Steak with Blue Cheese Compound Butter

This wonderful Blue Cheese Compound Butter takes a grilled steak to a whole other level. Compound butter is a mixture of butter and other ingredients to enhance flavor in various dishes. It can be made by whipping additional elements, such as herbs, spices or aromatic liquids, into butter. The butter is then reformed, usually in plastic wrap or parchment paper, and chilled until it is firm enough to be sliced. These butters can be melted on top of meats and vegetables, used as a spread or used to finish various sauces.

By Leslie Blythe

Vegetable Kabobs for the Grill

Now that summer is approaching, it's time to pull out the grill. These Vegetable Kabobs for the Grill are marinated in balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and fresh herbs.

By Leslie Blythe

Bran Muffins

My college roommate, Allegra, used to make these bran muffins. This was in the eighties when bran muffins came into fashion. They are absolutely delicious. The recipe makes a very big batch so that you can keep them in the freezer and always have them on hand.

By Leslie Blythe

Crack Pie

My kids told me to watch Chef's Table Pastry on Netflix. Unfortunately, I did and now I am an addict! This Crack Pie is a recipe from Christina Tosi Momofuku at Milk Bar in New York. It's kind of like a pecan pie without the pecans. It also reminds me of sticky toffee pudding.

By Leslie Blythe

Asparagus with Sesame-Vinegar Dressing

I bought a new Japanese cookbook (I have quite a few!) called Japan from Japan: The Cookbook, by Nancy Singelton Hachisu. It has lots of wonderful looking recipes. I happen to love asparagus so I made this Asparagus with Sesame-Vinegar Dressing. I love anything that can be made ahead.

By Leslie Blythe

Spatchcocked Lemon Garlic Rosemary Chicken

This Spatchcocked Lemon Garlic Rosemary Chicken is full of flavor and easy to do. Spatchcocking is butterflying the chicken. Cutting a chicken in half for broiling is almost as routine as chopping an onion. But keep the halves together in that same flattened position. 

Besides making an intriguing presentation and being simple to carve, a spatchcocked bird requires less time in the oven. That means that the breast meat won't be dry. It's also easy to make a pocket between the skin and breast meat to stuff the bird with a protective layer of vegetables and seasonings.

By Leslie Blythe

St. Augustine Marinade for Tri Tip

I went to my favorite butcher to buy some meat and they had a bunch of tri tips already marinaded in bags. There were 5 different options so I asked for the most popular, which is called St. Augustine Marinade for Tri Tip. It was delicious. The marinade is white wine,  orange marmalade, and Worcestershire sauce. Here is my version.

By Leslie Blythe

Grilled Scallops with Yuzu Koshu Vinaigrette

These Grilled Scallops with Yuzu Koshu Vinaigrette are very quick and easy to make on the grill or in a cast iron skillet. Yuzu kosho (available in Asian markets or on Amazon) is a Japanese condiment made from fresh green or red chiles then fermented with salt along with zest and juice from yuzu, a tart and fragrant citrus fruit that grows in East Asia. My husband is addicted to yuzu! The combination of chiles, citrus, and salt has a distinctive flavor that enlivens a dish.

By Leslie Blythe

Strawberry, Basil, and Balsamic “Slablova”

My daughter Zoe made this beautiful Strawberry, Basil, and Balsamic “Slablova”, which is inspired by a pavlova-for-a-crowd recipe on Food52. This is a Kosher for Passover version. The meringue slowly bakes to achieve a crackly crust and an irresistibly soft, melt-in-your-mouth interior texture somewhere between a marshmallow and angel food cake. For a non-Passover occasion, cornstarch or arrowroot starch are good substitutes for the tapioca starch.

By Leslie Blythe

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

A cordon bleu is a dish of meat, usually chicken that is wrapped around cheese (or with cheese filling), then breaded and deep-fried. This Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole is an easier version, that has bite-size pieces of chicken, ham, in a cheesy cream sauce and top with buttery panko breadcrumbs. You can make all in a pressure cooker / Instant Pot or on the stovetop. I have included both methods.

By Leslie Blythe