Caesar Salad with Pancetta

This is Ina Garten's Caesar Salad with Pancetta. It has crispy cubes of pancetta, which is an Italian bacon made of pork belly meat that is salt cured. She also adds roasted cherry tomatoes that are bursting with natural flavor.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yields: 6 - 10 Servings

Salmon with Lemon-Butter-Caper Sauce

This Salmon with Lemon-Butter-Caper Sauce is elegant and surprisingly simple to prepare. It's a classic French beurre blanc sauce, which basically are shallots simmering in a mixture of white wine and vinegar until the pot is nearly dry. Then cold cubes of butter are then added to enrich the sauce at the end.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 25 mins
  • Yields: 6 Servings

Omelet Soufflé

I made this Omelet Soufflé for breakfast. It's quick and easy and a rather elegant way to start the day. When life gives you eggs, take them to eleven!

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 5 mins
  • Yields: Makes One 8-inch Omelet

Parmesan Crisps

A friend of mine came over for drinks and brought these delicious Parmesan Crisps. They make a great low carb, gluten-free snack, and are also good as a topping for soups or salads. Here is the ridiculously easy recipe.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 5 mins
  • Yields: Makes 8 to 10 crisps

Cornbread Waffles and Chili

I had some leftover chili in the freezer and a box of Jiffy Cornbread mix and then this happened...  Cornbread Waffles and Chili is a fantastic dinner solution.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 5 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Grilled Raisin Bread Cheese Sandwiches with Gorgonzola, Mascarpone, and Asian Pears

Last Friday night a friend of ours took us to see Elton John's final tour called 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road'. I was transported to my bedroom in 1974, lying on green shag carpeting listening to his albums - over and over and over again. At 71 years old he still has it. It was absolutely fantastic - as in Captain... 
Anyway, it got me thinking about recipes he likes. Each year, the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party, which is the hottest ticket in Hollywood, is catered by Chef Wayne Elias and his partner Chris Diamond, owners of Crumble Catering/Rockwell Table & Stage. Most of the menu is updated every year to keep it fresh and exciting. However, the one item they keep on the menu every year (because it's Elton's favorite) is a Grilled Raisin Bread Cheese Sandwich with Gorgonzola, Mascarpone and Asian Pears. So I, of course, made it. It's delicious. 

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 5 mins
  • Yields: Makes 3 full sandwiches or 1 dozen hors d'ouevres

Shrimp Caneel

This Shrimp Caneel recipe is something I used to make a lot when I was newly married. I often made it with chicken. It's a Caribbean inspired dish with a touch of curry powder. The recipe comes from one of my all-time favorite cookbooks, Beyond Parsley, the cookbook of the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 30 mins
  • Yields: 6 Servings

Sweet, Sticky and Spicy Chicken

What could be better than Sweet, Sticky and Spicy Chicken? It's very fast and easy to make and guaranteed to be a hit the whole family will love. This chicken dish uses boneless skinless chicken breast and tastes delicious. Great as an appetizer or as a main dish served over rice.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Blackened Chicken with Avocado Cream Sauce

This Blackened Chicken with Avocado Cream Sauce is a perfect blend of paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper. The Avocado Cream acts as a cooling agent to tone down the spiciness. This spice blend would also work really well on fish. You can serve it with rice, quinoa or as a taco.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Yorkshire Cheese Pudding

This recipe comes from my wonderful Aunt Marjorie. She made everyone in the family a cookbook with all the family recipes. She even painted this beautiful picture of onions (see below), which I wish I could frame for my kitchen. Anyway, I encourage all of you to start copying all of your family favorite recipes. There is nothing worse than trying to find your great grandmothers recipe for peach pie – though I’m sure your great grandmother never used a recipe!

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 25 mins
  • Yields: 4 - 6 Servings