Easy recipes | Good Dinner Mrs Mellen

Tag: Easy recipes
- Cornish Game Hens in Champagne Sauce
  
  Posted at 10:04 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Jan 5th
  True Cornish game hens are young female Cornish chickens weighing about 2 pounds. They make an elegant single serve entry. And they are easy to roast like a chicken. Perfect for a romantic dinner for two or a smaller dinner party.
  
  I am a big fan of spices and seasonings when I cook, using very little salt relying on fresh and dried herbs and spices to flavor food. When I was young I would help my grandmother who immigrated from Italy harvest her vegetables for winter canning. We’d sit for hours at her red and white enamel kitchen table and I’d watch her braid fresh garlic and tie peppers together, then she would hang them in her cellar to dry. As soon as you stepped into the cellar the pungent aroma assailed your senses.
  
  CORNISH GAME HENS IN CHAMPAGNE SAUCE
  
  2 Cornish Hens
  
  1/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  
  fresh thyme sprigs
  
  fresh rosemary sprigs
  
  2 whole garlic cloves, peeled and sliced in half
  
  1 lemon, sliced in half
  
  2 tablespoon butter, melted and cooled
  
  1/2 cup dry champagne or sparkling wine, at room temperature
  
  salt and pepper
  
  1 cup baby carrots
  
  Preheat oven 375 F
  
  Rinse hens and pat dry. Stuff each hen cavity with half of the cranberries, next thyme, and rosemary, then cloves and finish with the lemon half. Truss the hen legs. Combine butter and champagne. Pour over hens. Season with salt and pepper. Place baby carrots around the hens.
  
  Roast the hens in the preheated oven for about 1 hour or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F and the juices run clear. Baste hens every 15 minutes. Remove the hens from the oven, loosely tent with foil and let rest 10 minutes before carving or serving.
  
  Serve over Israel couscous.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Chicken, Easy recipes, entertaining, Food | Tagged Cornish Hens, Easy recipes, romantic dinner
- Hot Artichoke-Olive Dip
  
  Posted at 12:06 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Nov 10th
  Entertaining should be effortless and stress-free. The easiest method that I know to entertain and enjoy your guests is to plan ahead and choose food that can be prepared in advance leaving you free to enjoy your company. I have a repertoire of quick and easy appetizers to serve for family and friends.
  
  I belong to the Dedham Junior Women’s club; a hardworking group of fantastic women committed to making a difference. Our biggest annual fundraiser is a large artisan craft fair with over one hundred crafters. A very large event that we plan for during the year culminating on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. I am one of the Chairs and I host the meetings where I experiment with new recipes on my friends!
  
  They all agreed that my Hot Artichoke-Olive Dip was delicious!
  
  Hot Artichoke-Olive Dip
  
  1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  
  1 cup sour cream
  
  1/2 cup mayonnaise
  
  4 green onions, sliced
  
  3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  
  1 garlic clove, pressed
  
  2 teaspoons Herbs d’ Provence
  
  1/2 teaspoon crushed red peppers
  
  2 cups (8 oz.) Monterey Jack cheese
  
  1 (14-oz.) can medium-size artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
  
  1/2 cup pitted Castevetrano Italian olives, sliced
  
  Crackers and assorted fresh vegetables
  
  Preheat oven to 350°. Stir together first 8 ingredients and 1 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese. Fold in spinach and artichokes. Spoon into a lightly greased 1-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese.
  
  Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until the center is hot and edges are bubbly. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper to taste. Serve with crackers and assorted vegetables.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Appetizer, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen | Tagged artichoke dip, Easy recipes
- Farm Fresh Tomato Quiche
  
  Posted at 11:35 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Sep 2nd
  1 9-inch uncooked deep dish pie crust, frozen then thawed, refrigerated pie crust or homemade
  
  1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  
  1 cup mozzarella cheese
  
  15-20 large basil leaves, chopped, about 1/2 cup
  
  2 cups sliced petite multi-colored heirloom tomatoes, save a few to add last
  
  6 eggs
  
  1/2 cup milk, whole milk preferred
  
  1/2 cup cream
  
  1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  
  1/2 teaspoon salt
  
  1/4 teaspoon pepper
  
  pinch of Pink Himalayan salt
  
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  
  In uncooked pie crust, evenly sprinkle half (1/4 cup) parmesan cheese in the bottom. Next, add tomatoes, saving a few to place on top of the pie. Place mozzarella cheese over tomatoes then add chopped basil.
  
  Top with remaining (1/4 cup) parmesan cheese over the tomato slices. Set aside.
  
