Good Dinner Mrs. Mellen

Christmas morning is a time to spend with family not cooking in the kitchen which is why I love make ahead breakfast casseroles that you can just pop in the oven. My Pancetta casserole is a spicy addition to the breakfast table. If you prefer a more traditional casserole substitute ground pork sausage or bacon for the pancetta. Either way is delicious!     8 oz. Pancetta    1 1/4 cups (5 oz.) shredded Parmesan cheese     1 teaspoon table salt     6 green onions, sliced     1 (13.22-oz.) package mini croissants (about 24), torn     Vegetable cooking spray     3 cups milk     1 cup heavy cream     5 large eggs, lightly beaten     2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Mozzarella cheese Preparation 1. Cook Pancetta 4 minutes in a skillet over medium-high heat, drain on paper towels. Cut into bit size pieces. Toss together Pancetta...

The holiday season is here with all the wonderful family dinners and entertaining. I love to make brie a little more fancy by baking in puff pastry. Purchased puff pastry is so easy to use with wonderful professional result that anyone even a beginning cook can wow their guests. I like to make different spreads for my baked brie, sometimes sweet and sometimes savory. If you love olives this is your baked brie. You can either make your own olive tapenade, you can find the recipe below or save time by purchasing store made tapenade. Decorate with slice olives creating a delicious tasting, easy, appetizer.   1/2 package of frozen puff pastry (one sheet) 1  egg 1 teaspoon water 1/2 cup fig spread 1/4 cup homemade tapenade or purchased 1 (8 ounce) Brie Round sliced olives Thaw the pastry sheet at room temperature for 20 minutes.  Preheat oven to 400 F. Mix egg and water. Unfold pastry sheet on lightly floured surface.  Roll into 12" square. Cut pastr...

After Thanksgiving I use the leftover turkey to make a big batch of this hot Chili freezing in individual containers to enjoy during the busy holiday season. After a long day of baking and preparing for Christmas I can sit back, relax, serving this delicious Chili for dinner. If you don't want it really hot substitute 1 chopped jalapeno pepper for the chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, just as good but with out the kick! Chipotle Turkey Chili     2 tablespoons olive oil     4 cloves garlic, minced     1 onion, diced     1/4 cup whiskey     One 14-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed     One 14-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed     Two 14-ounce can diced tomatoes     Two cups chicken broth     1 red pepper, diced     1 tablespoon chili powder     1 tablespoon ground cumin     1 teasp...