easy | Good Dinner Mrs Mellen

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- Orzo Caprese Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
  
  Posted at 5:59 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Jun 13th
  Summertime, I love to make easy, delicious salads packed with flavor and fresh ingredients. My Orzo Caprese Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette is a family favorite. And the recipe is easily doubled to feed a large group.
  
  Always use the freshest ingredients and fresh basil is the best, so easy to grow.
  
  1 cup uncooked orzo
  
  1 cup chopped tricolored cherry tomatoes
  
  1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
  
  1 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, cubed
  
  Prepare orzo according to package instructions. Drain and cool.
  
  Make vinaigrette and set aside.
  
  Add tomatoes, basil and mozzarella to orzo. Combine.
  
  Toss with vinaigrette. And chill for 2 hours or over night.
  
  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
  
  In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, mustard and fine sea salt, whisking until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Add 3 tablespoon olive oil in slow stream, whisking until the dressing is well blended.
  
  Love this gadget, a lemon zester!
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  Posted in pasta, Salad, Vegetarian | Tagged easy, Easy recipe, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, pasta, salad, tomatoes, vegetarian
- Roasted Broccoli Rabe with Garlic and Lemon
  
  Posted at 9:30 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Feb 15th
  A staple in Mediterranean cuisine, rapini or broccoli rabe is known for its slightly bitter taste, which I mitigate by cooking with lemon and roasting. I also use rapini in place of broccoli or asparagus in soups, quiches, casseroles, and more.
  Give this versatile veggie a try, and I’m sure you’ll love the unique taste.
  
  1 teaspoon sea salt
  
  1 bunch broccoli rabe, tough, non-leafy stems removed
  
  2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  
  3 cloves garlic, smashed
  
  Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
  
  2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  
  Preheat oven to 425F.
  
  Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Set up a bowl of ice water. Drop the broccoli rabe into the boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Remove from the boiling water and plunge immediately into the ice water. Once cool, remove from the ice water and let dry. It can be used right away or held for future use.
  
  Place broccoli rabe in a baking dish. Combine olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes and pour over rabe. Drizzle with lemon juice.
  
  Bake for 25 minutes.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, Italian, vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian | Tagged broccoli rabe, easy, Healthy, rabini, roasted veggies
- Seafood Stew
  
  Posted at 9:00 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Nov 7th
  Living in New England,, we have an abundance of fresh seafood. Every grocery store has a fish market with fresh fish and seafood. I have many different recipes that I make for Seafood Stew. Combining different tastes make each recipe a flavorful feast.
  
  When I cook for company, I like tackle complicated recipes with exotic ingredients, and everyday family meals, I love no fuss, easy, tasty recipes. Recipes that I can make quickly without sacrificing flavor.
  
  SEAFOOD STEW
  
  1 can (14.5 ounces) whole peeled tomatoes in juice
  
  1 roasted large red pepper, Mezzetta Roasted Red Bell Peppers,
  
  2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  
  2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  
  Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
  
  4 shallots, chopped (1 cup)
  
  2 celery stalks, cut into 3/4-inch pieces (1 cup)
  
  3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced (1 packed tablespoon)
  
  2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
  
  1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  
  1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
  
  1/2 cup dry vermouth
  
  2 bottles (each 8 ounces) clam juice, Bar Harbor
  
  1 pound skinless cod or halibut fillet, cut into 1 1/4-inch pieces
  
  1/2 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  
  1/2 pound mussels, cleaned and debearded
  
  fresh bread for serving
  
  Combine tomatoes and red pepper in a blender; purée until smooth—heat large pan. Add oil and 2 butter. When butter melts and foam subsides, add shallots and celery; cook, occasionally stirring, until tender and golden in places, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, red crushed pepper, and 1 teaspoon Old Bay and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add vermouth; cook until mostly evaporated, about 2 minutes.
  
  Add tomato mixture and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 5 minutes.
  
  Meanwhile, season fish and shrimp with remaining 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay, salt, and pepper; nestle with mussels into the skillet. Simmer, gently stirring a few times, until just cooked through, about 5 minutes or until mussels are opened.
  
  Serves 4
  
  Serve with fresh bread.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Fish, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Main Dish, Main Meal, Mediterranean diet, seafood, Stew | Tagged easy, Easy recipe, fish, healthy recipe, seafood stew, Stew
- Traditional Pecan Pie
  
  Posted at 10:33 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Oct 31st
  My family loves a traditional Pecan Pie. For years I’ve wanted a more creative pie, like adding chocolate, but , no, no, they tell me. So I no longer ask them; I give them what they want! Here is my traditional Pecan Pie. It’s easy and delicious!
  
