A Life in Food by real-life Chef Cheryl Bennett
This colorful Beet Salad Recipe will quickly become one of your new favorite salads. Spiralized beets, apples and carrots on a bed on baby spinach, lightly dressed with a tangy vinaigrette. I’ve added a sprinkle of roasted pepitas for crunch and a handful of crumbled feta for extra deliciousness.
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…Israeli salad is the perfect summer bite. It takes the absolute best of summer’s bounty and combines it into a light and refreshing salad. It makes a great side or light lunch during the warmer months when we all crave tomato salads and lighter meals.
I first had this salad about 25 years ago. A friend introduced me to it and I fell in love instantly.
It is refreshing on a hot summer day and it’s also good for you! If you have a garden or you happen to have salad ingredients in your fridge, you likely have almost everything you need already.
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…This easy recipe for zucchini fritters is a perfect low calorie side. They are quick and easy, plus they are great for making ahead. Veggie cakes of any kind make a tasty light lunch and it is a delicious way to get more vegetables into your diet.
Top with an egg for a nutritious and filling breakfast, serve as a side with your favorite chicken recipe or these Baked Chicken Meatballs. They are just the right size for little hands and for tucking into lunchboxes.
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…No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake Parfait, my new go-to quick and easy summer treat! Perfect for a last minute dessert when there is no time for baking. They look elegant enough to serve to guests, but they are ridiculously easy. No bake desserts, like these no bake blueberry cheesecake bars, are a lifesaver in warm weather months.
We are watching what we eat, but I’m not about to deprive myself of a sweet treat. These no bake blueberry lemon cheesecake parfaits are low carb, lower in sugar and at only 2 ounces, they won’t sabotage your diet.
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…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.
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Chicken fajita bowl for lunch? Don’t mind if I do! This delicious, low carb salad will have you looking forward to lunch again. A bit of light chopping and grilling makes this meal feel like you had lunch at your favorite Tex-Mex place, but with half the calorie count. Like these Mediterranean chicken meal prep bowls, healthy eating doesn’t have to be bland or boring.
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Bulgur wheat salad with chickpeas, red onion and pine nuts is packed with flavor. It’s also fast and easy, making it a hit for weeknight dinners. This tasty side dish is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Chewy, roasted chickpeas and toasted pine nuts are tossed with bulgur or cracked wheat, sautéed with sweet red onions and finished with fresh herbs.
This vegan side dish, or meatless main, uses pantry items like canned chickpeas to make this a quick and easy dish. It is also a great option for meal-prepping, as it will keep in the fridge for days.
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Roasted chicken and vegetables sheet pan supper cooks together on one pan for a super easy dinner with minimal cleanup. Meals like this are a lifesaver during hectic evenings when you need to get dinner on the table without a lot of effort.Plus, one pan meals are a great way to use up what you already have.
Also known as “clean out the fridge dinners” around here. Onions, potatoes and tomatoes are usually on hand, so you are halfway there. If you have a bell pepper sitting in the fridge, or a few carrots that are starting to look like they’ve seen better days, don’t waste them.
All of those miscellaneous bits of veggies can be chopped up and used for this simple pan roasted chicken and vegetables.
If you don’t eat meat, or if it’s a “meatless Monday”, you’re done. Otherwise, a couple of chicken breasts thrown on with the veggies and some seasoning makes this a slam dunk in record time.
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Thai turkey meatballs are an easy weeknight dinner. This 30 minute meal is just the slightest bit spicy and full of flavor. Tender, juicy turkey meatballs flavored with green curry, ginger and garlic served with peanut sauce for a delicious midweek meal. They are also really tasty on top of soba noodles with stir fried vegetables.
Ground turkey is a staple in our house, so these are always just 30 minutes away. This recipe is also perfect for meal-prepping, so make a double batch.
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This Instant Pot beef and beer chili recipe is one of our favorites. It’s a crowd pleaser for a reason and it just got even better. With the addition of a good dark beer, it’s magical. If you prefer to leave out the beer, don’t worry, it’ll still be delicious! It’s chili that tastes like it lazily simmered away half of the afternoon in 30 minutes.
We are big fans of chili in our house. This simple turkey chili is one we make at least a few times a year, along with this turkey pumpkin chili made in the slow cooker.
My original intention with this chili was bison instead of ground beef, however I didn’t embrace the idea of a $12 serving of chili. I’m used to paying a little more for food, but the price of bison has gone up quite a bit since the last time I purchased it. Once I regained my composure and wiped away my tears, I set off toward the ground beef.
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