Good Dinner Mrs. Mellen

Brussels Sprouts that neglected and shy little bulbs have become trendy - the darling of the vegetable world. Healthy, tasty, versatile, a chameleon, changing depending the pairing - never boring or the same. Steamed, baked, roasted, raw in a salad your choices of preparation are endless. For a deliciously healthy autumn salad I love fresh raw Brussels Sprouts combined with apples, pistachios and shaved parmesan cheese- dressed with a light lemon vinaigrette.  Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pistachios and  Shaved Parmesan Cheese 4 cups thinly sliced Brussels Sprouts 2 Granny Smith Apples, chopped 1/2 cup chopped unsalted pistachios 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan Cheese Lemon Vinaigrette 3  tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon fresh grounded black pepper 1/2 cup olive oil Combine Brussels Sprouts, apples...

Nothing say summer more than a beautiful Caprese Salad. I love using farm fresh Heirloom tomatoes in alternating colors. You can use any type of tomatoes as long as the are freshly kissed by the sun not a water down hot house variety. Here in New England we anxiously wait through our long, cold, snowy winters for the local summer produce to appear in famers markets in all the charming towns indicative to our area. In the town that I live in Wednesday is farmer's market day or if I am on Martha's Vineyard you'll find me Saturday mornings at the West Tisbury Farm market. Being of Italian heritage tomatoes are part of our fabric and growing up I benefited from my grandparents large garden with filled with all different tomatoes varieties; some like plum tomatoes my grandmother canned to use during the winter; others like  Bonnie Original ,  Big Beef ,  Red Beefsteak  heirloom, Better Boy and  Cherokee Purple , we sliced for salad and sandwiches. My gr...

I love fresh tomatoes right off the vine. Each year I buy a patio cherry tomato plant to enjoy the luscious taste of fresh tomatoes. I'm always amazed at the bounty of fruits that this little plant produces just for me to enjoy. So fresh and tasty I just want to pop them in my mouth as I pick the ripen tomatoes. Cucumbers and tomatoes are a wonderful combination of flavor and texture that goes perfectly together without adding too many other ingredients. For a easy, simple salad of cucumbers and tomatoes I just added a little fresh basil, feta, dressed with olive oil and lemon juice sprinkled with salt and pepper, so simple, so delicious. Ingredients 1/2 cup lettuce, I used spring greens 1 English cucumber, peeled and sliced 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half 2 tablespoons fresh basil, cut in slivers 1/4 cup feta 2 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon fresh pepper Place greens around edge of plate. Fill cen...

Tart Field Greens with Melon, Blueberries, Apricots and Pecans Adding fruit and nuts to salad fresh adds a refreshingly sweet taste to tart greens. I love the combination of spicy greens with the sweetness of melon and blueberries. You can customize this salad using any of your favorite combination of fresh fruit. Sometimes I add dates instead of apricots or pumpkin seeds to replace pecans. Use your imagination to create your own special salad. Ingredients 4-5 cups bitter or spicy greens 1/2 honeydew melon, cubed 1/2 cup blueberries 1/4 cup chopped apricots 1/4 cup chopped pecans 2 tablespoon sliced red onion* Preparation Wash and dry greens. Place on flat plate arranging melon, blueberries, apricots and pecans on top. Thinly slice red onion. Place in bowl pouring 2 tablespoon white vinegar over onions soaking for 10 minutes. Rinse onions and pat dry. Place onions on salad. Serve with balsamic vinaigrette.  Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients   3 tables...

Can't get enough of salads, neither can I. Nor can I ever say no to delicious fresh picked tomatoes. Ah, this tomato and cucumber salad capture the essence of summer, cool, crisp and fresh. I've added a little spice and crunch to the mix creating a refreshing salad that compliments meat or fish. Ingredients 1 pound tomatoes, thinly sliced crosswise 1 pound gourmet cherry tomatoes, slice in quarters 1 thinly sliced English cucumber 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar 2 medium scallions, dark green parts only, thinly sliced 1 medium jalapeno chile, thinly sliced crosswise 2 teaspoons toasted pine nuts 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper Preparation Arrange tomato and cucumber slices on a platter. Whisk together soy sauce, vinegar, olive oil, and sugar in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Drizzle dressing over tomatoes and cucumbers, and top with scalli...