Cooking Method: Boiling

Baked Pasta with Sweet Italian Sausage & Kale

Kale is a nutritional superfood. It should have it's own cape! It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer nutrients to name a few. On the downside, it has a large concentration of Vitamin K, which can be a problem for people taking blood thinners because it promotes clotting; the green also contains oxalates, which in lab tests have been associated with kidney stones and some gallstones. Eat raw kale is not a good idea, it will result in digestive issues. This is a great way to introduce some kale into your family's diet. Everyone loved it.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 45 mins
  • Yields: 8 Servings
Carrot Rice Pilaf

Carrot Rice Pilaf

This Carrot Rice Pilaf is a very simple, yet delicious side dish. The carrots and celery leaves make it look so colorful.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 45 mins
  • Yields: 6 Servings

Pasta with Broccoli Rabe, Bacon, Bread Crumbs, & Manchego

Pasta with Broccoli Rabe, Bacon, Bread Crumbs, & Manchego a taste of Italy! Pasta di Gragnano is imported from Gragnano, Italy, which is a small town south of Naples that's reputed to be the birthplace of dried pasta. This is where Pasta di Gragnano produces this unique line of bronze-died pasta made with local wheat. The name itself implies a location and style of production, much the same way that a DOC wine appellation does. To be called pasta di Gragnano, the pasta must be produced in a legally defined area in and around the Bay of Naples and it must be made by mixing durum wheat with the calcium poor water of the Monti Lattari. The dough is forced through rough bronze forms and dried at low temperatures in the mountain air. The result is a high quality product with plenty of surface area to absorb the flavor and liquid of the sauce with which it is served.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yields: 6 Servings

Long Lake Lentil Salad

This recipe comes from my friend Jacki. She calls it Long Lake Salad. Du Puy lentils or French green lentils were originally grown in the volcanic soils of Puy in France, but now they're also grown in North America and Italy. They're especially good in salads since they remain firm after cooking and have a rich flavor. They cook a bit slower than other lentils. I used golden raisins and dried apricots instead of currants and added goat cheese and toasted walnuts.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yields: 6 - 8 Servings
Pasta with Shrimp & Green Beans in Red Pepper Oil

Pasta with Shrimp & Green Beans in Red Pepper Oil

Pasta with Shrimp & Green Beans in Red Pepper Oil - I love making a nice Sunday lunch. I happened to have some Key West pink shrimp, which is wild caught in the gulf. Unlike imported shrimp, wild-caught U.S. shrimp is unlikely to contain the drugs and chemicals that are used heavily on many international shrimp farms. Pink shrimp is found in the Gulf and South Atlantic. Those found off southwest Florida are often known as “Tortugas” or “Key West” pinks. These shrimp are known for their pink color and sweet taste. They are pink when raw, so they look like they are already cooked. Years ago, I was hired by a shrimp company for three days to make shrimp scampi demo samples at a Whole Foods convention. I have to say it was really fun!

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings
Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi

Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi

This Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi falls into the quick and easy department. I used Trader Joe's Lemon Pepper Pasta. However, you can use any kind of pasta.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings
Lemony, Dilly Chicken & Orzo Soup

Lemony, Dilly Chicken & Orzo Soup

My daughter Grace made this Lemony, Dilly Chicken & Orzo Soup. It's probably the best soup I have ever had! I ate 3 bowls!

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 30 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Red, White & Blue Potato Salad

I catered an event for 100 people. I was asked to make potato salad. Making potato salad makes me nervous! People are very particular about their potato salad and making it for 100 is tricky. I used 3 kinds of potatoes - red, purple and white. I did this so I did not have to peel them (all 16 pounds!). Fortunately, I had the foresight to boil the purple ones separately. They would have turned the entire dish a grayish / blueish tinge. I scaled the recipe down for you! This is a very simple and basic recipe, but it ended up being a big hit.

By Leslie Blythe

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

Spicy Black Bean Quinoa Burgers

These Spicy Black Bean Quinoa Burgers are well worth the effort. These high-fiber, plant protein burgers are nestled on a kale salad with roasted chickpeas. I have to say, they are delicious. A high-fiber diet lowers your risk for colon cancer.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 30 mins
  • Yields: 5 Servings

Fagioli Al Uccelletto “Tuscan Baked Beans”

These are the beans I served with the Italian-Style Slow-Roasted Pork Roast with Oranges & Onions . They go perfectly with it. You can use canned beans instead of soaking the beans overnight, if you want to make it easier. These beans are a typical dish from Tuscany, particularly in the Florence area.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 2 hrs
  • Yields: 8 Servings