A Life in Food by real-life Chef Cheryl Bennett
Delicious strawberry cream cheese pound cake is a simple tea cake made with ripe strawberries. Like my blueberry pound cake, the cream cheese batter makes a moist cake with a tender crumb and fabulous flavor.
If peaches are more your thing, check out this peach pound cake.
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…Butternut squash fritters are an easy, gluten free side dish. Made with grated butternut squash and chickpea flour, they bake up golden brown and crispy in the air fryer. Just like my original veggie cakes recipe, they can also be pan fried, if you don’t have an air fryer.
These crispy veggie cakes made from butternut squash also make a nutritious and delicious breakfast, with an egg on top.
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…Classic Italian meatballs with parmesan cheese are pure comfort food, but they aren’t exactly weeknight friendly. These easy weeknight meatballs will give you all the flavors you’re craving in a fraction of the time. Make a double batch and use them in this one pan meatballs and mushroom orzo.
A quick bake in a hot oven ensures the meatball is tender inside and nicely browned outside. Because they are baked and not fried, there are no greasy splatters to clean up. Like my Thai turkey meatballs, these are great for leftovers the next day.
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…Pan seared corvina is a one pan meal that has quickly become a new favorite. This easy corvina recipe is perfect for weeknight cooking. Saffron potatoes and Portuguese linguiça round out this dish for a complete meal. Serve with crusty bread for getting every last bit of sauce on your plate.
One pan meals, like this creamy chicken pasta, are a lifesaver during the week. A handful of ingredients and one pan deliver a hearty meal with very little effort.
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…Hearty and filling, Instant Pot black bean soup is an easy weeknight dinner. This easy vegan recipe comes together quickly and it is one of our favorite soup recipes. Perfect for chilly evenings when a bowl of something warm and comforting is calling your name.
Full of Cuban flavors, this Instant Pot black bean soup can be as chunky or as smooth as you like it. Eaten as is, the recipe is vegan, however it becomes vegetarian if you add sour cream or cheese to the bowl.
The leftovers make a terrific topping for nachos or tucked into tacos or burritos.
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This veggie black bean soup is full of vegetables like onions, peppers, celery and tomatoes.
It has a bit of chipotle pepper to give it a little something extra, but not enough to make it spicy. You can increase the heat by adding more chipotle peppers.
I used a 6 quart Instant Pot to make this black bean soup. If you’re not sure what size you have, look on the back. There should be a label near the plug, it will tell you the capacity of your model.
For this soup, you’ll need a handful of common pantry ingredients, plus a few kitchen staples, like onions, garlic and a few spices.
My favorite beans are from Rancho Gordo. They are a bit more expensive than their store-bought counterparts. But in my opinion, it is money well spent.
This black bean soup has Cuban flavors and I’ve served it with a few garnishes, like plantain strips to reflect that, but you can garnish your soup with whatever flavors you love most.
The first step is heating up the Instant Pot to sauté the veggies. Then, we’ll add the rest of the ingredients, give it a stir and lock the lid.
Once the pressure comes up, the timer will start counting down the time. I cooked my soup for 20 minutes, then let it naturally release for 15 – 20 minutes before blending.
You can choose to enjoy it as is, but I suggest blending a bit of the soup and adding it back in to give it a creamier texture.
I used my immersion blender to do this and it makes quick work of it. I’ve linked to the one I own.
If you’re in the market for a new one, I highly recommend this one. It was a replacement for my old stick blender and I love it.
Another option is to scoop out a few cups of the soup and use your blender to purée it before adding it back to the Instant Pot.
Cook the soup at high pressure for 20 – 25 minutes.
Yes, you can. Reduce the cooking time to about 8 minutes and reduce the liquid by a cup or two as well. Make sure to drain and rinse your beans.
To make this in a crock pot, cook on low for 6 – 7 hours or high for 3 – 4 hours, or until beans and veggies are tender.
Yes you can! Put everything in a large pot and simmer on the stove over low heat for approximately 1 1/2 – 2 hours.
If I’m serving dessert that night, I tend to choose something like this blueberry buttermilk bundt cake or chocolate coconut truffles for a quick and easy no bake option.
I really hope you love this recipe. If you make it, snap a pic and share it with me either in the Fabulous Foodie Friends Facebook group or on Instagram by tagging @pookspantry and using hashtag #pookspantry.
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Instant Pot black bean soup is a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
Blend soup as much or as little as you like to achieve desired consistency.
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Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂
Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!
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Langostino risotto is a delicious special occasion dinner. Whether it is an anniversary, Valentine’s Day or a birthday, langostino recipes like this are a perfect choice for celebrating at home.
From langostino artichoke dip, to warm, buttery langostino lobster rolls, there is no shortage of recipes here for this delicate seafood.
It can take something simple and elevate it, like langostino mac and cheese.
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Risotto is a great meal to serve for special occasions. It feels fancy, even though it really isn’t. When you get down to it, it’s just cheesy rice with some delicious mix-ins, like butternut squash risotto.
A few years back, I made langostino étouffé for a Mardi Gras celebration. While eating the langostinos with the rice, it occured to me that these two things pair quite nicely together.
Being a big fan of risotto, it was an obvious jump to this recipe.
