Orange Salmon with Leeks and Mushrooms

I am always trying new ways to make salmon. I was at the market in the produce section and saw leeks, which I happen to love and had all the rest of the ingredients for this Orange Salmon with Leeks and Mushrooms. Earthy mushrooms and sweet leeks are a classic combination and pair beautifully with this orange marinated salmon.

By Leslie Blythe

Pasta with Chickpeas and Za’atar

I was home alone and rummaged through my pantry and made this Pasta with Chickpeas and Za’atar from Yotam Ottolenghi's cookbook, Simple. Za'atar is a mixture of sumac, sesame seed and herbs used throughout the Middle East and the Mediterranean. It was the perfect dinner channel surfing in front of the TV.

By Leslie Blythe

Rosemary Cashews

Here is a savory cocktail nibble that would satisfy a French host's needs. These Rosemary Cashews were inspired by the bar nuts served at Union Square Cafe in New York City, which is one of Ina Garten's favorite restaurants in the world. The cashews are best served warm, but you can prepare the rosemary mixture in advance.

By Leslie Blythe

Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Lemon-Chive Dipping Sauce

After eating these Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Lemon-Chive Dipping Sauce, you wonder why on earth you didn't like Brussels Sprouts as a kid! This is a snack without the guilt. You're welcome!

By Leslie Blythe

Cranberry Bean Soup

I bought these Cranberry Beans online from Rancho Gordo. They are amazing heirloom bean producers located in Napa, California. I decided to make this Cranberry Bean Soup. These beans are absolutely incredible, very creamy inside. These beans are versatile and velvety, this thin-skinned Borlotti bean produces a rich, indulgent bean broth, making it perfect for classic Italian dishes as well as simple pot beans. The soup was so easy to make. I actually made it in a slow cooker.

By Leslie Blythe

Braised Red Wine Beef Short Ribs with Parmesan Polenta

My daughter Zoe made Braised Red Wine Beef Short Ribs with Parmesan Polenta. Browning and then braising the short ribs for hours in the oven makes them "fall off the bone" tender. The creamy Parmesan polenta is a nice alternative to potatoes or rice.

By Leslie Blythe

Cheesy Taco Casserole

This Cheesy Taco Casserole is a quick and easy to prepare for a weeknight dinner.  It's cheesy, meaty, and guaranteed to be a hit with your family!

By Leslie Blythe

Chicken Jerusalem

One day a chicken was walking in the woods when an acorn fell.... and the rest is history.We had some family friends (that would be you Shannon!) who--back in the seventies and eighties--entertained and when they did, their go-to "company's coming" dish was Chicken Jerusalem, fondly referred to in the family as "Chicken Yittel." For some of us, there is nothing better than artichokes except, perhaps, for artichokes and mushrooms swimming in a cream sauce redolent with sherry and chives. Enter Chicken Jerusalem, a classic dish of chicken breasts with mushrooms and artichokes in a white wine cream sauce. While we always make it with artichokes, there are some versions that call for Jerusalem Artichokes (Sunchokes) which are actually a tuber and not part of the thistle family like artichokes. The chicken is just a vehicle for this rich, unctious sauce. Although typically made with a white wine cream sauce, using sherry in this recipe gives it a rich, nutty, complex flavor--I use Dry Sack sherry which has an "off dry" slight sweetness and makes a perfect aperitif for the cook....... This is best served with a green vegetable and rice (our friends used chicken Rice-a-Roni--but then, it was the seventies after all). Chicken Jerusalem pairs well with a Loire white such as Vouvray provided it is a dry one--look for Sec-Sec or "dry dry" and their slightly less dry wines as Sec-tendres.

By Leslie Blythe

Lemon Posset

A posset was originally a popular British hot drink made of milk curdled with wine or ale, often spiced, which was often used as a remedy. Shakespeare mentions possets several times in his writings. In the 16th century, the drink evolved into a cream, sugar and citrus-based confection, which is still consumed today as a cold set dessert. 

This Lemon Posset is a cross between a lush pudding and a silky lemon curd, this amazing English specialty is made with just three simple ingredients - lemons, heavy cream, and sugar. The beauty is that I almost always have these 3 ingredients!

By Leslie Blythe

Braised Red Potatoes with Dijon and Tarragon

This Braised Red Potatoes with Dijon and Tarragon recipe is a simple, one-pot potato side dish that features the benefits of both boiling and roasting. The halved small red potatoes, butter, and salted water are simmered in a skillet until the potatoes turned creamy and the water fully evaporated. In the then-dry skillet, the potatoes and butter were left alone to fry and develop great flavor and color. Subtle aromatics like thyme and garlic balance well with last-minute additions like Dijon mustard.

By Leslie Blythe