Three simple and delicious recipes made with basil!

When I find a recipe that’s easy to make, I make it a lot. And when I find easy,
quick, tasty food, I like to share it with you. Cause I’m nice like that.

Basil is one of my favorite herbs, and is so easy to grow at home! I usually
have WAY too much and am always looking for ways to use it up. 

I found these basil recipes years ago and they are still staples around here.
 

If you’re looking for ways to use up your crop or just love basil like me,
you’ll enjoy these three recipes made with this delicious herb. I’ve included my
favorite snack idea, a pasta dish (actually two!) and a delicious cocktail to finish it all
off.  

First up, one that works for a quick snack or as a great dip for parties. It’s
SO simple to throw together!

1. Easy basil pesto

Pesto is a great way to use up a lot of basil and it’s easy to
make!

I usually make a small amount, so this is for a snack
sized version. Perfect for just a few people! (And a little goes a looong way in pasta.)

The great thing about this recipe is you can easily customize the taste to how
you like it. I don’t use exact measurements:

There’s no preparation needed, other than washing your basil leaves and
patting them dry. 

Taste test it to see if you’d like more of any ingredient. If it’s too thick,
add a splash of olive oil. Too bland? Add more garlic or basil. 

I LOVE basil, so I add a lot of it and a little more garlic than the recipe suggests.   

Taste and mix till it’s where you want it. I like to eat it with crackers or
cut up veggies:

You can also add it to pasta — so good! This is my favorite way to eat pesto:

When mixing with pasta, you’ll want to add a little extra olive oil to help it mix well. 

By the way, yes, you can freeze pesto. Make a bunch and save some!

Now that we have an appetizer, let’s move on to the main course.

2. Easy Tomato and Basil Pasta

I had two cans of tomatoes in the pic above, but you only need one. It’s more
than enough! 

Mix with the cooked pasta, and top with some more parmesan. That’s it!

I like to throw mine in a pan for a bit to warm the cheese, but it’s not
necessary: 

I have yet to try it cold, but that sounds delicious too. 

3. Dragonberry Strawberry Basil cocktail

Let’s finish off this trio with a yummy drink, shall we? 

This basil cocktail has become one of my favorites.
Yes, basil…in a drink. I promise you, it’s good! This fizzy and fresh berry drink is perfect for a warm summer evening. 

There’s just a hint of basil in this strawberry basil lemonade drink:

If you don’t LOVE basil, try this out with just one leaf to see what you think. The drink will taste great without the basil though.  

Put that aside and move onto the rest of the ingredients. 

I prefer to use fresh-squeezed lemons when I can, but bottled lemon juice is fine. Half of a lemon is perfect for one serving: 

Add the lemon juice, simple syrup and Bacardi rum in a
shaker with a bunch of ice. 

Shake well and pour into your glass of choice:

Then enjoy!:

I would think this could be made none alcoholic by omitting the rum. It would be
a beautiful punch for a shower or party!

Again, if you don’t like basil, this may not be for you. But don’t count it
out if you’re not a basil fan! 

So there you go…a plethora of basil recipes, all easy and sooooo good. All
perfect if you grow your own basil — I always hate to have any go to waste. 

Last week I shared a little update on my fractured ankle, what I’ve been up to, and how I’m staying active. And wow—you all really showed up in the comments. It’s always expected when you open up online (good or bad), but the kindness I received was so appreciated. Thank you!

Being someone who shares so much on the internet can feel a little scary sometimes. You’re vulnerable every day, and anytime you open up about something new, people will talk—there will always be opinions. It’s a tricky space to navigate. I’m not going to lie, some days it can really wear you down. But it’s also the best thing in the world.

Our little corner of the internet—the core HBH community—is so supportive and sweet. I just want you to know how much I appreciate every single kind and encouraging message. They mean so much, and I never take them for granted.

Quick update too—I’m doing well! The pain is finally gone, and I’m starting to feel like myself again. Hobbling around has gotten easier, and I know I’m on the mend. I’ll be back to full speed soon…and already planning for it, of course.

In the meantime, this pause at home has been surprisingly nice. Cooking has been tricky (crutches in the kitchen are not ideal), but I’ve had time to focus on other projects that usually get pushed to the side. So that’s been refreshing!

