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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Waffle Recipe

This easy waffle recipe is a delicious breakfast! These classic waffles are crisp on the outside and fluffy inside. We love them with maple syrup.

This waffle recipe is one of the best breakfasts for lazy weekend mornings. I love it because it’s super simple. This waffle recipe calls for basic pantry ingredients and comes together in a matter of minutes. It’s also delicious. These homemade waffles are crisp and golden on the outside and light and fluffy inside. I always load mine up with a pile of fresh fruit, but they’re great with a pat of butter and maple syrup too. So break out your waffle maker! This waffle recipe is a fun treat to have in your morning rotation. I hope you enjoy! What You’ll…

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French Toast

This French toast recipe is a delicious, easy breakfast. The thick slices are fluffy, tender, and warmly spiced with cinnamon. Serve with maple syrup!

This French toast recipe is one of my favorite things to make for brunch. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a holiday or a regular old lazy weekend morning: just thinking about French toast makes my mouth start watering. What could be more crave-worthy than thick slices of bread with tender, fluffy middles, crisp edges, and a mound of fresh fruit on top? This French toast recipe is delightfully quick and easy, so I make it whenever we have day-old bread in the house. Still, it has the flavor of a special occasion treat. An egg batter makes it nice and rich,…

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Caesar Salad

This classic Caesar salad recipe features crisp romaine, crunchy croutons, and Parmesan cheese. A creamy, tangy homemade dressing ties it together.

This Caesar salad recipe is classic and delicious. It features a base of crisp romaine lettuce topped with crunchy croutons and plenty of shaved Parmesan cheese. A creamy, tangy homemade Caesar dressing ties it all together. I’ve shared Caesar salad recipes with extra add-ins and other twists in the past (looking at you, kale Caesar), but this classic Caesar salad is the one I make most often. I love it because the ingredients are SO simple and the creamy dressing is easy to stir together (no raw egg yolk here!). It’s the perfect side salad for dinner parties or holiday gatherings. Even…

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Homemade Caesar Dressing

This homemade Caesar dressing recipe beats any store-bought salad dressing I've tried. With a mayo base, it's creamy, tangy, and easy to make.

A great Caesar dressing is the secret to a great Caesar salad! This Caesar dressing recipe is my favorite. I love it because it’s easy and delicious. Unlike a traditional Caesar dressing, which is made with an emulsion of raw egg yolk and oil, this one has a mayo base. It’s super simple to stir together (and it doesn’t contain raw eggs!). Still, it’s rich, creamy, and packed with tangy, savory, umami flavor. Try it on your next Caesar salad, and you’ll never get a store-bought Caesar dressing again! Trust me, this homemade version is so much better. Caesar Salad Dressing…

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Roasted Green Beans

Learn how to make oven roasted green beans! Tender, caramelized, and ready in 15 minutes, they're a fresh, easy, and delicious side dish.

Let’s make roasted green beans! These tender, caramelized beauties roast in just 15 minutes in the oven, so they’re a perfect veggie side dish for busy weeknights. Topped with flavorful garnishes like lemon zest, toasted almonds, and/or Parmesan cheese, they fit right in on a holiday table too. To be totally honest, when I have fresh green beans on hand, my first instinct isn’t usually to roast them. Blanched and sautéed green beans are my typical go-tos. But a few weeks back, I was making a frittata for dinner. With the oven already on, I figured I might as well roast…

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Homemade Ranch Dressing

This homemade ranch dressing recipe is SO much better than store-bought! Creamy, rich, and tangy, it's delicious as a dip, on salads, and more.

Our kiddo loves this homemade ranch dressing…and honestly, I do too! It has a delicious creamy texture and tangy, savory flavor. Keep it on the thicker side to use as a dip with veggies, or thin it out to drizzle over salads and pizzas (if ranch on pizza happens to be your thing). This ranch dressing recipe calls for simple ingredients, which make it taste SO much better than any store-bought ranch dressing I’ve tried. It has a rich sour cream base (Greek yogurt works too!), and seasonings like dried dill and garlic powder add bold flavor. Fresh lemon juice gives it…

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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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Homemade Pizza Sauce

Level up your homemade pizza with this easy pizza sauce recipe. Made with 8 simple ingredients, it's quick and flavorful—no cooking required!

Making pizza sauce from scratch is simpler than it might seem. You don’t need any fancy ingredients or even very much time. My easy pizza sauce recipe calls for 8 pantry staples and comes together in 5 minutes—no cooking required! I could be biased, but I think this homemade pizza sauce is better than store-bought. It’s thick and flavorful, seasoned with fresh garlic and dried herbs. It’s also super affordable. This easy pizza sauce recipe makes a large batch, enough for 5 to 6 pizzas. Make it for your next pizza night, and store any leftovers in the freezer. You’ll love having…

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Homemade Pizza Dough

You only need 6 ingredients to make this easy pizza dough recipe! It yields a chewy, flavorful crust that will take your homemade pizza to a new level.

Homemade pizza dough is the secret to great homemade pizza. If you’re new to working with yeast, the idea of making your own pizza dough might be intimidating, but I think you’ll find that it’s really simple. Anyone can master it! I’m sharing my best pizza dough recipe below. It’s been my go-to for years, and it’s fantastic for beginners. It’s easy to make with 6 basic ingredients, and it yields a soft, chewy, and flavorful pizza crust. Use it to make one of the pizza recipes linked at the bottom of this post, or customize it with your favorite pizza…

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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.