Good Dinner Mrs. Mellen

You know sometimes you just want to get a tasty dinner in a hurry.  I sometimes feel that those of us who enjoy cooking sometimes become cooking snobs.  It's all about using just the right ingredients, technique, making everything from scratch and bragging about it.  That is not always "real world".   And for novice cooks this can be intimidating.  When I have the time and am in the mood, I enjoy tackling very intricate recipes.  I find preparing that type of meal fun and an accomplishment.  When time is lacking I look for short cuts that are not short on flavor.  I always use natural ingredients and fresh ingredients when available.  Yes I love to get the freshest plum tomatoes and make a big patch of marinara sauce freezing extra sauce for future use.  For a quick meal I make what I think is pretty good marinara sauce that I can get together in 30 minutes.  Then I change what I add to make different recipes.  My mother c...

I've said it before, my mother and my grandmother  were my inspiration for cooking. My fondest memories growing up are watching both these wonderful cooks in the kitchen, as well a savoring the delicious meals they prepared. So when I asked my 88 year old mother for her spaghetti sauce and meatball recipe, I thought I could just share it with you all. Not so, I needed to fill in the blanks because my mother just cooks from memory. I worked with her to get the full recipes down on paper. I still think that only my mother can make her recipes sing with the most harmonies flavors. I gave this my best. I cooked all kinds of variations of her recipe and now my freezer is filled with enough sauce and meatballs for months. I must admit I did have fun cooking like my mother and grandmother, making large pots of sauce simmering on the stove. And the funny thing is that I don't make that much traditional sauce because I have never felt that I can duplicate the flavor of my mother and g...

I've always loved Old Fashion English Roses. Not only the fresh blooms but the beautiful images of these roses in photos, on fabric patterns, plates and more. For some reason it took me a long time to plant the roses in my garden. Finally three years ago I ordered David Austin Old Fashion English Roses in five varieties and my only regret is that I waited so long to make this spectacular addition to my garden. I was a little disappointed when I opened the box and saw what the roses looked like shipped bare rooted. I didn't expect much the first year. Following the directions I soaked the roots over night. Just by chance I was speaking with a knowledgeable gardener and she mentioned that I should cut the roses back to a foot high after planting . I was very skeptical but she assured me that the roses would do better the first year if I followed her instruction. I did and she was right. I had lovely blooms the first year and for the past two seasons. Each summer season I am dazz...

Alright I said that I wasn't going to blog about shopping on Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, I lied.  I can't help myself!  If you know me, you know that I love to shop and shop and shop and shop.  I just love clothes, home furnishing, cosmetic, you name it I'm there.  Well I just had to share my most recent shopping finds.  I believe in when the President says that we need to stimulate the economy so I spread my purchased around to all types of retailers.  High end, discount, I do not discriminate.  If I like it I buy it. I get such a rush when I find a bargain or exceptional deal, I just get so warm and fuzzy.  Last week I was up in the White Mountain region of New Hampshire. A beautiful natural resource that just takes my breath away.  So in between the beautiful mountains, forest, lakes etc what should appear a few years ago but a T.J. Maxx in, of all places, Littleton New Hampshire.  Now Littleton is a lovely small town that has actually m...

Good Dinner Mrs. Mellen: I can't help myself I have to blog about shopping!... : "Alright I said that I wasn't going to blog about shopping in Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, I lied. I can't help myself! If you know me, you know..."