  Traditional Pecan Pie
  
  Pie Crust
  
  1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  
  1/4 teaspoon salt
  
  1/3 cup shortening
  
  4 – 5 tablespoons cold water
  
  1. Stir together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until pieces are pea-size.
  
  2. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the water over part of the mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to the side of the bowl. Repeat moistening dough, using 1 tablespoon of the water at a time, until all the dough is moistened. Form dough into a ball.
  
  3. On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten dough. Roll dough from center to edges into a circle about 12 inches in diameter.
  
  4. To transfer pastry, wrap it around the rolling pin. Unroll pastry into a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry.
  
  5. Rim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry. Crimp edge as desired. Do not prick pastry. Or you can use a pre-made pie crust(I like Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust)
  
  Filling
  
  1/2 cup dark corn syrup
  
  1/2 cup light corn syrup
  
  3 eggs
  
  1 cup of sugar
  
  2 Tbs. butter, melted
  
  1 tsp vanilla extract
  
  1 1/2 cups pecans halves
  
  Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Whisk the first five ingredients thoroughly. Pour into the pie crust. I like to place the pecan halves in a circular design.
  
  Bake on center rack of the oven for 55 to 60 minutes. Do not over bake.
  
  TIP: Pie is done when the center reaches 200 F. Tap center surface of pie lightly; it should spring back when done.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  Gooddinnermrsmellen.com
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  Posted in Baking, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Pie | Tagged Desserts, easy, Pecan pie, Pie
- Baked Stuffed Eggplant
  
  Posted at 12:05 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Apr 24th
  Eggplant is so versatile. I grew up in an Italian American family where my mother cooked eggplant regularly. In the summer she used freshly picked eggplant from my grandparent’s bountiful garden. In addition to the traditional Eggplant Parmesan, my mother used eggplant creatively. We had roasted eggplant, in ratatouille, baked, all dishes that she just “threw together”. Her words, not mine. All equally outstanding!
  
  I like to make baked stuff eggplant, hollowing out the soft meat, and using it as the base for the stuffing. Every time I make stuffed eggplant I tend to change the filling for a new adventure with eggplant. The recipe below is my Italian version of baked stuffed eggplant; olive, artichokes, capers, and mozzarella cheese. I love to experiment!
  
  1 large eggplant
  
  2 tablespoon olive oil
  
  1 shallot, chopped
  
  2 cloves garlic, chopped
  
  1/2 teaspoon salt
  
  1/4 teaspoon pepper
  
  1 tablespoon capers
  
  1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives
  
  1 can(14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
  
  1/4 cup plain panko bread crumbs
  
  1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  
  1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
  
  4 oz. fresh mozzarella sliced 1/8 inch thick
  
  2 tablespoon parmesan cheese
  
  Preheat oven to 350F.
  
  Cut the eggplant in half and scoop out the center, leaving enough meat inside the skin so that it holds its shape when baked. Chop the removed eggplant meat into cubes.
  
  In a medium pan heat olive oil. Add shallot and garlic, saute for 5 minutes until the shallot is translucent. Add eggplant meat, season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking on medium for 5- 10 minutes. Stir while the eggplant cooks making sure it doesn’t stick to the pan. The eggplant should become soft but not browned. Add capers, olives, and artichoke hearts and cook for another 5 minutes.
  
  Remove from heat. Add panko breadcrumbs and herbs to eggplant mixture, stir until combined. Fill bottom eggplant shell with 1/2 of the cooked eggplant meat. Layer half of the sliced mozzarella. Add remaining eggplant meat and then the remaining mozzarella. Place eggplant top over and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
  
  If you want you can also divide eggplant meat equally between the top and bottom eggplant shells. Top each eggplant with half of the mozzarella and sprinkle with parmesan. Bake for 50 minutes. Mozzarella cheese should be melted.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Eggplant, Farm Fresh Produce, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Italian, vegetable bake, Vegetables, Vegetarian | Tagged Baked Eggplant, easy, Side dish
- Sunday Best Roasted Chicken
  
  Posted at 12:19 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Feb 23rd
  Lazy Sundays are perfect for cooking wonderful family meals. Sunday dinner, a tradition in our home, has all our family coming together to enjoy sharing time and food as a family once again. I learned to cook form my mother who masterfully created a different feast every Sunday. In our Italian American family, we honored the tradition of large family Sunday dinners. My life busy lifestyle is drastically different from my mother’s but I enjoy, like she, leisurely Sundays preparing a bountiful meal without hurrying through the preparation.
  
  Roasted Chicken is easy to create with many different seasonings that bring out the flavor of the chicken. I love to experiment with different ways to make a whole chicken from marinating to roasting. However, you choose to cook a whole chicken to be creative and have fun!
  
