Bundt Pan Spice Cake with Sticky Toffee Sauce

I know this Bundt Pan Spice Cake with Sticky Toffee Sauce is a bit over the top sweet, but I made it anyway. The gooey toffee sauce kicks it up a notch with a shot of rye whiskey. 

By Leslie Blythe

Albondigas Soup

Family Traditions
Every Christmas eve, my wonderful mother-in-law made the most amazing Albondigas soup. I still carry on the tradition. She also serves tamales, which she used to buy every year from a secret source in East Los Angeles. I now make my own tamales!

By Leslie Blythe

Orange Bourbon Cranberry Sauce

This Orange Bourbon Cranberry Sauce is a fresh take on an old classic. It's really easy to make and it has so much more flavor than store-bought sauce.

By Leslie Blythe

Christmas Lima Bean and Mushroom Stew

I bought these Christmas Lima Beans online from Rancho Gordo. My friend Jennifer introduced me to these amazing heirloom bean producers located in Napa, California. I decided to make this Christmas Lima Bean and Mushroom Stew, which is a hearty vegetarian dish.

Christmas Limas are an intriguing variation on the traditional Lima. In Italy, you'll find them as Fagioli del Papa or "Pope's beans." Also known stateside as "Chestnut Lima" and sometimes even "Calico" beans. Whatever you call them, they've done a great deal to help fix the bad reputation of traditional Lima beans. They have a rich chestnut texture and an almost nutty flavor make this the most unusual Lima bean. A true revelation for those who believe they don't like Limas.

By Leslie Blythe

Zebra-Striped Shortbread Cookies

My daughter Zoe made these Zebra-Striped Shortbread Cookies, a  wonderful combination of vanilla and chocolate shortbread! Each bite of these cookies has just the right amount of both. Stacking the dough in alternating colors and then smushing them into a roll is as easy as making shapes with Play-Doh. The method makes for a fancy-looking swirl that novices can succeed at too.

By Leslie Blythe

Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks

You might have a go-to green bean casserole recipe, but you have to try this Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks. The thin, crispy fried leeks are an absolutely delicious topper and look way more elegant than the canned fried onions. They fry up very quickly; keep a close watch on them as they cook.

By Leslie Blythe

Roasted Shrimp Cocktail Louis

This Roasted Shrimp Cocktail Louis is from Ina Garten's new cookbook, Cook Like a Pro. It was invented in 1915 at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. This sauce is Ina's updated version and it's out of the world. Roasting shrimp makes them more tender and flavorful. 

By Leslie Blythe

Red Pepper, Garlic & Pecorino Gourgères

These Red Pepper, Garlic & Pecorino Gourgères are divine. A perfect make-ahead hors d'heurves for your holiday party, or any party! Gourgères is a baked savory choux pastry made of choux dough mixed with cheese. Basically, they are cheese puffs. These infuse puréed red pepper and garlic into them. I very recently posted a recipe for plain cheese Gourgères.

By Leslie Blythe

Cheese Ball

The Cheese Ball is the centerpiece of any Midwest cocktail party. There are many variations of this recipe. Last year I made this Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Cheese Ball. I am not a big fan of serving a boring cheese platter at a party. It usually doesn't get eaten. I guarantee this cheese ball will be the hit of your next party. Cheese balls were all the rage in the 1970s. So easy to make and the best part is that it has to be made ahead, so you can enjoy your party.

By Leslie Blythe

Green Chile Chicken Tamales

Every Christmas eve my mother-in-law served tamales and albondigas soup. She got her tamales from a local source in East Los Angeles. My friend asked if I wanted to make tamales with her. Absolutely! We corralled another friend, who actually knows what she’s doing and my daughter. We each bring our own filling. I've made Beef Tamales with Red Chili Sauce, pork and Green Chile Chicken Tamales. I had made tamales in the past, but only one dozen. This time, we made 150! My friend said that you have to take a shot after every dozen is completed! Given that it was 10 am when we started, I only did 2 shots, and then there were those mimosas…. It was so much fun, that we do it every year.  

By Leslie Blythe