Growing up in New Jersey, I know there are a few requirements to earning the true title “Jersey girl”
1. Solid fist pump
2. Dazzling hairstyles ( I haven’t met this requirement yet!)
3. Talent in the kitchen
Fortunately, for Real Housewives of New Jersey star, Teresa Giudice, she has all three. You may have watched Teresa Giudice in season 1 fiercely flip a restaurant table out of anger (…did I mention Jersey girls are strong too?) , but now the only thing this Italian sweetheart is flipping is a tender piece of Filet Mignon on the grill.
Teresa Giudice’s recently published cookbook, Fabulicious!: ON THE GRILL, is filled with simple Italian recipes to make in your own backyard. This cookbook has it all, you will find fabulous creations for appetizers, pizza, salads and soups, meat, chicken, seafood, pasta, side dishes, and desserts (antipasti, pizza, insalate e minestre, canne, pollo, pesce, pasta, contorni, dolci). Not to mention a little bit of Italian 101.
Giudice’s parents emigrated from Italy to America, and moved to New Jersey to live next to other Italians. There is no question that every recipe in this book uses the original fine Italian ingredients: garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, basil, bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese. She focuses on these main ingredients to complete each one of her fresh, high-quality dishes. If we were going to make these, we would go waaaay light on the oil or skip it completely.
Also, Giudice’s book includes helpful ‘how-to’ tips along the way ,such as making the perfect marinades, making homemade bread crumbs, correctly slicing a flank steak without losing its tenderness, handling seafood, using leftover ingredients, using a grill, and so on.
I decided to give Teresa’s “Mama’s Frutti Di Mare Seafood Salad” a try, and MAMA MIA (enter Italian hand gesture here) , I loved it!
So, if you’re looking to reconnect with your old Italian heritage it’s never too late. Make your Nonna proud, get out that old apron, fire up the cappuccino machine, and get to work! There’s only one rule to following this book, be sure to invite enough friends and family over to eat….Italians do not, I mean DO NOT, like to waste food!!