  In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, milk, cream, garlic, salt, and pepper together. Pour into the pie crust. It should cover all ingredients and fill to the top of the crust. Place remaining tomatoes on top. Sprinkle with pink Himalayan salt.
  
  Place on a cookie sheet in case of spillage. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown and soft set.
  
  Let cool 5-10 minutes before serving.
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  Posted in Easy recipes, eggs, Food, Pie, Tomato, Vegetarian | Tagged Easy recipes, Farm Fresh Tomatoe, quiche
- No-Cook Puttanesca Sauce with Spaghetti
  
  Posted at 5:07 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Aug 31st
  The history behind the name of this pasta is quite interesting. As the story goes the dish Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca (“spaghetti in the style of a prostitute” in Italian”.) originated in the mid-twenty century in the seaport of Naples. The prostitutes of the city would make this dish and place on their window sill, where the aromatic scent lured sailors for their services. Whether that is true or not there is no denying this flavorful sauce has over the years attracted many devotees. My sauce is a no-cook version with the original is a simmered sauce served with pasta. I love making this easy recipe in the summer and serve with a crisp salad, fresh Italian bread, and dry white wine.
  
  No-Cook Puttanesca Sauce with Spaghetti
  
  2 beefsteak tomatoes (about 1 lb.), halved crosswise, seeds removed
  
  2 garlic cloves, finely grated
  
  1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  
  3 oil-packed anchovy fillets, chopped (optional)
  
  2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more
  
  1½ cups cherry tomatoes halved
  
  1 cup Kalamata or Castelvetrano olives, pitted and halved
  
  2 Tbsp. drained capers
  
  ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  
  12 oz. spaghetti
  
  ¼ cup finely chopped basil
  
  3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  
  Pulse beefsteak tomatoes, garlic, red pepper flakes, anchovy fillets, and 2 tsp. salt in a food processor until smooth; transfer sauce to a large bowl and mix in cherry tomatoes, olives, capers, and ¼ cup oil.
  
  Cook spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving ¼ cup pasta cooking liquid.
  
  Add pasta, parsley, and butter to the sauce. Toss vigorously with tongs, adding a splash of pasta cooking liquid or more as needed to create an emulsified sauce that coats the pasta. Divide among bowls and drizzle with more oil.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Easy recipes, pasta, summertime recipes, vegan, Vegetarian | Tagged Easy recipes, pasta, Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
- SPRINGTIME FETTUCCINI IN LEMON CREAM SAUCE WITH ASPARAGUS
  
  Posted at 3:46 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Feb 21st
  I use Bruitoni pasta when I want the taste of fresh pasta but don’t have time to go to a specialty store or make the pasta at home. And I love this easy cream cheese pasta sauce for a quick weekend, taste delicious dinner. Don’t you just love the bright green asparagus? Lemon and asparagus the perfect springtime combination to add to pasta, so flavorful!
  
  Ingredients
  
  9 oz. Bruitoni Fettuccini
  
  1/2 cup cream cheese
  
  2 Tbs. olive oil
  
  1 lemon, juiced and 1 Tbs. zest grated
  
  1/2 cup fresh parmesan cheese
  
  1/2 – 3/4 cup steamed asparagus, lightly steamed, slice into 2-inch pieces
  
  Preparation
  
  1. Cook linguine according to package directions in the pot of boiling salted water.
  
  2. Warm cream cheese, oil, and 2 Tbs. lemon juice in a saucepan over low heat.
  
  3. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water. Stir reserved cooking water into the cream cheese mixture. Add pasta, lemon zest, and parmesan cheese; toss to coat. Add asparagus and lightly toss again. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  www.gooddinnermrsmellen.com
  
  www.buzzchomp.com
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  Posted in Easy recipes, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Main Dish, Main Meal, pasta, Vegetarian | Tagged Bruitoni Fettuccini, cram cheese, dinner, Easy recipes, pasta
- Seared Scallops
  
  Posted at 10:12 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Feb 9th
  Scallops are so easy and delicious to make; taking very little time to cook for a fantastic quick dinner. I used a grille pan to sear my scallops; my personal favorite is Le Creuset. You can use a regular pan. I soaked the scallops in lemon juice and garlic for a hint of a lemony garlic flavor.
  
  1 to 1 1/4 pounds dry sea scallops, approximately 16
  
  juice of one lemon
  
  2 cloves of garlic, minced
  
  2 teaspoons unsalted butter
  
  2 teaspoons olive oil
  
  Kosher salt
  
  Freshly ground black pepper
  
  Rinse scallops with cold water and thoroughly pat dry. Place in a bowl and pour lemon juice over scallops. Add garlic. Let set for minutes then drain discarding the lemon juice and garlic. Pat dry again.
  