As you can see below, most of the ingredients are fairly common. There isn’t anything unusual or hard to find, which makes this recipe perfect for a celebratory dinner anytime.
Before starting your langostino risotto, have everything measured and minced, ready to go. It makes the process much smoother when cooking.
I find frozen langostino tails at Trader Joe’s or Costco. If you don’t have either of those near you, ask your local fishmonger.
Sometimes, a good seafood market can order them for you, if you ask nicely.
Just look at that creamy rice. This langostino risotto will be your new favorite special occasion meal.
It also makes a great dinner on cold nights when you want something cozy and comforting.
First, heat the stock or broth in a small pot on the stove and keep it warm.
Next, melt the butter and oil together in a wide, shallow pan. Add shallots and sauté, then add rice.
Add wine and cook until it is almost absored, then add your first ladle of warm stock to the pan.
Cook, stirring frequently, until most of the stock is absorbed before adding more.
Look at the photo on the right. The grains of rice have swelled significantly and have absorbed quite a bit of stock. The rice is creamy and tender when it is done.
Finally, we’ll finish off the risotto with grated Parmesan and fold in the langostino tails.
Making risotto isn’t difficult at all. It’s just a matter of slowly stirring the rice and allowing it time to absorb the stock. It’s the perfect meal for a quiet Valentine’s Day at home or for celebrating a birthday or an anniversary.
I really hope you love this recipe. If you make it, snap a pic and share it with me either in the Fabulous Foodie Friends Facebook group or on Instagram by tagging @pookspantry and using hashtag #pookspantry.
If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!
Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.
Langostino risotto is perfect for celebrating a special occasion or when you need a cozy meal on a cold night.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂
Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to have you on my newsletter, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!
Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe without prior written permission. Thank you!
These chocolate-dipped coconut truffles taste like a bite sized Almond Joy candy bar. They are an easy, no bake treat that is perfect for Valentine’s Day. For another delicious dessert, try this dark chocolate cake with red wine chocolate ganache.
These are super easy to make and if you have kids, they can help roll and dip the treats.
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Valentine’s Day is for chocolate, that’s not up for debate. Whether it’s a box of candy or a chocolate bundt cake, we need some of that cocoa goodness.
Coconut is a favorite of mine, and the combination of chocolate and coconut is delicious.
A very long time ago when I worked in catering, we were craving something sweet that was fast & easy and did not need cooking. What I came up with was this recipe. It earned the name “crack balls” by the kitchen staff because we couldn’t stop eating them.
These aren’t your normal chocolate truffles made with a ganache. This bite-sized copycat Almond Joy is made even better with an unexpected ingredient – a pinch of salt.
I use a combination of sweetened and unsweetened coconut flakes so the candy isn’t overly sweet. If you prefer them very sweet, use all sweetened coconut flakes to make them.
1. Combine both toasted and untoasted coconut with a pinch of salt and evaporated milk.
2. Using a small scoop, portion out truffles and place on baking sheet.
3. Roll into balls, lightly packing them with the palms of your hands while rolling so they stay together.
4. Dip into melted dark chocolate and toss in chopped nuts.
I like to roll them in chopped toasted almonds, but you can use anything that you have. I’ve used peanuts, cashews and pistachios to coat these coconut truffles and all were delicious.
You can also opt for no nuts, if you prefer, and just dip them in chocolate. Another fun option would be to roll them in red or pink sprinkles.
Once you have them covered, place them back onto a sheet pan to let the chocolate set up.
These candies also make great homemade gifts. Tuck a few truffles into valentine’s treat bags to share with friends, family and neighbors.
Quick, easy and delicious, these chocolate coconut truffles are perfect for surprising your special Valentine.
I really hope you love this recipe. If you make it, snap a pic and share it with me either in the Fabulous Foodie Friends Facebook group or on Instagram by tagging @pookspantry and using hashtag #pookspantry.
If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!
Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.
These chocolate-dipped coconut truffles taste like a bite sized Almond Joy candy bar.
Use a combination of sweetened and unsweetened shredded coconut to keep these truffles from being overly sweet.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂
Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to have you on my newsletter, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!
Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe without prior written permission. Thank you!
Originally published 8/31/11, most recent update 2/1/21
Fried okra cakes are a delicious way to turn this vegetable into veggie cakes that the whole family will enjoy.
Crispy on the outside, light and fluffy inside, and studded with tender pieces of okra.
Looking for a new side dish for dinner? These savory fritters are full of flavor and will be a new favorite at dinnertime.
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…Crunchy fried langostino are piled into French bread and dressed with a delicious remoulade sauce for the best langostino po’ boy.
Serve with langostino étouffée or Cajun langostino pasta for a Mardi Gras feast!
This delicate seafood is sweet and buttery, making it the perfect complement to a tangy sauce like remoulade. All of the components work so well together – from the soft bread to the vinegary pickle slices and the warm crunchy langostino tails, this sandwich is a winner.
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…Orange ginger dressing is light and zingy. It’s perfect for your green salads, but also great for dressing grain salads. Made with only a handful of ingredients, this dressing is quick and simple.
Salad dressings, like sherry lime vinaigrette, are easily made at home and are much less expensive than store-bought.
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