Lemon Basil Butter Pasta

https://ift.tt/hkxL1sg

All you need are 6 simple ingredients to make a vibrant batch of this lemon basil butter pasta in less than 30 minutes.

Fresh basil is back in season and I vote we celebrate with this lemon basil butter pasta! ♡

Our family fell in love with Ali Slagle’s viral basil-butter pasta last fall, which is a deliciously basil-forward, nut-free, and buttery alternative to traditional basil pesto pasta. She had the brilliant idea to blitz blanched basil with butter in a food processor (which you should definitely double to have leftovers for later!), which is then melted into a batch of hot pasta for a quick and easy 3-ingredient meal. The creamy, salty, melted butter serves as the perfect saucy vehicle for the fragrant peppery flavor of fresh basil, and perfectly coats each strand of pasta. And while it’s easy to make the basil butter in the amount of time it takes to cook the pasta, you can also prep the basil butter in advance if you’d like to make dinnertime an absolute breeze. Such a win!

That said, while Ali’s version keeps things simple with just basil, butter and pasta, we’ve come to love adding in a generous dose of lemon, black pepper and Parmesan to this pasta as well (a la this recipe), which adds a balance of bright, spicy, umami flavors to the basil butter that really makes this dish sing. And for any of you who want to go the extra mile and make a batch of brown butter to use here (totally optional, but WOW), I can vouch that the extra toasty, nutty flavor notes absolutely take this simple dish over the top.

Bottom line, I’m now convinced that this melting-basil-butter-into-hot-pasta method here is one that any herb-lover should add to their repertoire. So grab a big bunch of basil and let’s make some pasta!

(more…)

Read More

Ginger Coconut Potsticker Soup

https://ift.tt/8VIM7wR

This delicious ginger coconut potsticker soup recipe is quick and easy to make with your choice of frozen potstickers and veggies.

It’s a cold and rainy week here in Kansas City, which always means one thing in my book — soup time! ♡

This recipe is a simple twist on my favorite potsticker soup that our whole family loves, but made this time with the yummiest creamy ginger-lemongrass coconut broth simmered with loads of mushrooms and spinach, and finished off with a zing of fresh lime juice. It’s a vibrant and flavorful soup that’s filling without feeling too heavy. And thanks to a few shortcuts, it can easily come together quickly on a rainy weeknight like this one. Win-win!

Feel free to use your favorite vegetarian or meat-filled potstickers (we love the vegetable gyoza from Trader Joe’s). And if you’d like to also make the soup completely gluten-free, just be sure to purchase a brand of potstickers that’s certified gf (I love these).

This recipe instantly became a favorite here with our family, so I feel certain you’re going to enjoy it too!

(more…)

Read More

Marry Me Chickpeas and Orzo

https://ift.tt/Rw1HsL9

“Marry me chicken” recipes have been flooding the internet over the past few years, and with good reason — a pan full of creamy, sun-dried tomato and basil chicken can’t help but be a winner! Here in our house, though, I wanted to make a version that my vegetarian husband and pasta-loving toddler could enjoy too. Thus, this orzo and chickpeas version was born. ♡

It’s basically just a “marry me” take on our family’s favorite lemony spiced orzo and chickpeas recipe. But this time, of course, made with tangy sun-dried tomatoes, a garlicky creamy broth, loads of fresh basil and a generous shower of Parmesan, all simmered together with perfectly chewy al dente pasta and protein-packed chickpeas. It’s a one-pot, 30-minute dinner that the whole family adores. And I’m pretty sure even all of the omnivores out there won’t miss the chicken.

That said, meals like this one are inherently customizable. So if you feel like adding in an additional protein (such as Italian sausage, shrimp, salmon or chicken), it would be quite easy to do. Or there are all sorts of other veggies and add-ins that could be delicious mixed in too. However you approach this one, the basic formula is famously so good that it will want to make everyone want to marry the cook. ;) So let’s get to it!

(more…)

Read More

Lavender Latte (Hot or Iced)

https://ift.tt/Pm3oFqi

Learn how to make a lavender latte (hot or iced) with this simple recipe that’s easy to customize to your liking.

After moving back to KC last summer, one of my good friends introduced me to her favorite drink at our neighborhood coffee shop — an iced lavender latte — and it was love at first sip. ♡

I’ve long been a fan of pairing lavender with earl grey tea to make a London fog latte. But this was the first time I had ever tasted lavender paired with espresso. And when out for a morning stroll around the neighborhood with our iced lattes on a hot summer’s day, that extra hint of delicate floral flavor in my coffee was just delightful. Loved it!

