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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.
People eat with their eyes first. So I love pretty salads loaded with rainbow colors. The more colorful the salad the yummier it will taste. By using a lot of different colored veggies we are getting a wide range of nutrients and vitamins into our bodies. And the rainbow colors trick us into being fuller […]
I call this my “SURPRISE SALAD” because it is usually a mix of all the stuff left in my fridge. Every time I make it, the salad comes out differently. But it’s always delicious and such a welcome addition when it makes its’ appearance at the dinner table. And the homemade dressing is brilliant. In […]
I just love it when a random kitchen experiment turns into a sure-fire hit… These STUFFED PEPPERS are insane. I filled them with brown rice, flaked almonds, spring onions, and a medley of Mediterranean spices. Then I surrounded them with red onions and roasted them till they were perfectly blistered and charred. The best part […]
This couscous salad is jam-packed with so many fresh flavors that your taste buds will be bouncing all over the place trying to take in all the yumminess. It’s served on a bed of Israeli Cous Cous, so it’s hearty and perfect if you need a vegetarian option. The combination of fresh and canned corn […]
Get ready to have your mind blown by this citrus slaw. It’s vibrant and loaded with healthy ingredients but it’s packed with flavor. I especially love the tart note the kumquats add. But if you can’t find them you can use grapefruit instead. You are going to be rocking this slaw out for lunch and […]
We recently visited Israel, and while we were on the beach in Tel Aviv they served us big platters of ripe and juicy watermelon alongside creamy Bulgarian feta cheese. I was instantly hooked and I knew that this combo would become my summertime salad choice. I have added a few extra things to take it […]
My go-to weeknight side is roasted veggies. And today I just rummaged through the refrigerator draw to see what I had. This is the end result. It’s an amazing combo of roasted beets, fennel, onion, and cauliflower. The fennel seeds just add a brilliant fresh note and surprisingly work well with the other spices. I […]
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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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 →
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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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