Blog | leavedinnertolettie

Dec 28, 2018
2 min

Charred Carrots with Pomegranate, Mint and Rosemary

Often with the new year comes a change in your eating habits. Whether it is part of your resolution for the next year or you are just trying to cleanse your body of all the sugar you enjoyed over the holidays, a healthier menu finds its way into most homes. The best way to make this healthier eating habit stick is by finding recipes that are healthy, delicious and easy. You need foods around the house that are easy to make and store so when your tummy grumbles you can make th

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Chili Lime Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Skewers

Chef Lettie

Jul 23, 2018
2 min

Chili Lime Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Skewers

I have to admit that I am not a big fan of watermelon myself, but it is a summer staple so I have been playing around with it a bit this summer. The more recipes I create, the more that I am enjoying it. So now I'm actually eating watermelon sometimes. I never thought that would happen. I've always loved the synthetic watermelon flavor in gum or candy, but not the fruit itself for some reason. One of the things that I like about watermelon is that it has a subtle flavor so it

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Chef Lettie

Jul 16, 2018
1 min

Waldorf Chicken Salad

I know you can eat chicken salad all year, but I always crave it in the summer. The Waldorf chicken salad is a pretty classic style of this dish. I like to put it on an open faced bagel with a good piece of cheese on top and toast it for a chicken salad melt. It is also delicious on some greens as a salad. If the nuts and fruit aren't your style when it comes to chicken salad give something else try. Avocado and goat cheese with the chicken would be delicious. You could even

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Chef Lettie

Jun 26, 2018
2 min

Simple Tomato Bruschetta

Ever since I lived in Italy for the summer I have been in love with bruschetta. Now maybe it had to do with the fact that tomatoes in Italy taste truly amazing even when eaten plain, but there is something about this blend of flavors that I truly enjoy. It isn't just me. Every time I make this bruschetta people ask for the recipes and it’s so simple. There are very few ingredients in it, but each one packs so much flavor. This is obviously best when tomatoes are in season

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Sheet Pan Greek Tofu and Roasted Vegetables Brown Rice Bowl

Chef Lettie

Jun 21, 2018
3 min

Sheet Pan Greek Tofu and Roasted Vegetables Brown Rice Bowl

We are trying to eat more meatless meals in our home this summer. Mostly to ensure we are getting enough vegetables, but also because there are so many delicious things to make that don't have meat in them. I know not everyone loves tofu, so you could skip that part of this recipe. You can either just do the vegetables or add shrimp or chicken to the dish instead. By changing the protein, the cooking time of the dish will change as well, so just keep that in mind. This recipe

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Chef Lettie

Jun 8, 2018
2 min

Easy Foil Roasted Greek Potatoes

With a 20 month old and a growing business I love easy dinner ideas as much as the next person. I recently put this one together for a client. Nothing groundbreaking here, but delicious and great for any time of the year. You could do these in the oven or on the grill since they are wrapped in foil. Feel free to play with the ingredients too. These would be great with some fresh rosemary and balsamic vinegar topped with a little goat cheese. Yum, I have to try that now. My mo

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Smoked Salmon Crostini with Mustard, Capers and Dill

Chef Lettie

Mar 16, 2018
2 min

Smoked Salmon Crostini with Mustard, Capers and Dill

I love flavor packed, simple appetizers that present well, which is one of the reasons I love this smoked salmon crostini. Different flavors and textures help to create a wonderful depth of flavor in each bite. The smokiness of the salmon, the crunch of the bread, the tart of the capers and the creaminess of the mustard butter. This smoked salmon crostini is easy to assemble and it can be made in advance. If I haven't convinced you to try this easy appetizer yet, I probably n

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Creamy Tuscan Salmon with Garlic, Spinach and Sun-dried Tomatoes

Chef Lettie

Oct 5, 2017
2 min

Creamy Tuscan Salmon with Garlic, Spinach and Sun-dried Tomatoes

My recipe research for my clients recently led me to this Creamy Tuscan Salmon dish. So far it has gotten rave reviews. I even enjoy it and I'm not a big fan of salmon. You could also make this dish with shrimp or chicken and it would be delightful! One of the great things about this dish, besides the amazing flavor, is how simple it is and everything take place in one pan. It is creamy and a bit decadent but it also has it's healthy side. There is the salmon and spinach and

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Chef Lettie

Jun 2, 2017
3 min

7 Fun Summer Recipes

There are so many wonderful things about summer foods. First, we get to enjoy so many fresh ingredients with all of the fruits and veggies that go straight from the farm to our homes. Or better yet, straight from the garden. Farmers markets are filled with delicious food that you just can't get the rest of the year. Those strong, fresh flavors mean that cooking can be simple. Just let the ingredients do the talking. Second, food helps to define a lot of the fun activities we

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Broccoli Rabe Salad with Lemon, Basil, Tomatoes and Pine Nuts

Chef Lettie

Apr 27, 2017
2 min

Broccoli Rabe Salad with Lemon, Basil, Tomatoes and Pine Nuts

The first time I created this recipe I used shaved asparagus in it. While shaving the asparagus can be time consuming, you don't need to even blanch it because the shavings are so tender. You just shave it, mix together the rest of the ingredients and you are done. I recently had a client ask if I could use a different vegetable in the salad instead so I tried the broccoli rabe. I have to admit, I generally don't like broccoli rabe. It is too bitter for me. But I loved it in

