• facebook pinterest instagram rss email
Mel's Kitchen Cafe
  • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Favorite Things
  • Recipes
  • The Best Recipe
  • Kitchen Tips
    • Video Tips
  • Let’s Talk
  • Cookbook
Step-by-Step Perfect Vanilla Bean Caramels

Perfect Vanilla {Bean} Caramels {Step-by-Step}

December 5, 2016 • 105 Comments
Just in time for holiday caramel making…get ready, because this recipe (with a step-by-step tutorial!) for soft and chewy vanilla caramels is the best and easiest caramel recipe ever! If I had to admit the one post I’m most excited about this December, it would be these caramels. Not to minimize the awesomeness of all [...]
Continue Reading
Russian Potato and Mushroom Leek Soup

Russian Potato and Mushroom Leek Soup

December 2, 2016 • 58 Comments
You don’t want to miss out on this deliciously hearty and comforting Russian potato and mushroom leek soup! It’s quickly becoming our favorite soup this winter. Now…let’s talk about this soup. This deliciously humble and endearing Russian and potato soup completely stole my heart (actually all of our hearts – we all decided we are [...]
Continue Reading
Mel's Exclusive Newsletter

4 Reasons to Sign Up for My Exclusive Newsletter TODAY!

December 1, 2016 • 65 Comments
I’ve had a little project in the works for a while and am very, very (VERY!) excited to tell you what’s happening. I have FOUR reasons you are going to want to make sure you’re signed up for my email newsletter (quick sidenote: if you already receive email updates when I post a new recipe, [...]
Continue Reading
Glazed Cranberry Lemon Cake

Glazed Cranberry Lemon Cake

November 30, 2016 • 56 Comments
This glazed cranberry lemon cake is an absolute showstopper with its lovely drizzly glaze draping over a layer of fresh cranberries and tender, soft lemon cake! Since I’ve already told you how much I love cranberries, is it really a surprise that my self-proclaimed favorite dessert of the holiday season is this glazed cranberry lemon [...]
Continue Reading
Quick Cheesy Skillet Fajita Nachos

Quick Skillet Cheesy Fajita Nachos

November 28, 2016 • 71 Comments
This quick and tasty recipe for skillet cheesy fajita nachos can be on the table in less than 30-minutes and is a great way to use up leftover turkey (or chicken!).   So?? If you were cooking for/celebrating the big holiday last week, how did it go? I’ve seriously been dying of curiosity all weekend. [...]
Continue Reading
Holiday Gift Guide

Mel’s Mini Gift Guide: Kitchen + His + Hers

November 25, 2016 • 44 Comments
I’m excited to be sharing my last gift guide of the holiday season today! Are you one of the crazy people doing real, live Black Friday shopping today? I prefer to sit in the warm comfort of my own home and shop online or shop among other humans any other day except Black Friday. If [...]
Continue Reading
Turkey Cranberry Brie Spinach Panini

Turkey Cranberry Brie Panini

November 23, 2016 • 42 Comments
The absolute best way to use Thanksgiving leftovers, this turkey and brie panini with cranberry and spinach is one of my all-time favorite sandwiches! When you have surfaced from all things turkey brining, roll making, pie baking, and anything else you may be tackling for tomorrow’s big Thanksgiving feast, come back here, and read up [...]
Continue Reading
5-Minute Cranberry Sauce

5-Minute Cranberry Sauce {Pressure Cooker}

November 22, 2016 • 21 Comments
This 5-minute pressure cooker cranberry sauce (with alternate directions for slow cooker or stovetop) is so easy and delicious! Exactly how cranberry sauce was meant to be. The world is quite divided when it comes to cranberry sauce from what I hear. Some of you like it in any form. Some of you detest it in [...]
Continue Reading
Chocolate Dutch Baby {German Pancake}

Chocolate Dutch Baby {i.e. Baked German Pancake!}

November 21, 2016 • 36 Comments
This puffy, chocolate, baked pancake with those crispy, crinkly edges and that deliciously soft center makes a simple yet special breakfast any day of the week! How are you doing this week? Really. Talk to me. For those of you celebrating Thanksgiving, are you up to your eyeballs in pie recipes? Or are you chilling [...]
Continue Reading
Holiday Gift Guide for Kids

Mel’s Mini Gift Guide: Kid Stuff!

November 18, 2016 • 40 Comments
I’m back with another fun, little gift guide today! If you missed last week’s game guide, check it out here! Thanks for all your fantastic comments on that post – tons of new ideas, and I’m glad to know that the games I recommended are favorites for many of you, as well! Remember, you [...]
Continue Reading
Buttery Cornmeal Rolls - Best Dinner Rolls

Buttery Fluffy Cornmeal Dinner Rolls

November 17, 2016 • 119 Comments
The hint of cornmeal mingled with the light sweetness of the dough make these extra-fluffy, cornmeal dinner rolls one of my favorite rolls of all time! I get asked all the time what my favorite, go-to homemade roll recipe is. The one I can’t imagine living without. My roll soulmate, if you will. You can understand [...]
Continue Reading
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