  Perfect Roasted Chicken
  
  1 (5 to 6 pound) roasting chicken
  
  Kosher salt
  
  1 large bunch fresh thyme, plus 20 sprigs
  
  1 lemon, halved
  
  1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise
  
  2 olive oil
  
  2 teaspoon ground sage
  
  2 teaspoon ground thyme
  
  1 teaspoon salt
  
  1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  
  Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  
  Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pin feathers and pat the outside dry. Liberally salt inside out of the chicken.
  
  Place on a large plate cover and refrigerate overnight. Rinse chicken and pat dry. Put the chicken in a roasting pan. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, both halves of lemon, and all the garlic.
  
  Brush the outside of the chicken with olive oil, sprinkle sage, thyme, salt, and pepper over chicken. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken.
  
  Roast the chicken for 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Cover with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes. Slice the chicken onto a platter.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Chicken, company dinner, family meals, sunday dinner | Tagged easy, roasted chicken, sunday dinner
- Potato Leek Soup
  
  Posted at 10:04 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Feb 1st
  New England winters bring snow and frigid temperatures and my remedy is hot flavorful soup. During the long winter months, I made copious varieties of tasty soups and stews to warm us from the inside out. I freeze leftover soup for a quick meal.
  
  Leeks, part of the allium vegetable family, is more subtle than sisters garlic and onion marry well with potatoes. You can puree this soup to a smooth texture or like I prefer just slightly puree leaving potato chunks. I find it more filling when I don’t puree all the potatoes. However, you choose to finish this soup you will be amazed by the flavor.
  
  3 large leeks (about 3 cups, chopped)
  
  2 tablespoons butter
  
  4 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth for a vegetarian option
  
  8 potatoes (Yukon gold or Russet), peeled, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
  
  1 teaspoon sea salt, less or more to taste
  
  Pinch of dried marjoram
  
  1 or 2 sprigs fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  
  1 bay leaf
  
  1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  
  1 cup heavy cream or half and half
  
  White or black pepper to taste
  
  fresh chives, chopped
  
  Cut off the roots of the leeks. Cut the leeks lengthwise, fan them open under running water to dislodge any dirt or mud hiding inside. Cut off the tough dark green tops and discard
  
  Slice the white and light green parts of the leeks crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices. Place the slices in a colander and rinse with cold water to dislodge any remaining dirt.
  
  Cook leeks in butter to soften: Melt butter on medium heat in a 3 to 4-quart thick-bottomed pot. Add the chopped leeks, stir to coat with the butter.
  
  Cover the pot and reduce the heat to low, cook for 10 minutes until the leeks are softened. Check to make sure the leeks are not browning.
  
  Add the broth, diced potatoes, bay leaf, marjoram, thyme, and a teaspoon of salt to the pot.
  
  Increase the heat to high to bring to a simmer, then lower the heat to maintain a low simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked through.
  
  Remove and discard the bay leaf and thyme sprig. Use an immersion blender or standing blender blend about half of the soup if you want a chunky soup, or all of it if you would like your soup to be more smooth.
  
  Add the parsley, and cook a few minutes more. Add cream or half and half. Stir until combined.
  
  Add freshly ground pepper and more salt to taste. Top with chives.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Easy recipes, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, light dinner, lunch, Potatoes, Soup, Soups, Vegetarian | Tagged easy, Freeze, Make ahead, Potato Leek Soup
- Winter Slaw
  
  Posted at 9:21 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Nov 23rd
  Slaws are a hot menu item these last few years. And so different from the slaws of my childhood. I remember growing up my Aunt would bring the Cold Slaw for Thanksgiving. She would combine shredded cabbage and carrots with a purchased coleslaw dressing. Today’s slaws have move far from the coleslaw my aunt made so long ago.
  
  Although I have fond memories of my family’s Thanksgivings, I enjoy experimenting with different textures and flavors creating slaws for every season. I’ve made my winter slaw with a lemon vinegarette, adding a fresh taste to the kale and cabbage. And an added benefit is this dish can be prepared ahead.
  
  Winter Slaw
  
  4 cups shredded kale, stems removed (4 ounces)
  
  1 teaspoon salt
  
  1 tablespoon olive oil
  
  4 cups shredded savoy cabbage
  
  1 cup shredded purple cabbage
  
  1 cup shredded carrots (2 medium)
  
  Lemon Vinegarette
  
  3/4 cup packed finely snipped Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
  
  1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  
  1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  
  zest of 1 lemon (1/4 tsp packed)
  
  1 tsp Dijon mustard
  
  2 garlic cloves minced or pressed (1 tsp)
  
  1/2 tsp salt
  
  1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  
  ½ cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds), toasted
  
  In an extra-large bowl combine the kale, salt, and olive oil. Using your hands, rub the kale to help soften it and brighten its color. Rinse the kale in a colander under cool running water; drain well and return to the bowl. Add the savoy cabbage, purple cabbage, and carrots; toss to combine. Set slaw aside.
  
