Good Dinner Mrs. Mellen

After my husband order Cioppino many years ago in a restaurant, I've started making this wonderful Italian fish stew for my family. I make mine with a thicker sauce to serve over pasta because who doesn't love pasta, or you can just serve it with fresh crusty bread and a salad.  I love one pot meals that are easy to make and taste delicious. Many other nationalities have similar fish stews and I love to make the different ethic dishes. Cioppino 3  tablespoon olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 2 shallots, chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil 1 bay leaf crushed 1 can(28 oz) tomatoes with juice, chopped or two cans (14 oz) chopped tomatoes with juice 3/4 cup dry white wine 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded 2 pounds clams, scrubbed 1 pound shrimp, peeled  1 pound sea scallops 1 pound scrod or other white fish. Heat oi...

I love this cake because it combines the wonderful taste of chocolate and pumpkin. What makes it even more delicious is the wonderful spices added to the batter. This cake not only taste great but smells like spiced hot chocolate.   I love a pretty presentation for my cooking and baking and by adding the mini chocolate chips and powered sugar not only does that enhance the taste but also adds a nice visual presentation. You can do more to this cake to dress it up.  I sometimes decorate the cake with chocolate dipped strawberries or dried apricots, both are very easy to do. I just place the fruit around the base of the cake on the cake dish. This is very nice for a buffet table. As I like to say just use your imagination and try different ideas. Remember no fear, just enjoy. I've included the recipe for chocolate dipped fruit. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Coffee Cake 3 1/2 cups sugar 1 1/4 cup vegetable oil 3 large eggs 1 can (29 oz) solid pumpkin 3 squares (1 oz) u...

Olive tapenade is so easy to make and a wonderful delicious spread for crackers or bread or to use in other recipes. Most traditional tapenades are made with black olives but I like to make tapenade out of black or green olives. Black Olive Tapenade 2 cups pitted Kalamata olives 2 clove garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon capers rinsed and dried 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons olive oil Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Puree until the olives are a fine spread. I like my black olive tapenade like a fine spread but you can try different constituencies from chopped to pureed. Green olive Tapenade 2 cups pitted green olives 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon capers, rinsed and dried 1 bay leaf crumbed 1 teaspoon fresh thyme 1 tablespoon chopped parsley 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons olive oil Combine all ingredients in food processor or blend. Blend to a desired consistency. I like to make the green tapenade more lik...

This is a soup that is rich on flavor but low on fat and calories. It taste like a creamy soup without any dairy product. A healthy choice for a light meal. Leek, Garlic and Cauliflower Soup 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 large leeks, sliced 1 head cauliflower, remove leaves and thick core and coarsely chop 1 head of garlic, roasted 2 tablespoon dry white wine 3 14-ounce cans chicken broth, use light 1 teaspoon snipped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed salt Cracked black pepper sniped fresh thyme sprigs (optional) 1. In a Dutch oven, heat butter and oil over medium heat.  Add leaks; cook about 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. 2. Slowly add wine.  Cook and stir about 2 minutes or until wine is almost all evaporated.  Carefully add broth and cauliflower.  Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 30 minutes or until vegetables are very tender.  Cool slightly. 3. Transfer mixture , in ba...

Good Dinner Mrs. Mellen: Apple Crumb Cake : "Fall and apples what a wonderful combination. This is a great recipe to use the apples from an apple picking excursion. I remember apple p..."

Fall and apples what a wonderful combination.  This is a great recipe to use the apples from an apple picking excursion.  I remember apple picking not only with my children but with the brownies and how much fun we all had.  After picking we went back to the troupe leader's house and baked with all the wonderful apples we just picked. Save some delicious fresh picked apples for this cake, you won't be disappointed. Apple Crumb Cake Cake 4 cups flour 2 cups sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup oil 1 cup orange juice 3 large eggs (4 if small) 1 teaspoon vanilla Apple Filling 4 Apples peeled and slice 1/2 cup sugar 2 teaspoon cinnamon Crumb Topping 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 cup flour 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease tube pan and set aside. Sift together flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Place in a large mixing bowel and make a we...