November 16, 2016 • 56 Comments
Simple pie crust filled with a rich, decadent, ooey, gooey chocolate chip cookie filling? This might be the easiest, most delicious pie you’ll ever make. Consider yourself warned. I was not planning on sharing a new pie recipe with you this holiday season. I’m sorry. I hope we can still be friends now that you [...]
Continue Reading
Skillet Honey Garlic Chicken {20-minute meal}

Skillet Honey Garlic Chicken {20-Minute Meal}

November 15, 2016 • 23 Comments
Dinner has never been simpler! This delicious, flavorful honey garlic chicken can be on the table in 20-minutes or less and is a perfect, easy weeknight dinner solution! Listen, I know the hot topics this week are pie, turkey, pie, stuffing, pie, gravy, and pie…but in my world, the troops still have to eat. So even [...]
Continue Reading
Perfect Herb Roasted Turkey

Simple Herb Roasted Turkey + No-Fail Gravy Tips

November 14, 2016 • 42 Comments
If you need to make a killer roast turkey without any long, complicated steps, this simple, no-fuss recipe is for you! Perfect, juicy roast turkey coming right up! You guys. Let’s talk turkey. Who’s on turkey duty this year for Thanksgiving? Who’s never cooked a turkey in their life? Come on, raise your hand. Don’t [...]
Continue Reading
Holiday Gift Guide: Games

Mel’s Mini Gift Guide: All About Games!

November 11, 2016 • 98 Comments
Well, it’s officially my favorite post of the year. Ok, one of my favorite posts. I LOVE sharing sincere, great, worthwhile recommendations, and today, it’s the best of all topics: games! We are a game loving family! You might even say we are obsessed; we play games all the time, and our game closet is legendary (and by legendary, I mean [...]
Continue Reading
The Best Cream Corn

Delicious Parmesan Cream Corn

November 10, 2016 • 32 Comments
This simple but amazing cream corn side dish is a Thanksgiving must-have. Once you make it, I think you’ll know why! Sweet corn swimming in a creamy Parmesan sauce? Bring it on. I am loving all the comments on this post earlier in the week about what’s on your Thanksgiving menu. I could read stuff [...]
Continue Reading
Pressure Cooker Smoky Lentil Soup

Smoky Lentil and Potato Soup {Pressure Cooker or Stovetop}

November 9, 2016 • 65 Comments
Don’t discount this humble-looking pressure cooker lentil soup! Packed with flavor (that smoked paprika!), it is incredibly delicious and needs only three minutes in the pressure cooker. There is literally no way to photograph and make lentil soup look as good as it tastes. But let me tell you, this smoky lentil and potato soup is delicious, and [...]
Continue Reading
Recipes the World Forgot: Thanksgiving

Recipes the World Forgot: Thanksgiving Edition

November 8, 2016 • 81 Comments
Are you deep in the throes of Thanksgiving menu planning or is your head buried in the sand? Or maybe you don’t even have to worry about it because you are going to your mother-in-law’s house and she does all the cooking? Lucky you. Lucky, lucky you. As you know, every so often, I post [...]
Continue Reading
Triple Chocolate Fudge PB Cookies

Triple Chocolate Fudge Peanut Butter Cookies

November 7, 2016 • 23 Comments
Soft and chewy, these decadent chocolate fudge peanut butter cookies are for serious chocolate, peanut butter and cookie lovers! I feel like I have so much to tell you today so let’s get right to it. First up, some business: 1) Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone (over 600!) who made [...]
Continue Reading
Quick Chicken Noodle Soup

Quick and Delicious Chicken Noodle Soup

November 3, 2016 • 45 Comments
This quick and simple version of chicken noodle soup is hearty and delicious and is an easy fall and winter favorite, especially since it can be on the table in 30 minutes or less! Since my blog exists largely as a placeholder for my favorite recipes, this simple chicken noodle soup deserves a spot. I [...]
Continue Reading
  • ← Previous Entries
  • Next Entries →
  • mel
    Welcome
    I'm Mel, a busy mom who loves food and worships no-fail recipes. My goal is to make you feel like a rock star in the kitchen, so let's get started! MORE
  • Popular Posts

    • The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting {For Cookies + Cakes} The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting {For Cookies + Cakes}
    • Baked Cheesy Zucchini Bites Baked Cheesy Zucchini Bites
    • The Best Homemade Spaghetti Sauce The Best Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
    • Simple Shredded Chicken: A Quick How-To Simple Shredded Chicken: A Quick How-To

Weekly Menu

SUNDAY: Sweet Baked Ham {InstantPot Instructions}

MONDAY: Smoky Lentil and Potato Soup {Pressure Cooker or Stovetop}

TUESDAY: Mediterranean Chicken Wraps {15-Minute Meal}

WEDNESDAY: Satay Chicken Noodle Salad

THURSDAY: Shrimp and Mango Lettuce Wraps {20-Minute Meal}

FRIDAY: Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Pork

SATURDAY: Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

  • About
  • Recipes
  • Privacy Policy
facebook pinterest instagram rss email