Love and Lemons

This Caprese gnocchi recipe is about to become your go-to summer weeknight dinner! It cooks on one pan in under 30 minutes and is bursting with fresh flavor. Inspired by a classic Caprese salad, it combines store-bought gnocchi with summer tomatoes, fresh basil, and creamy mozzarella cheese. Just like in my sheet pan gnocchi recipe, I don’t boil the gnocchi here. Instead, I bake it in the oven alongside cherry tomatoes. The gnocchi soaks up the flavorful tomato juices while becoming lightly cris

This whipped cottage cheese recipe is an easy, delicious high-protein snack. It comes together in under 5 minutes: just add cottage cheese to a food processor with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and a pinch of salt. With a couple of pulses, the curds in the cottage cheese disappear. You end up with a creamy, tangy, silky-smooth dip that’s perfect for scooping up with crackers and veggies. It’s been on repeat in my kitchen lately. I love blending it up on the weekend so that I have a grab-and-go

Eggplant lovers, this pasta alla Norma recipe is for you! Eggplant skeptics, I think you’ll actually get behind this Sicilian pasta too. It stars a garlicky tomato sauce filled with tender eggplant slices. The eggplant practically melts into the sauce, thickening it and adding rich flavor. I round it out with ricotta salata cheese and a shower of fresh basil. Pasta alla Norma is a classic Italian pasta dish that originated in Sicily, in the city of Catania. My recipe has traditional flavors, fea

This burrata salad recipe is simple summer perfection. Easy to make in just 15 minutes, it stars juicy heirloom tomatoes, balsamic-dressed cherry tomatoes, drizzles of pesto, fresh basil, and torn burrata cheese. It’s like an updated take on a Caprese salad, with the creamy burrata instead of mozzarella and the pesto for extra basil flavor. I’m a Caprese fan through and through, but I might like this burrata version even more than the classic. I originally made this burrata salad recipe in late

Our Cooking Club is a fun way to celebrate the Love & Lemons community of readers. The concept is super simple—each month, I choose a recipe. You make it, and you leave a comment on the recipe’s blog post. At the end of the month, I randomly select one winner to receive a prize. I love the sense of community that comes from so many people cooking one recipe each month. We’re kicking off our July challenge today with our Italian pasta salad recipe, and I hope you’ll join in the fun. Here’s how it

This strawberry icebox cake recipe belongs at your next summer gathering! My strawberry tiramisu became an instant reader favorite after I shared it last 4th of July, so this year, I wanted to develop another no-bake dessert for your summer celebrations. After testing and tweaking this icebox cake multiple times, I’m happy to report that it’s even easier and just as delicious. It has layers of fresh strawberries, homemade whipped cream, and graham crackers that soften into a light, cake-like tex

Say hello to our best 4th of July drinks! They include cocktails that range from fruity and fun (looking at you, strawberry margarita) to crisp and classic (like this negroni). You’ll also find several non-alcoholic options here. They’re colorful, refreshing, and just as festive as any of the alcoholic cocktails on this list. I think drinks are an underrated part of any July Fourth cookout, potluck, or picnic menu. A summery cocktail or a cold pitcher of lemonade will instantly make your celebra

This agua fresca recipe is the best way to cool off on a hot day! Made with 4 fresh ingredients—your fruit of choice, water, sweetener, and lime—these colorful drinks are lightly sweet, bright, and refreshing. On a blistering summer day in Austin, they’re my favorite way to beat the heat. Best Fruits for Aguas Frescas A fun thing about this agua fresca recipe? You can make it with almost any fruit! Here are some of my favorite agua fresca flavors: Watermelon Mango Pineapple Honeydew Cantaloupe S

Who else grew up eating ramen noodle salad at potlucks and cookouts? This recipe is my updated take on the nostalgic summer side dish. It stars crisp veggies, juicy orange segments, a sweet and tangy vinaigrette, and the best part: a crunchy mix of toasted ramen noodles, nuts, and sesame seeds. I’ve made this ramen noodle salad recipe for a few BBQs already this summer, and it’s always been the first side dish to disappear. I hope you try it for a gathering soon—I promise it’ll be a hit! Ramen N

I make these grilled portobello mushrooms on repeat all summer. They’re such an easy side dish—meaty, savory, and ready in just 15 minutes on the grill. Their edges are lightly crisp and nicely charred, while their insides stay perfectly juicy. A quick balsamic marinade fills them with rich, smoky, tangy flavor. Below, I’m sharing my tips and tricks for how to grill portobello mushrooms, my go-to seasoning, and my favorite ways to serve them. They’re the sort of ultra-flavorful, super simple sid