The cost of those extra pumps of syrup at the coffee shop have a way of adding up quickly, though. So last summer, I got into the routine of making small batches of homemade lavender syrup so that we could make our own lavender lattes here at home. And now nearly a year later, a hot or iced lavender latte continues to be one of my favorite ways to begin the day. They’re easy to make and customize with your favorite type of milk and espresso, and taste equally delicious hot or iced. So whenever you feel like giving your latte a floral twist, let’s simmer up a quick batch of lavender syrup and make some lavender lattes together!

(more…)

Read More

Lavender Syrup

https://ift.tt/pigGsdw

Homemade lavender syrup is easy to make with 3 ingredients and can be used in everything from lattes to cocktails, lemonade, baked goods and more.

This has been the year of lavender syrup here in our house. ♡

Ever since I fell in love with our neighborhood coffee shop’s lavender iced latte last summer — and then pivoted to making my own here at home for a fraction of the cost (recipe coming tomorrow!) — steeping a quick batch of homemade lavender simple syrup has become a regular part of our weekly routine. And over time, we’ve come to find that it’s useful for so many other delicious treats beyond coffee too!

You can use lavender syrup to add a hint of floral flavor to your favorite cocktails. (I’m especially partial to a lavender gin fizz or lavender mojito.) You can add a splash to a refreshing glass of lemonade, iced tea, or sparkling water. You can whisk lavender syrup with powdered sugar to form a lavender glaze, or whip it with heavy cream to make lavender whipped cream. Or you can customize the syrup with different sweeteners or play around with infusing rose, mint, vanilla, or lemon into the syrup too. The possibilities are endless and so much fun!

Most of the time, we keep things simple here in our house with a basic 3-ingredient lavender simple syrup made with dried lavender buds, sugar and water, which won’t steer you wrong. But I’ve included lots of different ideas and tips below to help craft whatever version of this syrup you may love best.

So grab some culinary-grade dried lavender and let’s make a quick batch together. I promise you can find many delicious ways to put it to good use!

(more…)

Read More

Blueberry Cake

https://ift.tt/NukBw3F

This blueberry cake recipe is easy to make and bursting with fresh blueberries.

Blueberry season calls for my favorite blueberry cake! ♡

I first shared this blueberry cake recipe here ten years ago. And now, over a decade later, it still continues to be a favorite tradition of ours each spring when blueberry season rolls back around. It’s loaded up with a full two pints of fresh blueberries, which add a burst of vibrant sweetness to each bite. Then when mixed with a simple vanilla white cake batter, baked up in a bundt pan, and drizzled lightly with a sweet glaze, this cake is downright lovely through and through. Always such a beautiful cake for springtime!

In the years since I first shared this recipe, I’ve come to love adding a hint of lemon to brighten up the cake batter and glaze. And while I love this cake with fresh blueberries, I’ve also updated the notes below with instructions on how to make it using frozen blueberries too if that’s what you have on hand.

This recipe is always a winner in our house, so I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

(more…)

Read More

Ravioli Lasagna

https://ift.tt/7M9LHKj

This ravioli lasagna recipe is super-easy to make with 8 ingredients and only 15 minutes of hands-on prep time.

Say hello to one of my longtime favorite shortcut recipes — ravioli lasagna. ♡

We’re all big lasagna fans here in our house. But let’s be real, layering up a pan of classic lasagna is a labor of love, and one that rarely seems to fit into my schedule in this season of life with two little ones. Ravioli lasagna, however, couldn’t be easier!

Simply sauté a big pan of Italian sausage, onion and garlic and combine with your favorite marinara to make a quick meat sauce. (Or you can skip the sausage and keep this recipe vegetarian.) Layer the sauce in a baking dish with frozen tortellini (no need to thaw), ricotta and lots of mozzarella. Pop the pan in the oven and bake until the mix is hot and bubbly. Then top with extra Parmesan and fresh basil and dive on in. The ravioli swap magically provides all of the textures and flavors we all love in traditional lasagna without all of the work. And when layered with all of these classic ingredients tastes absolutely delicious.

Feel free to use whatever flavor of ravioli and marinara sauce that you love best. And if you’d like to toss in some extra veggies or greens, by all means, go for it. This recipe is incredibly flexible and reliable. So the next time you’re at the store, pop a few bags of frozen ravioli in your cart and let’s make a big pan of “lasagna” together!

(more…)

Read More