Cabbage with Bacon, Onions and Mushrooms

This sautéed Cabbage with Bacon, Onions, and Mushrooms is so simple to make are is the perfect accompaniment to sausages.

By Leslie Blythe

Baked Feta Pasta Trend From TikTok

I usually view viral recipes with a raised eyebrow, though I have to admit, this is a brilliant method for making cheesy pasta with absolutely no effort.  As I usually do, I changed it to suit my taste. Instead of using a block of feta cheese, I used goat cheese and used fresh thyme, and oregano instead of basil. I  also added some onion. The beauty of this dish is that you can make it your own and use what you have on hand. I'm sure I will get a lot of flack for going off the rails, but tant pis (means too bad in French and also the name of our family cat - it's a long story!...)

This viral TikTok recipe originally came from Tiiu Piret, who posted a version of the dish on her blog in February 2018, fellow Finnish blogger Jenni Hayrinen is credited with making uunifetapasta (Finnish for “oven-baked feta pasta”) go viral in her country after posting her simplified version a year later. The stores actually ran out of feta cheese. See Washington Post article. Because I am a lazy cook, this suits me to a tee!

By Leslie Blythe

Salisbury Steak with Mushrooms and Madeira

I made this Salisbury Steak with Mushrooms and Madeira for a client. The term "Salisbury steak" has been in use in the United States since 1897. The dish is named after an American physician, James H. Salisbury (1823–1905). The dish is typically served with gravy and mashed potatoes or pasta. Salisbury believed that diet was the main factor governing your health, so he created a special diet for his patients suffering from anemia, colitis, gout, rheumatism, arteriosclerosis, tuberculosis, and asthma. It was one of the earliest American "fad" diets. Who knew?!

By Leslie Blythe

Curried Chicken with Asparagus

My friend Melanie gave me a Hollywood Bowl cookbook from the '80s. It has many great recipes from famous people who attended the Bowl. My parents used to have a box there, which in those days was a pretty big deal. My mother, being a designer, and the most elegantly dressed woman on the planet, used to sew tablecloths and decorate the table differently every time they went. The people sitting in adjacent boxes use to eagerly await her arrival wondering what her theme was that week. I would give anything if someone would have taken photos of all of them, this was the pre-cell phone days!

Anyway, last night I made this Curried Chicken with Asparagus, which was quite popular then. I made several changes and added Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup, though you can throw caution to the wind and peel off the lid of a can! This recipe is ridiculously simple and can be made ahead. I'm not sure this recipe would travel, especially to the Hollywood Bowl given that it needs to be hot!

By Leslie Blythe

Pasta with Asparagus in Lemon and Wine

Yesterday, my daughter Grace invited me to lunch in her backyard. She made this absolutely delicious Pasta with Asparagus in Lemon and Wine, which she topped with garlic panko breadcrumbs. I am so proud of both my daughter's cooking abilities. I just wish we could have transported my other daughter Zoe from New Hampshire! I miss her so much, it's killing me! Grace's pasta tasted like a bit of "light at the end of the tunnel". 

By Leslie Blythe

Artichoke Heart Carbonara

Our whole family is obsessed with carbonara. When there is nothing to eat, this is our go-to meal. It's simple, fast and so good. This Artichoke Heart Carbonara is a vegetarian version (no bacon here!). Oh, and did I mention, we LOVE artichokes?! Fortunately, I always have cans of artichokes in my pantry. 

By Leslie Blythe

Chicken Pot Pie Soup for a Crowd

Over the years in my catering life, I have done many crazy events. Last weekend, I was hired to serve lunch for 35 people outside at a Springer / Cocker Field Trial event about an hour and a half north of Pasadena (north of Lake Arrowhead). I served chili on Saturday (the obvious choice) and on Sunday, this Chicken Pot Pie Soup topped with a buttermilk biscuit. It had to be something I could heat up on a camping stove. The night before I had a panic attack (common before catering!) and realized it was going to be very windy. Because I could not find a "wind guard" for my stove, my extremely handy husband, made one out of sheet metal and insisted on painting it to look nice (not necessary!). Anyway, the soup was a big hit. After all that, I made dinner for 6 on Sunday for my friend/client. I am a bit too old of all of this, given that I have a VERY scary birthday coming up soon. I spent all of yesterday recovering from the whirlwind of a weekend. I also have a 4 - 6 serving recipe for Chicken Pot Pie Soup.

By Leslie Blythe

Artichoke Melts

Here's a different idea for lunch. We tend to have a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches, and that gets rather boring. So to change it up, try these Artichoke Melts. I always have cans of artichoke hearts in the pantry. It has slices of hard-boiled eggs on the bottom and is topped with a mixture of artichoke hearts, cheddar cheese, Dijon mustard, mayo, garlic powder, and some dill before going under the broiler until it's golden brown. Yum!

By Leslie Blythe

Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter

My friends Jennifer and Heather reminded me of Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter recipe. It’s one of the simplest, sweetest most delicious tomato sauces. It takes only 5 minutes to prep and then simmers on the stovetop. She recommends using it on gnocchi, spaghetti, penne or rigatoni.

By Leslie Blythe

French Onion Cauliflower

I love French Onion Soup and decided to take the idea and transform a head of cauliflower. It turned out rather delicious. I caramelized some onions and topped the florets with some Gruyère cheese and croutons. I went back into my archives and found my recipe for French Onion Chicken Meatballs, which is also a winner.

By Leslie Blythe