A Life in Food by real-life Chef Cheryl Bennett
This Bourbon Blueberry BBQ sauce will soon be your go-to for ribs. The sweet jamminess of the blueberries, the smokiness of the bourbon and the heat from the peppers come together to make this bbq sauce out of this world. Blueberries and bourbon, like my blueberry bourbon jam recipe, are a match made in heaven.
Bourbon BBQ sauce with the sweetness of blueberries pairs well with any kind of pork, especially ribs. It also goes really well with chicken thighs.
…Black and Blueberry Freezer Jam is quick, easy and delicious. It is a great recipe for those new to canning, as it doesn’t require much fussing about. For a quick tutorial on traditional jam, check out my strawberry key lime jam recipe.
I like the simplicity of freezer jam because you still get all the flavor of summer fruit, but it is quicker and easier than sealing everything in a water bath.
If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.
…Quinoa Salad with black beans, mango and lime is one of my summertime go to recipes. It is light and refreshing on a hot day and lasts for days in the refrigerator so I can eat it all week long for lunch. Gluten-free quinoa salads like this Mediterranean quinoa are perfect for meal prepping.
This delicious side is not only gluten-free, it is also vegan. It is dressed with a light vinaigrette, which makes it perfect for taking to the park or the beach for picnics or bringing to backyard cookouts.
Quinoa and black beans are tossed with vegetables and herbs for a light and delicious summer salad.
If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.
…
Blueberry Mini Pies are the epitome of summer. Ripe, juicy blueberries fill delicious buttery dough for the perfect hand-held pie. Mini blueberry pies are perfect for lunch bags, afternoon treats, beach day picnics, and they are small enough for little hands. Mini blueberry pies or mini cherry pies are also great for all of the red, white and blue holidays.
One of my favorite things about these pies is that they are hand held. No need for utensils, plates or clean-up, which in my opinion is one of the best things about these hand pies.
If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.
…
Blueberry bundt cake is the kind of cake I serve guests. It’s easy, delicious and not fussy at all. It is perfect for beginner bakers as well as more experienced bakers. Buttermilk bundt cakes, like this one and also this chocolate bundt have great flavor.
Making a cake from scratch is barely more work than making it from a box and you will be rewarded with something so good, you’ll be glad you put in the extra few minutes of time. The glaze is made with three ingredients and takes less than a minute to make.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please visit my policy page.
…
Linguine with roast chicken, pine nuts and golden raisins is an easy and delicious dinner. Pasta and chicken come together with a light pan sauce to make a simple meal that will feed the whole family with very little effort. Serve this pasta dinner with a grilled zucchini salad or a green salad.
This linguine with roast chicken dinner is about as uncomplicated as you can get, but the flavors are amazing. The pan juices from the chicken become part of the sauce for the pasta with a handful of golden raisins and toasted pine nuts tossed in.
If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.
…
A white wine spritzer is the perfect party drink any time of the year. It’s light and refreshing, which makes it a great cocktail for holidays when you are enjoying parties, but don’t want to overindulge. Wine spritzers are a great choice if you are trying to watch your calorie intake while still being able to enjoy a wine cocktail.
Blood oranges are in season during the winter months, as is most citrus. If you can’t find blood oranges, regular oranges or cara cara oranges make a great substitute.
photo: kab photography
A blood orange spritzer makes a great holiday drink. They are quick and easy to make, not too sweet and they are light and citrusy.
If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.
…
This clementine cake is gluten free, made in the food processor and comes out of the pan like a dream. It couldn’t be easier and it is deliciously moist. The smell of clementines cooking fills the house with a bright, citrusy aroma, which is wonderful this time of the year. Another holiday treat we love right now are these gluten free rum balls.
When the mercury drops and you are puttering around the house, this is the perfect baking endeavor.
If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.
…
Biscotti studded with amaretto-soaked golden raisins and slivered almonds are the perfect addition to your holiday baking list. They are perfect for cookie exchanges and they hold up really well when shipping to far away friends and family. If you are a biscotti lover, try this gingerbread biscotti too!
I’m not a huge fan of raisins, but golden raisins are another story. Their flavor is milder and fruitier than regular raisins, making them an excellent choice for both baking and cooking. Paired with toasted almonds, this biscotti is full of flavor.
Because this recipe has a bit of liquid, fruit and butter, it is less dry than most biscotti. It is still very crunchy, but one thing it is most decidedly not, is dry. I sprinkled the top with a mixture of coarse sugar and flake sea salt for extra crunch.
If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.
…
Cranberry upside down cake is a perfectly tart and sweet dessert for the fall and winter. This cake recipe is a variation of my easy clementine upside down cake. I’ve swapped out the buttermilk for regular milk, because we don’t always have buttermilk on hand. This upside down cake is studded with fresh cranberries and it makes a delicious addition to your holiday dessert table.
What I like most about this cake is the lack of sweetness. That’s not to say it isn’t sweet, it is, but it isn’t overly sweet. The tartness of the cranberries combined with the hefty amount of orange zest offsets the sugar. It is nicely balanced with a cake batter that is just barely sweet. And, it’s great with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, in case you were wondering.
…