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Melissa Maedgen, Recipe Tester

A list of all the recipes Melissa Maedgen has tested.

Melissa Maedgen owes her passion for cooking and gardening to her parents. Like her mom and dad, she’s fond of improvisational cooking with a focus on fresh produce from her garden or from local farmers. She enjoys cooking outdoors, sometimes in a particularly rustic manner—she once roasted a goat on a spit (actually just a piece of rebar) over a fire in a field in Texas. Maedgen was raised to be a DIYer, so she often makes her own tofu or beer. She’s been following Leite’s Culinaria since 2001, when she was studying Portuguese and developed an interest in Brazilian and Portuguese food. She became a tester in 2009 and loves that she gets to cook foods she might not otherwise make.

Pickled Eggs

updated Apr 21, 2019 posted by LC Editors

If you’re a pickled eggs virgin, you’re in for something quite special—and not just because these little lovelies are so spectacularly pretty in pink.

25 M
45 M
23

Baked Ricotta

Apr 09, 2019 posted by LC Editors

Entertaining gets no simpler than this rich, creamy, indulgent, elegant cheese spread made from three ingredients. Tasting is believing. Go on.

10 M
35 M
38

Chicken Karaage | Japanese Fried Chicken

Mar 27, 2019 posted by LC Editors

You haven’t lived until you’ve had chicken karaage, which is Japanese-style chicken that’s marinated in soy and fried twice until crisp and oh so nice.

35 M
1 H, 40 M
10

Veggie Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Mar 20, 2019 posted by LC Editors

Make veggies less yawn-inducing by stealthily sneaking them into this good-for-you grilled cheese sammie. Eating your veggies never tasted so sinful.

Quick Glance
10 M
15 M
2

A chocolate mocha cake with chocolate Irish whiskey glaze being poured on top

Chocolate Mocha Cake with Irish Whiskey

Mar 16, 2019 posted by LC Editors

Mmmm. Mocha chocolate cake slathered with an Irish whiskey-spiked chocolate glaze. A decadent, grown-up cake good for whatever ails you.

Quick Glance
30 M
1 H
0

Celery Marmalade

updated Mar 11, 2019 posted by LC Editors

Weird, we know. But it uses up all that leftover celery languishing in your veggie bin. And it goes SPECTACULARLY with cheese. You’re welcome.

Quick Glance
1 H, 15 M
1 H, 15 M
0

Fried Sage Leaves

updated Mar 07, 2019 posted by LC Editors

Proof that you really can fry anything and make it vastly better. They make an easy, elegant hors d’oeuvres for any assemblage of folks who appreciate fine cuisine.

Quick Glance
5 M
15 M
0

Spiced Popcorn

Feb 18, 2019 posted by LC Editors

Movie-watching must. Nostalgic nosh. Low-calorie something to satisfy. Sexy little something to knock back with cocktails as a pre-dinner party teaser. Popcorn has its moods. This recipe fits them all.

Quick Glance
10 M
10 M
0

Potato and Chickpea Stew

updated Apr 19, 2019 posted by LC Editors

Yet another failproof recipe from Deborah Madison that’s hearty and healthy and satisfying beyond words.

45 M
1 H, 15 M
6

New England Clam Chowder

updated Feb 27, 2019 posted by LC Editors

This New England clam chowder recipe, put simply, is a classic. No other way to say it, no other way to make it.

25 M
1 H
19

Roasted Curried Cauliflower

updated Jan 19, 2019 posted by LC Editors

After tasting this richly spiced yet surprisingly nuanced recipe we asked them to try, someone suggested we change our name to “Leite’s Cauliflower.” Hmmm…