Thursday, August 24, 2017

Coffee and Conversations with Cookbook Author Gina Meyers





Personal Motto: Treat people the way I want to be treated.

Hobbies: Baking, cooking, journaling, knitting, walking, traveling, spending time with my kids. I also like roller skating and making homemade handcrafted soap.

Favorite Appetizer: My mom's artichoke cheese squares. Recipe found in my How To Cook Like a Hot Italian Mama. Purchase Today!

What I had for dinner last night: Flank Salmon with mushrooms sauteed in a little extra virgin olive oil.

Family Traditions? Too many to even list. Every New Years, we make Dream/Vision Boards. In the month of October, we visit a pumpkin patch and go on a steam train. Every November, we make a Thank-Full/Gratitude Journal.



To find out about how you can order Gina's books, please go to: Barnes & Noble Booksellers Online or in the store.










Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Broccoli Rabe, make it like a Native Italian


As a cookbook author, I am fortunate to travel and to meet wonderful people from all around the globe. Back in July of 2017, I was invited to the Jersey Shore, Ocean City to be exact. We had a traditional Italian Sunday Dinner of Pasta and Meatballs at Cynthia's Place. I'm not giving the dinner justice, we had perfect Italian wine, wonderful bread, yummy salad, fresh fruit, some of my Anise Gluten-Free Biscottis, and even Lemoncello Almonds (I didn't even know those existed!).

Even though I am a Native Californian, and Broccoli Rabe grows here, I never learned to cook it properly. Finding it is difficult at best, but that's for another blog post. UNTIL Now.

Broccoli Rabe

Directions: Fill a 3rd of a pot with water, not half, a 3rd, add brocolli Rabe and cook till tender with a fork to check. Once cooled, cut and toss out any of the thicker parts of the brocolli stem/stalk. Next, in a sauce pan, saute in extra virgin olive oil the brocolli rabe, add pinenuts and garlic. (in a separate pan, saute the pinenuts with nothing, just sort of roast them paying attention not to burn). Add more as a final step to the dish.

For these and other Italian Inspired dishes, Gina Ferrari Recipes. Check out How To Cook Like A Hot Italian Mama, by, Gina Ferrari Buy Today!


Coconut Rice With Mango Dessert, Spring Rolls, & Asian Sauce, excerpts from The Multicultural Kids Cookbook, by, Gina Meyers



Stock photo of Coconut Rice With Mango

Coconut Rice With Mango  Dessert
Easy
Jasmine rice
1 can of coconut milk
1 ripe mango
1-2 teaspoons of sugar
2 dashes of salt

Directions: Cook rice in a rice maker. Omit water and instead add coconut milk, follow the directions on the back of the rice box for how much water to rice ratio. Once rice is cooked, use a ice cream scooper to place on a plate. Add coconut flakes, coconut or vanilla ice cream to the side. Thinly slice the ripe mango and top it on top of the rice or flair it out on the dish to give it a "tropical" presentation.


stock photos shared by K.P. Phagnasay

Spring or Summer Rolls
(Spring or Summer, anytime Rolls)

Rice Wrappers
Vermicelli rice noodles
Shrimp (already cooked and cleaned)
Mint sprigs
Shredded carrots
Chopped cucumber
Romaine Lettuce

Directions: Follow the package directions for how to expand the rice wrappers, usually with water and a paper towel. Once your rice wrapper is malleable, first add washed and dried lettuce leaf. Continue to add ingredients, your mint springs, shredded carrots, chopped cucumber, cooked shrimp, rice noodles. Follow directions to roll your Spring or Summer Roll.
Spicy Sauce

 Spicy Asian Sauce
In a small bowl, add a diced Asian chili, garlic, fish sauce, a little sugar, hot water, add peanuts (check for allergies) (crush them in the coffee grinder). Mix and squeeze a whole lime to top off the mixture.

*Whenever working in the kitchen with knives or spice foods such as peppers, always ask a parents permission.

Laos is a tropical region where many fresh fruits such as mangos and bananas grow.

Kop Chai (cop jai) means Thank-you (request from the heart)

To purchase The Multicultural Kids Cookbook, Order Today!
These recipes are Laotian, South Asian Inspired recipes shared by K.P. Phagnasay of KP Studios.