Cuisine: Potatoes

Potato-Cheddar Soup With Quick-Pickled Jalapeños

Imagine the comforting warmth of cheesy mashed potatoes transformed into a luscious soup. That's precisely what this dish delivers. It's rich and satisfying without being overly heavy, hearty yet not dense. A touch of chili powder and garlic adds a lively kick, while the homemade pickled jalapeños provide a bright, tangy counterpoint to the creamy richness. These quick and easy pickled jalapeños are far superior to anything store-bought, elevating each spoonful with their vibrant flavor.

By Leslie Blythe

Sheet-Pan Pierogies and Beets

Crispy-chewy baked frozen pierogies, a welcome change from boiled or pan-fried, make a quick and satisfying meal. Roasting them alongside pre-cooked, packaged beets, and then drizzling everything with a vibrant poppy seed and shallot dressing, creates a dish that even picky eaters and beet skeptics will enjoy. For best results, I recommend using Mrs. T's frozen pierogies, a readily available and reliable brand. Feel free to substitute whole-milk Greek yogurt or kefir for the sour cream in the dressing for a slightly different flavor profile.

By Leslie Blythe

Ranch Potatoes

Ranch potatoes are crispy, flavorful, and served on a bed of creamy ranch dressing. The potatoes are first boiled and then tossed with oil and ranch seasoning and then roasted in the oven until crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. These potatoes are a real crowd pleaser, you might want to make a double batch!

By Leslie Blythe

Chicken Scarpariello

Our friend Melanie made this Chicken Scarpariello, which is a classic Italian-American dish. Scarpariello translates to "shoemaker" in Italian, and the dish is thought to be named so either because the ingredients can be "cobbled together" quickly, like a shoemaker might, or because the dish was traditionally eaten by poor shoemakers who could afford its simple ingredients; the exact origin of the name is unclear. The origins of the recipe don’t matter, it was incredibly delicious. It’s sweet, savory, and tangy.

By Leslie Blythe

Creamy Cowboy Soup

Hearty, rustic soups are the epitome of comfort food. Perfect for chilly days, their rich flavors and satisfying textures can warm you from the inside out. Creamy Cowboy Soup is a prime example, featuring a comforting blend of ground beef, bacon, ranch-style beans, corn, and potatoes, all simmered in a creamy broth.

By Leslie Blythe

Roasted Gnocchi with Caramelized Cauliflower and Chickpeas

Roasted Gnocchi with Caramelized Cauliflower and Chickpeas is a delicious and easy-to-make vegan dish that's great for a weeknight dinner. It's packed with flavor and texture, thanks to the crispy gnocchi, caramelized cauliflower, and tender chickpeas, which has a creamy, tangy miso tahini sauce. It's a perfect balance of textures and tastes.

By Leslie Blythe

Irish Spice Bag

I made this at my soon to be son-in-law Pierce's request. The Irish Spice Bag is a beloved fast food dish that has gained popularity throughout Ireland. Inspired by Chinese cuisine, it's a flavorful concoction of crispy fries, fried chicken pieces, and a variety of spices. It is typically served in a paper bag. All I can say is wow, it's SO good!

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Spicy Asian Potato Salad

Spicy Asian Potato Salad is a refreshing and flavorful twist on the classic potato salad. It combines the creamy texture of potatoes with a burst of spicy Asian flavors. This potato salad uses sesame oil, chili oil, soy sauce, vinegar, and green onions.

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Gnocchi with Corn & Miso

I love using miso paste and try to always have it in my fridge. Miso is a fermented soybean paste, and is used in many Japanese dishes. It adds depth, complexity, and umami. Its versatility extends far beyond its traditional use in miso soup. This Gnocchi with Corn & Miso is a brilliant combination. The soft, pillowy potato dumplings provide a perfect base for the sauce. The sweet and juicy corn adds a fresh, summery element and the miso brings umami depth and a savory richness.

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Pittsburgh Salad

The Pittsburgh Salad, a unique culinary creation featuring a bed of greens topped with crispy french fries, is a beloved regional dish with a somewhat murky history.
While there's no definitive answer to its origin, the most popular theory places its birth in the early 1960s at a Western Pennsylvania drive-in.
The Contenders
Two establishments lay claim to the title of Pittsburgh salad creator:
Jerry's Curb Service in Bridgewater, PA
Hilltop Grill in Rochester, PA (This restaurant seems to have closed down)

The story goes that a customer at one of these restaurants ordered a steak sandwich without the bread, adding fries to the top of a salad. The resulting concoction sparked inspiration, leading to the creation of the Pittsburgh salad as we know it today.
The beauty of this salad is its versatility. While the core components of greens and fries remain constant, the toppings and dressings can vary widely. All I can say is that this salad is brilliant in every way.

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