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Melissa

@mella_cooks

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Taking you along on my food journey. Follow along for recipes and tips!
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“Mommy, make sure it has a crust and is medium rare” - my 5 year old who watches too many cooking shows, when I was discussing making prime rib for Thanksgiving. 🙄🙄
Reverse-seared prime rib, dry brined. Made a rub with herbs, butter, dijon, lemon zest and atleast 10 cloves of garlic. Cooked low at 250 for 4 hours then seared before serving. With au jus.
Pommes purée of course.
Roasted pear salad with honey goat cheese and sweet candied pecans with a pomegranate balsamic dressing. Used the orange zest in the pecan glaze and the orange juice in the dressing.
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#thanksgiving #primerib #reversesear #fallsalad #mellacooks by @mella_cooks

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3

6 days ago

Apple Pies should be classic, unfussy. A mix of apple varieties (I used 5 different kinds!), a mix of brown and white sugar, warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and a butter forward crust (with a small amount of shortening for a more tender crumb than all butter). The result is extra flaky crust that stands on its own, a filling that is bright, not too sweet and by leaving half the apples uncooked, you get the slight bite of apple, not mushy fruit!
Happy Thanksgiving Baking!
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#thanksgiving #canadianthanksgiving #applepie #alamode #mellacooks by @mella_cooks

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7 days ago

Steak avec Sauce Forestière 🍄🥩 . This sauce starts with mushrooms, shallots, garlic and a wine reduction. Then a roux, a little broth, and I went with crème fraîche for a velvety finish to this rich sauce. It’s a great elevated spin on “steak and mushrooms”
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#sauceforestière #mushroomsauce #steak #mellacooks #frenchcuisine by @mella_cooks

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1

13 days ago

Apple Pie Scones with Brown Sugar Glaze 🍏

These are amazing. No notes. Folding apple pie-esque apples into scone dough is one of the best apple ideas I’ve had to date. Here’s how I made them!

Preheat oven to 400.

To a saucepan, add 2 cups of 1/4 inch cut cubes of peeled apples. Add a tbsp of white sugar and 2 tbsps brown sugar with a big dash of cinnamon. Turn heat to medium and cook for about 10 mins. Move to a pan and place in the freezer to cool off quickly while you make the scones. You will need about 1 1/2 cups cooked down apples.

To make the scone dough, whisk:

- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2.5 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp each cardamom and nutmeg

Then using a pastry cutter, two butter knives, a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or your hands, mix in:

- 1/2 cup very cold salted butter that has been cut into small pats.

Then in another bowl, whisk:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg

Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix just until combined. Finally, fold in the cooled apples.

Transfer the dough to a floured surface, press into a 10 inch disk and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Cut into 8 wedges and move onto a parchment lined baking sheet, leaving 3 inches between them.

If the dough feels warm, place it in the fridge for 20 mins to chill back up.

Bake for 18 mins until golden brown.

To make the glaze, whisk 1 tbsp melted butter with 1/4 cup brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Once sugar melts, remove from heat, add in 1/2 cup powdered sugar, a pinch of salt and a small splash of milk to thin out the glaze.

Drizzle on warm scones!
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#scones #applepie #scone #mellacooks #brownsugar by @mella_cooks

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16 days ago

That fall evening sun was chasing my dinner pics today so I just went with it ✨.
I was at the last of the produce in the fridge and wanted to use up what I could before the end of the week so I came up with this quick and super easy dish.

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Creamy Zucchini Pesto Farfalle with Torn Mozzarella 🌿

This is really hardly a recipe. Take 2-3 zucchinis and pan fry them in a little olive oil. Add in 4-5 smashed garlic cloves and season with salt and pepper. Take the zucchini off the heat when they’re still bright and add to a blender. Add in 2-3 cups basil, a big handful of toasted pine nuts, and 1 cup of parm-reg. Stream in some EVOO until it comes together. Season and taste as you go.
Meanwhile, cook a lb of farfalle until a minute from al dente. While it’s cooking, add your pesto to a big pan and bring to a gentle simmer. Add a little cream if you like and a ladle of pasta water to loosen the sauce. Add the pasta in, dragging in pasta water along with it and toss well until the sauce has coated the pasta. Add more parm and some torn mozzarella then drizzle with chili oil.
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#farfalle #pesto #pestopasta #mellacooks pasta by @mella_cooks

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23 days ago

Short Rib Lasagna with Mornay Sauce
I seared and then braised short ribs with pancetta, mirepoix, tomatoes, red wine, broth and a few other things for a few hours at low heat in the oven.
Then I made a mornay sauce instead of a traditional bechamel since I wanted creamy and cheesy layers without layering pounds of mozzarella or ricotta in between the pasta and sauce. It basically a traditional béchamel with grated cheese folded in to create a creamy but somewhat cheesy sauce.
The result was melt in your mouth lasagna, not too heavy and the short rib ragu really came through without getting lost in too much cheese.
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#lasagna #shortribs #braisedbeef #pasta #mellacooks by @mella_cooks

