Melissa Gray
Melissa Gray

Melissa Gray

Title: Recipe Developer, Food Stylist

Location: Birmingham, Alabama

Education: AOS degree, The Culinary Institute of America; Bachelor of Professional Studies, Culinary Arts Management, The Culinary Institute of America

Expertise: Southern cuisine, mixology, wine studies, bourbon, savory cooking

- Developed more than 1.500 recipes
- Styled more than 300 photoshoots

 Experience

Melissa Gray is a recipe developer and food stylist for Dotdash Meredith. She began working in food publishing in 2015 and joined the Dotdash Meredith test kitchens in 2019. She has developed over 1,500 original recipes and styled in over 300 photoshoots during that time. Her work has been published in Food & Wine, Southern Living, EatingWell and other publications and websites.

Melissa spent time in high school and after college working in restaurants, both in and out of the kitchen. She attended The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, where she studied culinary arts and culinary arts management.

She worked at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, and as a teaching assistant in dining room management at The Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, California.

When she isn't in the kitchen, Melissa spends time with her dog, exploring new restaurants and breweries, and honing her martial arts skills.

 About EatingWell

EatingWell has been publishing award-winning journalism about food, nutrition and sustainability since 1990. Learn more about us.
This healthy soup recipe has a rich, yet light and velvety texture. Serve with crusty bread and a glass of wine for a cozy meal.
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This comforting vegetable soup with cabbage can easily be made on a busy weeknight. Toasting the paprika adds depth of flavor quickly, while prechopped frozen vegetables cut down on prep time. Serve with crusty bread or crackers.
Seitan Chicken
Rating: Unrated
New!
This seitan chicken recipe is flavored with poultry seasoning and cooked in no-chicken broth, giving it a rich, savory flavor. If you can't find no-chicken broth, vegetable broth will work well too.
Seitan Steak
Rating: Unrated
1
These seitan steaks are a nice alternative to meat and can be made ahead. Once cooked, they can be sliced and grilled or seared and smothered in your favorite sauce. The cumin, liquid smoke and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce combine to give these steaks a savory flavor.
Lentil Meatballs
Rating: Unrated
4
These vegan lentil meatballs are tender and packed full of flavor. The tomato paste combined with nutritional yeast adds savory notes, while crushed red pepper lends a touch of heat. Oats help bind them together while adding a boost of fiber.
Pear Pie
Rating: Unrated
1
The buttery flaky crust complements tender-crisp pears in this easy pear pie. The pears keep their texture after baking, and the walnut streusel on top adds nutty flavor and texture.
Peach Scones
Rating: Unrated
New!
These tender peach scones have bursts of fresh peaches and a sugary crust. The subtle nutty flavor from whole-wheat flour complements the almond extract and nutmeg in this peach scone recipe.
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Peach Cobbler Cheesecake
Rating: Unrated
1
This peach cobbler cheesecake marries a classic cheesecake with the crisp cinnamon-flavored topping and fresh fruit flavor of a peach cobbler. Additional fresh ripe peaches and syrupy warmed preserves make the perfect garnish for this amazing dessert!
Plum Tart
Rating: Unrated
New!
Juicy, caramelized plums combine with fresh lemon zest and a nutty crust in this easy plum tart. Feel free to use walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts in the crust to complement the fruity plum flavor.
Peach Scones
Rating: Unrated
New!
These tender peach scones have bursts of fresh peaches and a sugary crust. The subtle nutty flavor from whole-wheat flour complements the almond extract and nutmeg in this peach scone recipe.
Peach Cobbler Cheesecake
Rating: Unrated
1
This peach cobbler cheesecake marries a classic cheesecake with the crisp cinnamon-flavored topping and fresh fruit flavor of a peach cobbler. Additional fresh ripe peaches and syrupy warmed preserves make the perfect garnish for this amazing dessert!
Plum Tart
Rating: Unrated
New!
Juicy, caramelized plums combine with fresh lemon zest and a nutty crust in this easy plum tart. Feel free to use walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts in the crust to complement the fruity plum flavor.
These speedy scallion-ginger salmon cakes are perfect for busy weeknights. Salmon is flavored with refreshing ginger and scallions, while water chestnuts add a crisp bite. The sesame-ginger sauce is creamy and cooling. You can cook salmon fillets for these easy salmon cakes or use canned salmon to keep it simple.
These speedy tuna cakes with olives, red peppers and fresh herbs take only 20 minutes from start to finish. They're tender and bursting with bright flavor. Mashed white beans add texture while also helping to bind the cakes together.
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Instant-Pot Artichokes
Rating: Unrated
New!
These Instant Pot artichokes are gently infused with thyme during cooking. Melted butter and a squeeze of fresh lemon is classic for dipping, but you don't have to stop there. Try dipping the tender leaves in homemade or store-bought pesto or one of the dipping sauces below.
These healthy Buffalo chicken stuffed peppers are bursting with flavor. The heat from the hot sauce, the tang from the yogurt and the perfectly crisp-tender bell pepper all come together perfectly in this easy low-carb dinner.
This broccoli-quinoa casserole makes a hearty vegetarian main dish. As the quinoa absorbs water and cooks, it creates the perfect amount of steam for cooking the broccoli. The broccoli is crisp-tender and adds texture to contrast with the creamy, cheesy quinoa. Swap in tricolor quinoa, if you prefer.
This roasted cauliflower soup recipe is the perfect balance of texture and flavor. Lemon juice adds brightness while crushed red pepper adds a touch of heat. Toasted nuts bring a bit of crunch to this creamy soup.
Lemon Snickerdoodles
Rating: Unrated
1
This spin on snickerdoodles packs a bright lemony punch. The sugar on the outside creates such a crisp, sweet crust to contrast the soft, pillowy inside.
Cauliflower Stir-Fry
Rating: Unrated
New!
This easy cauliflower stir-fry has a great balance of textures and flavors with bright and colorful tender-crisp veggies. Try substituting broccoli for the cauliflower or snap peas for the snow peas for another variation on this quick dinner.
Cauliflower Chips
Rating: Unrated
2
These crisp cauliflower chips are low in carbs and can be made in either the oven or your air fryer. Plus, they require just cauliflower, Parmesan cheese and seasonings to make! Swap out the Italian seasoning for ranch seasoning or your favorite spice blend for a different flavor profile.
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These baked cinnamon apple slices have just the right level of tenderness and bite and a gooey apple caramel that forms at the bottom of the pan. Enjoy this healthy dessert spooned over ice cream, with biscuits or served over yogurt—the options with these are endless!
Blackberry Crisp
Rating: Unrated
1
This warm, bright and sweet blackberry crisp is lightly flavored with lime and ginger. The fresh blackberries bubble into a thick and saucy filling, and the buttery crumble topping melts in your mouth.
Blackberry Muffins
Rating: Unrated
New!
These blackberry muffins are perfect for an on-the-go breakfast. The batter is lightly flavored with cloves, while almonds on top give them a savory, nutty crunch. Fresh blackberries add a burst of sweetness in every bite.