Good Dinner Mrs. Mellen

I love to create easy weekday meals that just burst with flavor. Being of Italian heritage I learned at an early age from my mother that you should only consume food that taste delicious. Meticulous preparation was so important to my mother who enjoyed the art of cooking instilling in me that food is love that your share with family and friends. I have continued her tradition preparing meals with the focus on flavor and taste. All you need to add as my mother is fond of saying is a pinch or this, a dash of that, just doctor it up! Still at ninety five she knows how to make food sing with flavor. Roasted Cauliflower with Italian Tuna over Pasta 1 head cauliflower, chopped six skin-on garlic cloves 2 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 salt 1/4 black pepper 1/4 red pepper flakes 1 cup Parmesan cheese 3 tablespoon butter two tablespoons pine nuts, toasted 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, toasted Italian yellow fin tuna in olive oil 1 tablespoon capers 1 pound pasta or spaghetti On a shee...

Christmas morning I find myself returning to memories of my Christmas mornings as a child where we would wake before the moon was tucked away for the day. So excited to see what Santa had left under the tree we would rush into our living room eyes filled with delight holding my breath as we got our first peek at our tree and gifts. Christmas still holds that child wonderment for me even now all these years later. After exchanging gifts our tradition includes a large Christmas morning breakfast before we ready for our company to arrive for Christmas dinner. I love to make these easy breakfast casseroles which conveniently can be readied the night before just baking in the morning for an easy, delicious Christmas morning. Sausage, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Casserole Ingredients Nonstick cooking spray 1 pound chicken sausage links 6 slices soft hearty white bread One 8-ounce package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 8 large eggs 2 cups whole milk 1 teaspoon dry mus...

Chocolate Caramel Thumbprint Cookies Chocolate, caramel and sea salt, a perfect combination for a Christmas cookie. Each year I make copious quantities of Christmas cookies to give to friends and family. Sharing my creations with those I love is my personal way to celebrate the season. This cookie has become one of my family's favorite since they all love chocolate and caramel dusted with sea salt then drizzled with chocolate glaze! Ingredients     COOKIES     1 cup flour     Generous 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder     1/4 teaspoon salt     1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature     2/3 cup granulated sugar     1 large egg yolk     1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream     1 teaspoon vanilla extract     1/2 cup fine granulated sugar     CARAMEL Filling       ...

My mother passed this recipe to me many years ago.  It is the richest cheesecake that you can make.  I save it for special occasions when I want to share a show stopping dessert that tops off a dinner or a party.  I have included a recipe for a pineapple glaze, or you can thickly spread sour cream on top. Or if you want to make this for Christmas as I did this year I put candied cranberries on top. Ether way this  cheesecake is the star of the show! Crust: 1 cup sifted flour 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg yolk 1/4 cup butter, softened Filling: 5 pkg(8-oz) cream cheese softened 1 3/4 cups sugar 3 tablespoon flour 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel 1 1/2 grated orange peel 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 5 eggs, plus 2 egg yolks 1/4 cup heavy cream Pineapple Glaze: 2 tablespoon sugar 4 teaspoon cornstarch 2 cans(8 1/4-oz) crushed pineapple in heavy syrup, undrained 2 tablespoon lemon juice    ...

  Who doesn't love caramel and chocolate. These bars have both and are very easy to make. Cookies generally require time although worth all the effort to make homemade cookies. If you love cookies but thought you didn't have the patients or time to make try a bar cookie. So easy to make without having to roll out or decorate. And so delicious, need I say more. Once you master the bar cookie you will always find time to whip up a batch. Ingredients 1 cup  butter, soften   2 cups packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats 1 14-oz package vanilla caramels, unwrapped 1 14 ounce can (1 1/4 cups) sweetened condensed milk or low-fat sweetened condensed milk    1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate pieces 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel or fine sea salt  Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Set a...