Chicken Piccata Pasta

This Chicken Piccata Pasta features tender, succulent chicken thighs tossed in a vibrant sauce of bright lemon, salty capers, and crisp white wine, all finished with a velvety butter sauce. Serve with a crisp green salad and crusty bread. It’s the pasta night you’ve been waiting for.

By Leslie Blythe

Baked Yams with a Parmesan Crust

Baked Yams with a Parmesan Crust are here to bring a savory, salty crunch to your table that’s totally addictive. The yams are pressed into a nutty mixture of freshly grated Parmesan. As they roast, the cheese transforms into a golden, lacy crust, which offsets the creamy, natural sweetness of the yams. It’s an effortless, budget-friendly dish that looks—and tastes—absolutely out of this world.

By Leslie Blythe

Tuscan Melting Cabbage

If you’ve ever doubted that a head of cabbage could be the star of the show, Tuscan Melting Cabbage is here to change your mind. You start by searing thick cabbage wedges until they’re deeply caramelized, then nestle them into a rich, savory cream sauce spiked with sun-dried tomatoes and salty Parmesan. A final slow-roast in the oven transforms the cabbage until it's "meltingly" tender and golden. It’s an easy, budget-friendly side dish that tastes absolutely incredible.

By Leslie Blythe

Italian Sausage Potato Soup

My daughter Zoe made this Sausage and Potato Soup the other night, and I had to try it. It’s your new weeknight secret weapon. The bold, spicy Italian sausage, tender waxy potatoes, and vibrant spinach deliver deep, slow-simmered flavor in under an hour. It’s a complete meal in a single pot. Serve it with crusty bread for the win.

By Leslie Blythe

Creamy Spinach and Broccoli Pasta with Chicken

This is my brilliant friend Sara Tane's high-protein, vibrant Creamy Spinach and Broccoli Pasta with Chicken. It's quick, easy, and so satisfyingly good. You get the rich, velvety indulgence of a creamy sauce paired with a massive hit of greens and lean protein. The secret ingredient is cottage cheese. Using cottage cheese is a total game-changer. Not only does it skyrocket the protein content, but it also creates a surprisingly thick, creamy texture without the need for heavy cream or butter.

By Leslie Blythe

Sticky Chicken Thighs

Elevate your weeknight routine with this spicy, sweet, and Sticky Chicken. This one-skillet dinner features succulent chicken thighs coated in a handcrafted spice rub and seared to perfection. Finished with a luscious, glossy honey glaze, it’s a 30-minute meal that perfectly balances heat, honey, and heartiness. Serve it with rice and your favorite vegetables.

By Leslie Blythe

New Orleans Gumbo

Gumbo and Jambalaya always remind me of my aunt Marjorie. She was a fabulous cook
and really inspired me on my cooking journey. She taught me many things, mostly about cooking. She taught me everything she knew about Indian food. She and my uncle lived in India for a year in the early sixties. They lived in New Orleans for well over 30 years and taught me how to make Jambalaya, gumbo, shrimp creole, and the list goes on.... This New Orleans Gumbo is a classic Creole recipe. It’s chicken, andouille sausage, shrimp, and fresh okra simmered with a dark roux and served over rice.

By Leslie Blythe

Tuscan Baked Spaghetti

Tuscan Baked Spaghetti with sun-dried tomatoes and sausage is a rustic, crowd-pleasing casserole that leans heavily into the bold, earthy flavors of Central Italy.
The brilliance of this specific combination lies in its texture. You have the silky pasta, the crumbly sausage, and the slightly leathery, intense bite of the sun-dried tomatoes. Topped with a generous dusting of freshly grated Parmesan, it hits every sensory note. Buon appetito!

By Leslie Blythe

Steak Diane Pie

This Steak Diane Pie captures the elegance of the original flambéed classic—infused with brandy, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce—and reimagines it as a rich, savory filling tucked beneath a lid of shattered-gold puff pastry. It’s creamy, boozy, and absolutely delicious. My husband always puts our guests’ initials on each pie.

The "Diane" in the name refers to Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt. Originally, Sauce à la Diane wasn't for beef at all—it was a peppery, cream-based sauce designed to complement venison (wild game).

By Leslie Blythe

Nikujaga (Japanese-Style Meat and Potatoes)

I made this Nikujaga (Japanese-Style Meat and Potatoes), and my Japanese stepmother said it’s the epitome of Japanese comfort food.
Nikujaga literally translates to "meat" (niku) and "potatoes" (jagaimo), this dish is the quintessential "mother's cooking" (ofukuro no aji) in Japan. It’s a savory, slightly sweet, and deeply soul-warming stew that relies on a few ingredients and a simple simmering technique.
Legend has it that Nikujaga was born in the late 19th century thanks to Togo Heihachiro, a Japanese naval commander. Having studied in England, he supposedly fell in love with British beef stew.
Upon his return, he ordered his naval chefs to recreate it. Lacking demi-glace and red wine, the chefs used what they had: soy sauce, sugar, and sake. The result wasn't a British stew, but it was so delicious that it became a staple of the Japanese Navy to combat vitamin deficiencies.

By Leslie Blythe