Cuisine: Beans

Cheesy White Bean & Sausage Tomato Bake

I made this Cheesy White Bean & Sausage Tomato Bake last night for dinner and it got rave reviews. The original recipe did not have any sausage. you can leave out the sausage and then it's paleo, sugar-free, low-carb, gluten-free, whole30, and vegetarian! It is so fast and easy to make and it's all done in one pan.

By Leslie Blythe

Jennifer Aniston Friends Salad

I guess I might as well jump on the bandwagon with this recipe that is flooding the internet. Actually, the reason I made it is because I can never figure out what to have for lunch. I absolutely hate eating the food I make while catering because I've shopped for it, cooked it, and served it. By that time, I want something else.

This is the salad that Jennifer Aniston ate every day for 10 years on the set of Friends. What I like about it is that it's very versatile, you can easily adapt it to suit your taste. I used a packet of ready-made 7 grains instead of bulgar. You could use quinoa, brown rice, or any combination. You can change the kind of cheese, nuts, etc. Next time I make this, I will use green onions instead of red onions, I'm not a fan of red onions even after I soak them in water to remove some of the "oniony" taste. Anyway, it's a very good, healthy and nutritious lunch.

By Leslie Blythe

Herby Buttered Mushrooms and Wild Rice

Mushrooms have a "meaty" texture and a strong umami flavor. Umami is the fifth basic taste and was discovered by a Japanese scientist. Umami in Japanese means “a pleasant savory taste." Herby Buttered Mushrooms and Wild Rice is a delicious satisfying dish. The earthy, nutty flavor of the wild rice marries well with the buttery mushrooms.

By Leslie Blythe

Margherita Pizza Beans

I love this recipe for Margherita Pizza Beans. If you have lots of tomatoes from your garden, this is a great way to use them. It's basically an Italian "beans on toast". Serve it with a fresh green salad and you have a meal your family will be asking you to make again.

By Leslie Blythe

Lentil Salad with Lemon Dressing

This Lentil Salad with Lemon Dressing great for a picnic. The combination of cucumbers, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion and fresh mint goes perfectly with the lemony dressing. Lentils are an excellent source of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. They are high in protein, fiber and a great choice for the heart and for managing blood pressure and cholesterol. I could go on with even more health benefits of lentils!

By Leslie Blythe

Lamb Chili

My father has been going through some major health issues and needs to eat more. We were out at a restaurant and he ordered Lamb Chili, which he absolutely loved. I decided to make him a big pot of it and have included two methods - stovetop and Instant Pot. This was definitely a labor of love given that I really hate lamb!

By Leslie Blythe

White Beans and Sausage with Sage

This recipe for White Beans and Sausage with Sage is adapted from The Silver Spoon, which is a cookbook that was first published in 1950 and revised over time, Italy's bestselling culinary "bible", and has been translated into English. The book has over 2,000 recipes and I consider it the "Joy of Cooking" for Italian cooking.

By Leslie Blythe

Marinated Chickpea and Feta Salad with Spring Vegetables

This Marinated Chickpea and Feta Salad with Spring Vegetables makes a great lunch. It also has farro, which is a food composed of the grains of certain wheat species. Because it contains more fiber than other popular grains like rice or even quinoa, farro might have even more positive benefits when it comes to digestion and cardiovascular health. It's also exceptionally high in protein for a grain and supplies more than 10 different vitamins and minerals. Trader Joe's sells 10 Minute Farros, which is fast and easy to make.

By Leslie Blythe

Tuscan White Bean and Lentil Soup

This Tuscan White Bean and Lentil Soup is easy and quick to make. It can be made in an Instant Pot, a Slow Cooker or on the stovetop. This soup calls for the rind of Parmesan cheese. The rind adds a robust flavor. You should never throw out the rinds. I keep them in a ziplock bag in the freezer. You can use it for soups, stews, risottos, tomato sauce, etc.

By Leslie Blythe

Beans with Leeks, White Beans and Cheddar on Toast

So, this Beans with Leeks, White Beans and Cheddar on Toast is a recipe that I adapted from a recipe from Nigel Slater. It was posted in The Guardian and it's basically "posh beans on toast". Beans on Toast is a British institution. The reason I made it is because I had the ingredients on hand and because I love leeks. Leeks are massively underappreciated and really add so much so many dishes. It was delicious and I initially thought I would have to serve soup with it, but that was not the case. You can adapt this recipe to ingredients you have.

By Leslie Blythe