Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Craving something sweet? Soft, chewy, and packed with gooey chocolate, these chocolate chip cookie bars are an easy, delicious treat.

These chocolate chip cookie bars are the kind of super simple, super delicious treat that we could all use more of in our lives. They have perfect puffy tops, lightly crisp edges, and soft, chewy middles that are packed with chocolate chips. They’re sweet, but not too sweet, and brown sugar and vanilla fill them with rich, warm depth of flavor. Though they’re not necessarily faster than regular cookies (make sure to give them time to cool before you slice them!), they are definitely easier. Instead of scooping the dough or rolling it into balls, all you have to do…

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Creamy Mushroom Polenta

This mushroom polenta recipe is my favorite kind of comfort food. Topped with a zingy chimichurri, it's rich and satisfying, but still bright and fresh.

winter / gluten free

I make this mushroom polenta recipe when I’m craving something comforting, but still light and fresh. For that reason, I think it’s perfect for this time of year. I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready for spring. Warm weather, sun, trips to the farmers market, and picnics in the park… Sadly, Chicago weather is not quite there yet. So for the next few weeks, while it’s still chilly and we still have the occasional snow, this mushroom polenta recipe will continue to hit the spot. It starts with a base of creamy polenta. Then, I layer on sautéed mushrooms.…

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Creamy Polenta

This creamy polenta recipe comes together in a flash, thanks to one simple prep step. Serve it as a side dish, or add flavorful toppings to make it a meal.

vegetarian / cooking basics

Everyone raves about Italian pasta and pizza, but if you ask me, polenta deserves just as much love. A north Italian porridge made of coarsely ground cornmeal, polenta is wonderfully creamy, with a lightly sweet, buttery corn flavor. Unlike oat porridge, it’s not a traditional breakfast food. Though I do eat it for breakfast on occasion (see page 49 of Love and Lemons Every Day!), I most often enjoy this smooth, savory porridge for dinner. Topped with cheese, herbs, cooked vegetables, or a flavorful sauce, it transforms into a mouthwatering comfort food. Below, you’ll find my go-to method for making…

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Sauteed Mushrooms

Learn how to make the BEST sautéed mushrooms! Meaty, savory, and super simple to make, they're a delicious, easy veggie side dish.

side dishes / cooking basics

The next time you need a quick and easy veggie side dish, look no further than this sautéed mushrooms recipe. It calls for 8 ingredients and cooks up in 15 minutes, so it’s insanely simple to make. And it’s insanely flavorful, too! As you likely know, fresh mushrooms have a rich, umami flavor on their own. Here, I highlight it with a drizzle of tamari and tangy rice vinegar. Then, I punch things up with garlic and a shower of fresh tarragon. These basic ingredients combine to make the sautéed mushrooms wonderfully savory and complex. They pair well with pasta,…

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Blueberry Smoothie

I love this blueberry smoothie recipe because it's super nutritious, but it tastes like a treat! Blend it together for a yummy healthy breakfast or snack.

vegan / breakfast

This blueberry smoothie is a delicious breakfast or snack. With its thick, frosty texture and sweet berry flavor, it tastes like a treat. But it’s also packed with nutrients! This blueberry smoothie recipe calls for healthy ingredients like almond butter and fresh fruit. I’m always looking for easy breakfasts that our whole family will love, and right now, this blueberry smoothie is our #1. Smoothies and blueberries are two of our toddler’s favorite things (and honestly, mine too), so it’s no surprise that this recipe has been a hit. It’s perfect for busy weekday mornings. I can blend it up…

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White Bean Soup

Diced green chiles and fresh lime juice pack this white bean soup with bright and tangy flavor. It's creamy, comforting, and SO simple to make!

vegan / soups

This white bean soup recipe is my zesty vegan spin on white chili. It’s deliciously creamy and comforting, but its rich texture comes from blended white beans instead of any dairy. Lime juice, green chiles, and spices like cumin and coriander punch up its tangy flavor, and fresh garnishes like avocado, jalapeños, and cilantro take it over the top. The recipe is really fun and satisfying, and it’s also SO simple to make! This white bean soup requires minimal chopping, and most of the cooking time is entirely hands-off. You can easily put it together on a weeknight, and if…

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Roasted Cauliflower Steak

A bright, nutty topping and creamy arugula pesto amp up the flavor in this roasted cauliflower steak recipe. It's a simple, satisfying, and delicious meal!

vegan / dinner

Jack and I made this cauliflower steak recipe for Valentine’s Day last week. We loved it so much that I knew I had to share it with all of you! As a cook, one of my favorite things to do is to turn a vegetable into a main dish. This cauliflower steak recipe is a fantastic way to do just that. I start by searing thick slices of cauliflower in a hot cast-iron skillet until they’re deeply golden brown. Then, I transfer them to the oven and roast until they’re nutty and tender. To make them a meal, I serve…

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Arugula Pesto

No basil? No problem. This arugula pesto is creamy and bright, with a peppery kick from the arugula. We love it on pasta, veggies, and more!

vegan / dressings & sauces

If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you know that I love riffing on pesto. Vegan pesto, kale pesto, broccoli pesto… This arugula pesto recipe is my newest twist. Now, pesto purists might argue that this arugula pesto isn’t really pesto at all. And that’s fair. Traditional basil pesto is made with pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese, and it has a slightly chunky, paste-like texture. In this arugula pesto recipe, I sub arugula for the herbs and cashews for the pine nuts, and I totally nix the cheese. Instead, I blend in lemon juice for…

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Cream of Mushroom Soup

Canned cream of mushroom soup can't compare to this homemade version. It's rich, creamy, and deeply savory. We always go back for seconds!

winter / soups

Before I met Jack, I associated cream of mushroom soup with green bean casserole. I thought of it as an ingredient, not a dish on its own. In fact, soup aside, I wasn’t a big fan of mushrooms in general. But Jack may be the world’s #1 mushroom lover, and as I tried the mushroom pastas and sandwiches he loved, I discovered how delicious mushrooms could be. Prepared the right way, they become rich and savory, with an intense umami flavor. Now, I’m a total mushroom convert, and this homemade cream of mushroom soup is one of our favorite dishes…

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Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

I love starting my day with these Instant Pot steel-cut oats. They're creamy and flavorful, hearty and wholesome. But best of all, they're easy to make!

breakfast

Am I the last person to discover the magic of Instant Pot steel-cut oats?! If you haven’t tried them yet, this is your PSA: these guys are hearty, wholesome, and so darn convenient. You can dump the oats and water in the Instant Pot, pop on the lid, and walk away. Half an hour later, come back to the kitchen, and a pot of creamy, perfectly al dente oats will be ready and waiting for you. On a chilly, hectic morning, when you want a hot breakfast but you don’t want to spend 20+ minutes standing at the stove stirring,…

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17 Delicious Vegan Pasta Recipes

Even meat and cheese lovers will fall for these vegan pasta recipes! They include satisfying, delicious riffs on fettuccine Alfredo, lasagna, and more.

vegan / dinner

When I’m in the mood for comfort food (which, at this time of year, is like…all the time), one of these vegan pasta recipes always hits the spot. Sure, they’re made without meat, cheese, or cream, but they still deliver everything you want from a big bowl of pasta. Bold flavors, chewy, al dente noodles, maybe a creamy sauce or tangy marinara. Even Jack, our resident meat and cheese lover, will go back for seconds – even thirds – of these vegan pasta recipes. So the next time you’re craving something comforting and delicious, check out the recipes below! They…

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Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.