INTRODUCTION
My mom keeps a whole lasagna in her freezer at all times. My sister and brother- in- law plan and shop for their meals at the beginning of every week. I prefer to cook on the fly with what I bring home from the farmers market or with what I have on hand.
For a long time, I was convinced that my way was, of course, the best way. My cook- from- the hip approach was fun and freeing, after all! I even wrote a book (The Love & Lemons Cookbook) about the impromptu meals that I made with my farmers market finds.
But over the last few years, I’ve finally realized that there isn’t one best way to get dinner on the table. For one, I have an overall busier life (we have a baby now!). I have to admit, my mom is right— sometimes, a frozen lasagna can be a lifesaver on a hectic weeknight.
I’ve also learned from you— the Love & Lemons readers. I’ve had countless conversations with you about your favorite recipes on loveandlemons.com, adapting recipes to make them work for you, and what you’d like to see more of. You’ve taught me that we all share a goal: to eat fresh, healthy, and delicious food. But, as with my family and me, we have different ways of getting there.
Some of you love easy meals that you can make right now. When I posted a tomato soup recipe that you could make with ingredients you had in your pantry right at that moment, you made it, right then.
Others of you like to plan ahead. When I shared a sweet potato grain bowl that you could prep in advance for lunch, you (and I!) enjoyed wholesome meals all week. When I wrote about how to put together one grocery list for three easy (but not identical) dinners, an overwhelming number of you said, “I’d love to see a book with this approach!”
So here we are. This book serves up feel- good recipes for these two types of cooks: those who love easy, at- the- ready dishes that can be made at the drop of a hat, and those who like to plan in advance. You might be one, the other, or a little bit of both. Whatever the case, I hope these recipes make your mealtimes simpler, fresher, and more delicious. Happy cooking!
Copyright © 2023 by Jeanine Donofrio. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
