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The MM Blog
Let's live deliciously! Here you'll find the very best recipes, travel guides, podcasts, videos, and wellness tips to create a healthy, beautiful joyful life.
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Here’s my must-have list of kitchen essentials. Gizmos + gadgets, appliances, pots and pans, cookware, knives, and tabletop faves. For decades I’ve collected all your questions! The ones I get on social media, in DMs, emails and texts, from the blog, when I meet you or in our Secret Facebook Group. So I’ve decided to […]
Most people think of Monday as the first day of the week. But if we look at the story of creation … day 1, aka ground zero for Him was Sunday. Just like a tree needs strong roots to rise up and grow, I need a rock solid game plan to ensure the week ahead […]
I’ve spent a lot of time in the air and living out of suitcases. Nothing brings me more joy than visiting a foreign country and exploring new and exciting places and trying delicious food. But no matter where I go in the world…There are a few items you will always find in my luggage. Here’s […]
Over the years I have hosted small dinners and events that feed hundreds. I’ve cooked for Oscar winners, billionaires, Hollywood studios, friends and family. But no matter the size of the guest list, a successful party comes down to planning. I’m sharing the exact strategy I use every time I host. And I’m confident that […]
“You may have the Universe if I can have Italy” – Giuseppe Verdi Italy is the most gorgeous country in the world to travel to. I guess that is why I decided I wanted to retire there. And over the past decade, I have crisscrossed this country eating my weight in pizza. And I still […]
I have often seen parents who have a poor relationship with food and body image, pass this onto their kids. This is not the relationship with food we want to create for our children.
One of my favorite South African desserts…. BAR-ONE SUNDAES! I want to begin by thanking all of you for sharing and liking my Peppermint Crisp Pudding post. It means the world to me. Each and every one of you motivate me to keep cooking and posting recipes. I am eternally grateful for your support. In […]
I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone that doesn’t like a Chocolate Chip Cookie. Am I right??? I mean how you can top a cookie that is crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside. Perfect little pillows of cookie dough dotted with plenty of chocolate chips. The more chocolate the better. Load them […]
Roasted Brussels Sprouts are probably one of my favorite green veggies in the fall. These are ridiculously easy to make. By roasting them till they’re lightly charred, they still keep that crunchiness and the nuttiness of the vegetable comes out. These take almost no time to prepare. The honey adds sweetness and the Parmesan cheese […]
Saturday night is always pizza night in the Mayo house. And this pizza is my all-time favorite. Buffalo mozzarella or Mozzarella di Bufala in Italian is a mozzarella made from the milk of domestic water buffalo. It is a fresh, soft, semi-elastic textured cheese that is richer and silkier than other mozzarellas. It is like […]
Get ready for this epic one-pan rotisserie chicken with roasted veggies. It’s super delicious and a great way to meal prep for the week. Don’t you just love those one-dish dinners??? I know I do. This chicken recipe was the result of some massive experimentation on my part. I started out wanting to make a […]
I am absolutely addicted to this delicious “Beetroot Hummus”. The beets add sweetness and earthiness to the hummus and the magenta color creates the prettiest dip I have ever seen. I find that my family only eats fruit and veggies when I cut them up. So there’s always a nice big platter in the front […]
It’s fall and I am getting ready for Thanksgiving. The stores are overflowing with squashes and pumpkins! So I decided to roast some butternut and caramelize some onions for this salad. I’ve flavored it with traditional pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg & ginger. I’ve also thrown in some candied pecans as a nod to […]
This recipe is so yummy I would STEAK my reputation on it!!! Growing up in South Africa it is no surprise that I am a die-hard carnivore. I love nothing more than a good steak. The tenderloin is marinated with rosemary, garlic, oregano, and thyme and served alongside an heirloom and cherry tomato salad overflowing […]
Loaded salads are where it is at. Am I right? Broccoli and cauliflower are Jade’s favorite veggies since she was a baby. But I’m tired of roasting, steaming, and stir-frying them. I am beyond bored of the same old same old. So I’ve been experimenting with new ways to use them. Lately, I haven’t been […]
There is nothing I like more than a crispy, crunchy, thin pizza crust covered with delicious toppings. OMG… This week has been hectic. I have been furiously working away, to finalize the look of my new website. My head is exploding with color, font, and layout combinations. I’m trying to relax AND maybe put my […]
I'm Melissa, your host & tour guide.
A Food Network chef, author, mamma, eternal optimist, wannabe-mermaid, spice mixologist, and “dough therapist” (yep, it’s a thing)—
I'm also the founder of Susina Cucina, the gorgeous, Italian cooking school I manifested into my reality. I’m obsessed with Aperol spritzes, travel, and mouthwatering food… especially pizza and pasta.
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Food Netwok Chef, Melissa is dishing up delicious food and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your soul.
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The Magic of Italy
without the planning
Explore
Food Netwok Chef, Melissa is dishing up delicious food and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your soul.
find out more →
Hands down the prettiest, do-it-yourself, easy-to-use, customizable, website templates on the internet. They look super expensive, but I promise they won't break the bank.
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Wanna know the tried and tested go-tos a globetrotter and chef can’t live without? Here’s my must-have gizmos, gadgets, and essentials—all my favorite things I swear by. Plus, what I’m reading, wearing, and packing for my next trip.
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