Melissa A Wychocki's blog

Cooking with Melissa: Satisfying the Holiday Sweet Tooth

Submitted by Melissa A Wychocki on December 16, 2010 - 5:53pm

We’re coming into my favorite time of the year—friends and family gathering, homes decorated, old family recipes and an overload of holiday cheer.

 

The week of Christmas I spend a day baking cookies—whatever makes it through the week is served as dessert on Christmas Eve. When I first started this tradition, I made sugar cookie cutouts and gingerbread. Over the years, I have added on to the list. This year I asked each guest what their favorite cookie is so I can attempt to bake them all – I can see my kitchen now in a giant flour mess.Read more

Cooking with Melissa: Chicken, Rice & Squash Casserole

Submitted by Melissa A Wychocki on December 2, 2010 - 6:30pm

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but with all of those holiday parties and dinners with friends and family, your waistline is in jeopardy!

 

I have subscriptions to several cooking magazines and tear many pages out with potential new recipes. I try to cook a new dish once a week; my husband isn’t fond of this night because they turn out to be losers as many times as they are winners. But when I do find a keeper, it’s usually a 100-pounder.

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The First Thanksgiving – Part 3: The Best for Last, Dessert!

Submitted by Melissa A Wychocki on November 17, 2010 - 10:21pm

There is nothing that better completes a Thanksgiving dinner than a rich spicy bite of pumpkin pie. Well, maybe, fresh apple pie? Okay, a slice of both please!

Homemade pies are very easy to make and are great to start with if you are new to cooking. I prefer the filling to be fresh; the canned fruits are loaded with sugar and taste more like candy. The one exception is canned pumpkin--even professional cooks steer clear of the daunting task of shredding pumpkins.Read more

The First Thanksgiving – Part 2: It’s All About the Sides!

Submitted by Melissa A Wychocki on November 9, 2010 - 9:43am

The turkey may take up the most room on your table this Thanksgiving, but the unspoken secret is out – it’s really all about the sides!  Without those mouthwatering piles of stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy dripping over the top and, yes, even the veggies, Thanksgiving dinner would simply be a piece of meat on a plate.

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The First Thanksgiving -Part 1

Submitted by Melissa A Wychocki on November 1, 2010 - 5:49am

November marks the beginning of my favorite time of the year – the holidays.  I am very old-fashioned and traditional when it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas. I spend hours researching new recipes to complement my favorites from years past to create the perfect menu.

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Pumpkin Spice & Everything's Nice

Submitted by Melissa A Wychocki on October 9, 2010 - 7:03pm

One of my favorite scents is pumpkin - to the point where I have pumpkin spice candles going every day from late summer through the fall. And I love to cook with pumpkin for both the wonderful aroma and the added health benefits. Pumpkin is low in fat and calories and rich in beta-carotene, Vitamin C and potassium, among other nutrients.Read more

Comfort Food Season: Turkey Stuffing Meatloaf

Submitted by Melissa A Wychocki on October 4, 2010 - 9:19am

Fall is here and for many of you that means cooler days and beautiful colors on the trees.  I live in Southwest Florida so fall means 85 degrees instead of 95.  But even without the drop in temperature, this time of year I start to feel a little cozier and to crave good fall comfort food. And there is nothing I love better than a traditional turkey dinner – the house smells amazing and everyone seems happier.

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It's Fajita Time!

Submitted by Melissa A Wychocki on September 16, 2010 - 7:36am

I love serving fajitas. It makes you feel like a kid again. You start with an assembly line where you can pile numerous combinations on to your tortilla and then you get to wrap it up and eat it with your fingers. All the while, the juices are dripping down your hands and your chin, making a huge—but excellent--mess! 

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La-La-Lasagna!

Submitted by Melissa A Wychocki on August 31, 2010 - 6:05am

Cooking should be fun. Turn on some music--I get inspired by Sinatra--and pour a glass of wine.  (Note: I learned the hard way that while it’s a good idea to pour that glass of wine, it’s also important to make sure you only sip it until the dish is done.  During one dinner party, I got carried away talking with friends and was on to my second glass of wine when it came time to assemble the sauce for my lasagna. Instead of adding one teaspoon of salt, I added one tablespoon. That was one salty lasagna! Another time, I made the same mistake, but with red pepper flakes.Read more

Conquering the Kitchen and Learning to Cook

Submitted by Melissa A Wychocki on July 26, 2010 - 2:27pm

Many Young Professionals don’t regularly cook, have never thrown a dinner party and might even be overwhelmed at the thought. If you had asked me five years ago to make dinner it would have consisted of spaghetti with a splash of Ragu. I didn’t know my way around a kitchen, and didn’t care. Then we bought a house with a large kitchen. Maybe it was years of pent up passion, maybe it was the fact that I actually had space to cook or maybe I just felt that I should be able to provide a nutritional meal for my family. Whatever the catalyst, I wanted to learn to cook.Read more