Cuisine: Vegetarian

Lemon & Thyme Potato Gratin

I made this Lemon Thyme Potato Gratin for a client (which I will have to admit, I had never made before!). She called me a week later and said it was the best potato gratin they had ever had, and can I make it again for a party using her pan. It's based on a Martha Stewart recipe. I used cream instead of milk - maybe that's why it was so good! Unfortunately, I did not take a picture of the final product because I delivered it par baked...

By Leslie Blythe

Roasted Squash with Lemon Tahini Sauce

Roasted Squash with Lemon Tahini Sauce makes an excellent side dish. You can really use any kind of squash. My sister-in-law, who lives in England, brought me a stack of recipes she has cut out of magazines. This recipe my nephew, Will, made. Oddly enough, it's from Bon Appetit. It was excellent. You can really use any kind of squash. I used a Kabocha and an Acorn squash in the recipe.

By Leslie Blythe

Chile Cheese Egg Casserole

My friend Brady, made us a wonderful dinner. It’s a recipe that has been passed down in our town circa 1974. Over the years it has been changed and adapted each time. This is his current version.
Here is his note
“I like to mix up my cheeses if I can.  Frequently I will use the Mexican 4-Cheese blend instead of plain Jack, or I may add Pepper Jack to spice things up.  I once used six different kinds of cheese!  The main cheese should always be Sharp Cheddar, but have fun and play with the rest, as long as you keep it at 32 ounces or so.”

By Leslie Blythe

Spinach Salad with Limed Pepitas and Dried Cranberries

Spinach Salad with Limed Pepitas and Dried Cranberries is delicious! Pepita (from Mexican Spanish: pepita de calabaza, "little seed of squash") is a Spanish culinary term for the pumpkin seed, the edible seed of a pumpkin or squash. The following recipe is based on Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger's recipe from The Boarder Grill in Los Angeles. Their version of this salad uses pomegranate Seeds and jicama. Also, if you are serving buffet style spinach is a good green to use. It's less delicate than lettuce and doesn't go as limp. I had never "limed" a pepitas before, but now I hooked!

By Leslie Blythe

Artichoke Spinach Pasta Casserole

I tried this new version of artichoke spinach pasta. If it contains artichokes and lemon, then I make it.

By Leslie Blythe

Sautéed Japanese Eggplant

Sautéed Japanese Eggplant is a very easy side dish. I made this earlier and served it at room temperature. Everyone LOVED it!

Japanese eggplant is the Western name given to dozens of Japanese eggplant varieties, both heirloom and hybrid. The most common of these varieties are Millionaire and Orient Express, both long, slender oblong shaped eggplants with glossy, purple-black, thin skin. The interior cream colored flesh is spongy and nearly seedless. Japanese eggplant's flavor is mild and because it is nearly seedless it doesn't possess that bitter quality found in Western and Thai varieties.

By Leslie Blythe

Sweet Mini Pepper Poppers

Sweet Mini Pepper Poppers are an easy appetizer for any party. There are endless ways to fill these mini peppers.

By Leslie Blythe

Minty Grapefruit Vinaigrette

This Minty Grapefruit Vinaigrette is very light and fresh tasting. My husband, Eric, said it would be good with roasted chicken, green onions, toasted almonds and manchego cheese over a bed of greens.

By Leslie Blythe

Herbed Steamed Rice

Herbed Steamed Rice - the fresh herbs really add a wonderful bright note to this rice. Every time I make something with tarragon, it's like I've used a mystery herb. Tarragon was very popular in the late 70s early 80s, but isn't used much now. This rice pairs well with Lyonnaise Chicken with Vinegar Sauce.

By Leslie Blythe

Israeli Couscous with Dried Cranberries, Apricots & Currants

This Israeli Couscous with Dried Cranberries, Apricots & Currants is such a colorful salad. I used Traders Joe's Harvest Grains Blend, which has a little bit of orzo, baby garbanzo beans and quinoa in it. You can just used plain Israeli couscous.

By Leslie Blythe