family meals | Good Dinner Mrs Mellen

Category: family meals
- Mexican Chicken Parmesan for Two
  
  Posted at 5:25 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Mar 9th
  I love experiment with different ideas to create new recipes. Since I learned to cook at a young age from my mother I developed like most experienced cooks the ability to create dishes that not only taste delicious but fill that need for putting a meal on the table quickly. I believe that if you are going to eat food should taste wonderful inviting you to sit down even on a week night for a tasty meal with you family. My Mexican Chicken Parmesan is deliciously easy taking about 45 minutes from start to setting the meal on the table! Perfect during the busy Holiday Season.
  
  Mexican Chicken Parmesan for Two
  
  2 large Chicken breast
  
  1/2 teaspoon salt
  
  1/4 teaspoon pepper
  
  1 cup flour
  
  1 cup plain Panko Bread Crumbs
  
  1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  
  1 egg
  
  1 carton(8 oz) fresh Salsa, medium
  
  1 cup Mexican four cheeses
  
  1 jalapeno peppers, sliced
  
  Spray baking dish with cooking spray.
  
  Season both sides of chicken with salt and black pepper. Place flour in a shallow dish. Place egg in a separate shallow dish. Combine panko crumbs and Parmesan in a third shallow dish. Dip chicken first in flour, then in the egg and then panko crumb mixture. Transfer chicken to the prepared baking dish. Spoon Salsa over chicken. Top with cheese then arrange jalapeno pepper in baking dish Bake for 30 minutes, or until chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove from oven and serve.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Chicken, family meals, Hearty Meal, Main Dish, Main Meal, Mexican | Tagged Chicken, dinner, dinner for two, easy, Mexican
- Beef Bourguignon over Pasta
  
  Posted at 5:04 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Jan 23rd
  Beef Bourguignon over Pasta
  
  2 tablespoon olive oil
  
  2.5 lb boneless beef chuck, cut in 1.5 inch cubes
  
  3 tablespoons brandy
  
  1/2 lb. small white onions, peeled (about 12)
  
  12 whole cloves
  
  8 ounces whole or sliced mushrooms
  
  2.5 tablespoons flour
  
  2.5 teaspoons meat-extract paste (not liquid)
  
  2 tablespoons tomato paste
  
  1 1/2 cups red wine
  
  3/4 cup dry sherry
  
  3/4 cup ruby port
  
  1 1/2 cup beef stock
  
  1/8 teaspoon pepper
  
  1 bay leaf
  
  1 pound of pasta
  
  Recipe Instructions
  
  Slowly heat 4 quart Dutch oven with tight-fitting lid. olive oil; heat, but do not burn.
  
  In hot oil, over high heat, brown beef cubes well, using a fourth at a time, or just enough to cover bottom of Dutch oven.
  
  Remove beef as it browns. Continue until beef is browned, adding more oil as needed. Return beef to Dutch oven.
  
  In a small saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons brandy just until vapor rises. Ignite, pour over beef. As flame dies, remove beef.
  
  Add 2 olive oil to Dutch Oven; heat slightly. Stud each onion with a clove. Add onions; cook over low heat, covered, until onions brown slightly. Add mushrooms; cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
  
  Stir in flour, meat-extract paste and tomato paste until well blended. Stir in wine, sherry, port and stock.
  
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  
  Bring wine mixture just to boiling, stirring. Remove from heat. Add beef, pepper, and bay leaf; mix well.
  
  Bake, covered, stirring occasionally, 1.5 hours, or until beef is tender, adding remaining brandy, remove bay leaf. Can be served along, over rice or pasta.
  
  Serves 6
  
  Taste better if made day ahead. Store in refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  
  Can be reheated microwave or on stove top.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in family meals, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Main Meal, pasta | Tagged Beef, family meal, frech food, hearty dinner, pasta
- Simply Delicious Cucumbers and Tomato Salad
  
  Posted at 7:06 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Aug 3rd
  I love fresh tomatoes right off the vine. Each year I buy a patio cherry tomato plant to enjoy the luscious taste of fresh tomatoes. I’m always amazed at the bounty of fruits that this little plant produces just for me to enjoy. So fresh and tasty I just want to pop them in my mouth as I pick the ripen tomatoes. Cucumbers and tomatoes are a wonderful combination of flavor and texture that goes perfectly together without adding too many other ingredients. For a easy, simple salad of cucumbers and tomatoes I just added a little fresh basil, feta, dressed with olive oil and lemon juice sprinkled with salt and pepper, so simple, so delicious.
  
