Good Dinner Mrs. Mellen

Every once in a while I get a craving for fried chicken.  Just want to bite into a crispy piece of mouth watering delicious good chicken. But I don't want all that fat from frying so I love to make oven baked fried chicken to cut down on the fat and calories. I leave the skin on my chicken cause I don't eat fried chicken with skin that often but if you want to cut down further on the calories use skinless chicken or just pull off the skin. For me if I am going to indulge I'm going all the way! First I always soak my chicken in water and sea salt for thirty minutes to clean the chicken. Drain chicken and pat dry with paper towels. I also soak my chicken over night in buttermilk which makes it extra juicy. You can serve this chicken hot or cold, I just love it either way! Chicken pieces, 2 breast, 4 legs, four thighs and 6 wings. 2 cups buttermilk 1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce or other hot sauce 1 1/2 cup four 1/2 cup corn meal 1teaspoon seal salt 1 teaspoon fresh bl...

Want a easy, delicious, quick tasty dinner without much time or effort? Then my garlicky Shrimp Scampi is for you. You can make this fancy dinner to serve for a week night dinner it's so quick and easy. 1 lb. uncooked large shrimp, cleaned. 1/4 cup olive oil 4 cloves garlic, sliced 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 tablespoon butter In a medium baking dish add Shrimp, olive oil, garlic,and wine. Top with butter, red pepper, basil, black pepper. Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve over pasta or rice with fresh grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

The drink Moscow Mule a 1950 throw back is gaining again in popularity. First introduced in the US as a way to sell vodka: this drink is a refreshing cocktail especially for a summer evening. Served in the traditional chilled cooper mug(you need the mugs in my opinion for a true Moscow Mule!) Easy to make by even the most inexperienced mixologist. 1 ounce vodka 1 tsp. sugar syrup 1Tbs, fresh lime juice 1/2 cup ginger beer 1 sprig fresh mint 1 slice of lime Directions Chill cooper mug in freezer until cold to the touch. In the chilled copper mug, pour vodka over ice. Add sugar syrup and lime juice. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with mint sprig and lime slice. Enjoy!

Summer fruit pies are so tasty and delicious for a family reunion or a simple summer dinner. Pies are really so easy to make always turning out so good-how could you not make a great pie with fruit fresh from the market! Just toss a few ingredients then fill a store bought or home made pie crust, bake and you are finished with a to die for mouth watering pie served warm or at room temperature with or with out ice cream. Peaches which are so fresh in the market right now make wonderful pies. The pie I made today is a very richly sinful different version of a classic peach pie.  This peach pie is made with sour cream and topped with a crumb topping! Pastry: 1 3/4 cup flour 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup butter 2-3 tablespoons apple cider or water 1 egg beaten Filling: 1 cup sour cream 1 cup sugar 4 tablespoon flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups peaches, peeled and sliced Topping: ...

I love Southern Living's magazine recipes not only delicious but very easy to follow for all levels of cooks.  One of my favorite cake's of all time is Southern Livings Chocolate Peanut Butter Mouse Cake which I have perfected over the years.  I am going to share some tips with you to make this cake turn out perfect every time since that was not my first experience making this cake. Actually the first time I made this cake it tasted great but looked like a child put the cake together.  The mousse filling oozed out from the center as soon as I put the layers together.  I was so disappointed!  I've been baking for a long time so I realized the the mousse filling needed to be chilled over night before assembling the cake.  And I'll give you a little tip about frosting the cake the recipe says pour the glaze over the cake.  That just doesn't cut it.  You need to slowly spread the glaze working from the top of the cake down the sides to cover the ...

I love summer time salad of any style.  I combine different flavors to create deliciously tasty salads to eat along or with a summer barbeque.  Farro is a nutty Italian whole grain that is now widely available in all types of grocery stores.  I bought a large bag of organic Farro at Costco.  Farro is a great base for this salad which I added dried fruits, almonds and chick peas, tossed with an orange base dressing loaded with great spices. For a main dish I serve over spring greens. Dried Fruit, Almond and Farro Salad 4 cups vegetable broth 2 cups Farro 1 can(15.5 oz) chick peas, drained and rinsed 1/2 cup orange juice 2 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 paprika 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon tumeric 1 cup slice almonds 1/2 cup chopped dried Apricots 1/2 cup chopped dried prunes 1/2 cup dried cranberries Put 4 cups vegetable broth in large sauce pan bring to a boil. Add Farro lower heat to medium simmering for 3...

Soft shell crab season is here! I love soft shell crabs which are so easy to make at home, just as tasting as you find out in restaurants.  The shells of the crabs are so soft that you can eat shell and meat.  This recipe is easy, fun and tasty. 4 soft shell crabs, cleaned and patty dry 2  teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning or similar crab seasoning 1 cup flour 2 tablespoon olive oil 4 cloves garlic minced 2 tablespoon capers 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley  Season crabs with Old Bay Seasonings and dredge in flour.  Shake off excess.  Set aside. Heat oil in large skilled.  Add crabs sauteing for about 2 minutes on each side.  Remove to serving plate.  Add garlic to pan cooking for 1 minute, then add capers, wine cooking until sauce is reduced to 1/2.  Add butter and parsley stirring until combined. Pour over crabs serve immediately.  Makes two servings.