All About Melissa

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Meet Melissa

Mom of four and winner of Food Network Star Season 5, Melissa d'Arabian is known for transforming everyday meals into budget-friendly dishes the whole family will enjoy on her show, Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian.

Photo By: David Lang ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Little Bites, Big Flavors

Instead of serving one big-batch main dish, Melissa makes several smaller appetizers to add variety to her meal. Here she rolls two-bite turkey meatballs that will be baked and dotted with a spicy raspberry topping.

Go Greek

Melissa mixes up a light but satisfying Greek-inspired salad, studded with crumbly feta cheese and finished with healthful salmon and a simple vinaigrette.

Empanadas Anytime

No longer a restaurant-only treat, empanadas are easy enough to make at home, especially when filled with sweet applesauce.

Sauce on the Side

Transform everyday dinners into flavor-packed meals by preparing a simple sauce or glaze to pair with them. Melissa blends a lime juice-laced tomatillo sauce to be served with her succulent roast chicken.

Double-Duty Ingredients

Melissa gets the most out of fine ingredients by putting them to work in multiple dishes. The sesame oil that she uses in her roast chicken is featured in the dressing for her Asian-style cabbage slaw.

Kitchen Helpers

Two of Melissa's daughters, Valentine and Charlotte, help their mom prepare a deliciously sweet breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes.

Photo By: David Lang ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Thumbs Up

After tasting a green smoothie made with almond milk, both girls give signs of approval of the creamy treat.

Photo By: David Lang ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Individual Servings

Baking eggs in pre-portioned ramekins allows each daughter to enjoy her own extra-special dish.

Photo By: David Lang ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

The d'Arabian Ladies

Melissa's youngest daughters, twins Margaux and Océane, join their mom and sisters in the kitchen for a girls-only afternoon.

Photo By: David Lang ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

At Home on Set

Complete with a rustic dining table, colorful dinnerware and homey accents like an adjacent living room, the Ten Dollar Dinners set is relaxed and comfortable.

A Spacious Setup

Multiple workstations and oversized kitchen islands give Melissa the freedom to move around during the various segments of her show.

Melissa's First Cookbook

Visit the Food Network Store to order your copy of Melissa's premiere cookbook.

About the Show

On her daytime cooking series, Melissa d'Arabian, Season 5 winner of Food Network Star and mom of four, shows viewers how to incorporate creative and tasty meals into their budgets by sharing her tried-and-true recipes. With countless tips to save time and money in the kitchen, she keeps her $10 promise in every episode: four people, 10 bucks, infinite possibilities. From approachable Parisian and Moroccan menus to sophisticated upgrades for everyday chicken and pork, Ten Dollar Dinners demonstrates home cooking at its finest.

About the Host

Melissa d'Arabian

Melissa proved that dreams can come true when she won Season 5 of Food Network Star. Her grand prize: the hit show Ten Dollar Dinners.

Most Popular Recipes

All Ten Dollar Dinners Recipes

Rich Roasted Tomato Soup

Black Bean Hummus

Zucchini Carpaccio

Orange Supreme Gratinee with Tangy Sabayon Sauce

Antipasti Platter

Orange and Basil Biscotti

Grilled Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze and Grilled Peaches

Sauteed Cabbage and Apples

Salt Roasted Potatoes

Tartine with Chocolate and Mint Butter

Rice with Green Pepper and Jalapeno

Fish Piccata

Mom's Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

Petite Nutella Pochettes

Braised Country-Style Pork Ribs

Chiles Rellenos

Apple Crumble with Cardamom-Vanilla Caramel Sauce

Watermelon with Ginger-Mint Simple Syrup

Weeknight Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Beef and Black Bean Sliders

Orange-Ginger Fried Wontons

Green Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

Perfect Black Beans

Sweet Vegetable Saute

Potato-Bacon Torte

Daube a la Provencale

Turkey Lettuce Wraps