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

Spicy Miso Ramen

I got a text from my friend Barbee in San Francisco asking if she could substitute white miso paste for red. She was making this Spicy Miso Ramen that she found in an article titled Selena Gomez Dishes on Her Favorite 'Comfort Foods' and Learning to Cook in Quarantine in People magazine!
Miso Paste 101
Red miso is the saltiest, most pungent variety. You only need a little bit to add some serious umami to your dishes. It's typically made with fermented soybeans and barley or another grain and is saltier than white miso. It ranges from dark brown to red in color
White miso (which is actually light yellow in color) is made with fermented soy beans and rice. It's fermented for a short period of time, which makes it more mild and sweet in taste. Since it's the most mild kind of miso, it's also the most versatile. If you're buying only one miso to use in a bunch of recipes, this is the best choice.

Anyway, she said it was absolutely delicious!

By Leslie Blythe

Autumn Pumpkin Turkey Chili

I decided to make this Autumn Pumpkin Turkey Chili so that I could jumpstart my favortite time of year. I overheard my husband talking to my daughter on the phone saying that "Mom is making some kind of weird chili that invovles a can of pumpkin purée". I have to say when I was shopping for ingredients for dinner, I was on the fence as to whether to use chunks of pumpkin/butternut squash instead. I decided to try it. My husband said it was delicious and went back for seconds!

I have provided 3 different methods of making this dish - stovetop, slow cooker and Instant Pot. It's the perfect thing for a chilly night, which I can only dream about living in LA. It is supposed to top 100° F this weekend!

By Leslie Blythe