Cooking Method: Roasting

Baked Feta Pasta Trend From TikTok

I usually view viral recipes with a raised eyebrow, though I have to admit, this is a brilliant method for making cheesy pasta with absolutely no effort.  As I usually do, I changed it to suit my taste. Instead of using a block of feta cheese, I used goat cheese and used fresh thyme, and oregano instead of basil. I  also added some onion. The beauty of this dish is that you can make it your own and use what you have on hand. I'm sure I will get a lot of flack for going off the rails, but tant pis (means too bad in French and also the name of our family cat - it's a long story!...)

This viral TikTok recipe originally came from Tiiu Piret, who posted a version of the dish on her blog in February 2018, fellow Finnish blogger Jenni Hayrinen is credited with making uunifetapasta (Finnish for “oven-baked feta pasta”) go viral in her country after posting her simplified version a year later. The stores actually ran out of feta cheese. See Washington Post article. Because I am a lazy cook, this suits me to a tee!

By Leslie Blythe

French Onion Cauliflower

I love French Onion Soup and decided to take the idea and transform a head of cauliflower. It turned out rather delicious. I caramelized some onions and topped the florets with some Gruyère cheese and croutons. I went back into my archives and found my recipe for French Onion Chicken Meatballs, which is also a winner.

By Leslie Blythe

Crispy Braised Chicken Thighs With Cabbage and Bacon

This Crispy Braised Chicken Thighs With Cabbage and Bacon is simply divine. 
Braising is a technique which highlights the crispy skin and produces the most tender, fall off the bone chicken underneath. The chicken thighs are nestled in a bed of cabbage and bacon. It's all made in one pan for easy cleanup.

By Leslie Blythe

Old-School Pork Chops with Apple and Sage

These Old-School Pork Chops with Apple and Sage is another Jamie Oliver recipe. The chops are finished off with a bit of Stilton cheese on top (you could also use blue cheese or gorgonzola), which elevates it to a whole new level.

By Leslie Blythe

Seared Salmon with Spicy Red Pepper Aioli

This Seared Salmon with Spicy Red Pepper Aioli is from Ina Garten's new cookbook Modern Comfort Food. It is absolutely delicious. The salmon is crusty on the outside, moist on the inside and the red pepper aioli adds a subtle spicy note.

By Leslie Blythe

Basil, Lemon, Garlic Pork Chops

These Basil, Lemon, Garlic Pork Chops are very flavorful. The basil, lemon garlic combo really takes these chops to a whole new level.

By Leslie Blythe

Sausage, Apple, and Squash Sheet-Pan Supper with Fragrant Herb Oil

There is nothing easier than dinner on a sheet-pan. I love cooking with minimal effort. This Sausage, Apple, and Squash Sheet-Pan Supper with Fragrant Herb Oil is a perfect meal this time of year. You can buy butternut squash already cut up to make it even easier and you can use any combination of herbs. Also, you can use sweet Italian sausage or the spicy version. You can probably guess which one I used! I think the spicy sausage and the sweet butternut squash and apple is a winning combination of flavors.

By Leslie Blythe

Melting Sweet Potatoes

These Melting Sweet Potatoes are incredibly soft and on the inside and crispy on the outside. You roast them in a very hot oven using a metal pan, a glass pan will shatter in the oven at a high temperature, and then towards the end of roasting, you add either chicken or vegetable stock. This is the key to making melting potatoes. You can do this with Yukon gold potatoes as well. You first toss the potatoes in a mixture of melted butter with fresh sage and thyme.

By Leslie Blythe

Moonblush Tomatoes

This recipe is from Nigella Lawson's, Nigella Express cookbook. You simply halve the cherry tomatoes, sprinkle them with dried thyme, a little flaky salt, a pinch of sugar and a drizzle of olive oil. Then you put the sheet pan in a hot oven and turn off the heat immediately, leaving the tomatoes to cook in the residual heat overnight, hence “moonblush”. You can use them in salads, with charcuterie, on pasta or any way you like.

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Honey & Harissa Roasted Carrots

Our good friend Chris came for dinner last week and brought these Honey & Harissa Roasted Carrots. They were so good. The recipe is from Rachel Ray Magazine. They are meant to be sitting on top of Greek Yogurt. It also has a sprinkling of dukkah, which is an Egyptian condiment consisting of a mixture of herbs, nuts, and spices. It is typically used as a dip with bread or fresh vegetables. They do sell dukkah already made at Trader Joe's.

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