Melissa Knific

New York

Food Content Creator at Freelance

Articles

Try making maple-miso chicken thighs for dinner tonight

2 months ago | today.com | Melissa Knific

Chef notesCitrusy, sweet and savory, this roast chicken dish can be categorized under “low effort, high reward.” A handful of flavorful ingredients and minimal prep make maple-miso chicken thighs a breeze to prepare for dinner. And seeing that it’s also made on a sheet pan (yay to easy cleanup!), there’s a good chance that you’ll want it on repeat. The salty-sweet, umami-packed miso marinade is one of the stars here.
Need dinner inspiration? Bourbon-mustard pork chops are the answer

Jan 10, 2025 | today.com | Melissa Knific

Chef notesPork and bourbon were meant to be together. The sweetness found in whiskey is the perfect complement to pork, and when blended with whole grain mustard, chicken stock and a whole lot of butter, a luxurious sauce comes together to coat the chops. Bonus: This sophisticated dish is ready in less than 30 minutes!Not only is this a speedy meal, it’s also a one-pan situation. Bone-in pork chops are seared in a skillet, set aside and then the sauce is built.
Green goddess salmon burgers are the perfect healthy bite

Jan 10, 2025 | today.com | Melissa Knific

Chef notesEvery summer, I make version after version of green goddess dressing and it never fails to hit the spot. I love its versatility — many of the ingredients are interchangeable and the dressing itself pairs perfectly with a massive array of dishes. One dish I keep coming back to is the salmon burger. Green goddess is a great match for this lean patty, as the tangy yogurt balances the rich salmon, and the fresh herbs add flavor.
The ultimate fall dinner is pasta with pumpkin and spicy sausage

Sep 27, 2024 | today.com | Melissa Knific

Chef notesPumpkin spice has had its (long) moment in the spotlight, but now it’s time for spicy pumpkin to take the reins. Blending the sweet, earthy flavor of pumpkin, the kick of hot Italian sausage, the richness of cream, and the savoriness of Parmesan and sage, this pasta embraces all things fall. Of course, canned pumpkin is readily available year-round these days.
This chicken Parm soup is an easy cozy dinner

Sep 19, 2024 | today.com | Melissa Knific

Chef notesA mashup of creamy tomato soup and chicken Parmesan, this bowl has all the makings of a cozy season meal. It’s also super speedy, thanks to minimal prep work and a few convenient ingredients, which makes it ideal for busy weeknights. The base of the dish starts much like a homemade tomato soup — onion, garlic, crushed tomatoes and broth are simmered together to build the classic flavor.
Lasagna in under one hour? Make this easy one-skillet version

Sep 19, 2024 | today.com | Melissa Knific

Chef notesLasagna in less than an hour? In one skillet? It may sound too good to be true, but this recipe is here to prove it’s not. As the name implies, the noodles are broken and nestled into a 10-inch skillet. They simmer in a meaty tomato sauce and are topped with cheese, streamlining an otherwise labor-intensive dish. It’s important to use classic, uncooked lasagna noodles here, not fresh or no-boil.
Make a batch of glazed cinnamon-brown sugar scones for breakfast

Sep 16, 2024 | today.com | Melissa Knific

Chef notesI have quite a bit of nostalgia for the brown sugar-cinnamon flavor profile. It takes me back to grade school when I would tear open a crinkly, foil-wrapped package containing two breakfast pastries, toast them until they were just warm and pop them in my mouth before jumping on the bus (IYKYK). I remember how the thin layer of frosting cracked when you took a bite — similar to the satisfaction you’d get from breaking through the surface of creme brûlée.
Get ready for fall with cider-braised chicken thighs for dinner

Aug 5, 2024 | today.com | Melissa Knific

Chef notesWith fall comes apples — and lots of them — which inevitably leads to the question, “What do I do with all of these?” Enter: this hard cider-braised chicken, a dish that uses the fruit in two ways and might have you adding it to your weekly cozy season meal rotation. The first use of apples is in the braise itself. Hard apple cider is combined with chicken stock, fresh thyme and grainy mustard for a flavorful broth that tenderizes bone-in chicken thighs.
Bite into these summery chicken pesto smashed burgers

Aug 5, 2024 | today.com | Melissa Knific

Chef notesBurgers are inherently quick to prepare, but this technique manages to speed up the process even more. Ground chicken is divided into four portions, then rolled into large meatballs. They’re seasoned all over with salt and pepper, placed in a super hot pan and flattened with a spatula into thin patties. Known as “smashing,” this creates maximum surface area for the meat to brown so every bite has some crispiness — and of course gives the burger its signature name.
This lemon-pistachio crinkle cake is inspired by baklava

Jun 11, 2024 | today.com | Melissa Knific

Chef notesIf you’ve ever tried to make baklava, you’re aware of the labor-intensive process of buttering each thin layer of phyllo to create a beautifully flaky dessert. We’re not saying this dessert is a replacement, but it’s a way to fast-forward to a similar textural experience. Like baklava, this crinkle cake starts with a package of phyllo dough (available at most supermarkets in the frozen section).