  Ingredients
  
  1/2 cup lettuce, I used spring greens
  
  1 English cucumber, peeled and sliced
  
  1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
  
  2 tablespoons fresh basil, cut in slivers
  
  1/4 cup feta
  
  2 tablespoon olive oil
  
  1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  
  1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  
  1/4 teaspoon fresh pepper
  
  Place greens around edge of plate. Fill center area with cucumbers, top with tomatoes, basil, and feta. Combine olive oil and lemon juice, pour over salad. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  gooddinnermrsmellen.blogspot.com
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  Posted in Easy recipes, family meals, Farm Fresh Produce, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, Salad, Vegetables, Vegetarian | Tagged cucumbers, feta, fresh produce, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, tomatoes
- Spaghetti with Clams for Two
  
  Posted at 2:44 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Jul 15th
  Dinner for two can be a challenge especially after cooking for a large family as you find it hard to scale down the ingredients and portions. One of the many reasons I like to use pasta or rice as a base then add to create a delicious dinner for two. Seafood lends well to dinner for two. In this meal I used count neck clams which are meaty and flavorful marrying with wine and seasonings for a lusciously delightful taste.
  
  Ingredients
  
  2 tablespoon olive oil
  
  2 cloves garlic, minced
  
  1 shallot, minced
  
  1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
  
  1 cup dry white wine
  
  pinch of saffron
  
  1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  
  1/4 teaspoon pepper
  
  1 pound count neck clams, well scrubbed
  
  4 ounces thin spaghetti, cook according to package
  
  In a saute pan add olive oil, garlic, shallot and thyme. Saute on medium heat for 8-10 minutes, garlic and shallots should be translucent, not browned. Add wine, saffron, salt and pepper simmering for 5 minutes. Add clams, cover, continue to cook for 5-10 minutes. All the clams should be open, discard any that aren’t. Pour over cooked pasta. Serve with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  gooddinnermrsmellen.com
  
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  Posted in dinner, Easy recipes, family meals, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Main Dish, Main Meal, seafood | Tagged clams, easy, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, spaghetti
- Tart Field Greens with Melon, Blueberries, Apricots and Pecans
  
  Posted at 3:38 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Jul 13th
  Tart Field Greens with Melon, Blueberries, Apricots and Pecans
  
  Adding fruit and nuts to salad fresh adds a refreshingly sweet taste to tart greens. I love the combination of spicy greens with the sweetness of melon and blueberries. You can customize this salad using any of your favorite combination of fresh fruit. Sometimes I add dates instead of apricots or pumpkin seeds to replace pecans. Use your imagination to create your own special salad.
  
  Ingredients
  
  4-5 cups bitter or spicy greens
  
  1/2 honeydew melon, cubed
  
  1/2 cup blueberries
  
  1/4 cup chopped apricots
  
  1/4 cup chopped pecans
  
  2 tablespoon sliced red onion*
  
  Preparation
  
  Wash and dry greens. Place on flat plate arranging melon, blueberries, apricots and pecans on top. Thinly slice red onion. Place in bowl pouring 2 tablespoon white vinegar over onions soaking for 10 minutes. Rinse onions and pat dry. Place onions on salad. Serve with balsamic vinaigrette.
  
  Balsamic Vinaigrette
  
  Ingredients
  
  3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  
  1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  
  1 garlic clove, minced
  
  1/2 cup olive oil
  
  Salt and freshly ground pepper
  
  Preparation
  
  In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, mustard, and garlic. Add the oil in a slow steady stream, whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  
  *Soaking the onion mellows the taste.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  gooddinnermrsmellen.com
  
  buzzchomp.com
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  Posted in entertaining, family meals, Farm Fresh Produce, Food, Healthy, Salad, vegan, Vegetarian | Tagged blueberries, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, melon, pecans, salad, Tart Greens, vegetarian
- Grilled Scallops with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil
  
  Posted at 3:41 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Jul 7th
  Grilled Scallops with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil
  
  Quick and easy delicious meals are a summer staple in our house. No clean up just heat up the grill. Grilling scallops brings out the sweet taste of the sea. All I do is marinate the scallops for a half an hour to enhance the flavor, pick fresh cherry tomatoes, add just snipped basil, so easy, so good. Toss up a salad with fresh farm produce serve along with a wonderfully fresh loaf of artisan bread for the best of summer dinning, so easy, so good. We enjoy dinning alfresco on our deck just relaxing enjoying our meal as the evening sounds fill our backyard with the lullaby of nighttime.
  
