook time is hands-off), so it’s totally weeknight-possible. This asparagus soup recipe is an updated version of one I…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Asparagus Salad

This asparagus salad recipe is a delicious spring or summer side dish! This refreshing salad features crisp veggies, feta, and a creamy avocado dressing.

spring / salads

This asparagus salad recipe is a perfect spring or summer side dish. It combines all my favorite seasonal produce—asparagus, crisp radishes, sweet peas, and fresh herbs. Tossed with lemon, olive oil, and creamy avocado dressing, it’s bright, refreshing, and delicious. Every year, I make this asparagus salad recipe to celebrate the arrival of spring. After a long Chicago winter, nothing says sunnier, warmer days are ahead like this vibrant salad. Enjoy it as a side dish with practically any dinner, or prep it ahead for lunch. Easy to toss together in under 30 minutes, this recipe is a staple for me during…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Welcome to Love & Lemons!