Questions and Answers

To answer a couple of quick questions, the Sunshine sign in this picture is from here and the paint color in our family room is Benjamin Moore Natural Cream. I love this color. I used it in my studio in our last house and several rooms of the new house and I'm pleased with how it looks under all lighting conditions. 

Now on to the important issues at hand, recipes. I've never known you guys to be quite so demanding. All I can figure is you must have been hungry when you were reading that last post. I hope these pictures don't make it worse for you...

These biscuits are made using the Barefoot Contessa's recipe. I can't even count the number of times I've made them. They are a go to recipe. 

You'd like the recipe for the Gorgonzola Bacon Compound Butter, you say? Well, it must be your lucky day!
1 stick softened butter
2 heaping tablespoons softened gorgonzola or other blue cheese
3 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and broken into small bits
Put all ingredients into a bowl and mix with a fork until well blended. Chill for at least 1 hour and bring to room temp before serving.

And now we come to the meat loaf. This is a recipe I've never shared before. You see, I have it in my mind that one day I will write a book that will not strictly be a cookbook, but more of a lifestyle book with recipes in it. This is one of those recipes. So. If I share it with you now, will you promise to buy the book anyway? Also, don't tell anyone. We will just keep this top secret recipe between you and me.

Jen's Italian Meatloaf

1 1/2 pounds ground beef (I use a fairly lean beef)

1 pound mild Italian sausage

4 slices bread, edges removed and ground into bread crumbs in the food processor

3 cloves garlic, minced (I just throw it into the food processor with the bread)

1/4 cup dry bread crumbs

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for top of meatloaf)

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

2 tsp Italian seasoning

3 eggs, lightly beaten

3-4 slices pancetta or bacon

Water

Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl mix together all ingredients except water and pancetta and mix with a fork until well blended. Do not over mix. Add enough water to moisten mixture. Form into a loaf on a cookie sheet with sides. I shape mine about 2 inches high and rather wide. Cover top of loaf with pancetta or bacon and bake for 45 minutes or until cooked through. Add extra Parmesan cheese on top about 10 minutes before it's finished. I sometimes like to broil it for a few minutes at the end because I love to get that crispy crust on there.

I hope you guys enjoy the recipe. Let me know if you make it.

So that's it for the Q & A today. Let me know if you have any more burning questions like...what size shoes do I wear or what time do I get up in the morning. I'm an open book people!