Hi everyone!
I recently met a really cool cookbook author, Gio Bellino, who is a woman after my own heart! She creates frozen seasoning mixtures to add to food for quick and healthy additions to her dishes. She now teaches people how to make them so that they can still make a homemade meal but in a lot less time. She also won me over because she has some great cooking stories about famous rockstars since her daughter plays with famous musicians! Check her out below:
DROP THE “F” BOMB AND BE A ROCKSTAR IN THE KITCHEN
We all, occasionally, drop the “F Bomb” while trying to get a meal on the table but I suggest dropping it on a regular basis. Drop the “F Bomb” to add nutrition and flavor to your dishes and to speed up your cooking! Believe it or not, you can even drop the “F Bomb and drop some weight. I’m referring to the “mother of all bombs”, FLAVOR BOMBS. These are fabulous little cups containing sautéed, condensed and frozen cooking bases that totally eliminate the prep work for you. Developed from my gardening technique of making herb pesto and freezing it in ice cube trays for future use, I had my AHA moment and knew this would make an awesome product to help people cook.
Flavor Bombs are all natural, low sodium, low calorie and full of flavor. Each of the five flavors has a distinct savory aroma and taste. They aren’t overly spicy, they are all vegetarian and 3 are vegan. Made in small batches and slowly sautéed to develop the full flavor of the ingredients, the flavors include Italian Soffritto, Basil Pesto, Rosemary Pesto, Sage Pesto and Mirepoix. Make Flavor Bombs your “secret weapon” in your freezer.
I’ve used Flavor Bombs to cook for some of my daughter’s rock star band members such as Carmine Appice and Richie Sambora. (Carmine will not eat chicken).
Want to develop your inner “rock star” cooking skills? My new cookbook, “Cooking With Flavor Bombs” will explain flavor profiles, show you how to make Flavor Bombs, yes, even the ones I sell, and give you a primer on the international cuisines we’ve all come to love. The recipes are easy to follow and you really don’t have to follow them exactly, you can make them your own way.
Prep It ~ Freeze It ~ Drop It & Transform Dinner.
Repeat it and it becomes a rap!!
Turkey Meatloaf or Meatballs with Marinara Sauce
Italian Soffritto and Basil Pesto Flavor Bombs
MEATLOAF SERVES 3-4 OR MAKES 10 TO 12 MEATBALLS
1 1⁄4 pounds (570 g) ground turkey
2 cups (120 g) fresh bread crumbs,
plus more if needed
1 egg
1⁄4 cup (25 g) grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese
1⁄4 cup (60 g) tomato sauce (homemade *see recipe below, or jarred)
2 tablespoons (30 ml) fat-free half-and-half or milk
2 tablespoons (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 Italian Soffritto Flavor Bomb
1/2 Basil Pesto Flavor Bomb
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C, or gas mark 4).
1. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Do not overwork; keep the mixture fluffy. Add more bread crumbs if the mixture is too soft.
2. Shape the meatloaf mixture into a football in a baking dish. Push in the ends to square it off a bit, so it is uniform for cooking.
3. Bake the meatloaf, uncovered, for about 40 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C). Let it rest for 10 minutes, so the juices in the pan are absorbed. Slice and serve the meatloaf.
To make meatballs, after step 1, shape the mixture into 10 to 12 balls and fry in 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) extra-virgin olive oil. Turn the meatballs often to brown on all sides—use two spoons for an easy way to turn the meatballs.
MARINARA SAUCE
1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1⁄2 SOFFRITTO FLAVOR BOMB
1⁄2 BASIL FLAVOR BOMB
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
4 oz. can smooth, plain tomato sauce
1⁄4 teaspoon each of salt & pepper
Mix all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer for approximately 40 minutes. For a meat sauce, brown meat first in saucepan with some oil, then add tomatoes and FLAVOR BOMBS to simmer.
Gio produces a frozen cooking base and her cookbook was just released (Cooking With Flavor Bombs). The product is perfect for getting a healthy meal on the table quickly and easily, the Flavor Bomb cooking technique is an innovative way to expand your cooking skills. It’s fabulous for Holiday Cooking too..Find out more about Gio at www.sexfoodrockandroll.com