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Grilled Peach Salad with Bacon Balsamic Vinaigrette

Chef Lettie

Apr 7, 2017
3 min

Grilled Peach Salad with Bacon Balsamic Vinaigrette

This recipe came about when I had a client request a grilled peach salad and with summer peaches around the corner, I thought this was a great time to share it. My client had previously had a grilled peach salad that she loved, but could not tell me what was in it. So I started searching through the internet to see what other people were throwing in their grilled peach salads. I came up with this delightful combo and topped it off with my Bacon Balsamic Vinaigrette. I must ha

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Chef Lettie

Mar 24, 2017
2 min

Orange Roasted Cauliflower

I love roasting vegetables both at home and for my clients throughout the year, although I do it a little less in the summer. During the warm months I prefer the grill if I can get it. Roasting helps to bring out all the delicious flavors in the vegetables while with ruining the texture and making them mushy. Roasted vegetables also keep well, which is important when I am cooking for clients. I suggest you roast up a big batch of this cauliflower when you have time and then y

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Chef Lettie

Feb 24, 2017
2 min

Cherry Season is Around the Corner

With spring time comes the beautiful cherry blossoms. We are lucky to live close enough to DC that we can enjoy the cherry blossoms when they are in full bloom. In fact my husband proposed to me after running the Cherry Blossom 10 miler. Unfortunately that year the cherry blossoms were blooming later then expected so not many had oped up yet. OK, back to the topic at hand. After the cherry blossoms are gone, we of course get to enjoy delicious, juicy and healthy cherries. Che

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Grilled Pork Chops with Mango Red Pepper Arugula Salad

Chef Lettie

Jul 12, 2016
2 min

Grilled Pork Chops with Mango Red Pepper Arugula Salad

Dinner at my house is often a quick look to see what's in the fridge and then figuring out what might go well together. This time of year also includes a quick look in the garden, to see what I can pick. For the recipe below I pulled a red pepper and arugula. Summer cooking can be wonderful. You just need a protein you can throw on the grill and something fresh to put on top. Some of the other easy toppings I like to make are chimichurri with fresh herbs from the garden, pest

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Summer Garden Lentil Pasta with Smoked Sausage

Chef Lettie

Jun 22, 2016
2 min

Summer Garden Lentil Pasta with Smoked Sausage

When your garden first starts to give you vegetables, there generally isn't an abundance of any one thing. There may be a few ripe tomatoes, some peas, a handful of kale and fresh herbs. None of them give you enough to make a main dish or even a side dish just on their own. That is where pasta comes in. It makes a great vehicle for all of those fresh vegetables so that you can turn them into a delicious dinner. If you are not a big pasta home because of the starches or maybe

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My First Time Cooking with Fiddlehead Ferns

Chef Lettie

May 4, 2016
3 min

My First Time Cooking with Fiddlehead Ferns

While researching fresh spring vegetables, you most likely recognize the usual suspects. Asparagus, arugula, artichokes, and peas just to name a few. But what about fiddlehead ferns. You may have read about them, but have you ever tried them? Fiddlehead ferns are forged and not grown just like another popular spring vegetable, ramps. And just like ramps, they can be really hard to find in the grocery store. I have been hearing more and more about fiddlehead ferns in recent ye

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Chef Lettie

Mar 31, 2016
2 min

Cooking With Spring Vegetables

There are so many wonderful things about spring. The smell of the thawing ground and blooming flowers, those bright colors, the warming weather and of course getting to enjoy fresh vegetables for the first time in months. Gone are the days of winter squashes and potatoes. Instead we get to start cooking with fresh, flavor packed vegetables and fruits that bring brightness even to a simple dish. Let's take a look at what vegetables and fruits are in season right now. There are

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Chef Lettie

Feb 18, 2016
2 min

Brown Sugar Butter Acorn Squash

This simple side dish is perfect for both fall and winter. My only problem this year has been finding fresh squash in the store. Has anyone had that issue this year? One time I couldn't find acorn squash so I cut butternut squash into rounds and used that instead. It wasn't as sweet but it was still delicious. If you want to make this simple recipe even simpler, you could do it in the microwave. It wouldn't get as brown and caramelized but it would be quicker. If you are like

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Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Smothered Chicken

Chef Lettie

Jan 3, 2016
2 min

Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Smothered Chicken

I had both butternut squash and a pomegranate in my house that were going to go bad soon. I wanted to use them for dinner, but didn't want to create the same things I always do. That is how this recipe came about. I thought that with some caramelized onions, white wine and a little bit of butter to finish them off it would be delicious. My husband sure thought it was and now I am making it for clients as well. Add some extra butternut squash and you almost have yourself a one

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Roasted Tomatillo Ranch Dip with Greek Yogurt

Chef Lettie

Dec 21, 2015
2 min

Roasted Tomatillo Ranch Dip with Greek Yogurt

I was recently asked to bring a dip to a friends house for a gathering. When I got to the grocery store they either didn't have what I needed or the produce just didn't look good for the recipes that I wanted to make. Like under ripe avocados. I was not going to serve hard, tasteless avocados. On my way to the store I had started to think about a salad dressing that I could make for a client's salad in the coming week, and a tomatillo ranch came to mind. So I tried it out as

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