Healthy | Good Dinner Mrs Mellen

Category: Healthy
- Baked Swordfish and Cherry Tomatoes
  
  Posted at 10:00 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Aug 17th
  Living in New England, we have an abundance of fresh fish at our markets. I especially am partial to swordfish, a mild white fish that lends to so many flavorful recipes.
  Swordfish is so easy to bake, nestled in a bed of colorful cherry tomatoes and Castetrano olives. Texture and color are so important when you are cooking, adding to the visual presentation. Top with a lemon garlic olive oil dressing for outstanding flavor.
  
  1 cup rainbow cherry tomatoes
  1/2 cup pitted Mezzetta Castetrano olives
  2 8 ounce swordfish
  2 tablespoon lemon juice
  2 tablespoon olive oil
  2 garlic cloves, minced
  1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
  1 teaspoon sea salt
  1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  
  Preheat over to 400F. Place tomatoes and olives on a baking pan. Add swordfish on top. Place the remaining ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until combined. Pour over tomatoes, olives, and swordfish. Bake for 30 minutes until tomatoes are bubbly and swordfish are golden.
  
  Serves 2.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in cooking, dinner for two, Easy recipes, Farm Fresh Produce, Fish, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, Hearty Meal, Main Dish, Main Meal, Mediterranean diet, One Pan Meals | Tagged Castetrano olives, Mezzetta olives, swordfish
- Summer Salad with Blueberries, Strawberries, Pecans and Blue Cheese
  
  Posted at 10:09 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Aug 16th
  My favorite summertime salads are easy, fresh, and flavorful. I love adding blueberries and strawberries to a salad capturing the freshness of summer fruits. Rich, pungent blue cheese and a tangy lemon vinaigrette enhance the flavor.
  
  Salad
  
  2 cups salad greens, I used Spring mix
  
  1/2 cup fresh blueberries
  
  1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries
  
  1/4 cup toasted chopped pecans
  
  1/2 cup blue cheese
  
  Lemon Vinaigrette
  
  1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
  
  2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  
  1 teaspoon sugar
  
  1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  
  1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste
  
  3 to 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  
  Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  
  Place salad greens on a large plate. Top with blueberries, strawberries, pecans, and blue cheese. Serve with lemon vinaigrette.
  
  Lemon Vinaigrette
  
  In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, mustard, and fine sea salt, whisking until the sugar and salt dissolve. Add 3 tablespoons of the oil in a slow stream, constantly whisking until the dressing is well blended. Season with fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. If desired, whisk in the remaining oil in a slow stream, whisking constantly. DO AHEAD: The vinaigrette can be prepared ahead and refrigerated, in an airtight container, up to 3 days.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in BLUEBERRY, Easy recipes, Farm Fresh Produce, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, Salad, summertime recipes, Vegetarian | Tagged blueberries, strawberries, summer salad
- Linguine with Cherry Tomatoes and Pesto Sauce
  
  Posted at 10:00 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Aug 15th
  Cooking and good food is in my blood. Both my grandmother and mother were accomplished cooks who could combine a few ingredients into a memorable feast that you would never forget. I learned from both these exceptional women that their love of cooking for family and friends was their secret ingredient that flavored their dishes better than any expensive seasoning or ingredient. Being of Italian heritage, tomatoes, basil, garlic, olive oil, and pasta were the basis for many of the meals they cooked when I was growing up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania along the Delaware River. The Delaware Valley before all the housing developments was rich land with farms that went for miles. My grandmother and mother’s summer season gardens overflowed with the most beautiful fresh produce perfect for making Linguine with Cherry Tomatoes and Pesto Sauce. I’ve attempted to create the flavors from one of their signature dishes. Both women never used a recipe they just added a pinch of this, a dash of that magically creating breathtaking food!
  