  Ingredients
  
  1 pound Sea Scallops
  
  Juice from 1/2 lemon
  
  2 cloves garlic, minced
  
  1/4 teaspoon fresh pepper
  
  1 teaspoon sea salt
  
  1 cup cherry tomatoes
  
  8 -10 basil leaves
  
  Place scallops in bowl. Combine lemon juice, garlic, pepper and salt. Pour over scallops and toss. Marinate in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  
  Heat grill. Place scallops in grill pan, add tomatoes and basil. Grill for 5- 8 minutes or until scallops are golden. Serves 4 people.
  
  Enjoy !
  
  http://www.gooddinnermrsmellen.blogspot.com
  
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  Posted in family meals, Farm Fresh Produce, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, light dinner, Main Dish, scallops, seafood | Tagged basil, easy, Grill, scallops, Seafood, tomatoes
- Easy sauteed fresh vegetables
  
  Posted at 8:25 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Apr 16th
  Eat your vegetables your Mom always said and she was right! Veggies are so good tasting as well as good for you. Low in calories, fat, no salt, cholesterol or sugar. I love to just saute fresh seasonal veggies for a dinner. I just serve over greens, polenta, farro or any whole grain. I wonderful healthy satisfying meal.
  
  Sauteed Fresh Vegetables over Greens
  
  2 tablespoons olive oil
  
  2 cloves garlic, minced
  
  1 large shallot, chopped
  
  Two Red peppers, chopped
  
  8 oz fresh sliced mushrooms, I like baby portabella
  
  1 cup sliced grape tomatoes
  
  1 can chick peas, drained and rinsed
  
  2 teaspoon capers
  
  1/4 cup sliced kalamata olives
  
  1/4 teaspoon pepper
  
  2 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
  
  Fresh greens, I used a combination of kale and baby spinach
  
  Heat olive oil in medium saute pan over medium heat. Add garlic cooking for about 2 minutes. Don’t brown garlic as it will become bitter. Add shallots continuing to cook for another 1 minutes. Next add the red peppers and mushrooms cooking for about 5 minutes. Gently combine tomatoes stirring for another 2 minutes. Add capers, olives, pepper and basil cooking for a few minutes. Place veggie mixture on top of greens.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Easy recipes, family meals, Farm Fresh Produce, Food, Healthy, light dinner, lunch, vegan, vegetable bake, Vegetables, Vegetarian, Weeknight dinner | Tagged beans, easy, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, vegetarian
- Springtime Asparagus Leek Quiche
  
  Posted at 4:45 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Mar 10th
  Spring is making an early arrival this year with beautiful warm days and what better way to welcome an spring than with a delicious Asparagus Leek Quiche. Asparagus is now available all year long but I am still think of asparagus and spring together. One of my favorite combination is asparagus and leeks which I used in making this rich feta cheese quiche. A wonderfully easy dish with store bought piecrust but still tasting so delicious!
  
  Springtime Asparagus Leek Quiche
  
  Ingredients
  
  1 (14.1-oz.) pkg. refrigerated piecrusts
  
  2 tablespoons (1 oz.) salted butter
  
  2 cups thinly sliced leeks
  
  1 bunch thinly sliced scallions
  
  1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces)
  
  1/2 teaspoonssea salt
  
  1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  
  1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  
  1 cup heavy cream
  
  8 large eggs
  
  2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives
  
  2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
  
  1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  
  1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  
  1/2 teaspoon pepper
  
  3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese, divided
  
  Preparation
  
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Unroll piecrusts; stack on a lightly floured surface. Roll stacked piecrusts into a 12-inch circle. Fit piecrust into a 10-inch deep-dish, lightly greased tart pan with removable bottom; press into fluted edges. Trim off excess piecrust along edges. Line piecrust with aluminum foil or parchment paper, and fill to rim with pie weights or dried beans. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven 14 minutes. Remove weights and foil, and bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 more minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Cool piecrust completely on baking sheet on a wire rack, about 15 minutes.
  
