A Life in Food by real-life Chef Cheryl Bennett
Fried green tomatoes are a classic Southern dish. Made with firm, unripe green tomatoes dipped in breadcrumbs and fried until golden and crispy.
Crunchy, tangy and so delicious, fried green tomatoes make the best use of unripened tomatoes. At the end of growing season, tomatoes don’t always have enough time to ripen fully. By pulling them while they are still firm and green, you can turn them into a tasty lunch.
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.
…This easy fingerling potatoes recipe is perfect for weeknight dinner. Mellow garlic combined with colorful roasted fingerling potatoes makes a delicious side dish that everyone will love.
Fingerling potatoes make an ordinary side feel a little more special. These beautiful potatoes are great for anytime, whether it is a holiday meal or a weeknight dinner.
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.
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.
Light and fresh Mediterranean couscous is quick, easy and delicious. Loaded with fresh vegetables like tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers, it is a healthy side dish perfect for weeknight cooking. Couscous salad also makes a great weekday Mediterranean lunch!
Filled with fresh Mediterranean flavors, like fresh dill and mint, and a bright, tangy lemon dressing, this couscous salad is hearty enough to be the main dish.
It is a vegetarian recipe, but can easily be made vegan by omitting the feta cheese. Want to bulk it up even more? Add in a handful of chickpeas for extra protein or a few slices of grilled chicken.
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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. 
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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Melting potatoes are one of the easiest, most delicious ways to get a lot of bang for your buck for a quick side dish. The oven does the majority of the work for you, all you have to do is flip them a couple of times. That tiny bit of effort is rewarded with the most perfectly roasted potato dish to ever grace your dinner table. I love serving these with this Beef Tenderloin Roast for special occasions.
This is the best of both worlds as far as potatoes go. Just like my Cajun grilled potato wedges, the outside is golden and incredibly crispy, while the inside remains tender and fluffy.
This recipe for Melting Potatoes is sponsored by my friends at Idaho Potato. I am so pleased to work with them. As always, all opinions, recipe and photos are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Pook’s Pantry.
Post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of the links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.
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Stuffed acorn squash with sausage is one of those perfect fall dinners or side dish that everyone loves. Filled with savory Italian sausage, spinach and wild rice, it is a comforting and satisfying dinner. To serve it as a side, choose smaller acorn squash. These smaller servings would be perfect for your holiday table. For a no meat option, try my vegetarian stuffed acorn squash.
The acorn squash flesh takes on an almost buttery texture when roasted. The caramelized squash is sweet and it is so tender and soft that it practically melts in your mouth.
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This Tomato Cucumber Salad Recipe is a great way to use up your end of summer bounty. As summer comes to an end, tomatoes and cucumbers are plentiful and this salad celebrates all the flavors of the season.
With ripe heirloom tomatoes, seedless English cucumber, kalamata olives, marinated artichokes and a burst of lemon, this salad is the perfect summer side or light lunch.
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White beans with arugula and sun-dried tomatoes is the easiest, fastest recipe I’ve ever posted. Using canned beans is a time-saving shortcut. This tasty side dish is ready in five minutes, making it perfect for weeknight cooking.
Would you rather cook your own beans? Try this recipe for white beans in the Instant Pot.
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