Cuisine: Side dish

Spinach Madeleine

This Spinach Madeleine is incredible. A certain person at my dinner table who doesn't like spinach said, "Never in my life did I think spinach could be that delicious!" It's a good way to introduce spinach to your family.

This recipe is rather famous in Louisiana. It's from the Junior League of Baton River Road Cookbook. The original recipe calls for a roll of 6 ounces of Jalapeño cheese. Kraft Foods no longer makes it, so you can substitute 4 ounces of Velveeta cheese, cubed, and 2 teaspoons of minced jalapenos. I actually used Tillamook Pepperjack.

By Leslie Blythe

Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan and Lemon

Broccoli rabe or rapini is a superfood packed with vitamins and nutrients to fuel your meal. It boosts your immune system, supports heart health, improves digestion, protects your eyesight and detoxes. This Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan and Lemon is really quick and easy to prepare. Give it a try.

By Leslie Blythe

Green Beans Gremolata

Green Beans Gremolata is an Ina Garten recipe which uses French green beans or Haricots Verts. Gremolata is an Italian chopped herb condiment classically made of lemon zest, garlic, and parsley. This zesty sauce brightens the dish.

By Leslie Blythe

Yorkshire Cheese Pudding

This recipe comes from my wonderful Aunt Marjorie. She made everyone in the family a cookbook with all the family recipes. She even painted this beautiful picture of onions (see below), which I wish I could frame for my kitchen. Anyway, I encourage all of you to start copying all of your family favorite recipes. There is nothing worse than trying to find your great grandmothers recipe for peach pie – though I’m sure your great grandmother never used a recipe!

By Leslie Blythe

Persian-ish Rice with Tahdig

Tahdig is a special Iranian cuisine with a crispy, browned layer of rice at the bottom of the rice pot that everyone wants. The bottom layer of the rice gets pan-fried while the rice above it gets steamed. There are a few ways to make tahdig. The simplest is to use plain rice. This recipe mixes the rice with yogurt to give it a thick, pasty texture before spreading it in the pot. It comes from Samin Nosrat's, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking Netflix episode 4 - Heat.

By Leslie Blythe

Roasted Vegetable and White Bean Salad

This Roasted Vegetable and White Bean Salad recipe from Samin Nosrat is amazing. She said loves showing people that simple, humble ingredients can be extraordinarily delicious. It's so true!

By Leslie Blythe

Corn Medallions with Aioli, Cotija Cheese and Lime

My daughter Zoe made these Corn Medallions with Aioli, Cotija Cheese and Lime. It’s basically Mexican-style street corn sautéed instead of grilled.

It’s the perfect mashup of the balanced flavors that comprise great dishes - sweet corn, garlic aioli, sour lime, and salty cheese.

Cotija cheese is named after the town of Cotija, Michoacán where it originated, Cotija cheese has a strong, salty flavor and mostly used as a topping or mixed into sauces. Feta is a good substitute.

By Leslie Blythe

Roasted Beets with Pistachios, Herbs and Orange

If you like beets, you will love these Roasted Beets with Pistachios, Herbs and Orange. Beets taste great even when they’re simply roasted with a little oil, but this recipe goes beyond that, topping red and golden beet slices with a lively mixed-herb dressing, pistachios and celery leaves.

By Leslie Blythe

Lemony Yogurt Brussels Sprouts Casserole

Brussel sprouts often get a bad wrap! This Lemony Yogurt Brussels Sprouts Casserole is a lighter, fresher way to serve them. I'm always trying to come up with new ways to serve Brussels Sprouts and this recipe is definitely a keeper. This method would also work with broccoli or cauliflower.

By Leslie Blythe

Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks

You might have a go-to green bean casserole recipe, but you have to try this Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks. The thin, crispy fried leeks are an absolutely delicious topper and look way more elegant than the canned fried onions. They fry up very quickly; keep a close watch on them as they cook.

By Leslie Blythe