  For the dressing, in a food processor or blender combine the parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cover and process or blend to combine.
  
  Add the dressing to the vegetable mixture; toss to coat. Sprinkle pepitas over the salad.
  
  Prepare the slaw and dressing as directed. Cover and chill separately for up to 24 hours. Sprinkle slaw with pepitas, add dressing and toss before serving.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Food, Healthy, Salad, Thanksgiving, vegan, Vegetarian | Tagged easy, kale, salad, vegan, Winter Slaw
- Perfect Chocolate Cake
  
  Posted at 9:46 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Nov 16th
  Perfect Chocolate Cake
  
  For birthday celebrations my mother made her chocolate cake with rich fudge frosting and a chocolate filling. I believe she found this recipe in McCalls Cooking School publications, a series of cooking magazines with detailed instructions. When I married she shared with me her prize recipe and I’ve made this moist flavorful cake for birthday’s ever since.
  
  1 cup unsifted unsweetened cocoa
  
  2 cups boiling water
  
  2 3⁄4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
  
  2 teaspoons baking soda
  
  1⁄2 teaspoon salt
  
  1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
  
  1 cup butter, softened
  
  2 1⁄2 cups sugar
  
  4 eggs
  
  1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla
  
  6 ounces semisweet chocolate pieces
  
  1⁄2 cup half and half
  
  3/4 cup butter
  
  2 1⁄2 cups unsifted confectioners’ sugar
  
  1 cup heavy cream, chilled
  
  1⁄4 cup unsifted confectioners’ sugar
  
  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
  1 cup heavy cream
  
  8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
  
  1 teaspoon almond extract
  
  Preheat oven to 350°F.
  
  In a medium bowl, combine cocoa with boiling water, mixing with wire whisk until smooth. Cool completely. Sift flour with soda, salt, and baking powder. Grease well and lightly flour three 8 by 1 1/2 inch layer-cake pans. In a large bowl of an electric mixer, at high speed, beat butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla, scraping bowl occasionally until light-about 5 minutes.
  
  At low speed, beat in flour mixture (in fourths), alternately with the cocoa mixture (in thirds), beginning and ending with flour mixture. Do not over-beat.
  
  Divide evenly into pans; smooth top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until surface springs back when gently pressed with fingertip.
  
  Cool in pans 10 minutes.
  
  Carefully loosen sides with a spatula; Remove from pans; cool on racks.
  
  Frosting: In a medium saucepan, combine chocolate pieces, cream, butter; stir over medium heat until smooth.
  
  Remove from heat. With a whisk, blend in 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar.
  
  In a bowl set over ice(I use ice cubes) beat until it holds shape.
  
  Filling:
  
  Heat the cream in a saucepan or in the microwave, until the mixture begins to steam.
  Pour over the chopped chocolate in a bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes. Stir — at first slowly, then more vigorously — until the chocolate is completely melted. If necessary, reheat very briefly to soften any remaining hard bits of chocolate. Add almond extract. Refrigerate ganache until thick.
  
  To assemble the cake:
  
  On plate place a layer, top side down; spread with half of the ganache. Place the second layer, top side down; spread with rest of ganache.
  
  Place the third layer, top side up.
  
  To frost: With a spatula, frost sides first, covering ganache; use rest of frosting on top, swirling decoratively.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Baking, Baking, Cake, Dessert, desserts, Easy recipes, Food | Tagged chocolate cake, easy
- Bake Tomato Casserole
  
  Posted at 9:39 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Sep 14th
  I love locally grown tomatoes. Farm fresh tomatoes taste wonderfully alive with flavor and bright with color. You can see and taste the difference. I am fortunate that the town that I live in has a summer farmers market and I have generous friends that share their bountiful produce. Lately, I’ve been seeing a rainbow of color tomatoes from golden yellow to deep purple come to market which makes a beautiful colorful tomato casserole.
  
  I serve this casserole as a side dish with dinner or for lunch with a salad and crisp fresh bread.
  
  3 cups assorted cherry tomatoes
  
  2 tablespoon olive oil
  
  1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
  
  1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  
  1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs, basil, rosemary, and french thyme
  
  Preheat oven to 350F. Place tomatoes, olives, and herbs in a bowl, gently toss to combine. Transfer tomato mixture to a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.
  
  Bake for 20-25 minutes until tomatoes are bubbling and topping is golden brown.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, lunch, Side dish, Tomato, vegetable bake, Vegetables, Vegetarian | Tagged easy, farm fresh tomato, quick, tomato bake, tomato casserole
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