One thing that’s really been bringing me joy is resistance training—something I mentioned last week. It’s kind of wild how quickly you can feel yourself getting stronger. I’ve loved the routine, and it’s helped so much with my mindset too.

We’ve got a few fun things on the calendar as summer winds down. I’m excited for some upcoming travel, and I can’t wait for September! Apple picking, cozy Sunday chili, lighting those pumpkin candles—who’s ready for fall?! Or are you still fully in summer mode?

Our only big event this month is a photoshoot mid-August. And of course, my sister Asher’s birthday at the end of the month—I cannot believe she’ll be 17! Such a big birthday!

So many good things ahead. Now, let’s get into this week’s favorites!

1. Things i’m Loving.

cooking new recipes, while also planning for fall. But I’m still living in summer and making these Blender Zucchini Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Muffins on repeat. Also, The 50 Most Popular Summer Recipes is great for ideas! Plus my favorite Summer Salads. Oh, and I’m so happy to see everyone baking the Peach Muffin Bread and Blueberry Cookie Cobbler.

everything in my cart (low)…all things Zara! They have so many incredible pieces right now. Loving this Pieced Triangle Bikini Top and matching Bikini Bottom. The bead details are pretty! This Poplin Midi Dress is the PERFECT easy dress for August, styled with the cutest Cherry Hair Clip. Take your White Poplin Dress into fall with cute Boots (Nordstrom sale find) and style with a stack of Rigid Bracelets and this Beaded Strap Handbag. Pair this Lace Bodysuit with this Soft Zippered Jacket.

And lastly, I think these Textured Medium Hoop Earrings are a great purchase for fall!

listening to…Stuck in a Creative BLOCK? THIS 3-Minute Practice Will Unlock Your Creativity.

something fun to listen to to…You Asked, Gwyneth Answered.

travel…Regenerative Farming Is the Latest Wellness Travel Trend. I love this! Blackberry Farm in Tennessee has always been on my list of places to visit. And how pretty does Le Doyenné in Saint-Vrain, France, look? Closer to home, the Pendry Natirar in Somerset County, New Jersey! All are so pretty, and I love the standards they hold themselves to.

loving…the Emmanuella Coverlet in Plum from Morrow Soft Goods. It is 100% Cotton, Oeko-Tex Certified, and made in Portugal. I want to recreate this bed they styled for fall. It’s cozy looking, and I need something simple, clean, and fresh!

shopping…the last of the Nordstrom sale. What have you guys gotten? I got three new pairs of sneakers to try. The 530 sneakers from New Balance, and then I’m trying two from Nike. The training shoe and the V2K Sneaker. More end-of-sale finds below!

getting excited for…Starbucks Fall Drinks Are Coming Soon: Here’s What’s on the Menu This Year.

everything in my cart (beauty)…I’ve used this Saie Sunvisor for the last couple years. I love it because it combines your sunscreen, skincare, and makeup into one convenient package. It’s the only “makeup” I apply aside from The Skinny Confidential Brow Peptide. I’ve also heard really great things about the BeautyScreen Peptide Foundation Tint from Naked Sundays. I’m excited to try it!

ordered…too many Loewe candles.

wanting…to fill this Basket Bag with bundles of fresh late-summer dahlias.

everything in my cart (high)…currently loving this Miu Miu Denim pencil skirt. It’s simple, but I still kind of love it. Also, this Denim and Leather Blouson Jacket.

wearing…this scrunchie every day because my hair is always up in a top knot while I cook. And this Eyelet Scrunchie is cute too if you love a dainty summer look.

Something fun…90s Summer Activities.

questions…What Small, Inexpensive Things Make Your Life Better?

2. This Week’s Popular Summer Recipes.

Easy Blueberry Ginger Cookie Cobbler

Simple Roasted Sungold Cherry Tomato Pasta

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Mexican Street Corn Dip

Tomato, Peach, and Burrata Salad

Old School Easy Brown Sugar Peach Cobbler

Easy Bruschetta Chicken

3. Game Day Entertaining.

4. Updated Williams Sonoma Event Dates.

I’m so excited to share that our rescheduled Williams Sonoma event dates are officially updated—wahoo! I’ve honestly felt awful about having to postpone the last few summer stops because of my ankle. It’s been weighing on me that I may have let some of you down. BUT, we do have new dates for the fall, and I really cannot wait to see you all soon!

