Strawberries have a way of making everything better, and these recipes are proof. Grab an extra flat at the farmers’ market or a carton at the grocery store, because these easy strawberry desserts are exactly what you need. From creamy, dreamy cheesecakes to flaky pies and everything in between. We are about to put those berries to very good use.

Cakes & Cheesecakes

When strawberries meet cake (and cheesecake), magic happens. These strawberry desserts look stunning on a dessert table and taste even better than they look.

If you love thick chocolate chip cookies with gooey centers and crisp edges, this recipe is for you. Inspired by the famous Levain Bakery cookies, these oversized, bakery-style cookies are tall, rich, and require two hands to eat without the trip to NYC.

After standing in line at Levain and later discovering similar jumbo cookies closer to home, I knew I had to recreate them in my own kitchen minus the nuts (no thank you!) and specialty ingredients. After extensive testing (and a lot of cookies), this recipe delivers everything people love about Levain-style cookies: height, chew, and total indulgence made with everyday ingredients.

What Makes These Cookies So Thick?

These cookies stay thick because of a few key techniques that prevent them from spreading too much in the oven.

First, the ratio of ingredients is designed to support a tall cookie. The dough contains plenty of flour and just the right amount of fat, which gives the cookies structure while still keeping them soft and gooey in the center. I’ll explain more below.

Second, the recipe uses both baking soda and baking powder. Baking soda reacts with the brown sugar to create lift, while baking powder gives the cookies an extra boost so they rise instead of spreading flat.

Another important factor is the large dough balls. Each cookie is made with about 6 ounces of dough, which allows the outside to set while the inside stays thick and soft.

Finally, chilling the dough helps solidify the butter before baking. This slows down how quickly the cookies spread in the oven, helping them keep their tall, bakery-style shape.

The result is exactly what we’re going for: thick, gooey chocolate chip cookies with crisp edges and soft centers just like the famous bakery versions.

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If you’re looking for the best salmon marinade, you’re in the right place. This easy salmon marinade is made with simple pantry ingredients and turns ordinary salmon filets into something incredibly flavorful, tender, and juicy especially on the grill!

Whether you’re cooking salmon for a weeknight dinner or a summer cookout, this marinade is the secret to grilled salmon that everyone loves.

What Makes This the Best Salmon Marinade

This salmon marinade works because it contains the perfect balance of flavor (citrus, honey, and savory) while keeping the salmon tender and juicy. It adds subtle flavor while still allowing the flavor of the salmon to shine:

• Balanced flavor: Sweet honey, bright orange juice, and savory soy sauce create a marinade that’s flavorful but not heavy.
• Tender, juicy salmon: The citrus helps lightly tenderize the salmon while the oil locks in moisture during grilling.
• Quick marinating time: You only need 20 minutes to infuse big flavor so there’s no long wait required.
• Perfect for grilling: This marinade caramelizes beautifully on the grill without burning or drying out the fish.
• Versatile and foolproof: Use this salmon marinade for grilling, baking, or pan-searing with equally great results.

If you’ve ever struggled with bland or dry salmon, this easy salmon marinade is the simple fix you’ll want to keep using!

Ingredients You’ll Need

This salmon marinade comes together with a handful of simple ingredients that balance sweet, savory, and citrusy flavors perfectly. Each one plays a role in making the salmon tender, juicy, and full of flavor.

• Garlic: Add bold, savory flavor to the salmon marinade
• Orange Juice: Brings bright citrus flavor and natural sweetness to the marinade.
• Honey: Adds a touch of sweetness and helps balance the savory ingredients in the salmon marinade.
• Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds gentle heat and depth of flavor to the marinade.
• Sesame Oil: Adds rich, nutty flavor and enhances the marinade.
• Soy Sauce: Provides saltiness and umami, forming the flavorful base of the salmon marinade.
• Salmon Filets: Look for vibrant pink color and the filets soak up the marinade beautifully.

Tired of the same pasta recipes? You’ll love my quick and easy roasted red pepper pasta recipe! It’s so creamy and satisfying that you’ll be moving it into your regular dinner rotation!

