A Life in Food by real-life Chef Cheryl Bennett
This fast and easy citrus pomegranate salsa is a delicious, tart-sweet topper for everything from lamb or chicken to toasted pita or tortilla chips. At only 96 calories per serving, this is a tasty treat that you don’t have to feel guilty about! Pomegranates and citrus fruit are both in season during the winter months, so take advantage of it and make this citrus pomegranate salsa this weekend.
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Marinated olives are a great party nibble. They are best when made ahead, which makes life a little easier when you are hosting the gathering. I like to take homemade (food) gifts with me when I am a guest at a party, especially during this time of the year. New Year’s Eve is only days away and I’m sure if you showed up to a shindig with these in hand, the host/hostess would be very happy. The olives are ready to serve, all that needs to be done is pour them into a bowl. And who wouldn’t appreciate an extra appetizer that arrives ready to serve?
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This Bourbon Blueberry BBQ sauce will soon be your go-to for ribs. I paired it with a slab last weekend and it was wildly delicious. The copious amount of vinegar lends itself nicely to fatty pork. The sweet jamminess of the blueberries with the heat from the peppers comes together to make this bbq sauce out of this world.
Blueberry season is here and I couldn’t be happier about it. I’ve been on a bit of a “blueberry bender” as of late. I have “blueberried” everything feasible including barbeque sauce, because, why not?
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The weather in Brooklyn is perfect today… mid 70’s, sunny and breezy. These end of summer days are the ones I really cherish because I know too well that before long, they will be gone until the spring.
It is nearly unthinkable to cook dinner inside today. The days left in this year that we can enjoy being outside are numbered and I want every last second of warm sunshine I can get.
Although, grilling in inclement weather is no foreign concept to me. I have memories of my grandmother grilling in the rain, tongs in one hand & umbrella in the other… I guess once she decided what was for dinner, there was no turning back. Luckily for me, the weather this weekend has been picture perfect.
If you are among the throngs of apartment dwellers with no access to a grill or outdoor space, this is delicious done on a grill pan or even a saute pan. Speaking as one of the aforementioned, I’ve cooked many a steak on top of the stove and they are almost just as good.
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Homemade vinaigrettes are one of the easiest things to make. If you are not confident in the kitchen, this is a great place to start getting your feet wet. A handful of ingredients and 5 minutes is all it takes to make something delicious.
Now that Spring is in full swing and the Farmer’s Markets are replete with the good stuff, it’s time to start putting those veggies back into the rotation.
Some people tend to look at salads as the obligatory precursor to the main event. Granted, if someone serves you a bowl of pre-cut lettuce and gloppy dressing, it is barely even that. However, with a little creativity and a blender you can make something that is beautiful, delicious, good for you and even those that tend to resist eating “rabbit food” may even get on board.
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