No-Knead Bread

This no-knead bread recipe will make any novice baker look like a pro! 5 minutes of work yield a crusty, golden loaf with a perfect soft interior.

If you’re curious about bread-making, no-knead bread is a fantastic place to start. This method was made famous by Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan Street Bakery in New York. It’s wildly popular, and for good reason. Unlike many bread recipes, it requires no special equipment (aside from a Dutch oven) or finicky ingredients, and it takes just a few minutes of hands-on prep. Still, thanks to a long, slow rise, the bread comes out perfect every time, with a gorgeous golden brown crust and chewy interior. I make a few tweaks to Jim’s recipe, swapping bread flour for all-purpose and…

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Spaghetti and Meatballs

My spaghetti and meatballs recipe may be meat-free, but it's still delicious, thanks to hearty, smoky veggie balls and homemade marinara sauce.

spaghetti and meatballs

What’s more homey than spaghetti and meatballs? Twists of pasta doused in herb-flecked marinara sauce, with tender, spicy meatballs balanced on top… On a cold night, there’s not much that sounds better. Meatless spaghetti and meatballs might seem like an oxymoron, but trust me, there’s no shortage of ways to make them meat-free. In fact, I’ve been hooked on two veggie meatball recipes lately. I couldn’t pick a favorite if I tried, so instead of choosing one to share here, I’m sharing both! Each one has a hearty texture and a rich savory flavor that’s irresistible with al dente pasta and…

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Vegan Parmesan Cheese

Even cheese lovers will fall for this 4-ingredient vegan Parmesan cheese. It's SO easy to make, and it's a tasty umami topping for pasta, salads, and more!

This vegan Parmesan cheese recipe is my new favorite condiment. It’s sharp, bright, savory, and rich, and as far as I can tell, it’s great on just about anything. I’ve made vegan Parmesan in the past, but this time, I added one extra ingredient: lemon zest! Its bright flavor brought extra complexity to the savory, nutty mixture, and now, I can’t get enough of it. I keep a big jar on hand in the freezer, and I reach for it anytime a dish needs an extra punch of umami flavor. If you’re dairy-free, trying to incorporate more plant-based foods into…

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A Week of Healthy Smoothies & Snacks

I recently tried out Daily Harvest, and I've been loving their convenient & delicious superfood smoothies. Read on to see which ones are my favorites!

There’s nothing I love more than starting my day with a produce-packed smoothie. Eating a big serving of fruits and veggies first thing makes me feel energized and ready to take on the day. Plus, I have fun mixing and matching superfoods, spices, and fresh ingredients to create healthy, delicious combinations. But on busy mornings when I have a full day of writing and photo editing ahead of me, it’s easy to reach for the first thing I see – like the peanut butter cookies I was testing the night before – instead of taking the time to blend up…

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Steamed Bao Buns

These steamed bao buns are one of our favorite recipes to make on a date night in. I prep the filling while Jack mixes up the dough. Then, we eat!

Making these steamed bao buns is our idea of the perfect Valentine’s date. See, Jack and I enjoy going out to eat, but never on Valentine’s Day. The restaurants are more crowded, the food is more expensive, and we always end up having more fun at home. So we skip the crowds and celebrate simply, spending time together making something we both love. In years past, we’ve learned to make pasta (I make a delicious sauce while he cranks the pasta maker), homemade pizza (Jack does the crust while I do the the toppings), or sushi (I prep the fillings,…

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25 Easy Pasta Recipes

These easy pasta recipes will satisfy any pasta craving! Whether you're hungry for classic lasagna or a new, inventive idea, we've got you covered.

Pasta recipes are some of these most versatile dishes out there. Cooking a romantic dinner for two? There’s a pasta recipe for that. Need a quick and easy dinner on a weeknight? There’s a pasta recipe for that. Serving a crowd? There’s one for that too. Below, you’ll find 25 easy pasta recipes we’ve made and loved on all sorts of occasions – family gatherings, date nights in, and times when I’ve been at a loss for what to cook for dinner. Oftentimes, those nights have yielded the best pasta dinners we’ve had. Turns out, it only takes simple ingredients…

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30 Best Vegan Desserts

Whether you're craving an indulgent cake, a refreshing sorbet, or anything in between, these vegan desserts are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth.

These vegan desserts are here to prove that you don’t need butter, eggs, or cream to create something that’s sweet, rich, and decadent. Once you stock your pantry with a few simple ingredients, making knockout vegan desserts couldn’t be easier. Keep coconut oil on hand to take the place of butter, start reaching for ground flaxseed instead of eggs, and invest in a bottle of pure maple syrup. You might be surprised to find that you don’t miss the dairy or eggs one bit! Below, you’ll find my 30 best vegan desserts. I include plant-based twists on classic recipes as…

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Gluten Free Pancakes

These gluten-free pancakes are our favorite weekend breakfast. Made with oat & almond flour, they're light, fluffy, and filled with warm vanilla flavor.

In the last few weeks, making this recipe for gluten-free pancakes has become our Saturday morning routine. Jack beats the egg whites into soft peaks while I whisk together the batter. Then, he gently folds in the egg whites, and I stand over the hot stove, flipping pancakes until we’ve used up every last drop of batter in the bowl. I typically do the cooking in our house, but these gluten-free pancakes are one of the few recipes we actually make together. This couldn’t be more fitting, as they come from Aran Goyoaga’s new book Cannelle et Vanille. A true…

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How to Make Oat Flour

Once you learn how to make oat flour at home, you'll never buy it again! I love to blend up a big batch to have on hand for cookies, muffins, and more.

Oat flour is an indispensable ingredient in my kitchen. It’s the first thing I reach for if I’m making a gluten-free recipe, and I also like to add it to regular baked goods to give them an extra-soft, delicate texture. No matter how I plan to use it, it’s the one pantry staple that I always, always make at home. Blending my own takes less than a minute, and it’s so much cheaper than buying it at the store. If I run out, I can blend up more in no time. Read on to find my foolproof method for how to…

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How to Make Almond Flour

Learn how to make almond flour at home! Then, use it in gluten-free baking recipes, or add it to regular baked goods for an extra-moist texture.

Whether you’re gluten-free or not, almond flour is a fantastic ingredient to keep in your pantry. Like coconut flour, it’s paleo-friendly and is often found in grain-free baking recipes. However, my uses for it don’t end there. I love to combine it with all-purpose or whole wheat pastry flour to give regular baked goods an extra-moist texture. Lately, I’ve taken to making my own almond flour at home. From start to finish, the whole process takes under a minute, and it’s much more cost effective than buying it at the store. Read on to find my method for how to…

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Fettuccine Alfredo

This fettuccine Alfredo recipe is perfect for any and all occasions, from busy weeknights to romantic dinners. It's simple, elegant, and totally delicious.

Traditional fettuccine Alfredo contains 5 basic ingredients: pasta, butter, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you’ve probably guessed that this fettuccine Alfredo recipe isn’t totally traditional. You’re right! See, I love creamy pasta, but when I order it at restaurants, it’s almost always too rich for me to enjoy for more than a few bites. Earlier this winter, I was craving comfort food, and I got the idea to make a fettuccine Alfredo recipe that would let me have my cake and eat it too. It would be every bit as creamy…

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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.