  2. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium skillet over medium-high. Add leeks, scallions and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in asparagus; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove from heat, and cool 5 minutes.
  
  3. Whisk together cream, eggs, chives, parsley, nutmeg, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
  
  4. Place half of leek mixture (about 1 cup) in tart shell; sprinkle with 1/4 cup feta. Spoon half of cream mixture (about 1 1/2 cups) over feta. Repeat layers once, and sprinkle top with remaining 1/4 cup feta.
  
  5. Bake in preheated oven until set, about 1 hour. Cool on baking sheet on a wire rack 20 minutes before serving.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in dinner, Easy recipes, family meals, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Main Meal | Tagged asparagus, easy, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Leeks, quiche
- Seafood Stew
  
  Posted at 4:49 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Mar 2nd
  Seafood Stew, feast from the sea, is one of my favorite dishes. I’ve made so many seafood stews from the different regions of the Mediterranean over the years. This recipe is one of my favorites because it is easy, taste delicious and is very healthy. With my blog I want to share easy recipes for a novice cook that aren’t intimidating, take hours to make or have ingredients that are not found at your local grocery store.
  
  Cooking should be enjoyable with the end result a delicious meal to serve for family and friends.
  
  Not a stressful project that leaves you too tired to enjoy the meal or your family.
  
  Seafood Stew
  
  Ingredients
  
  3 tablespoons good olive oil
  1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 small)
  2 cups chopped fennel (1 large bulb)
  2 teaspoons sea salt
  1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  1 (14 oz) can diced Petite tomatoes
  
  1 tablespoon tomato paste
  
  1 can(15 oz.) seafood stock, I used Bar Harbor
  
  1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  1 tablespoon chopped garlic (3 cloves)
  1 teaspoon saffron threads
  1 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined
  1 pound each halibut and bass fillets, cut in large chunks
  
  1 pound scallops
  24 mussels, cleaned
  
  24 clams, cleaned, I used count neck
  Toasted baguette slices, buttered and rubbed with garlic
  
  Directions
  
  Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or stockpot, add the onions, fennel, salt, and pepper, and saute over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, until the onions begin to brown. Add the tomatoes with their juices, tomato paste, stock, lemon juice, garlic, and saffron to the pot, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Add the shrimp, fish, scallops,mussels and clams, bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the pot to sit covered for another 5 minutes. The fish and shrimp should be cooked and the mussels and clams opened. Discard any mussels or clams that don’t open. Serve ladled over 1 or 2 slices of toasted baguette.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in dinner, Easy recipes, family meals, Healthy, scallops, seafood, Stew | Tagged easy, Seafood, Stew
- Clams in Wine Sauce
  
  Posted at 6:00 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Feb 8th
  Clams in Wine Sauce
  
  Love easy, tasty meals that are quick then you’ll love my Clams in White Sauce. I make these clams as a light dinner served with salad and bread or a hardier meal tossed with pasta, side salad and bread. Either way these clams are so good.
  
  2 tablespoon olive oil
  
  4 garlic cloves, minced
  
  2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, I like Pensey’s Tuscan Sunset
  
  pinch crushed red pepper flakes
  
  8 oz. bottled clam juice
  
  1/4 cup dry white wine
  
  2 tablespoon butter
  
  1 1/2 lbs. Count Neck Clams
  
  1. Wash clams to remove any dirt or sand.
  
  2. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic; saute for 1 minute, or until tender. Stir in Italian seasons and red pepper flakes. Pour in clam juice and white wine. Bring to boil then simmer for five minutes. Add clams, cover, and steam till clams start to open.
  
  3. Add butter and clams, cover, and cook till the clams open about ten minutes. Discard any that do not open. Transfer clams to plate. Serve with fresh bread and a crisp white wine.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  www.gooddinnermrsmellen.com
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  Posted in dinner, Easy recipes, entertaining, family meals, light dinner, Main Dish, seafood, Weeknight dinner | Tagged clams, easy, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, wine
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