Cuisine: Cheese

The Original Hollywood Brown Derby Cobb Salad

From Hollywood’s Brown Derby restaurant and named for its owner, Robert Howard Cobb, the Cobb Salad is the original chopped salad. 

There’s some dispute about the recipe’s genesis. Was the first Cobb salad made by Cobb and theater mogul, Sid Grauman, while rummaging through the restaurant’s cooler for a late-night snack in 1939, or, by the restaurant’s executive chef Robert Kreis, who created it for the restaurant’s 1929 launch? Either way, the Cobb is one of America’s longest-standing salad favorites, inspiring dozens of different renditions. The original recipe consisted of a head of lettuce, watercress, avocado, tomatoes, cold breast of chicken, hard boiled eggs, cheese, crumbled bacon and some old-fashioned French dressing.

By Leslie Blythe

BBQ Chicken Twice-Baked Yams

These BBQ Chicken Twice-Baked Yams make a great busy weeknight meal. It's perfect if you have some leftover chicken. Yams are a very rich source of starch, vitamins, and minerals.

By Leslie Blythe

Red Pepper, Garlic & Pecorino Gourgères

These Red Pepper, Garlic & Pecorino Gourgères are divine. A perfect make-ahead hors d'heurves for your holiday party, or any party! Gourgères is a baked savory choux pastry made of choux dough mixed with cheese. Basically, they are cheese puffs. These infuse puréed red pepper and garlic into them. I very recently posted a recipe for plain cheese Gourgères.

By Leslie Blythe

Cheese Ball

The Cheese Ball is the centerpiece of any Midwest cocktail party. There are many variations of this recipe. Last year I made this Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Cheese Ball. I am not a big fan of serving a boring cheese platter at a party. It usually doesn't get eaten. I guarantee this cheese ball will be the hit of your next party. Cheese balls were all the rage in the 1970s. So easy to make and the best part is that it has to be made ahead, so you can enjoy your party.

By Leslie Blythe

Christmas Quiche

This Christmas Quiche is a delicious breakfast casserole that makes a great breakfast or lunch. It can be served hot, room temperature or cold.

By Leslie Blythe

Parmesan Cheese Biscuits

When my husband and I lived in London, our eccentric friend Sandra introduced us to these Parmesan Cheese Biscuits. They are very easy to make and unusual. I use mini cookie cutters and cut them into shapes – usually pigs or Scottie dogs. Unfortunately, couldn't find fun shapes for this batch. These would go well with any cocktail.

By Leslie Blythe

Gourgères

Gourgères is a baked savory choux pastry made of choux dough mixed with cheese. Basically, they are cheese puffs. My daughter Zoe, went to a book signing for this new book by Rebekah Peppler, Apéritif, Cocktail Hour the French Way. She says the French have perfected the casual, pre-dinner practice of drinks and snacks. I thought Eric and I had perfected that! Anyway, it's a wonderful book and the cheese puffs are great for any party.

By Leslie Blythe

Turkey, Cranberry & Goat Cheese Quesadillas

These Turkey, Cranberry & Goat Cheese Quesadillas are absolutely amazing. A perfect way to use up those Thanksgiving leftovers.

By Leslie Blythe

Drip Beef Sandwiches

This recipe for Beef Drip Sandwiches is adapted from a recipe from Ree Drumond, The Pioneer Woman. She makes it 2 different ways, one on the stove top and the other in a slow cooker. 

By Leslie Blythe

Skillet Lasagna

This Skillet Lasagna is an easier and faster way to make lasagna than the traditional way all in one skillet. Do not substitute no-boil lasagna noodles for the traditional, curly-edged lasagna noodles here. Use either whole milk or part-skim ricotta here, but do not use fat-free ricotta, which has a very dry texture and bland flavor.

By Leslie Blythe