Fingers crossed this actually works out better and even more of you are able to make it now! (You can grab your tickets here.) These events are going to be so much fun—such a great way to kick off the cozy season ahead!

If you’ve already purchased tickets, no worries—they’ll automatically apply to the new dates. But if you’re unable to make it, we completely understand and are happy to issue a refund. Just reach out to the team at wsevents@wsgc.com.

Williams Sonoma Stanford Shopping Center

Palo Alto, California
Tuesday, October 28th at 6 pm

Williams Sonoma South Coast Plaza

Costa Mesa, California
Wednesday, October 29th at 6 pm

Williams Sonoma Hill Center

Nashville, Tennessee
Wednesday, November 5 at 6 pm

Williams Sonoma SouthPark Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina
Thursday, November 6 at 6 pm

5. Fall Recipes, Parties + Holiday Entertaining!

I’d love to hear from you—what fall recipes are you hoping to see this season? What are you cooking, baking, or hosting?

Are you planning game day tailgates, cozy dinner parties, or holiday gatherings? What events are on your calendar?

And tell me…what part of entertaining feels the most overwhelming? Is it the menu? The timing? The decor?

I want to help take the stress out of it all! I’m thinking full menus, easy (but impressive) recipes, tablescape ideas, and of course, all my go-to entertaining tips and tricks. Let me know what would be most helpful!

6. Inspiring Me.

(our hurdles and struggles in life only make us stronger)

7. Favorite Links I’m Loving.

The First Look at the New Andy Sachs in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2

The Major Wedding-Planning Trends Set to Take Over

10 Destinations in the Midwest for an Affordable Weekend Trip

The Mezzatorre, the Ischian Escape You Need to Know

Why the ‘Clueless’ Costumes Still Feel Timeless 30 Years Later

How I Keep Hosting Affordable Without Sacrificing Style or Vibes

What Fun Facts Do You Know? 

What Summer Books Are You Reading?

6 Trending Summer It Bags

Dishes No One Wants You Bringing To A Summer Cookout 

25 Fun Things to Do When It’s Too Hot Outside

How Each of the Most Popular Levi’s Jeans Fits IRL

8. Wedding Guest Dresses + The Summer Sales.

revolve

wedding

9. This Week’s Dinners + Weekend eats.

Monday: Zucchini Cheddar Chicken Noodle Casserole

Tuesday: Bacon Goat Cheese Tomato Corn Pizza

Wednesday: Sheet Pan Hot Honey Garlic Chicken and Zucchini

Thursday: Caprese Chicken Pasta Salad

Friday: Heirloom Tomato Cheddar Tart with Everything Spice

Saturday: Iced Brown Sugar Latte with Shaken Espresso

Sunday: Cinnamon Crunch Peach Muffin Bread

Welcome to Tomato Week, Bon Appétit’s high-summer celebration of our all-time favorite fruit. Fill your totes with heirlooms and pack your pockets with Sun Golds: Each day, we’re sharing a brand new, extra-delicious way to make the most of this fleeting season.

Imagine the tender, flavorful filling of a pork dumpling—seasoned with soy sauce and brightened with a combination of ginger, garlic, and scallion. Now imagine that instead of a typical dumpling wrapper, it’s stuffed inside a juicy tomato, meant to be eaten with a fork and knife alongside a mound of rice. Cute and a little silly, it’s a fun way to use up an excess of summer tomatoes in a surprising and filling way, even straight from the baking dish.

This recipe calls for 8–10 slicer (or beefsteak) tomatoes because they can really vary in size. You’ll want all of the tomatoes full nearly to the top with your seasoned pork mixture; if your tomatoes are on the larger end, you may only have enough pork to stuff 8 in total.

Air fryer corn on the cob is the fastest, easiest way to cook corn! It’s ready in minutes, and it comes out tender, juicy, and flavorful every time.

Air fryer corn on the cob has been a total game changer for me. It’s the quickest, easiest way I know to cook corn on the cob! This recipe takes just 10 minutes from start to finish, and it yields perfectly cooked, tender sweet corn. Bonus: it doesn’t heat up your kitchen in the process.

I won’t lie—I still make boiled corn on the cob and grilled corn on the cob for summer cookouts and BBQs. But when I want to make a small batch in as little time as possible, this air fryer method can’t be beat. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners with my family of three or when I’m cooking fresh corn to use in a salad or dip.