  Add the butter and oil to a 12 to 14-inch saute pan or ridged grill pan on high heat. Salt and pepper the scallops. Once the fat begins to smoke, gently add the scallops, making sure they are not touching each other. Sear the scallops for 2 minutes on each side. The scallops should have a 1/4-inch golden crust on each side while still being translucent in the center. Serve immediately.
  
  Enjoy!
  
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  Posted in dinner, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, Main Meal, scallops | Tagged Easy recipes, Healthy, le creuset, quick meal, scallops
- Slow Cooked Chicken Casserole
  
  Posted at 1:36 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Sep 27th
  SLOW COOKED CHICKEN CASSEROLE
  
  September is here and fall is in the air in New England. Mornings are cool and leaves are turning burnished shades of autumn. Time to pull out the warm sweaters for a brisk walk in the woods. Summer meals are replaced with hearty casseroles flagrantly scented with fresh herbs still flourishing in the garden. I made this chicken casserole in a low oven and you could use a slow cooker too. Either method produces tender chicken that just pulls away from the bone, melting in your mouth!
  
  6 pounds of mixed chicken pieces, breasts, legs, and thighs.
  
  2 tablespoon olive oil
  
  1 large onion chopped
  
  4 cloves garlic minced
  
  8 ounces sliced mushrooms
  
  1 tablespoon minced rosemary
  
  1 tablespoon minced thyme
  
  1 teaspoon kosher salt
  
  1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  
  1 cup dry white wine
  
  2 tablespoon flour
  
  Preheat over to 275 F. Heat oil in a pan to high. Add chicken pieces searing to brown on each side. One browned remove chicken placing in dutch over. I love Le Creuset from France. Expensive yet so worth the price as they cook food beautifully and last forever. Cook onion in the pan until translucent. Add garlic; cook for a few minutes then add mushrooms stirring until juices evaporate. Add rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper combine for a minute before adding wine. Bring to boil then simmer adding flour mixture to thicken the sauce. Pour over chicken in the dutch oven and slow cook for two and a half hours.
  
  You can make this ahead the day before and warm up to eat.
  
  Serve with rice or butter noodles.
  
  Enjoy!
  
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  Posted in Casserole, Chicken, Easy recipes, family meals, Food, Hearty Meal, Main Dish, Main Meal, slow cooker, Weeknight dinner | Tagged chicken. casserole, Easy recipes, family meal, le creuset, Mushrooms
- Easy Caprese Salad
  
  Posted at 9:58 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Aug 19th
  Nothing says summer more than a beautiful Caprese Salad. I love using farm-fresh Heirloom tomatoes in alternating colors. You can use any type of tomatoes as long as they are freshly kissed by the sun not a water down hothouse variety. Here in New England we anxiously wait through our long, cold, snowy winters for the local summer produce to appear in farmers’ markets in all the charming towns indicative to our area. In the town that I live in Wednesday is farmer’s market day or if I am on Martha’s Vineyard you’ll find me Saturday mornings at the West Tisbury Farm market. Being of Italian heritage tomatoes are part of our fabric and growing up I benefited from my grandparents large garden with filled with all different tomatoes varieties; some like plum tomatoes my grandmother canned to use during the winter; others like Bonnie Original, Big Beef, Red Beefsteak heirloom, Better Boy and Cherokee Purple, we sliced for salad and sandwiches. My grandparents used all-natural organic gardening methods passed down from their ancestors. Being raised on the best tomatoes I am very discriminating and ecstatic over the resurgence in fresh farm organic produce locally grown. Mozzarella like tomatoes comes in many varieties, I love cheese so I use different types depending on what is fresh at the market.
  
  3 vine-ripe heirloom tomatoes, 1/4-inch thick slices
  
  1 pound fresh mozzarella, 1/4-inch thick slices
  
  1 bunch fresh basil
  
  2 teaspoon capers
  
  Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
  
  balsamic vinegar, for drizzling
  
  Layer alternating slices of tomatoes and mozzarella on a large, shallow platter. Tuck fresh basil between slices. Drizzle the salad with extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sprinkle with capers and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  www.gooddinnermrsmellen.com
  
  www.buzzchomp.com
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  Posted in Easy recipes, Salad | Tagged Easy recipes, Heirloom tomatoes, Mozzarella, salad
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