Fresh Spring Rolls

Stuffed with noodles, tofu, veggies, and fresh herbs, these spring rolls are SO refreshing! Serve with peanut sauce for a delicious vegetarian appetizer.

I’ll never turn down fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce for dipping, but they especially hit the spot on hot summer days. Served cold or at room temperature, they’re cooling and refreshing, stuffed with noodles, tofu, veggies, and fragrant herbs. The sweet and savory dipping sauce takes them over the top. I’ve ordered fresh Vietnamese spring rolls countless times at restaurants, but if I think to snag a pack of rice paper wrappers at the store, I make my own at home. I can’t call them 100% authentic because I love to experiment with different ingredients in the filling (mango?…

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Watermelon Popsicles

What's even more refreshing than watermelon? Watermelon popsicles! These healthy, 2-ingredient treats are perfect for hot summer days.

These watermelon popsicles are the perfect treat for a hot summer day. Ice cold, fruity, and refreshing, they’ll cool you off and quench your thirst in one go. They’re also healthy(!) and super easy to make(!), because this watermelon popsicles recipe calls for two simple ingredients: watermelon and lime juice. That’s right! There’s no added sugar, no added coloring, no added anything here. Just fresh fruit! How to Make Watermelon Popsicles This watermelon popsicle recipe couldn’t be easier to make! You’ll need two simple ingredients: Fresh watermelon – I call for 6 cups cubed, from about 1 medium melon. Not…

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Cucumber Salad

Featuring fresh dill, onions, and a sweet, tangy dressing, this cucumber salad recipe is a refreshing summer side dish. Bonus: it couldn't be easier!

This cucumber salad recipe is one of the simplest summer side dishes, and if you ask me, it’s also one of the best. It’s versatile. Serve it with any cookout or picnic fare. It’s flavorful. Shout out to the sweet and tangy dressing! And it’s SO refreshing. Just the thing for a hot day. It’s my take on a classic cucumber salad, complete with crisp, cooling cucumbers, red onion, and a punchy vinegar dressing. My special twist? I shower it with dill and chives for a fresh, savory kick. This cucumber salad has definite dill pickle vibes, and I am 100%…

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Grilled Zucchini

This easy grilled zucchini recipe is the perfect summer side dish! The squash is tender and flavorful—delicious with whatever you're grilling.

This grilled zucchini recipe is an easy side dish that I make on repeat all summer long. It’s a breeze to put together—slice up some fresh zucchini, toss it with a savory blend of seasonings, and grill until it’s tender and charred, but still has some bite. No soggy grilled zucchini here! I finish it with a handful of herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice. The recipe highlights what I love most about seasonal cooking. It’s simple and quick, but the fresh ingredients make it delicious nonetheless. Serve it with a summery pesto pasta, veggie burgers, or whatever you’re…

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Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Travel to the '90s with this Cosmopolitan cocktail recipe! This classic vodka and cranberry juice drink may be retro, but it's still refreshing and delicious.

If you, like me, have seen every episode of Sex and the City, you have to learn how to make a Cosmopolitan cocktail, or Cosmo for short. This tart, refreshing vodka drink is a hallmark of the show, and when you watch Carrie and friends sip enough of them, you can’t help but want to try one. Below, I’m sharing my go-to Cosmopolitan recipe, which is perfect for dinner parties, girls’ nights, and binge watching the Sex and the City reboot (who else is tuning in for season 2 this week?!). It has a gorgeous blush pink color and a sweet and…

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Cabbage Salad

Move over, coleslaw! There's a new cabbage salad recipe in town. Crunchy, colorful, and tossed in a tangy dressing, it's an easy, delicious side dish.

I can’t get enough of this cabbage salad recipe! It’s vibrant and colorful, crunchy and refreshing, made with red and green cabbage, crisp bell peppers, carrots, herbs, and toasty pepitas. But the real star of this cabbage salad recipe is the dressing. It’s a tangy, nutty vinaigrette. A couple tablespoons of peanut butter give it a lightly creamy texture, and apple cider vinegar adds amazing zip. It makes this cabbage salad so lively and unexpected. Serve it as a side dish at your next summer cookout, and everyone will ask for the recipe! Cabbage Salad Recipe Ingredients Here’s what you’ll…

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BBQ Tofu

Think tofu is just for vegans? Think again. This easy BBQ tofu recipe is packed with bold flavor. It's sweet, savory, and smoky...everyone will love it!

You can make this BBQ tofu recipe in two ways: in the oven or on the grill. The oven version is an easy protein for vegetarian dinners all year round, while the grilled BBQ tofu is perfect for summer cookouts. I’ve loved making it for our backyard get-togethers lately because it’s a) super simple to make, b) bursting with BBQ flavor, and c) a hit with everyone, tofu skeptics included! This BBQ tofu has a satisfying chewy texture with edges that are crisp and lightly charred. A glossy layer of BBQ sauce coats each cube, giving it an amazing sweet,…

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How to Press Tofu

Learn how to press tofu with and without a tofu press! These two easy methods take just 30 minutes. They'll help you cook crispy tofu every time!

If you’re a tofu lover, learning how to press tofu is a complete game changer. Here’s the thing: even though tofu might be labeled firm or extra-firm, it contains a lot of water. This excess water can cause the tofu to crumble when you cook it, and it will also have a hard time crisping up. But when you press tofu, you remove the excess moisture. It takes on a chewier, firmer texture, which makes it super satisfying to eat and less likely to fall apart. Pressed tofu guzzles up flavor from a sauce or marinade, and it gets SO…

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Homemade BBQ Sauce

This easy homemade BBQ sauce recipe is sweet, tangy, and seasoned to perfection with a flavorful mix of spices. Great for summer grilling!

It’s grilling season! If you don’t already have a go-to BBQ sauce recipe up your sleeve, let me introduce you to mine. This easy homemade BBQ sauce is sweet and tangy, with a smoky, savory kick from spices like cumin and smoked paprika. It comes together super quickly (we’re talking 20 minutes on the stove!), and a batch will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks. We love having it on hand to jazz up whatever we’re grilling! Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe Ingredients After living in Austin for many years, I’ll be the first to admit that BBQ…

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Vegan Burrito

You won't miss the meat or dairy in this vegan burrito recipe. It's super easy to make, and the rice, bean, and veggie filling is SO flavorful and satisfying!

This burrito recipe happens to be vegan, but you don’t have to be vegan to love it. It’s easy to make, it’s flavorful and fresh, and you can even meal prep it if you want to get ahead on lunch or dinner. The hearty filling consists of Spanish rice, seasoned black beans, guacamole, pickled onions, and veggies. Take it over the top with a side of salsa for dipping! Below, I’ll walk you through how to make this vegan burrito recipe, offer tips for how to store it, and share some tasty variations. It’s my favorite burrito recipe, vegan or…

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How to Fold A Burrito

Learn how to fold a burrito with this step-by-step guide! You'll be able to roll (and eat!) a burrito without the tortilla tearing or the filling spilling out.

Welcome to how to fold a burrito 101! If you’re anything like me, you’ve rolled many a disappointing burrito in your day. Maybe the tortilla tore, maybe the filling spilled out the end of the burrito as you ate… Whatever happened, you didn’t end up folding—or eating—the Chipotle-worthy burrito of your dreams. I’ve been there. But a few years ago, after a particularly memorable burrito mess (please, don’t ask!), I finally figured out how to roll a burrito so that it wouldn’t leak or split. As it turns out, the process is super easy—you can find my step-by-step guide below.…

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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.