Heart #105 goes to...Skinny Italian by Teresa Giudice

Heart #105 goes to...Skinny Italian by Teresa Giudice!  Love, love, love this book.  And that is how Teresa Giudice signed my book this past Tuesday at her book signing at Limoncello Restaurant in Mamaroneck, NY.  She was fashionably late, not too much, but that gave me time to skim through most of the cookbook.  It's filled with color pictures and tons of stories told Teresa style.  She's funny.  And she also sets the record straight on how to pronounce her last name..."It's not Jew-Dice, as Andy Cohen of Bravo says, but more "JUDY-CHAY" said very fast with the emphasis on JU"  Thanks Teresa, because I was pronouncing it wrong and so was everyone I spoke to at the signing.  Now, I can't wait to try out the recipes!

Love, love, love!

Here's a picture of Teresa right before she signed my book, wearing a Jay Godfrey 'Mercer' Liquid Jersey Minidress, which can be found here for $250.

and yes, that's her husband Joe with his back to the picture, right behind her.

Heart #27 goes to...Williams Sonoma's Classic Meatloaf Starter

Heart #27 goes to...Williams Sonoma's Classic Meatloaf Starter! I barely just finished eating this and I had to blog about it. I was in the mall yesterday heading towards the parking lot when I smelled this delicious aroma just calling out to me. I followed the smell all the way to Williams Sonoma, quickly asked the girl who greeted me what they were making, and ran to the meatloaf samples. I can't even begin to tell you how good it was and it was only a little sample in a muffin cup. Well, I grabbed the Meatloaf Starter, paid my $12.95 and couldn't wait to make it at home. The mix contains California tomatoes, sweet onions, extra virgin olive oil, roasted garlic and traditional seasonings. This is so easy to make, it's the waiting that will drive you mad. I've never stared at an oven so much in my life. It couldn't bake fast enough. But it was well worth the wait. This is really good, really moist meatloaf. Now hubby and I are stuffed and very happy sitting on the couch watching tv.

Here's how easy it is to make...

Preheat oven to 375. Combine Classic Meatloaf Starter in a bowl with 3 eggs, and 1 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, let sit for 15 minutes. Add two pounds of ground beef, or you can combine beef, pork, lamb..whatever you want. Put it into your meatloaf pan, bake for 50 minutes. Brush 1/4 cup ketchup over the top, bake for another 10 minutes. Let sit for about 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!

You see where all of that waiting can make you go nuts.

Heart #12 goes to...Cracked Corn and Cheese Squares

Heart #12 goes to Cracked Corn and Cheese Squares!  Mmmm Yummy!  This recipe is so easy to make and so delicious.  I got this recipe from my sister in law a few years ago and it is really good.  Hubby and I made it recently to bring along to a Super Bowl party along with homemade chili and it was a big hit.  It's a Rachael Ray recipe and if you click the link it will take you to the Food Network site, but I will include the recipe here:

Ingredients

1 (8 1/2 ounce) package corn muffin mix, mixed to package directions

Softened butter, to grease baking dish

1/3 pound Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack, cut into 1/4 inch dice

1/2 cup frozen corn kernels

2 scallions, thinly sliced

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 

Grease and 8-inch square baking dish with butter. 

Stir cheese, corn and scallions into packaged mixed corn muffin batter. 

Pour batter into baking dish and bake at 400 degrees until golden, 15-18 minutes.

Enjoy!