  Linguine with Cherry Tomatoes and Pesto Sauce
  
  1-pint cherry tomatoes
  
  2 tablespoon olive oil
  
  4 cloves garlic, minced
  
  2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
  
  1/2 teaspoon salt
  
  1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  
  1/4 cup pesto sauce*
  
  12 oz of fresh linguine
  
  1 tablespoon butter
  
  Preheat oven 425F. Place the first six ingredients in a baking dish ad roast for 20 minutes until tomatoes are hot and bubbly. Cool. Add pesto sauce to tomatoes; stirring until combined. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and reserve 1/4 cup water from the pasta. Place pasta in large bowel toss with 1 tablespoon butter and reserved water. Add tomato/pesto sauce and toss again. Serve with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
  
  Pesto Sauce
  
  4 cups packed fresh basil
  
  1/2 cup olive oil
  
  1/2 cup pine nuts
  
  2 cloves garlic
  
  1/2 parmesan cheese
  
  1/2 cup olive oil
  
  1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  
  Combine basil, oil, pine nuts, and garlic in a blender. Blend until paste forms, stopping often to push down basil. Add both kinds of cheese and salt; blend until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl. Freeze unused pesto.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Easy recipes, family meals, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, Italian, Main Dish, Main Meal, Mediterranean diet, pasta, Tomato | Tagged Easy recipe, linguine, pasta, Pesto Sauce, tomatoes
- Hummus Dip with Tobbouleh, Feta, Cucumbers, Tomatoes and Tzatziki
  
  Posted at 10:00 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Aug 12th
  Easy summertime entertaining is my philosophy for summer parties. I love to put together easy to make ahead dishes so I can relax and enjoy my guests. During the summertime with abundant produce at Framer’s markets, I just love creating delicious healthy food. Keep all the intendants my hummus dip ready for an impromptu get together or to bring to friends home for a barbecue.
  
  Hummus Dip with Tobbouleh, Feta, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, and Tzatziki
  
  1 container prepared Hummus*, I like garlic
  
  1/2 cup prepared Tabbouleh Salad*
  
  1/4 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
  
  1/4 cup chopped English cucumber
  
  1/4 cup chopped feta
  
  1/4 cup prepared Tzatziki*
  
  sliced tomatoes and cucumbers for garnish
  
  Mound hummus on serving plate. Top with tabbouleh, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, feta, then drizzle with tzatziki. Garnish with sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. Refrigerate. Serve with pita bread or crackers.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  * I use Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods brand for the hummus, Tabbouleh, and Tzatziki.
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  Posted in Appetizer, entertaining, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, summertime recipes | Tagged feta, hummus, Tabbouleh, Tzatziki
- Grilled Summer Vegetables
  
  Posted at 1:42 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Aug 8th
  My town like many towns has a wonderful weekly farmer’s market each week where local farms sell fresh produce. Beautiful ripe heirloom tomatoes glistening with morning dew, the deepest aubergine eggplant, plump zucchini along with a red, orange, and yellow peppers just beckoning to be grilled.
  
  3 red peppers
  
  3 orange peppers
  
  3 yellow peppers
  
  2 large eggplants
  
  2 large zucchinis
  
  1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  
  1/4 teaspoon fresh pepper
  
  1/2 cup olive oil
  
  1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  
  1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
  
  1 tablespoon fresh french thyme, finely chopped
  
  Remove stems and seeds from peppers then slice in quarters. Slice eggplant and zucchini horizontally. Place vegetables in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, basil, and thyme. Pour over vegetables then toss. Let sit for 30 minutes to marinate flavors. Preheat grill. Grill vegetables turning every five minutes until tender. Arrange on a platter. Serve at room temperature. You can grill a day ahead and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Appetizer, Easy recipes, Farm Fresh Produce, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, Mediterranean diet, summertime recipes, vegan, Vegetables | Tagged Easy recipe, farm fresh veggies, grilling veggies, healthy side dishes
- Watermelon and Feta Cheese Salad
  
  Posted at 8:20 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Aug 4th
  Watermelon is synonymous with hot summer days, infused with sun-kissed flavor. I remember growing up waiting – not patiently- for my mother to cut an enormous watermelon for us to enjoy when we returned home from a day spent at the pool baking in the sun. (we didn’t know about sun protection then) Instantly cooling and so refreshing.
  
