Portobello Mushroom Dogs

Skip the packaged veggie dogs at your next cookout - grill these tangy marinated portobello mushrooms instead! They're easy, healthy & flavorful.

We’re all familiar with the ubiquitous portobello burger, so I’ll be honest: I originally planned to serve these mushrooms in hot dog buns for the novelty of it. For my money, though, portobellos really work better in dog form than in burger-form. They get more fully covered in the tangy, savory marinade, and (because they’re thinner strips) they cook a lot more quickly and more evenly. Portobello Veggie Dog Recipe Ingredients Growing up around Chicago, hot dogs were never taken lightly. A good Chicago dog has a myriad of components, including mustard, onions, a whole pickle, peppers, and more. This…

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Christmas

Merry almost-Christmas morning, let the brunching begin! Here are a few of our favorite breakfast-ey recipes… sweet, savory, and even a little bit healthy: recipes pictured above: Blueberry Banana Pancakes  /  Mango Salsa Waffle Kale Pesto Scramble  /  Vegan French Toast Blackberry Lemon Cake  /  Flaxseed Waffles Migas Breakfast Tacos  /  Matcha Vanilla Smoothies some other deliciousness around the web: World’s Easiest Cinnamon Rolls from Minimalist Baker Slow-Cooked Kale Omelettes from Sprouted Kitchen Cranberry Orange Scones from The Faux Martha Banana Baked French Toast from Cookie + Kate Cornbread Pancakes with Maple-Lemon Curd from Naturally Ella Gingerbread Buckwheat Cake from Edible Perspective  

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Minty Pomegranate Spritzer

My favorite part about the holidays: Getting together with friends and having an excuse to indulge just a little too much. We can all resolve to be better in January… until then, let’s have that extra cookie or three, and by all means pop that prosecco! This is one of my favorite cocktails to make at home. I make a quick simple syrup and let it steep with handfuls of fresh mint….combine it with vodka, pomegranate juice, prosecco, and then finish it off with a squeeze of lemon. It’s not too sweet, and it’s just a little tart – exactly…

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A Very Veggie Cookbook Guide

The ultimate vegetarian cookbook gift guide. Perfect for the holidays or as a last-minute birthday gift!

Some last-minute gift ideas for the veggie lover in your life! (links below): Mr. Wilkinson’s Vegetables Vegetarian Everyday (by David & Luise of Green Kitchen Stories) Vegetable Literacy *my favorite book of the year* Bountiful (by Todd & Diane of White on Rice Couple) Ripe Superfood Kitchen Vedge Moosewood Restaurant Favorites Pure Vegan True Food Plenty The Sprouted Kitchen (by Sara & Hugh of Sprouted Kitchen) Super Natural Everyday (by Heidi of 101 Cookbooks) Giada’s Feel Good Food

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Kitchen Essentials Gift Guide

While my earlier guide may have been my holiday wishlist, this is it’s more practical sister, the reality-list. These are the things I have in my own kitchen that I use pretty darn often. If you’re new to cooking, or know someone whose moving into their first home or apartment, this might be a good place to start: (links below) 1. Le Parfait Jars : my favorite jars for storing grains in the pantry. Air tight. 2. Whisks, set of 3 : because inevitably one is in the dishwasher. 3. Basic Colander : can’t go wrong with simple stainless. 4. Shun Chef’s Knife : you don’t need a knife set,…

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Favorite cookbooks, by region

It goes without saying that I collect a lot of cookbooks. Here are some of my favorites, organized by place: Italy: Amalfi Coast Recipes Franny’s: Simple Seasonal Italian La Cucina: The Regional Cooking of Italy France: Lunch in Provence Little Paris Kitchen: 120 Simple but Classic French Recipes The French Market Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes from My Parisian Kitchen UK: Leon: Ingredients & Recipes (also looking forward to: Fast Vegetarian) River Cottage Veg: 200 Inspired Vegetable Recipes Tender: A Cook and His Vegetable Patch Japan: Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art Kansha: Celebrating Japan’s Vegan & Vegetarian Traditions Japanese Farm Food Korea &…

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Moonshine Sweet Tea giveaway

Today we’re giving away a sweet little taste of Texas: Moonshine Sweet Tea. There are so many budding local food companies here in Austin… good people that are making great things with the best of the best ingredients. So when the folks at Moonshine Sweet Tea approached me, I was over the moon (bad pun, sorry), because this is exactly the kind of business I am excited to support… Family owned: check, locally made: check, good typography: check check. The recipe has been passed down for 4 generations. It’s handmade in small batches using real organic tea leaves. The sweet…

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Avocado & Pomegranate Crostini

Avocado, pomegranate and feta make a pretty holiday appetizer crostini.

‘Tis the season for sugary, buttery treats… but as you may know, I’m not big on butter. I’m also not particularly good at holiday traditions… Maybe it’s the Austin influence, but I love anything with avocado. I made this glorified guacamole and I think the little pomegranate gems make it especially festive. Only thing missing in this picture is a merry Christmas margarita. For a healthier version, this would be delicious on endive spears. For a less healthy (but gluten free) version, feel free to break out the tortilla chips.

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Nutella Stuffed French Toast

nutella stuffed french toast / loveandlemons.com

This might be the most unhealthy thing I’ve made for this site thus far. It’s not “surprisingly” vegan or “by the way” gluten free. And I didn’t make my own Nutella, although I thought about it. But… it’s fast, easy, and super delicious. We’re having some Nutella-loving friends over for Easter brunch next weekend, so I’m thinking this will be sure to impress. If sweets are too much for you in the morning, this can double as dessert with a scoop of ice cream on top. (If you’re reading between the lines here, yes… we ate these for breakfast and…

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Swiss Chard & Egg Casserole

swiss chard & egg casserole

Eggy casserole… fancy fritatta… I wasn’t sure what to call it but our “eggs for dinner” series continues with this new favorite. I realize this looks like a pile of greens (and it very much is), but there are thin layers of egg baked in between the light and flaky chard leaves. The trick is to toss the whisked eggs with the chard leaves raw. In the oven, the greens on the bottom wilt down, the ones on top stay a little bit crispy… a perfect mix of textures. The eggs are mixed with garlic and my favorite part –…

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Festive Endive Appetizers

Festive + light holiday appetizers that will leave you with room for dessert! Sesame tuna tartare + lemony white bean puree are delicious on endive leaves.

Endive Appetizers // loveandlemons.com

Endive… the perfect holiday party snack when it’s time to start laying off the bread already. As the holiday season comes to a close, I’m starting to crave foods that are lighter and brighter. I decided to make two of my favorite appetizers (that I love atop toasty crostini)… and serve in crispy endive leaves instead. The first is a super easy sesame tuna tartare. And because parties always need vegetarian options, the second is a lemony white bean puree. But let’s face it, my favorite thing about skipping the bread is that I can endlessly snack away and still…

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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.