Crêpes Suzette

The other night I told my husband that I wanted something sweet. We didn't have anything, so he said he would make me Crêpes Suzette. I told him that was too much work, but he insisted.

Crêpes Suzette is something you have at a fancy restaurant tableside where it's theatrically flambéed. This recipe is from Jacques Pépin who prepares it mostly in advance when entertaining. He flambés the liquor in front of his dinner guests and pours it over the platter of crêpes while still flaming.

By Leslie Blythe

Melting Sweet Potatoes

These Melting Sweet Potatoes are incredibly soft and on the inside and crispy on the outside. You roast them in a very hot oven using a metal pan, a glass pan will shatter in the oven at a high temperature, and then towards the end of roasting, you add either chicken or vegetable stock. This is the key to making melting potatoes. You can do this with Yukon gold potatoes as well. You first toss the potatoes in a mixture of melted butter with fresh sage and thyme.

By Leslie Blythe

Chicken Saltimbocca

Saltimbocca (alla Romana or Roman-Style) is an Italian dish made of veal lined or wrapped with prosciutto and sage; marinated in wine, oil. This dish is also popular in southern Switzerland. My friend Melanie made this Chicken Saltimbocca, which is the American version that uses chicken instead of veal, spinach instead of sage and is rolled up and cooked in stock or you could use white wine. Saltimbocca in Italian means 'jump in your mouth’.

By Leslie Blythe

Bacon Wrapped Pickle and Cheese Stuffed Hot Dogs

I know this Bacon Wrapped Pickle and Cheese Stuffed Hot Dog is a tad over the top! My husband likes anything that involves pickles, so I decided to make it for him. You can grill it or cook it in the oven. If you ditch the bun you have a Keto-friendly meal.

By Leslie Blythe

Buttermilk Ranch Rosemary Chicken

Given that the entire west coast is on fire, I made this Buttermilk Ranch Rosemary Chicken in my kitchen on a cast-iron skillet instead of grilling it outside. Marinating chicken in buttermilk, which is slightly acidic, tenderizes the meat. The enzymes in buttermilk help to break down the protein in the meat, resulting in tender, juicier chicken. One thing that drives me crazy about buying buttermilk is that it only comes in quart containers! Years ago, they sold it in pints. You can freeze buttermilk. If only I had room in my freezer!

By Leslie Blythe

Pizza Spaghetti

This Pizza Spaghetti is my new favorite casserole. If you have kids, this is a must-try. You can add your favorite toppings to the "noodle crust" to make it your own. The next day I reheated it in a cast-iron skillet for lunch. It's so good, I want to make it again, but I probably should wait at least a week!

By Leslie Blythe

Picon Biére

I like beer and I like cocktails but a beer cocktail? If you like bitter-sweet drinks like the Negroni, you might want to give this one a try. Perfect for late summer drinking.

By Leslie Blythe

Caprese Egg-in-a-Hole

My brother David loves making Rocky Mountain Toast, which is basically a piece of bread with a hole in it with an egg in the middle and fried up in a pan. This Caprese Egg-in-a-Hole takes it to a whole other level and country, for that matter. I was inspired by the very talented Diane Morrisey on Instagram.

By Leslie Blythe

Salmorejo

This recipe is from Ina Garten's new book Modern Comfort Food, which is being released on October 6, 2020.

Salmorejo is a purée made from tomatoes, red peppers, bread, olive oil and garlic, originating from Cordoba in Andalucia, southern Spain. It is the perfect thing to make using any tomatoes from your garden. This cold soup is so light and refreshing.

By Leslie Blythe

Milanese-Style Savoy Cabbage

My husband Eric seems to be obsessed wtih Savoy cabbage lately. He has made several versions. This Milanese-Style Savoy cabbage is loosely based on a recipe from Academia Barilla. Savoy cabbage has a mild flavor, and works really well sliced thinly in soups and stir-fries.

By Leslie Blythe