  I still slice up watermelon to serve for family and friends on hot summer days. Perfect after a barbecue or here in New England, we’re fond of clam bakes. I love to splurge, for parties or picnics, making a watermelon salad adding tomatoes, red onion and feta cheese with a sweet and salty dressing: fresh mint and a pinch of Himalayan pink salt just the perfect finishing touch.
  
  1 small watermelon (about 3 – 5 lb.)
  
  1/2 c. fresh mint, finely chopped
  
  1/4 c. red onion, thinly sliced
  
  12 oz. cherry tomatoes, halved
  
  2 tbsp. olive oil
  
  2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
  
  1 tsp. pure honey
  
  Kosher salt and black pepper
  
  1/4 cup Crumbled feta
  
  pinch of Pink Himalayan salt
  
  Remove the rind from watermelon and cut the flesh into 1/2 inch-thick cubes; arrange on a platter. Top with fresh mint, red onion, cherry tomatoes. Combine olive oil, fresh lime juice, pure honey, kosher salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Spoon over watermelon; top with crumbled feta. Sprinkle with a pinch of Pink Himalayan salt.
  
  If you are taking on a picnic or to a party assemble salad at your location.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, Salad, Tomato, Vegetarian | Tagged Easy recipe, easy summer salads, Feta Cheese, salad, Summertime salad, watermelon
- Easy Southwest Baked Beans
  
  Posted at 10:04 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Jul 11th
  Summertime barbecues are the best. My requirements for barbecue food are simple -easy, flavorful, and tasty! I slow cook baked beans to enhance the flavor. And I add black beans, red kidney beans, and chili for a southwest flavor. And for some tang, maple syrup.
  Vegetarian beans make this a perfect vegan addition to your barbecue or picnic.
  
  2 tablespoons olive oil
  1 medium onion, cut into small dice
  1/2 medium red pepper, cut into small dice
  3 cans (16 ounces each) vegetarian beans
  1 can (15.5 ounces) red kidney beans
  2 can (15.5 ounces) black beans
  3/4 c. barbecue sauce
  1/4 c. maple syrup
  1/4 c. distilled or cider vinegar
  1 tablespoon chili powder
  2 tsp. dry mustard
  
  Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees.
  Heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add onions and peppers pan and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
  Combine beans and the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add onions and peppers.
  Pour flavored beans into a greased 13-by 9-inch (or similar size) ovenproof pan. Bake until beans are bubbly and sauce is the consistency of pancake syrup, about 2 hours. Let stand to thicken slightly and serve.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Barbecue, vegetables,easy,, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, vegan, Vegetarian | Tagged baked beans, barbecue, Easy recipe, summertime food, vegan
- Edamame, Farro, Chickpea Salad with Tangy Dressing
  
  Posted at 10:00 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Jun 29th
  I love bold salads with flavor, texture, and color – perfect for summertime picnics and barbecues. And I also strive to make salads healthy. In my edamame salad, I used farro, an ancient Italian grain that brings a nutty flavor to any dish. Quinoa can be substituted if you prefer. Also, I used honey but if you want a vegan salad, maple syrup can be used.
  
  The result is a crunchy, tangy, flavorful salad that will thrill your family and friends.
  
  1 cup farro
  
  1 package (10.5 oz) frozen shelled edamame, steam in bag
  
  1 can (15.5oz) Chickpeas rinsed and drained
  
  1/4 cup toasted almonds
  
  1/4 cup dried cranberries
  
  Dressing
  
  1/4 cup olive oil
  
  1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
  
  1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  
  1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  
  1 1/2 teaspoon liquid aminos, I use Bragg
  
  1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  
  1 clove garlic, minced
  
  1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  
  1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  
  Cook farro according to package instructions. Drain farro, and place farro in large serving bowl to cool. Steam edamame, set aside, cool.
  
