Cuisine: Beans

Christmas Lima Bean and Mushroom Stew

I bought these Christmas Lima Beans online from Rancho Gordo. My friend Jennifer introduced me to these amazing heirloom bean producers located in Napa, California. I decided to make this Christmas Lima Bean and Mushroom Stew, which is a hearty vegetarian dish.

Christmas Limas are an intriguing variation on the traditional Lima. In Italy, you'll find them as Fagioli del Papa or "Pope's beans." Also known stateside as "Chestnut Lima" and sometimes even "Calico" beans. Whatever you call them, they've done a great deal to help fix the bad reputation of traditional Lima beans. They have a rich chestnut texture and an almost nutty flavor make this the most unusual Lima bean. A true revelation for those who believe they don't like Limas.

By Leslie Blythe

Instant Pot Chicken Chili

This Instant Pot Chicken Chili is a lighter version than traditional beef chili. Cooking in an Instant Pot makes dinner effortless during a busy work week. 

By Leslie Blythe

Fagioli Al Uccelletto “Tuscan Baked Beans”

I serve these Fagioli Al Uccelletto “Tuscan Baked Beans” with the Italian-style Slow-Roasted Pork Roast with Oranges & Onions. They go perfectly with it. These beans are a typical dish from Tuscany, particularly in the Florence area.

By Leslie Blythe

Lynda’s 7 Layer Dip

We just got back from a wonderful trip to Maine and our friend Lynda made this incredible 7 Layer Dip. It's one of those dips you can't stop eating! Here is Lynda's recipe.

By Leslie Blythe

White Bean & Broccolini Salad

This White Bean & Broccolini Salad is delicious and can be made ahead and served at room temperature. This is my kind of side dish and it's perfect to serve at your backyard BBQ.

By Leslie Blythe

Basmati & Wild Rice with Chickpeas, Currants & Herbs

Another recipe from the Jerusalem cookbook - Basmati & Wild Rice with Chickpeas, Currants & Herbs. It's absolutely delicious and can be served warm or at room temperature. It can be difficult to find dried currants in the US, so I used dried cranberries, which worked well. Oh, and did I mention the crispy fried onions on top?

By Leslie Blythe

Tex-Mex Stew

I love pulling things from my pantry and freezer and making dinner. This Tex-Mex Stew didn't seem like it would be very good because it uses frozen peppers and onion soup mix, but I was wrong. It takes 5 minutes to prep and about 15 minutes to cook. I didn't even use a fork to eat it, just tortilla chips. You could actually pour it into a bag of Fritos, like Frito Pie.

By Leslie Blythe

Pumpkin with White Beans and Bacon

This Pumpkin with White Beans and Bacon makes a wonderful autumnal side dish. I actually made this with butternut squash.

By Leslie Blythe

Tomato Chickpea Salad

This Tomato Chickpea Salad with fresh summer tomatoes and chickpeas is tossed with a simple sherry vinaigrette. Sautéing the chickpeas until they are browned and crispy on the outside then dusted with cumin gives them a wonderful depth of flavor.

By Leslie Blythe

Jamie Oliver’s Tender & Crisp Chicken Legs with Sweet Tomatoes & Basil

Jamie Oliver’s Tender & Crisp Chicken Legs with Sweet Tomatoes & Basil is an incredibly easy crowd-pleasing dinner to make. It's 10 minutes of prep, 1½ hours in the oven and voila. There is no sautéing, just put it in a pan and throw it in the oven. I served this with a large loaf of crusty bread and a crisp green salad. Oh, and there was wine involved!

By Leslie Blythe