This post is in partnership with The Spice House. Jack isn’t usually an olive person, but every time I make these marinated olives with whipped ricotta, he can’t get enough. They’re quickly becoming one of my go-to appetizers for summer entertaining because they feel elevated, but they’re so easy to make. Citrus- and herb-marinated olives sit on a bed of creamy whipped ricotta cheese with a golden ring of olive oil pooling around it. It looks (and tastes!) like something you could get at a resta

This antipasto salad recipe is exactly what I crave on a hot summer day. Filled with a delicious mix of greens, cheeses, and tangy, briny marinated veggies, it’s refreshing, flavorful, and oh-so simple to toss together. You don’t have to do any actual cooking here. Just whisk up the zesty homemade dressing, rinse off some chickpeas, and do a little chopping. This vibrant antipasto salad will be ready in 30 minutes or less! Antipasto Salad Ingredients Here’s what you’ll need to make this antipast

Meet my go-to red wine vinaigrette recipe! Made with basic ingredients like olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey, this 5-minute salad dressing has a delicious balanced flavor. It’s tangy, savory, and a tiny bit sweet—so much better than any bottled dressing you can get at the store. I’ve been slowly perfecting this red wine vinaigrette recipe over the last few years. When I first started making it, I used too much vinegar, giving the dressing an overly-acidic punch. I gradually

This sautéed zucchini recipe is on repeat in my kitchen every summer. Ready in 15 minutes, it’s such an easy side dish. The zucchini cooks on the stovetop with olive oil or butter, garlic, salt, and pepper. When it’s tender and browned, I season it with a squeeze of lemon for brightness, then add garnishes like red pepper flakes, parsley, and/or Parmesan for savory depth. Out of the many, many zucchini recipes I’ve shared over the years, this simple sautéed zucchini is one I make most often. It’

Our Cooking Club is a fun way to celebrate the Love & Lemons community of readers. The concept is super simple—each month, I choose a recipe. You make it, and you leave a comment on the recipe’s blog post. At the end of the month, I randomly select one winner to receive a prize. I love the sense of community that comes from so many people cooking one recipe each month. We’re kicking off our June challenge today with our cowboy caviar recipe, and I hope you’ll join in the fun. Here’s how it works

This summer, this white sangria recipe is the pitcher cocktail I can’t stop making. It’s crisp, bright, and refreshing, a delicious blend of white wine, orange liqueur, and fresh fruit. I sometimes add a little peach schnapps to make it even fruitier, but it’s also lovely with just a touch of simple syrup for sweetness. A handful of mint rounds out the fresh summer flavors. It’s the perfect drink for summer entertaining. This easy white sangria recipe makes a whole pitcher and is designed to mak

May is one of my favorite months to cook. It’s a delicious mashup of spring and summer, with veggies like asparagus, peas, fresh herbs, and radishes all over the farmers market and tomatoes and zucchini on their way. We have the occasional chilly night or two, where a cozy bowl of asparagus soup might hit the spot, but we also kick off grilling season over Memorial Day weekend, ushering in months of cookouts, picnics, and generally eating outside as often as possible. Our most-saved May dinner r

I grew up in the Midwest, where classic creamy potato salad was on the menu at every summer cookout. As a kid, it wasn’t my favorite, often bland and verging on mushy (my least favorite texture). But these days, I’m a potato salad convert. I serve it almost every time I host friends and family in the summer. So, what changed? I learned how to make a potato salad that was packed with flavor. This potato salad recipe is my go-to. I’m planning to make this recipe for at least one gathering over Mem

This limoncello spritz recipe is one of my favorite drinks to sip on a hot summer day. Bright, fizzy, and refreshing, this Italian cocktail is a simple combination of three ingredients—limoncello, prosecco, and club soda. I first tasted limoncello, an Italian lemon liqueur, on the island of Capri, just after Jack and I got engaged. The sweet, citrusy liqueur seemed to magically appear at our table after dinner every night. I (obviously) love lemon, so I thought it was the perfect way to end each

No Memorial Day cookout is complete without dessert! I’ve rounded up our best Memorial Day dessert recipes to help you find the perfect one for your celebration. They include no-bake treats like this show-stopping strawberry tiramisu, crowd-pleasing cookies and bars (no one ever complains about brownies!), frozen desserts, and all things fruit. Try one (or two or three) for a sweet start to summer! Very Berry Memorial Day Desserts Strawberry Shortcake When it comes to Memorial Day desserts, you