Pook's Pantry Recipe Blog

A Life in Food by real-life Chef Cheryl Bennett

bread

Classic Bread Stuffing

Classic bread stuffing is as synonymous with Thanksgiving as turkey. Cubes of dried bread mixed with celery, onions and sage are baked in the oven until golden brown. It is my favorite Thanksgiving side dish, along with the easiest 5 ingredient corn casserole that everyone loves. bread stuffing in white casserole dish with sage leaves

As we are all gearing up for this holiday, the only one that is all about food, I am planning our Thanksgiving menu. 

Butternut squash arugula salad, turkey, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, melting potatoes with garlic and herbs, gravy, pumpkin pie and cranberry upside down cake. 

I may even make a few pumpkin rum balls for after dinner. Can you really ask for anything else? Carbs with a side of carbs. (it’s one day, indulge!)

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Easy Bruschetta Recipe with Melon

This easy bruschetta recipe is made with fresh melon, ricotta cheese and drizzled with honey for a sweet snack. Melon bruschetta is a great appetizer for summer parties. It is light, fresh and absolutely delicious. Celebrate melon mania with some of the specialty melons available at Sprouts Farmers Market. For another sweet bruschetta recipe, check out this Apple Chutney Bruschetta.

easy bruschetta recipe with melon and ricotta cheese

This melon and ricotta cheese bruschetta is light, fresh and so easy!

Easy Bruschetta Recipe with Melon is sponsored by Sprout’s Farmers Market. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Pook’s Pantry. As always, all opinions, recipes and photos are my own.
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Sweet Irish Soda Bread

sweet irish soda bread on cooling rack

Sweet Irish Soda Bread

Soda bread is just as synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day as corned beef and cabbage.  This sweet Irish soda bread recipe was given to me by a lovely 86 year old Irish lass. I tweaked it slightly, but the heart of this recipe is her. This soda bread recipes is different than traditional soda bread, which is not sweet. This reminds me more of a scone in loaf form. It is perfect with a thick layer of Irish butter and a piping hot cup of strong tea.

This post and recipe have been updated from the original publish date – 2/28/13

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please refer to my disclosure page.

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Tropical Coconut Bread Recipe

Tropical coconut bread is just the thing to turn an ordinary breakfast into a something special.  Coconut always reminds me of vacation and this bread is like a slice of paradise on a plate. This coconut loaf stays moist for days, which means you can enjoy it all week long.

tropical coconut bread slices on marble board

Tropical Coconut Bread

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Apple Chutney Bruschetta

Apple Chutney Bruschetta – Toasted bread topped with goat cheese and sweet and sour apple chutney make this appetizer the perfect fall nibble.  It is quick, easy and full of flavor.   A great bite for any gathering or even date night at home!

Apple Chutney BruschettaApple Chutney Bruschetta has quickly become our favorite fall appetizer.  Made with fresh apples and dried fruit, this chutney is good on everything from crostini to baked chicken or a pork roast. The first time I made this, we ate it like savages. No, seriously.  It would have been hard to watch, if it weren’t so dang good. But it IS that good. 

I figured four pieces per person was plenty, and under normal circumstances, it is, but what happened next was like watching the cookie monster eat with crumbs flying everywhere.

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Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding

This post for Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding is sponsored by Sprout’s Farmers Market.  As always, all opinions, recipes and photos are my own.

Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding | Pook's Pantry

Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding. Luscious bread pudding swirled with chocolate hazelnut spread.  It requires little more than a bit of mixing and whisking.  Whether you dust it with powdered sugar or give it a drizzle, you seriously can not go wrong.  Bread pudding is one of those recipes that’s great for a crowd (think holidays!) because you can make a large batch without much extra effort.  And seriously, what’s better than a warm bowl of gooey, sweet, comforting goodness?

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Dinner Divas – Weekly Menu Plan: Breakfast for Dinner


Breakfast for dinner is easily one of my favorite meals.  This week, the Dinner Divas have put together a week’s worth of Breakfast for Dinner recipes.  From sandwiches to a breakfast casserole, there is something for everyone.  

