Mango season is here! I’m celebrating with a guide to preparing mango, whether you want it sliced or diced. Mango is one of the most popular fruits in the world, but I didn’t grow up eating it and had to learn how to prepare it. I’ve tried all the different methods, and I’m sharing the best way to cut mango today.

Mango tastes sort of like a juicy tropical peach, with notes of honey. Even when it’s ripe, it typically has a light sourness to it, which keeps me going back for more. I love using mango for a burst of sweetness in salads, salsa, and savory entrées—not to mention snacking on them.

Mangoes are at their peak in the summer, typically available from May through September. I’ve been excited to find Ataulfo mangoes (also known as honey or Champagne) on sale at Whole Foods lately. That’s the variety you see here, and they’re particularly buttery and delicious. My preparation methods will work well on any variety and size of mango!

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Arugula pesto is one of my favorite recipe components. It deserves the spotlight! If you enjoy arugula and basil pesto, you’ll love arugula pesto. It’s just as lovely as the regular kind.

As much as I appreciate traditional pesto made with basil, arugula pesto has a few advantages. For one, it offers an interesting twist on a familiar flavor profile. It’s also less expensive—buying fresh basil can add up at the grocery store. Year-round, it’s generally easier to find good arugula than basil. Lastly, arugula pesto doesn’t turn brown on the top like basil pesto can (no blanching required).

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Refried black beans are one of my favorite plant-based recipe components. I’ve perfected my technique and flavorings over the years, and I’m excited to share the recipe with you today.

Made with canned beans, these refried black beans are a quick and satisfying alternative to stovetop black beans, and a fun variation on classic refried pinto beans. They taste far superior to plain canned black beans or store-bought refried beans. They’re the best!

These refried beans are flavored with sautéed onion, roasted or fresh red bell pepper, garlic, cumin, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Thanks to the red bell pepper and cumin, they have a subtle Cuban vibe that plays beautifully with the earthy flavor of the black beans.

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Peanut butter lovers: Have you tried making your own? I don’t know what took me so long to try it. It’s so easy to blend in a food processor and tastes incredible. Take your PB&J to the next level with homemade peanut butter.

Homemade peanut butter is lusciously creamy, with rich and irresistible peanut flavor. Notably, there’s no grit or annoying oil to stir into the container. Homemade peanut butter tops all the store-bought options in flavor and texture, and I’ve tried every natural peanut butter out there!

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Do you know how to measure flour correctly? If you’re the slightest bit uncertain, this tutorial is for you! To be clear, the best way to measure flour is with a scale, but not all Amerians own a scale.

The second-best method is “spooned and leveled.” All of the recipes on this blog use this method, so I want to share exactly what that means today.

If your baked goods don’t always turn out like the pictures, your measurements might be off. Let’s fix that. With this method, your cookies, muffins, and pizza dough will turn out consistently from batch to batch.

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Who knew Swiss chard could be this good?! The key is to slice the chard very thinly and cook it over medium-high heat until it caramelizes on the edges. These greens are not soggy or mushy, no way.

This cooked chard is a little garlicky, a little lemony, and seriously irresistible. It’s the perfect quick and healthy side dish. The chard shrinks in volume while it cooks, so you’ll find yourself eating more greens than you realize—your body will thank you!

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I consider myself a pickle connoisseur, and I dare say that these pickled jalapeños are the best. These pickled jalapeños are fresh and lightly crisp, with the perfect level of heat. They’re so much better than their store-bought counterparts, which have been sitting on the shelf for who knows how long.

To make this recipe, you’ll need fresh jalapeños, vinegar, water, an optional garlic clove, and salt. That’s it—the rest of the magic is due to the method.

These pickles will taste fully pickled after a four-hour rest in the refrigerator, so make them earlier in the day or the night before you need them. They retain their lovely flavor for about one month in the refrigerator.

These pickled jalapeños offer the perfect spicy pop to my meals! I hope you love them as much as I do.

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Have you experienced cashew butter? It is sublime and somehow much more delicious than a handful of toasted cashews. A spoonful of homemade cashew butter tastes like a treat. It’s nearly as enticing as cookie dough, as far as I’m concerned—sometimes, I add a few chocolate chips to achieve the full cookie dough effect.

This homemade cashew butter recipe is easy to make in a food processor. The trick is to lightly toast your cashews before blending for the best flavor and texture. Even then, cashew butter has a more neutral flavor than most other nut butter. It’s quite versatile.

Homemade cashew butter contains no additives like sunflower oil; it’s made simply with cashews and a dash of salt to enhance the flavor. Since it is so fresh, it offers better flavor than store-bought options.

Store-bought cashew butter can be quite expensive—I often balk at the nearly twenty-dollar jars at Whole Foods. Making it at home can cost half as much. We could get into a philosophical debate about time versus money, or make cashew butter in the same length of time. Let’s make some already.

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Looking for a wholesome, make-ahead breakfast recipe? Muesli is the answer! Originating in Switzerland, muesli is essentially homemade oat cereal—to serve, add milk and maybe some fresh fruit. Muesli is similar to granola but lighter, as it’s made without oil and minimally sweetened. It also reminds me of oatmeal, but it’s served cold and ready to enjoy at a moment’s notice.

Not all mueslis are created equally—some are made with raw oats and taste bland. Not this one! This nutritious muesli recipe offers loads of texture and flavor. It features toasted old-fashioned oats, nuts and seeds, optional coconut, and chopped dried fruit.

Toasting the muesli in the oven makes a world of difference. It brings out the savory, nutty flavors in the oats, nuts and seeds and makes your kitchen smell lovely. The oven’s heat also firms up the oats a bit, offering even more texture.

My other trick is adding a small splash of maple syrup to the mixture before toasting. The subtle sweetness substantially improves the flavor.

You probably have everything you need to make muesli already, so let’s preheat the oven and start mixing. Below, you’ll find many options for adapting the recipe to your pantry.

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Homemade lemon vinaigrette is one of the most versatile salad dressings! Today, I’m sharing my go-to lemon dressing recipe for all of your salad needs. It’s light and lively, and goes with nearly any salad.

Lemon juice shines in this simple recipe using basic, high quality ingredients. No store-bought salad dressing can compete with these vibrant, freshly-squeezed flavors.

To make this lovely dressing, you’ll need just five basic ingredients. Fresh lemons and garlic are key—please no pre-squeezed juice or pre-minced garlic here. You’ll also need extra-virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, and honey or maple syrup. The Dijon mustard rounds out the flavor and helps emulsify the ingredients so they stay blended together.

This dressing yields enough for six generous side salads and keeps in the refrigerator for up to ten days. I’ve enjoyed this dressing for years and know you will, too!

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