http://www.melaniecooks.com Welcome To Melanie's Kitchen - Real Food For Real People! Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:59:32 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I created this salad when I had avocado in my fridge, but was tired of guacamole :) Salad Ingredients: Tomatoes Avocado Cilantro Olive Oil Lime Juice Directions For Making The Salad: Chop the tomatoes.  Peel and chop the avocado.  Chop the cilantro. Whisk together olive oil and lime juice (3 parts oil to 1 part juice) to make a ... http://www.melaniecooks.com/tomatoes-avocado-and-cilantro-salad-recipe/503/ The key to a mega-successful turkey burger is a great rich bread.  When the burger is made out of beef, the meat is the star of the cheeseburger.   Turkey, on the other hand, has a more mellow flavor then beef, and that's the reason why turkey burgers are usually blah. Well, ... http://www.melaniecooks.com/turkey-cheeseburger-on-brioche-bun/544/ I've had sliced salami and provolone cheese in the fridge, and a package of fresh brioche buns on the counter.  Combining these yummy ingredients made a super-easy lunch! Ingredients: Brioche bun, split horizontally Provolone cheese, sliced Salami, sliced Mayo Directions How To Make This Sandwich Spread the mayo on brioche.  Put the provolone cheese on brioche.  Put the ... http://www.melaniecooks.com/open-faced-salami-and-provolone-sandwich-on-brioche/547/ I came across Pomi Chopped Tomatoes in the supermarket.  Unlike the usual chopped tomatoes that come in tin cans, the Pomi Tomatoes come in a paper carton.  Here's a picture of Pomi Tomatoes package: I just had to try out Pomi Tomatoes.  I'm glad I did!  Pomi Tomatoes have a cleaner, ... http://www.melaniecooks.com/tomato-sauce-recipe-using-pomi-chopped-tomatoes/531/ I went to Trader Joe's and saw that unusual lettuce sold in packages.  It had tiny cute crisp green leaves.  The name of the lettuce on the package was Mache Lettuce, and the package also noted the lettuce's alternate name - Lamb's Lettuce.  The package with lamb's lettuce also had ... http://www.melaniecooks.com/salad-with-mache-lettuce-lambs-lettuce-and-avocado/527/ This is a very refreshing and healthy salad! Ingredients For The Salad: Tomatoes Cucumbers Cilantro Oil Vinegar Directions How To Make The Salad: Cut tomatoes and cucumbers into cubes.  Chop cilantro. Make a salad dressing with a ratio of 3 parts of oil to 1 part of vinegar. Mix all ingredients. http://www.melaniecooks.com/salad-with-tomatoes-cucumbers-and-cilantro/473/ This garlic beef tastes just like garlic beef from a Chinese restaurant.  Who need the takeout when you can make authentic tasting garlic beef at home :)  This garlic beef recipe is very quick and easy to make.   For a perfect side dish, use the rice cooker to make the ... http://www.melaniecooks.com/garlic-beef-with-green-peppers-recipe/516/ Lemon zest is a wonderful addition to baked goods.  If you are making cakes, cookies, bars, pies or muffins and want them to have lemon scent and a hint of lemon taste, add lemon zest! Dried lemon zest that they sell in the spice jars is a far cry from the ... http://www.melaniecooks.com/how-to-zest-a-lemon/507/ Are you craving something baked and lemony?  The best part about the lemon cake is putting your nose real close to the lemon cake and smelling it!  When you smell the lemon cake, you can already taste it in your mind.  This lemon cake is delicious for breakfast.  Citrus is ... http://www.melaniecooks.com/lemon-bundt-cake-recipe/496/ It's very easy to cut a cantaloupe into chunks.  Don't waste money on pre-cut cantaloupe in plastic fruit trays or fruit cups - not only they are expensive, but also not as fresh, as they've been sitting on the store shelves for a while. When you cut a cantaloupe yourself, ... http://www.melaniecooks.com/how-to-cut-a-cantaloupe/478/