Cuisine: Chicken

Curried Chicken with Asparagus

My friend Melanie gave me a Hollywood Bowl cookbook from the '80s. It has many great recipes from famous people who attended the Bowl. My parents used to have a box there, which in those days was a pretty big deal. My mother, being a designer, and the most elegantly dressed woman on the planet, used to sew tablecloths and decorate the table differently every time they went. The people sitting in adjacent boxes use to eagerly await her arrival wondering what her theme was that week. I would give anything if someone would have taken photos of all of them, this was the pre-cell phone days!

Anyway, last night I made this Curried Chicken with Asparagus, which was quite popular then. I made several changes and added Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup, though you can throw caution to the wind and peel off the lid of a can! This recipe is ridiculously simple and can be made ahead. I'm not sure this recipe would travel, especially to the Hollywood Bowl given that it needs to be hot!

By Leslie Blythe

Chicken Pot Pie Soup for a Crowd

Over the years in my catering life, I have done many crazy events. Last weekend, I was hired to serve lunch for 35 people outside at a Springer / Cocker Field Trial event about an hour and a half north of Pasadena (north of Lake Arrowhead). I served chili on Saturday (the obvious choice) and on Sunday, this Chicken Pot Pie Soup topped with a buttermilk biscuit. It had to be something I could heat up on a camping stove. The night before I had a panic attack (common before catering!) and realized it was going to be very windy. Because I could not find a "wind guard" for my stove, my extremely handy husband, made one out of sheet metal and insisted on painting it to look nice (not necessary!). Anyway, the soup was a big hit. After all that, I made dinner for 6 on Sunday for my friend/client. I am a bit too old of all of this, given that I have a VERY scary birthday coming up soon. I spent all of yesterday recovering from the whirlwind of a weekend. I also have a 4 - 6 serving recipe for Chicken Pot Pie Soup.

By Leslie Blythe

Buffalo Chicken Nachos

Well, for starters, I'm not a huge football fan. I only watch the Super Bowl for the ads and typically root for the team that is winning. I'm only half paying attention, though I do provide good snackage! I used to make my late mother-in-law a plate of nachos while she watched the USC games. She loved nachos and I loved making them for her. I always enjoyed hearing her screaming "GO, GO, GO!" This is a rather long-winded intro to my Buffalo Chicken Nachos, which is a variation of the traditional nacho recipe. You can make this buffalo chicken in the instant pot or a slow cooker. There was also the infamous Buffalo Chicken Pizza Incident, which you can read about...

By Leslie Blythe

Chicken with Apricot-Chipotle Glaze

This Chicken with Apricot-Chipotle Glaze is smoky, sticky, sweet and spicy. What more could you ask for?! And, it's it all done in one pan. Serve this on a bed of rice and BAM, you're done!

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

Chicken with Artichokes in Creamy Mustard Sauce

This Chicken with Artichokes in Creamy Mustard Sauce is all done in one skillet. It's a simple recipe that gets real depth of flavor by adding broth, white wine, Dijon mustard and a touch of cream. We had leftovers, so the next day I cut up the chicken and served it on spaghetti for lunch!

By Leslie Blythe

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole with Broccoli

This Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole with Broccoli is a family-friendly meal. I have to say, it's my new favorite casserole. The combination of chicken, bacon, pasta ranch dressing and cheese is delicious.

By Leslie Blythe

Pollo a la Mostaza (Chicken with Mustard)

A few years ago, we met our friends at their favorite Mexican restaurant. They always order this Pollo a la Mostaza (Chicken with Mustard). This isn't anything we would have ever ordered, but we tried it. It's probably one of the best things we have ever had. We think and talk about it all the time. We went back and talked to several waitresses to find out what the ingredients were. I had already figured out what it was and they confirmed it. So my husband and I worked on recreating it at home. It took a few times, but this is it. We nailed it. This is the description on the menu:

Grilled chicken breast with our special creamy mustard sauce enhanced with chipotle. Served on a bed of rice and Julienne vegetables.
It's sweet, spicy and has these crispy frizzled carrots and leeks on the top... 

By Leslie Blythe

Chicken & Stuffing Casserole

I made this Chicken & Stuffing Casserole for my Dad. It's a bit of a jump start on Thanksgiving. You can use chicken or turkey. I used chicken thighs. It's covered in stuffing and baked until it's golden brown and crunchy on top. There are no cans of condensed soup involved in this recipe. You can make it ahead and put it in the oven later in the day. Usually, you would make something like this to use up leftovers, but I threw caution to the wind and made it now. Oh, and I also made him a pumpkin pie. If only i could wear a sweater and go out for a walk through some piles of fallen leaves!  This is the one thing I truly hate about living in Los Angeles in the autumn, I feel like I've been robbed! That will change in February!

By Leslie Blythe

Chicken Saltimbocca

Saltimbocca (alla Romana or Roman-Style) is an Italian dish made of veal lined or wrapped with prosciutto and sage; marinated in wine, oil. This dish is also popular in southern Switzerland. My friend Melanie made this Chicken Saltimbocca, which is the American version that uses chicken instead of veal, spinach instead of sage and is rolled up and cooked in stock or you could use white wine. Saltimbocca in Italian means 'jump in your mouth’.

By Leslie Blythe