Stuffed Gourmet Meat Loaf from Laurie Bakke's Kitchen

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Follow this link for Laurie's Stuffed Gourmet Meat Loaf!

Meatloaf, Football and Sunday Afternoons!

I took the opportunity last week to visit Poppies in Brevard, NC.  I had been there before, but I wanted to get reacquainted since I will be teaching a cooking class there on February 17th.  I was very interested in looking at their meat choices for more natural selections.  I was planning on making the Stuffed Gourmet Meatloaf from the cookbook and decided to purchase the meat and produce from Poppies.  

Follow Instructions Carefully...And When All Else Fails, Have Fun!

Oh Saturday started off to be a busy day.  I was getting ready for my first book signing.  Did I have everything I needed?  Clean white blouse to wear (sort of a signature item for me), plenty of Laurie Bakke's Cookbooks to sign, ingredients for Pimento Cheese with Honey Wheat Pita Chips and The Outrageous Brownies etc. etc.  Check on everything!

I started the day early...which turned out to be a good thing.  Erica Allison arrived to pick up a book to ship out to a new retailer (details on that one to come soon!) and while she was there, shot some pictures of the process.  I begin making the batch of brownies and put them into the oven and quickly went on to the Pimento Cheese.  So far, not a problem.  Checking on the brownies, I noticed they were not cooking right.  I keep watching and then realized I had made a mistake (they happen to everyone).  I had not let the chocolate mixture cool properly before adding the dry ingredients.  This is very important with hot chocolate.  Always read your instructions very carefully!!!

Indian Curried Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with White Beans and Italian Sausage

1 – Lb. Hot Turkey Italian Sausage - casings removed

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil – extra virgin

1 Large Onion – small dice

4 Celery Stalks – small dice

2 Carrots – small dice

2 Tbsp. Roasted Cumin – ground*

2 Tbsp. Chili Powder

2 tsp. Hot Curry Powder

2 tsp. Roasted Ginger – ground*

2 tsp. Coriander - ground

1 tsp. Garlic Powder

½ C. White Wine - dry

3 – 32 oz. Box Chicken Broth

2 Cans Coconut Milk

2 – 3 lbs. Butternut Squash – peeled, roasted and cut into 1-inch cubes – recipe to follow

Winter Veggies, Experimentation in the Kitchen & A Snow Storm!

It's funny how a recipe can come about.  I went to the grocery store last Friday with everyone else in the world preparing for the snow.  Since it was just after the holidays and we were just returning from a ski vacation, my supplies were low.  I set off to Harris Teeter to load up on food with the idea of making a hearty soup.

As I made my way down the produce section, I see butternut squash and they are on sale.  It intrigues me.  I have just read how important in winter it is to eat fruits and vegetables that are full of color.  I think golden orange falls into that category. I pick two up.

Off to finish my shopping, I am getting the idea in my head, Butternut Squash, White Bean and Italian Sausage Chili with cilantro.  The quest moves on and I pick up everything I need, including two cans of Coconut Milk.  There is something very interesting about these two together.  

Etsy now has my Cookbook!

I'm pleased to announce that I'm now selling Laurie Bakke's Cookbook on Etsy!
If you're not familiar with Etsy it's a treasure for folks seeking to purchase hand made or hand crafted items from the people who make them.

Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers.

Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice:

Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade.

This cookbook, with it's hand crafted, hand assembled covers is a natural for Etsy and it's buyers.  We hope you'll check out the shop page and tell your friends!

Book Signing at Foxfire!

Those ladies at Foxfire Gallery & Kitchen Shops really know how to make a girl feel welcome! They loved the book and were very kind when asked to pose for a picture--almost ALL of the staff there that day grabbed a book and said "Cookbook".

UPDATE!!!  Due to that crazy snow storm we had in January, my original book signing event had to be rescheduled.  So, I'm heading down tomorrow! February 19!


Tell your friends and family that live in the area to come over.  I'll bring some 'nibbles' from the book, sign cookbooks (even if you've already purchased one - bring it back), and just enjoy the fine Southern Hospitality of  Foxfire!

Flying off the shelves...

Valerie at Fountainhead called today to say she only had a handful left; within an hour, a follow up email was sent saying she was completely sold out! Awesome! We'll be sending more over tomorrow to keep her up to date.  Thank you Hendersonville!

Laurie Bakke's Cookbook heads South!

I'm pleased to announce that Foxfire Gallery and Kitchen Shop, located on Augusta Road in Greenville, SC will now be carrying Laurie Bakke's Cookbook.  (Just as soon as Erica drives it down there- today!)  It's a gorgeous store that's a natural fit for the book. If you have friends and family in the Greenville area, please be sure to tell them where they can get their copy...have them call to reserve a copy today!

Also happening in Greenville: I'll be on Your Carolina with Jack and Kimberly next week promoting the book.  I'm going to be on Channel 7 (WSPA) next week, Wednesday, January 11 at 10am.  Definitely tune in, DVR, TiVo and tell your friends!  What fun!

And the #10 Bestseller for 2010 is....Laurie Bakke's Cookbook!

Valerie at Fountainhead Bookstore in Hendersonville just announced her Top 10 for 2010 Bestsellers...in addition to 7 of the top 10 being from local authors, I'm thrilled to say that not only did Behind the Scenes from Cafe Laurie make the Top 10 of 2010, but our just released Laurie Bakke's Cookbook made the cut as well!  

Valerie holding a Top 10 Bestseller!