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a month ago

Apple Pie Braids to kick off my favourite baking season! Brioche dough folded over an apple pie filling I made using apples we picked today. I cooked them down with warm spices like vanilla bean, cinnamon, nutmeg and a teensy bit of cardamom. Then I sliced the filled dough and braided them, let them rise and baked them until golden before glazing.
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#applepie #appleturnover #appleseason #mellacooks #pastrylove by @mella_cooks

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a month ago

This fall, brothy and hearty soup bowls are the direction I’ll be heading. This noodle bowl is packed with Shanghai noodles, bok choy, ground chicken and smothered in a spicy coconut milk broth, stacked with miso paste, gochujang, lots of garlic, ginger and a few other pantry staples I have on hand. A splash of rice vinegar cuts the richness and fresh Thai chilis and a drizzle of chili crunch (always!) give it a slow build heat.
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#soupseason #noodlesoup #broth #mellacooks #fallcooking by @mella_cooks

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a month ago

One Pan Mini Meatball Pasta!

This recipe comes together super quickly and with it all being made in one skillet, less clean up!

What you’ll need:

For the meatballs:
1 lb lean ground beef
3 cloves garlic, grated
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup parm-reg

For the pasta:
1 tbsp EVOO
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/3 cup white wine
2 cups small pasta or orzo
1/2 cup cream
1/2 cup milk
2 cups beef broth
1/2 tsp each oregano, basil, paprika
Salt and pepper, to taste
Chili flakes to taste
1 cup puréed San marzanos
1/2 cups parm-reg
10-12 fresh basil leaves, chopped

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1. Mix your meatball ingredients then roll into small meatballs
2. To a big skillet, over medium high heat, add a small splash of EVOO and then add all your meatballs.
3. Shake the pan to loosen the meatballs and cook them until browned and cooked through. Remove to a plate.
4. To the same skillet over medium heat, add a splash of EVOO and your garlic. Cook until fragrant and then add your tomato paste.
5. Deglaze the pan with wine and then when wine has evaporated, add your beef broth, milk, cream, and seasoning along with your pasta.
6. Bring to a boil and then lower heat, cover and cook just until al dente (per the package).
7. Add the crushed tomatoes, basil, cheese and meatballs and cook until heated through.
8. Serve immediately!
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#onepanmeal #weeknightdinner #meatball #30minutemeals #mellacooks by @mella_cooks

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a month ago

Perfect Roasted Potatoes 🥔

This is it. The ONLY method you’ll ever need to get the crispiest, fluffiest roasted potatoes. Trust me.
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2-3 lbs white potatoes (or russet)
1 tsp baking soda
EVOO, Veg, avocado oil, duck fat or beef tallow
Seasoning of choice, I used salt, pepper, paprika, onion and garlic powder
Fresh herbs, like rosemary
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Peel and cut your potatoes into chunks then place in a pot with cold water and baking soda. Bring to a boil and then cook the potatoes for 10 mins. Drain immediately and leave in the colander to dry for a few mins. Shake the colander to create rough edges.
Preheat oven to 425. To a half sheet pan, add enough oil just to coat the bottom. Place it back in the oven and heat for 5-10 mins.
Take the pan out of the oven and immediately turn the potatoes right into the pan. Season and toss well then place back in the oven.
Bake on the second from lowest rack for 20 mins. Take the pan out, flip the potatoes then back into the oven for another 20. Flip again and if not crispy enough, back into the oven for a final 20 mins.
Trust the process. Remove the potatoes and immediately, add fresh herbs and extra salt if desired.
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#potatoes #roastedpotatoes #potato #mellacooks by @mella_cooks

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2

a month ago

Pan Seared Halibut with Caramelized Lemons 🍋
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This dish takes quite literally 10 minutes to make but I t gives major restaurant vibes. I opted for halibut but you could use any white fish that stands up well to a good sear.
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What you’ll need:
1 lb halibut, or 4 filets
4 tbsp butter, divided
1 tbsp EVOO
1 lemon, half of which has been sliced super thin
1 tbsp herbs, I used thyme, oregano and parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup white wine
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Salt and pepper your halibut and set aside.
To a pan over medium high heat, add 2 tbsp butter and allow it to brown, watching it closely, because it will burn quickly. As soon as it starts to brown, add your EVOO and then place the halibut down. Let it sear for 2-3 minutes, then add the lemon slices right to the pan. Flip the fish and then deglaze with white wine. Add the herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice then finish with 2 more tbsp butter until emulsified. As soon as fish is done, turn the heat off and take the fish out of the pan, topping with the sauce and caramelized lemon. Serve with extra fresh herbs.
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#halibut #mellacooks #panseared #fishdish by @mella_cooks

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0

a month ago

Risotto Alla Carbonara.
Arborio rice, shallots, a wine deglaze, slowly incorporated broth, tempered egg yolks, parm-reg and crispy pancetta both folded in and to top it off.
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#risotto #carbonara #mellacooks #eleganteats #classicitalian by @mella_cooks

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a month ago