This simple pasta recipe is a fun way to switch up your weeknight pasta rotation, because the roasted red pepper sauce is lightly creamy, tangy, and filled with a sweet and smoky flavor with minimal effort from you!

I am going to have to quote the pioneer woman here…”GROAN”. Seriously, this roasted red pepper pasta is all too delicious. Roasted red peppers really make this dish. Don’t be put off by roasting your own peppers, it really is worth it and not as complicated as it may sound.

The first time I made this recipe, I used whole wheat rigatoni, and although I couldn’t keep my finger out of the sauce, the whole wheat pasta just didn’t work for me. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE whole wheat pasta, but some sauces just need something else.

This time we used orecchiette and it was like little pockets of heaven!!!!!!! We really liked it a lot more than the rigatoni. I love how they hold the sauce and are still so light. This recipe really is a must try. Let me know how it goes!

Ingredients for Red Pepper Pasta

• Red Bell Peppers: The star of the sauce—roasted for sweetness and smoky depth, giving the pasta its rich flavor and vibrant color.
• Pine Nuts: Add nuttiness and natural creaminess when blended into the sauce; also give a subtle, buttery flavor.
• Pasta (orecchiette or campanelle): Both shapes hold sauce beautifully—their curves and nooks catch the creamy roasted pepper mixture for maximum flavor in every bite.
• Olive Oil: Adds richness, carries the flavors of garlic and shallot, and helps create a silky sauce.
• Shallot: Sweeter and milder than onions, shallots add gentle depth and balance to the sauce.
• Garlic: Brings savory, aromatic flavor that enhances the peppers and ties the sauce together.
• Salt: Essential for balancing sweetness, enhancing flavor, and seasoning the pasta water.
• Heavy Cream: Makes the sauce super smooth, creamy, and comforting while balancing the roasted pepper’s acidity.
• White Wine or Cooking White Wine: Adds acidity and brightness, cutting through the richness and giving a subtle complexity to the sauce.
• Parmesan Cheese: Brings salty, nutty flavor and helps thicken the sauce while adding that irresistible cheesy finish.
• Basil: Adds freshness and a pop of herbal brightness that balances the creamy, smoky, savory flavors.

How to Make Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Our family’s Roasted Red Pepper Pasta is an easy weeknight meal for when you’re in a hurry. All you

If you’re looking for the best cilantro lime dressing, this creamy version is fresh, tangy, and packed with flavor. Made with avocado, fresh lime juice, cilantro, and garlic, this cilantro lime salad dressing blends up in just minutes and works on almost everything. Drizzle it over salads, tacos, burrito bowls, grilled chicken, or use it as a dip for veggies.

The avocado gives the dressing a naturally creamy texture without any dairy, while the lime and cilantro add that bright, zesty flavor that makes everything taste better. Basically, once you make this cilantro lime dressing recipe, you’ll want to keep a jar in the fridge at all times.

Salad Dressing Recipes

I’m slowly but surely gathering up all of my favorite salad dressing recipes… for my mom. Haha! I mean, I’m doing it for all of you as well, but this stems from a comment my mom made that I’m not completely ruminating on. 🙂 She said she doesn’t know how to make a good salad. AND, FURTHERMORE, she doesn’t really eat salad in the winter because she associates it with summer. 

Oh heck no. 

Salad is one of the greatest things of my life, so I absolutely have to help her out! Salads are the easiest recipe because literally anything goes. You wanna add roasted sweet potatoes? DO IT! You want to mix cottage cheese in? IT’S DELICIOUS!

So, first up, Cilantro Lime Avocado Dressing because it’s healthy, and so bright and zesty! And look at that green color! All the heart eyes!

Why You’ll Love This Cilantro Lime Dressing

• Ready in 5 minutes
• Naturally creamy from avocado
• Fresh and tangy flavor
• Great for salads, tacos, bowls, and wraps
• Gluten-free and dairy-free

Ingredients You’ll Need

This creamy cilantro lime dressing uses simple fresh ingredients that blend into a bright and flavorful sauce.