How it works:  Every Friday morning, a new meal plan will show up in your email.  It will consist of 5 dinner options, plus 2 extras.  Those two extras could be side dishes, dessert, drinks, etc. The Dinner Divas weekly menu plans will feature (mostly) healthy, seasonal foods that don’t take all day to prepare.   Getting the weekly menu delivered to your inbox on Friday morning gives you the chance to make your shopping list and get organized for the week ahead.  We’ve got so much good stuff this week!  I’d love to hear from you & see your creations!  Post a pic using #DinnerDivas and tag @pookspantry!   I hope this weekly menu plan provides inspiration and makes life a little easier… one meal at a time. 

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Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan: Week 13 – Sandwiches

sandwiches
Sandwiches are the focus this week.  They are a lunchbox staple and the ultimate “to-go” food, but they don’t need to be boring.  The Dinner Divas have 5 incredible sandwiches from an open-faced tartine of wine-poached pears and gorgonzola to gorgeous layers of vegetables on hearty bread.

How it works:  Every Friday morning, a new meal plan will show up in your email.  It will consist of 5 dinner options, plus 2 extras.  Those two extras could be side dishes, dessert, drinks, etc. The Dinner Divas weekly menu plans will feature (mostly) healthy, seasonal foods that don’t take all day to prepare.   Getting the weekly menu delivered to your inbox on Friday morning gives you the chance to make your shopping list and get organized for the week ahead.  We’ve got so much good stuff this week!  I’d love to hear from you & see your creations!  Post a pic using #DinnerDivas and tag @pookspantry!   I hope this weekly menu plan provides inspiration and makes life a little easier… one meal at a time. 

Let’s Get to the Sandwiches!

We begin the week with these adorable Mini Crab Rolls from The Chef Next Door.  A little light prep on Sunday makes these even easier to get on the table at the start of the week.

Next up this week are my tartines.  A tartine is a fancy open-faced sandwich.  I have two recipes in one post, so you really get a bonus here!  Wine-Poached Pear with Gorgonzola Dolce and Prosciutto, Fig Jam and Parmesan Tartines

sandwiches

Our third sandwich this week is Chicken Salad with Lemon Dill Yogurt Dressing from Comfortably Domestic.  Swap the mayo for this zingy yogurt dressing and make a batch of this chicken salad tonight.

Pastry Chef Online has made a Gourmet BLT with Avocado and it is one of my all time favorite combos.  If you have never put avocado on a BLT, friends, you are missing out on something delicious.

The last sandwich this week is Girl in the Little Red Kitchen’s Summer Vegetable Sandwich Bar.  There is nothing boring about this and the Bulgarian feta?!  Yes, please.

Now, it’s time for the extras!  We have 2 different desserts this week for you that use the best of summer fruits.

First are these Cherry Hand Pies from Pook’s Pantry (me!).  They are small and portable, so they are perfect for little hands and portion controlled for bigger hands, because I need that. Fresh cherry filling and a homemade crust make these the perfect summer treat.

Last up this week is this beautiful Blueberry Galette from The Chef Next Door. Rustic and filled with fresh blueberries, it’s a perfect weekend dessert.

That’s all for this week friends. Thank you for spending a part of your day with us, join us next week as we do breakfast for dinner!

Dinner Divas

Sausage and Potato Breakfast Casserole

A breakfast casserole is the perfect way to handle holidays. Whether it’s Mother’s Day, Christmas, Easter or even a family reunion weekend, it is the best bang for your buck. You can feed a crowd without standing in front of the stove for hours and the best part – it can be made ahead.

This last part is what seals the deal for me – getting everything prepared beforehand so you can simply slide it into the oven and go visit with your people.

Breakfast Casserole slice on plate with fork

Breakfast Casserole

Thank you to Idaho® Potatoes for sponsoring this post.   As always, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoy making a great spread and sitting around the table for a couple of hours while sipping on coffee and picking on the bountiful feast in front of me. Mother’s Day is next weekend and if I were able to spend it with my Mom, this is what I’d make for her.   If you would like to solidify your position as her “favorite”, make this for her and you’ll have it in the bag for good.

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