Spinach Artichoke Calzones

Make inside out pizza for dinner tonight. A calzone; Italian, "stocking" or "trouser") is a turnover or Folded Pizza that originates from Italy. It is shaped like a semicircle, made of dough folded over and filled with ingredients common to pizza. The typical calzone is stuffed with tomato and mozzarella, and may include other ingredients usually associated with pizza toppings. I added some grated Parmesan to the top....

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Rigatoni in Woodsman’s Sauce

Last night, I felt like cooking something new and different. I grabbed a random cookbook and opened a random page and made dinner. Here is what happened. It was a huge success and hit with the family.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 35 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Sausage, Kale & White Bean Skillet Casserole

I made this really simple one pot dinner. The original recipe called for chard, but I changed it to kale, since it's such a super food. Don't get me wrong, chard is good too. I will definitely be making it again.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 35 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Chopped Salad from The Luggage Room Pizzeria

The Los Angeles Times printed the recipe for this chopped salad from one of our favorite restaurants, The Luggage Room Pizzeria in the 1934 Del Mar Train Station in Pasadena, CA. The pizza is done in a wood burning oven and is phenomenal.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Yields: 1 Servings

Parmesan Crusted Swordfish with Lemon and Crispy Caper Sauce

My friend Mary Ann had an incredibly elegant dinner party and made this Swordfish. No on has formal dinner parties anymore. So many people put in "high-end" kitchens in their homes and never entertain. Mary Ann made everything seem effortless, but it was due to her advance planning and preparation. You could actually do this with different kinds of fish or chicken.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 30 mins
  • Cook: 35 mins
  • Yields: 6 Servings

Cinnamon Honey Butter

My daughter, Grace made this Cinnamon Honey Butter. Its uses are endless. You can put it on toast, pancakes, waffles, muffins, bagels, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, popcorn, etc. I should have taken a picture before everyone descended on the jar!

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 10 mins

Chicken Marsala

I had to cater a luncheon for about 35 people. It's an annual thing, so every year I have to come up with something different. I decided to make Chicken Marsala. I served it over buttered noodles. You can also serve with mashed potatoes. It was really easy and very flavorful.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Japanese Beef Curry

I love Japanese Beef Curry. To me it's like Japanese comfort food. There's something so deeply satisfying and soul-warming about it. Japanese curry sauce mix, often called "curry roux," typically comes in the form of solid blocks or powder. It's a blend of curry powder, flour, oil, sugar, salt, and various seasonings and spices. Vermont Curry and S&B Golden Curry are ready made and the two most most popular brands. These mixes usually have MSG. I prefer to make my curry from scratch. Though making the roux does take about 20 minutes to reach "color of a fox," as the say in Japan, a deep tan color. It’s well worth the wait!

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 2 hrs 15 mins
  • Yields: 4 - 6 Servings

Kale & Quinoa Salad with Lemon Garlic Dressing

Kale has been deemed the number one superfood, a nutritional powerhouse. The benefits of eating kale are too numerous to list. I was recently in a supermarket and notice a whole wall of kale in the salad section. There is some sort of kale salad on almost every restaurant menu these days. Quinoa (pronounced 'keen-wah') is another superfood, which is a complete protein. It has the perfect ratio of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats and is one of the best sources of protein you can get from a plant source. By pairing these two superfoods, you've now got an explosion of nutrition, not to mention flavor!

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yields: 6 Servings

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds & Blood Oranges

I went to my local farmers market. There are several food trucks that park there. I bought this amazing Brussels Sprouts and Blood Orange salad. I immediately came home and recreated it.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 30 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yields: 6 Servings