Cooking Method: Sautéing

Spicy Miso Ramen

I got a text from my friend Barbee in San Francisco asking if she could substitute white miso paste for red. She was making this Spicy Miso Ramen that she found in an article titled Selena Gomez Dishes on Her Favorite 'Comfort Foods' and Learning to Cook in Quarantine in People magazine!
Miso Paste 101
Red miso is the saltiest, most pungent variety. You only need a little bit to add some serious umami to your dishes. It's typically made with fermented soybeans and barley or another grain and is saltier than white miso. It ranges from dark brown to red in color
White miso (which is actually light yellow in color) is made with fermented soy beans and rice. It's fermented for a short period of time, which makes it more mild and sweet in taste. Since it's the most mild kind of miso, it's also the most versatile. If you're buying only one miso to use in a bunch of recipes, this is the best choice.

Anyway, she said it was absolutely delicious!

By Leslie Blythe

Autumn Pumpkin Turkey Chili

I decided to make this Autumn Pumpkin Turkey Chili so that I could jumpstart my favortite time of year. I overheard my husband talking to my daughter on the phone saying that "Mom is making some kind of weird chili that invovles a can of pumpkin purée". I have to say when I was shopping for ingredients for dinner, I was on the fence as to whether to use chunks of pumpkin/butternut squash instead. I decided to try it. My husband said it was delicious and went back for seconds!

I have provided 3 different methods of making this dish - stovetop, slow cooker and Instant Pot. It's the perfect thing for a chilly night, which I can only dream about living in LA. It is supposed to top 100° F this weekend!

By Leslie Blythe

Spanish Fideo with Chicken

A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to one of our favorite Spanish restaurants to have a glass of wine, socially distanced outside. We were looking at the actual menu and my husband was curious about the Pasta Espanola con Pollo or Spanish Fideo with Chicken. I decided that I would make it at home. Fideo is a short, thin, vermicelli-like noodle used in paella-like Spanish and Mexican dishes. It was so good, that I will make it again. It was a taste of Spain in a dish!

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Chicken with Jezebel Sauce

Jezebel Sauce has been popular in the south since the 1950s. It is a sweet and spicy sauce. The original recipe used a combination pineapple preserves and peach preserves and also sometimes apple jelly. I just used apricot preserves, but it’s up to you. It also has some horseradish and mustard powder, which gives it a spicy zing.

Jezebel, the evil Phoenician princess in the ninth century BC, has come to be known as an archetype of the wicked woman!

You can serve it over crackers with cream cheese, dipping sauce for coconut shrimp, fried seafood, and eggrolls.

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Chicken Lombardy

This Chicken Lombardy is juice, cheesy and delicious. I think the only difference between Chicken Lombardy and Chicken Marsala is that this dish has cheese. It does call for Marsala wine, though you can use dry sherry.

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Orzo with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

I made this Orzo with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe and opened a jar of hot Peppadew peppers that were way past the sell-by date, so I used pepperoncini instead. The peppers add a little heat to this dish, though you can leave them out if you prefer.

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Caramelized Onion Jam

My daughter Zoe sent us a jar of onion jam from the east coast and it turns out it's not readily available on the west coast. We liked it so much, that I decided to make it myself. Here is my version of Caramelized Onion Jam. It's really good on grilled cheese, quesadillas, or just cheese.

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Ramen Noodle Frittata

One of my favorite lunches is Peanut Butter Ramen Noodles, which is a recipe my husband invented. Here is another way to use ramen noodles and the first thing you do is throw the flavor dust packet in the trash! Your family will love this Ramen Noodle Frittata. It's very versatile. You can use different vegetables or ground meat in it. The funny thing is that it calls for Oyster sauce and I grabbed hoisin sauce instead, which worked just fine. Then I looked up the difference between the two -

Hoisin sauce is made primarily with soybeans with other ingredients like garlic, sugar and various spices. Oyster sauce does contain the seafood after which it is named. ... Hoisin sauce contains various spices and is sweeter. While oyster sauce contains sugar as well, it is not as sweet as hoisin sauce.

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Butternut Squash & Leek Clafoutis

Clafoutis is a baked French dessert of fruit, traditionally cherries, arranged in a buttered dish and covered with a thick flan-like batter. This dessert originated in the Limousin area of France, where batters play an important role. This Butternut Squash and Leek Clafoutis is a savory version. It's simple to make and my husband absolutely loved it and wants me to keep the recipe handy. The problem with me, (and I have many problems!) is that I make so many new things that I forget to make some of our old favorites. 

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Baked Potatoes with Boursin & Leeks

In this recipe for Baked Potatoes with Boursin & Leeks, the potato is scooped out, mixed with Boursin, cheddar and leeks and then broiled until the cheese is golden and bubbling. Serve it with a mixed green salad.

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