Good Dinner Mrs. Mellen

My first year planting heirloom tomatoes is a wonderful success.  Not very pretty on the outside but delicious to taste.  I was unaware that they don't produce copious amounts of tomatoes like the hybrids varieties but quality beats quantity when comparing to a the hybrids. So flavorful that all I did was slice the tomatoes layer with fresh mozzarella, fresh basil and drizzle with a rich balsamic vinegar or Our Favorite Salad dressing(one of my favorites)!  Ready to serve in no time! Enjoy!

I love to make pies especially Summertime peach pie.  Serve plain or with the best vanilla ice cream just warm from the oven simply a fantastic end to a summer meal. Crust 3 1/2 cup flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup sugar, optional 3 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1 tablespoon white or cider vinegar 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon ice water Pie Filling 8 peaches slice thin 3/4 cup light brown sugar juice of one lemon 3 tablespoon of quick-cooking tapioca 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoon butter Pie Crust:  Pulse flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Add 1 diced stick cold butter, process until combined. Add 2 more diced sticks cold butter. Add 2 more diced sticks cold butter, pulse 10 seconds or until the mixture resembles coarse meal.  Add one tablespoon vinegar. Gradually pour in 1/3 cup water pulsing 10 seconds until combined. Turn out onto a clean surface and f...

Peaches have are one of my favorite fruits. My grandparents always had peach tree in their yard. My grandmother would can a large batch each summer for winter eating. Growing up in Levittown Pennsylvania all the house were landscaped with one apple, one pear and one peach tree. I waited all summer for the peaches to grow and ripen, picking at the just perfect time. Our peach tree produced an abundance of fruit enough to just eat fresh and for my mother peach pies. When I want to make a quick and easy peach dessert I turn to a cobbler. You can make a cobbler with peaches, blueberries, nectarines and more, just use your favorite fruit.  I like this cobbler for the bisque topping as opposed to a sweet crumbly topping. The peaches are the star not the topping. 8 large peaches, sliced into thin slices 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoon cornstarch For biscuit topping 1 1/3 cup flour 2 tablespoon sugar 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking so...

Wednesdays find me at the wonderful Dedham Farm Market to choice the simple ingredients for a delicious easy meal. Today I was not disappointed with all that I purchased at the Farm Market. Luscious purple peppers, sweetly flavored Thai eggplant, just picked corn, plump tomatoes, bursting blueberries, spicy lettuce, leaping off the boat fish, and more.  Once home I quickly made a simply delicious evening meal. Mussels in white wine sauce, fresh corn, grilled zucchini and swordfish. For the mussels I just sautéed garlic and shallots in 2 tablespoon olive oil for five minutes. Add 2 cups sliced cherry tomatoes, 1 cup white wine, 1 tablespoon each basil and thyme. Cook on low for another five minutes. Add 2 pounds mussels cover and simmer on low until mussels open about 10 minutes. I purchased small ball shaped zucchini and cut in half. Spray lightly with pam, season with fresh basil, thyme and oregano. Place on hot grill and cook for 15 minutes. For the swordfish I just dri...

Ah, what  a wonderful combination, cheesecake and devil's food cake together in a fantastic tasting cupcake. I am not just bragging,  these cupcakes just won best tasting cupcake in the First Annual Sheep Skate Yarn and Craft store cupcake bake off. Cake 2 cups(packed) brown sugar 1 3/4 cup cake flour - I like King Arthur's 3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa- I use Ghirardelli 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup strong coffee, room temperature 1/2 cup vegetable oil 2 large eggs Cheesecake Filling 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 1/3 cup sugar 1 large egg 1 tablespoon flour 1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips Icing 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened at room temperature 3 cups confectioners sugar, sifted 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon vanilla 2 tablespoon milk or heavy cream Chocolate Batter:  Preheat oven to 350 F. Line cup cake pans with baking cups. I made 12 large cup cakes or you can do 24 regular. ...

Sunday I had an urge to grill Cornish Game Hens. A very easy but a tasty Sunday dinner. I served them with grilled vegetables, fresh corn and a salad.  From my mother I learned to be very fussy when cleaning any type of poultry. First I split the hens, cutting not on the breast side but the back side, butterflying the birds. I like to first put sea salt in the cavity of the bird for about 10 minutes. I then thoroughly rinsed the hens. I then but the birds in a large bowl and covered with water. I added one sliced lemon, four sliced garlic cloves, a tablespoon of sea salt, a teaspoon fresh ground pepper, 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil, a tablespoon fresh rosemary, and a tablespoon thyme. I refrigerate for two hours to let the hens become flavorful. Heat grill to medium. Drain hens and pat dry. Rub a little olive oil on the breast of hens, season with chopped basil, rosemary, pepper and thyme. Place hens on grill breast side up.  Grilled cover turning every ten minutes for ab...

Summertime and wonderful fruit pies what could be more perfect. A delicious piece of pie with vanilla ice cream simple but oh so good!  I especially love the combination of nectarine and blueberries.  I made my own pie crust and the recipe follows. But for a quick and easy pie you can buy the refrigerated pie crust. I like the Pillsbury brand.  Don't be intimidated by a home made pie crust, as I've always said, the more you practice the better you become.  If time is an issue you can make the pie crust the day before and refrigerate over night,  then just roll out the dough the next day, add the filling, bake and in no time you have a wonderful home made pie. Pie Crust Makes 2 crusts 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 sticks chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 " cubes 1/4 cup vegetable shortening 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. sugar 1 Tbsp. salt Process flour, butter, vegetable shortening, sugar and salt  in a food processor until butter is c...