A Life in Food by real-life Chef Cheryl Bennett
A quick and easy falafel recipe from scratch that is perfect for beginners. Made from dried chickpeas, not canned, these falafel have great flavor and texture. They are baked in the oven, to make them a bit healthier too. Add a few falafel patties to this Mediterranean chicken meal prep bowl for an extra boost of protein.
Making falafel from scratch isn’t difficult. A little planning ahead and you’ll have your favorite Middle Eastern street food snack in no time.
…
This hearty, vegan winter vegetable soup is loaded with root vegetables. The golden, turmeric broth turns this soup the color of sunshine. Perfect for when you’re under the weather.
A handful of root vegetables, which are in season during the winter months, combined with a bright yellow-hued broth make this earthy soup a perfect weeknight dinner.
This recipe is a big batch soup, it makes enough to feed 8 people, but you can easily halve it.
…
Gingerbread is one of the classic flavors of the holiday season. An old fashioned gingerbread loaf is a perfect dessert to have on hand when friends and family come to visit. For me, anything gingerbread is welcome and this classic gingerbread cake is something I bake every year and it goes perfectly with a strong cup of tea.
I made a maple bourbon glaze to coat the gingerbread, which really complements the spices used. You can swap bourbon for a splash of milk to keep the glaze kid-friendly, if you’ll be serving it to the whole family.
The combination of spices that make up gingerbread are the flavors of Christmas. There is something about the blend of cloves, ginger, cinnamon and molasses that fills the house with a warm cozy feeling like nothing else can. These gingerbread biscotti are quickly becoming a new favorite in our house for that reason and also because they are delicious dipped into strong coffee.
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.
…
Cheesy Mashed Potato Spinach Casserole is perfect for your holiday table. Mashed potatoes combined with parmesan cheese, onions, garlic and spinach make this casserole extra delicious! If you really want to up your mashed potato game, try this aligot recipe for the cheesiest mashed potatoes you’ll ever eat.
Generally speaking, I’m a mashed potato purist. I love butter, cream and a hefty pinch of salt in my mashed potatoes. But, every now and then I get out of my own way and try something new. I’m glad I did because this potato spinach casserole is delicious.
It is creamy and cheesy, but not overpoweringly so, and because it has spinach, I feel a little better about the cream and cheese.
This recipe for potato spinach casserole 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.
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.
…
Nothing beats this stuffed hubbard squash recipe for the perfect autumnal dinner. Beautiful Hubbard squash filled with wild rice, baby kale and golden raisins, it is a healthy and filling dinner. Ready in about an hour, mostly hands-off cooking time, this is a great low key recipe. If you love stuffed squash, try this quinoa stuffed acorn squash.
Hubbard squash flesh is slightly drier than acorn or butternut and it is a bit earthier in flavor. The bluish-gray color and deep orange flesh is beautiful and makes for a striking contrast.
Any kind of roasted squash is, for me, the perfect fall food and if you like to change up for your holiday side dishes, this would be a great addition to the meal.
…
The Weekly Meal Plan from the Dinner Divas provides 5 dinner recipes plus 2 extra recipes, each and every week. Our meal plans feature quick and easy, mostly healthy dishes that won’t take all day to cook. Looking for something from a past menu? You can find all of the Dinner Divas menus here.
Get ready to make your shopping list, we have so many delicious meals this week. We’re here to help you plan your dinner menus plus make an extra treat or two! We hope this weekly meal plan makes getting dinner on the table easier and provides you with some inspiration.
On the menu this week, the dinner divas are bringing you easy weeknight dinners and plus two delicious sweets! Easy weeknight dinners plus two fantastic extras, this week and every week.
But, before we get to this week’s meal plan, let me share a few more dishes that I’ll be making this week: baked corvina with tomatoes, apple chutney bruschetta and langostino chowder.
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.
…
Are you ready for the most delicious taco? These pumpkin tacos are not only vegan, they are also gluten-free. Roasted pumpkin is tossed with chili powder and cumin, giving these tacos a ton of flavor. Pumpkin isn’t just for sweet recipes. It also makes a great turkey pumpkin chili, perfect for fall.
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.
…
Broccoli cakes are a delicious way to eat your vegetables. These vegetable cakes are baked, not fried, to make them an even healthier choice. Inspired by my original veggie cakes recipe, these broccoli cakes are approved by even the pickiest eaters.
Broccoli cakes are perfect for tucking into lunch boxes or meal prepping for the week. This recipe makes a dozen, but it can be easily doubled and I often make a double recipe because they disappear so quickly!
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.
…
White chocolate rum balls are an easy no bake treat that is perfect for your holiday cookie exchanges and dessert table. Cover with colorful sprinkles for a sweet, homemade gift. A variation on my easy rum ball recipe, this version is dipped in creamy white chocolate for an extra sweet treat.
Rum balls are an easy, no bake cookie that is perfect for your holiday dessert table or cookie exchange. I like to have a batch of these around for everyone to nibble on after holiday dinners.
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.
…
Risotto is one of those foods that demands a long, leisurely approach. It is a labor of love and shouldn’t be rushed. Butternut squash risotto is version of this dish that I come back to again and again. This fall vegetable, featured in my butternut squash arugula salad is one of our favorites.
Roasting the squash brings out it’s natural sweetness, making it even more delicious.
The whole key to risotto is the slow process allowing the creaminess of the rice to come out and that can only be achieved by taking your time. The frequent stirring and actively watching the pot can be a welcome change of pace from the frenzied dinner preparation most of us normally experience.
This is comfort food on every conceivable level. On days when you need a bit of a mental break, I wholeheartedly recommend making risotto. A bit of stirring while you lovingly watch the pot of rice in front of you transform into something creamy and ethereal may be just what you need.
Some people may feel intimidated by making risotto. Don’t be – it really isn’t more than pouring in a bit of stock and stirring for the better part of the cooking.
…