  Make salad dressing. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.
  
  Add edamame, chickpeas, almonds, and cranberries to bowl with farro. Toss to combine. Drizzle dressing over, and stir.
  
  Chill until ready to serve.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, Salad, vegan, Vegetarian | Tagged Chickpeas, Easy recipe, Edamame, farro, Summertime salad, Tangy dressing
- Slow Cooked Chickpea Stew
  
  Posted at 10:10 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Mar 14th
  Lately, I’ve been making many vegetarian meals for their low calorie and health benefits. My main requirement is that the recipe pack flavor in each bite. I don’t eat anything that is deliciously tasty. If you eat flavorful food, you don’t overeat. Instead, savor the eat bite. Enjoy, be present, and you will become satisfied.
  
  What I love about this recipe are the chickpeas! I use these darlings in so many recipes, soups, stews, salad; I find many uses. Also, the fire-roasted tomatoes add a delightful taste!
  
  2 (14 ounce) cans no-salt-added fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  
  3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  
  1 cup coarsely chopped onion
  
  ¾ cup chopped carrot
  
  4 cloves garlic, minced
  
  1 teaspoon dried oregano
  
  ¾ teaspoon salt
  
  ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  
  ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
  
  1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  
  2 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added chickpeas, rinsed, divided
  
  1 bunch kale, stemmed and chopped (about 8 cups)
  
  1 tablespoon lemon juice
  
  3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  
  Fresh basil leaves, torn
  
  Directions
  
  Combine tomatoes, broth, onion, carrot, garlic, oregano, salt, crushed red pepper, black pepper and turmeric in a 4-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 hours.
  
  Measure 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker into a small bowl. Add one can of 2 chickpeas; mash with a fork until smooth.
  
  Add the mashed chickpeas, kale, lemon juice and remaining whole chickpeas to the mixture in the slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on Low until the kale is tender, about 30 minutes.
  
  Ladle the stew evenly into 6 bowls; drizzle with oil. Garnish with basil.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Easy recipes, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, slow cooker, Stew | Tagged Chickpeas, Easy recipe, slow cooker
- Quinoa and Shrimp Pesto Bowl
  
  Posted at 4:16 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Feb 27th
  The virtues and health benefits of the Mediterranean diet are widely proven and accepted. The Mediterranean diet is a way of eating based on the traditional cuisine of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. While there is no single definition of the Mediterranean diet, it is typically high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, and olive oil. And the inhabitants of the region live a long, healthy life without the modern diseases that plague many in America: Heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer’s.
  
  I love this way of eating because of the flavorful meals I can create that are satisfying and fit a healthy lifestyle.
  
  My quinoa shrimp bowl also is an easy and quick meal that is perfect for a weeknight. I serve this with toasted pita bread and a glass of crisp white wine.
  
  1/2 cup prepared or homemade pesto sauce
  
  2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  
  1 tablespoon olive oil
  
  1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  
  1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
  
  1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp patted dry
  
  1 tablespoon olive oil
  
  2 cloves garlic, minced
  
  4 cups arugula
  
  2 cups cooked tri-colored quinoa
  
  1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
  
  1 avocado, diced
  
  4 ounces cubed feta cheese
  1. Whisk pesto, vinegar oil, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl. Place 4 tablespoons in a small bowl. Set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet, add garlic cooking until translucent. Do not brown. Add shrimp and cook, stirring, until cooked through, 4-5 minutes. Remove shrimp to a plate.
    1. Add arugula and quinoa to the large pesto vinegarette bowl and toss to coat. Divide the quinoa mixture into four bowls. Top with shrimp, tomatoes, avocado, and feta. Drizzle each bowl 1 tablespoon of the reserved pesto mixture.
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in dinner, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, Main Dish, Main Meal, Mediterranean diet, seafood, Weeknight dinner | Tagged Easy recipe, healthy recipe, mediterranean, Shrimp
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