Even though this recipe is super simple, I wanted to share it because it saves me so much time in the kitchen in the summer. If you love corn and have an air fryer, you should definitely try it!

How to Make Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

This air fryer corn on the cob recipe starts with 4 basic ingredients: fresh sweet corn, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Start by prepping the corn. Remove the husks and silks, then rinse the ears and pat them dry. Place them on a large plate, rub them with olive oil, and season them with salt and pepper.

Then, cook the corn. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F, if your air fryer requires preheating. Place the corn in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook until the kernels are bright yellow and tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Two tips:

1. Leave a little space between the ears. If they’re crowded together, they won’t cook evenly!
2. Don’t overdo it. It might be tempting to cook corn on the cob in the air fryer until the kernels are very charred, but keep in mind that the kernels dry out as they darken. For the juiciest corn, stop cooking when the kernels are bright yellow and tender.

After cooking, season and serve! I love my air fryer corn on the cob with a squeeze of lime juice and sprinkle of cilantro. Keep reading for more serving ideas!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to Serve Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

My favorite way to serve this air fryer corn on the cob is as a side dish. It pairs well with any simply cooked protein, summer cookout fare like veggie burgers and black bean burgers, veggie tacos, and more.

Serve it with your favorite fixings! I like cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice, but any of these options would be delicious too:

You can also slice the corn kernels off the cobs and use them in larger recipes. Try using them instead of the raw corn in my black bean and corn salad or corn salsa recipe.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

If you loved learning how to cook corn on the cob in the air fryer, try one of these easy air fryer recipes next:

Join the Love & Lemons Cooking Club Challenge this month! It’s easy to enter, and one lucky winner will receive a prize. Find all the details below.

Our Cooking Club is a fun way to celebrate the Love & Lemons community of readers. The concept is super simple—each month, I choose a recipe. You make it, and you leave a comment on the recipe’s blog post. At the end of the month, I randomly select one winner to receive a prize.

I love the sense of community that comes from so many people cooking one recipe each month. We’re kicking off our July challenge today with our panzanella recipe, and I hope you’ll join in the fun. Here’s how it works:

The Prize: A $100 Whole Foods Gift Card!

At the end of the month, I’ll randomly select a winner and share some of your photos. This time, we’re giving away a $100 Whole Foods gift card. 

In addition, for every entry we receive, we’ll donate $1 to No Kid Hungry.

July is the start of peak tomato season, so it felt like a non-negotiable to choose a tomato recipe this month. I landed on one of my absolute favorite summer dishes: panzanella!

In case you’re not familiar, panzanella is a Tuscan bread salad. It’s one of the best ways to use up stale bread—the dry bread soaks up the sweet tomato juices and tangy dressing, becoming soft and saturated with fresh summer flavor.

It’s a great summer side dish, and I love it as a main dish on a hot night too. The fresh veggies make it SUPER refreshing, and it requires very little cooking (just 10-ish minutes in the oven for toasting the bread).

• Make it vegan: Skip the cheese! It’s optional anyway—you won’t miss it.
• Make it gluten-free: Use good-quality gluten-free bread. A crusty loaf is best.
• Pairing suggestion: Embrace the Italian vibes and sip a Hugo spritz or Aperol spritz!

Get the panzanella recipe!

Last Month’s Recipe

Last month, we celebrated summer BBQ/picnic season by making a classic cookout side: coleslaw! You all put so many fun spins on this recipe:

• From Ilona: “I left out the maple syrup and put in a little pomegranate molasses. Yummy”
• From Adrienne: “I added chives and some tarragon from my garden. Perfect summer side!”
• From Deeann: “I used radicchio instead of red cabbage because I had it on hand. It turned out great and I will be making it again!”
• From Ruby, “If you don’t have apple cider vinegar on hand, or want to add extra flavor depth, substitute the liquid from a jar of pickles.”

And those are just a few! I’m so inspired to riff on this recipe for the rest of the summer. Here are some of your photos:

And congrats to, Alison, our winner!

To Recap

Enter the July Cooking Club Challenge by…

1. Making my panzanella sometime in July.
2. Leaving a comment on the panzanella blog post by July 31.
3. Sending a picture of your panzanella to cookingclub@loveandlemons.com for a bonus entry.
4. And for another bonus entry, posting your photo on Instagram, tagging @loveandlemons and #loveandlemonscookingclub.

Happy cooking!