Fresh Ginger Tea

Learn how to make ginger tea from fresh ginger root! Soothing and warming, it's perfect for sipping on cold days. I love it with a little honey and lemon.

This fresh ginger tea recipe has been on repeat in our house this winter. It’s soothing and warming, filled with a delicious spicy flavor from the fresh ginger root. Sweetened with a little honey and topped with a slice of lemon, it’s the perfect nourishing drink for a cold day. I bought ginger tea bags for YEARS before I started making this recipe. Let me tell you, I was missing out. The fresh tea has a bolder, spicier flavor, and it’s almost as easy to make. I’m sharing my simple method for how to make ginger tea below, along with a…

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Manhattan Cocktail

This classic Manhattan cocktail recipe is easy to make with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Don't skip the cocktail cherry for garnish!

A Manhattan cocktail is one of Jack’s favorite drinks. Bold and sophisticated, this classic cocktail is a simple combination of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. According to Jack, it’s not complete without a cocktail cherry for garnish—brandied or maraschino, take your pick. When I think of a Manhattan, I immediately picture a dark, wood-paneled cocktail bar. But lately, we’ve actually been making this classic drink at home. Easy but elevated, it’s perfect for a low key date night in. I’m sharing our go-to Manhattan recipe below. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! What’s in a Manhattan? The…

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Gimlet Cocktail

This classic gimlet recipe is easy to make with gin, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. It's tart and refreshing—one of my favorite cocktails!

I love a gimlet cocktail. Made with just 3 ingredients—gin, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup—this sour cocktail is bright, botanical, and refreshing. I often order a gimlet when I’m out, but because this drink is so simple, it’s also easy to make at home. I’m sharing a classic gin gimlet recipe below. This recipe uses ratios I like, skewing heavier on the gin to let its floral flavor shine. If you prefer a sweeter drink, or a tangier one, feel free to add an extra splash of simple syrup or lime juice. Cheers! Gimlet Cocktail Ingredients Here’s what you’ll…

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Easy Chai Latte

This homemade chai latte recipe is easy to make with black tea, warm spices, and your favorite milk. Sweeten it to taste with maple syrup!

I remember the first time I tasted a chai latte from a coffee shop. It was rich, sweet, and deliciously spiced. I immediately fell in love with the combination of earthy black tea and warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. And of course the frothy milk on top didn’t hurt either… For a few years after that, a chai latte was my go-to order whenever I went out for coffee (erm…tea). But over time, coffee shop chai lattes got to be too sweet for me. Most are made with cartoned chai concentrate, so I wasn’t able to adjust the…

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Bloody Mary

Skip the Bloody Mary mix—this Bloody Mary cocktail recipe is easy to make from scratch! Spicy and savory, this classic vodka drink is great for brunch.

Skip the Bloody Mary mix—this Bloody Mary recipe is easy to make from scratch! This classic brunch cocktail is a simple combination of tomato juice, vodka, and a few salty, spicy ingredients you likely have on hand. Fresh lime and lemon juice give it a bright, tangy kick, horseradish adds peppery flavor, and Worcestershire sauce and celery salt make it deliciously savory. I can’t promise that this Bloody Mary recipe will be an effective hangover cure, but I can tell you that it will wow guests at any brunch. Want to seal the deal? Load it up with garnishes like…

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Espresso Martini

Learn how to make an espresso martini! This caffeinated cocktail recipe is rich, foamy, smooth, and sweet. Coffee lovers, you have to try it!

Let’s make an espresso martini! This coffee cocktail has had a resurgence in popularity over the last few years. If you like coffee and you’ve never tasted one, you should definitely give this recipe a try. An espresso martini is smooth, rich, and sweet, with a delightful layer of foam on top. The coffee gives it a kick of caffeine, so it’s a fun beverage to sip at the start of a party (or with brunch!). Its luxe coffee flavor also makes it a perfect post-dinner drink. I’m sharing a classic espresso martini recipe below, along with tips for making the…

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Mulled Wine

This mulled wine recipe is perfect for the holidays! Simmered with citrus, apple cider, and warming spices, it's cozy, festive, and delicious.

Jack and I love to make this mulled wine recipe during the holiday season. Packed with notes of citrus, apple, and aromatic spices, it’s cozy, flavorful, and festive. Sipping a steaming mug of it is the best way to warm up on a cold winter night. This mulled wine is the perfect drink for holiday parties. For one, the recipe is easy to scale up or down depending on the size of your group. It also makes your kitchen smell amazing. The heady, spiced aroma on its own is reason enough to try it! Mulled Wine Ingredients Here’s what you’ll need…

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Hot Toddy

This classic hot toddy recipe is a great way to warm up on a cold night! This soothing drink is easy to make with hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon.

Learn how to make a hot toddy! Made with hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon juice, this classic drink is a famous home remedy for a cough or a cold. When Jack has a sore throat, he always makes this hot toddy recipe to soothe it. But you don’t have to be under the weather to enjoy this simple cocktail. Though I’m typically not a whiskey drinker, I love a hot toddy on a cold fall or winter night. Garnished with a cinnamon stick and a slice of lemon, it’s such a cozy way to warm up. Cheers! What’s in…

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Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte

This iced strawberry matcha latte combines fresh strawberries with earthy matcha. Lightly sweet and SO refreshing, it's the perfect drink for a hot day.

My drink of the summer has been an iced strawberry matcha latte—not one I get at Starbucks, but one I make at home. This viral latte has three layers: macerated strawberries at the bottom, milk in the middle (I like almond), and frothy matcha green tea on top. It’s fruity, refreshing, and not too sweet, with smooth, umami notes from the matcha. If you’re already a matcha fan, I think you’ll love this drink. And if you’re new to matcha, it’s a great first recipe to try! In case you’re not familiar, matcha is a green tea powder that has…

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Spicy Margarita

Jalapeños give this spicy margarita recipe a delicious kick. Tart and refreshing, it's perfect for a happy hour or summer entertaining.

Meet my go-to spicy margarita recipe! Like a classic margarita, it’s tart and refreshing, but jalapeño peppers give it an extra kick of heat. This spicy margarita recipe is easy to make. You only need 6 simple ingredients, and it comes together quickly in a cocktail shaker. Enjoy it with tortilla chips, guacamole, and/or salsa at a happy hour, Cinco de Mayo, or summer gathering. Cheers! Spicy Margarita Ingredients To make this jalapeño margarita recipe, you need 6 simple ingredients: Tequila – Use any good-quality blanco tequila (aka silver tequila) in this recipe. We like Espolon tequila, but feel free…

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20 Easy Summer Cocktails

Cool off with these refreshing summer cocktails! Perfect for a summer party or BBQ, they include frozen drinks, fruity margaritas, spritzes, and more.

Hot days call for summer cocktails! Maybe fruity, maybe frozen, and definitely refreshing, these drinks will help you cool off and celebrate the season all in one. Below, you’ll find the easy cocktail recipes I’ll be making all summer. Perfect for any occasion from a neighborhood BBQ to a laid-back evening at home, they include fruity margaritas, bubbly spritzes, non-alcoholic refreshers, and more. I’d have a hard time choosing a favorite from these festive summer drinks. I hope you love them too! Our Best Summer Cocktails Paloma Cocktail Jack and I make this tequila cocktail every summer. We might be…

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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.