Cooking Method: Roasting

Cauliflower Toasts

I made Ina Garten's Cauliflower Toasts and I now want to make it again. Apparently, it's one of Ina's favorite things to have for lunch. It calls for prosciutto, but you could leave it out to make it vegetarian. You can use any cheese you like. Also, you can double the cauliflower mixture and keep in your freezer.

By Leslie Blythe

Crispy Roasted Rosemary Sweet Potatoes

I grew up on canned yams with a pound of brown sugar and butter... Yes, there were a tad sweet! This recipe for Crispy Roasted Rosemary Sweet Potatoes, are sliced very thin and roasted with shallots and rosemary. It's my new favorite way to make them. You can serve this for a holiday meal or any weeknight meal.

By Leslie Blythe

Spice-Roasted Salmon with Lemon and Chickpeas

This Spice-Roasted Salmon with Lemon and Chickpeas is quick and easy, all done on a sheet pan. The Indian spices really works with the salmon, which is a great source of protein and rich in omega-3 fatty acid and is heart healthy, gluten free, low carb, and low in calories.

By Leslie Blythe

Baked Broccoli Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms

I saw this recipe for Baked Broccoli Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms in Saveur magazine. I have to say, it was outstanding. You make the polenta, stir in roasted broccoli and grated Parmesan and put it in a loaf pan, refrigerate over night.  Then it's sliced and roasted  and serve with roasted mushrooms. It calls for maitake mushrooms, but I used cremini mushrooms. This would be a great addition to your holiday meal for your vegetarian guests or all guests! Oh, and it's gluten free!

By Leslie Blythe

Honey Roasted Chicken Sweet Potatoes & Brussels Sprouts

Honey Roasted Chicken Sweet Potatoes & Brussels Sprouts is sautéd in a pan and finished in the oven. You can use chicken breasts or thighs, skin on or off. It's very versatile. I used hot honey which works really well with the sweetness of the potatoes.

By Leslie Blythe

Salmon with Lemon Vinaigrette and Crispy Capers

I made this Salmon with Lemon Vinaigrette and Crispy Capers mainly to try out the crispy capers recipe. I actually do not like capers, except these are rather good. You cover them in olive oil and cook them in the microwave. Then they are drained and become very crispy. I made a simple lemon vinaigrette for the roasted salmon which paired very well with the capers.

By Leslie Blythe

Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Truth be told, I am not a big meat eater, though when it's good I'm in. My brother David gave me this MEATER+ intuitive meat thermometer and I tested it out on this Roasted Pork Tenderloin. It takes all the guesswork out of cooking meat. You choose the cut and the temperature (rare, medium, well, etc.) and it does the rest all on your smartphone. Anyway, this has a delicious rub and is doused with a sauce. I have to say, it was perfectly tender and juicy. 

By Leslie Blythe

Israeli Couscous Salmon Salad

Last night we were invited to the Hollywood Bowl to see Peter and the Wolf with Viola Davis and Dudamel (it was fabulous!). I made Israeli Couscous Salmon Salad for dinner, which is a great make-ahead meal for any outdoor occasion. It has a tangy lemon dill dressing and I threw in some blanched asparagus. I also made Simple Summer Peach Cake, which I made last week, but this time I made individual tarts. I love going to the Hollywood Bowl. It's my favorite summer concert venue.

By Leslie Blythe

Sheet Pan Chicken with Jammy Tomatoes and Pancetta

I made this Sheet Pan Chicken with Jammy Tomatoes and Pancetta while I was visiting my mom, brother and his family. I love sheet pan dinners because of the easy prep and clean up. This calls for chicken thighs, but if you'd rather use boneless chicken breasts, reduce the cooking time by about 5-7 minutes. The jammy tomatoes, which are sometimes called burst tomatoes create a sauce for the chicken. You can even use tomatoes that are looking a bit wrinkly! Waste not, want not!

By Leslie Blythe

Roasted Lemon Garlic Chicken

I subscribe to a YouTube chef called Sam the Cooking Guy, and saw him make this Roasted Lemon Garlic Chicken. It looked so good that I made it. This chicken is spatchcocked, which is butterflied or flattened by removing the backbone. This method is a great way to roast a chicken because it cooks a lot more evenly. He slathers this bird with a paste made of butter, lemon zest, herbs (I used fresh, he used dried), and a dash of soy sauce. The chicken sits on a bed of thickly sliced lemons with a splash of vermouth (you can use white wine) and roasted for about an hour in the oven. Man, this is the juiciest, most delicious chicken ever!

You can find many videos of how to spatchcock a chicken on YouTube.

By Leslie Blythe