Lake Charles Dip

Here is an easy cajun snack. This Lake Charles Dip has avocados, tomatoes, Italian dressing seasoning mix, and of course, a dash or two of tabasco sauce! 

By Leslie Blythe

Crispy Korma Salmon with Coconut Rice and Cucumber Pickle

My husband has been binge-watching Jamie Oliver cooking videos on YouTube. We have been fans of him for years. We used to live a few blocks away from him in London when he first got married. We decided to try this Crispy Korma Salmon with Coconut Rice and Cucumber Pickle, which is very easy to make and packed with flavor. I could not find Patak’s Korma Spice Paste, so I used curry paste instead, unfortunately for me, I could only find mild! The rice is cooked with a red chili, a half a lemon and some coconut cream, which is a new revelation. You chop up the lemon and chili and serve it on top to the rice. The quick cucumber pickle adds a bright note to this dish. 

By Leslie Blythe

Sole Amandine à la Turlock

This recipe for Sole Amandine à la Turlock is something I have adapted and simplified from Michael Chiarello's version. The smoked almonds and sweet golden raisins are a perfect balance of salty, and sweet with great crunch and work well with the delicateness of the sole.

By Leslie Blythe

Black-Eyed Pea Salad

Eating Black-Eyed Peas on New Year's Day is thought to bring a prosperous year filled with luck. This year we could all use some luck! The black-eyed peas are symbolic of pennies or coins, and a coin is sometimes added to the pot or left under the dinner bowls. This Black-Eyed Pea Salad is a delicious way to dress up a can of black-eyed peas!

By Leslie Blythe

Bang Bang Cauliflower

When we're looking for a spicy, flavorful side to brighten up our dinner, I give you Bang Bang Cauliflower. Not only is it quick and easy, but the dish is super adaptable. Not a fan of spice? Go easy on the sriracha and bump up the chili sauce. Hate cilantro (which I do!)? Ditch it in favor of thinly sliced green onions. You can make it your own!

By Leslie Blythe

Vaquero Bean Soup

I love using a leftover ham hock to make soup. I also happen to have some Rancho Gordo Vaquero beans. If you don't know about Rancho Gordo, then you need to check them out. You can substitute other beans for this soup, like black beans. I have given you the recipe for 3 cooking methods - Instant Pot (which is what I did), Slow Cooker or stovetop. Before serving, I love adding a splash of sherry vinegar, which brightens it up and add a burst of flavor.

By Leslie Blythe

Pear Tree Cocktail

While there isn’t a partridge in sight (unless you count the Partridge Family Christmas album currently playing) this Pear Tree cocktail is a perfect holiday drink; it is great for entertaining or just for staying in like so many of us are doing during this pandemic yuletide. St-Germain is an elderflower liqueur created in the artisanal French manner from freshly hand-picked elderflower blossoms. We used Absolut Pears Vodka, which has a good, strong pear flavor. The Victorians believed that rosemary represents remembrance and while this year may be one we would all like to forget, this light, fruity, bubbly drink reminds us of happier times in the past and in the future.

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Caraway Rye Bread (bread machine or by hand)

I bought a loaf of bread the other day and it was terrible, so I made croutons out of it. I happened to have some rye flour and a lot of yeast on hand. I dusted off my Williams-Sonoma bread machine that my late mother-in-law Jerry bought me years ago. I chose this Caraway Rye Bread recipe and it was absolutely delicious. I have also included the instructions to make it by hand.

By Leslie Blythe

Mince Pie Roll Ups

It is very traditional to eat mince pies in Britain. Since as long ago as the 16th century, they were made of a spiced, sweet meat mixture but are now are made with sweet mincemeat, which is a mixture of dried fruits, sugar, spices, and brandy (and no meat). My husband and I lived in England for many years and always have them around the holidays.

Apparently, the only Christmas Day on which eating mince pies was illegal was in 1644, as 25 December that year fell on a legally-mandated day of fasting. However, mince pies themselves were never banned, although they were strongly disapproved of as a symbol of the immoral excesses of the festive season.

A custom from the middle ages says that if you eat a mince pie on every day from Christmas to Twelfth Night (evening of the 5th January) you will have happiness for the next 12 months! We may all need to do this!

These Mince Pie Roll Ups kind of cheating, since they are so easy to roll up, slice and bake!

By Leslie Blythe

Eggnog Pancakes

We usually don't have any milk in the house given that we are both black coffee drinkers. The other thing we didn't have is any bread for toast or anything else for breakfast. I decided to use eggnog instead of milk. These Eggnog Pancakes are excellent, especially for Christmas morning.

By Leslie Blythe