Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Love at First Bite: Tomato Caprese Salad Recipe

Photo courtesy of Rob Stathem of foodsnaps.net

Tomato Caprese Salad


4 large ripe tomatoes, sliced ¼ inch thick

1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, washed and dried

Salt and pepper to taste

1 pound of fresh mozzarella, sliced ¼ inch thick

6 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3 Tablespoons of Balsamic


Directions: On a large platter, alternate and overlap tomato slices, mozzarella cheese slices, and basil leaves. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. May place in the fridge to chill for ½ hour and may eliminate vinegar and add more olive oil if desired.
You can find more recipes at: http://www.ginameyers.com

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Love At First Bite

Rob Stathem Photography
 
 
Love at First Bite Cookbook Author Gina Meyers
 
Anytime is the right time for berries. Raspberries can be topped onto yogurt or ice cream, or just eaten by themselves for an anytime sort of snack.
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Question from LA Weekly Magazine: Who has better culinary options, vampires or werewolves?



2. Who do you think has better culinary options, vampires or werewolves?

Well, since vampires don’t eat, werewolves would seem to have better culinary options. In Love at First Bite, I make sure there are plenty of Team Jacob culinary treats, such as Werewolf Chow, Wolf pack Waffles, and Jacob Black’s Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Sprinkled in Love at First Bite, are food quotes from the Twilight Saga books. Edward says, “I wasn’t hunting for food. I was actually trying my hand at, tracking. I’m not very good at it.” For that quote I have an Irritated Grizzly Bear Steak recipe. I also have for the Team Edward fans, I Dare You To Eat Pizza, Edward, Butterscotch Eyes (Bella says Edward’s eyes are the color butterscotch, it is a dessert with butterscotch pudding and little teddy grahams), as well as Vampire Blood Punch, and Edward’s Thirst Quencher.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Love at First Bite, Valentine's Day Recipes, by Author Gina Meyers


  • Love at First Bite Cookbook, by Gina Meyers



Thai Prawn Curry with Grapes and Fresh Basil

2 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 cup of chopped onions, red or white preferred.
1 Tablespoon of finely chopped fresh ginger
1 14 ounce can of unsweetened coconut milk
¾ cup of chicken broth
1 to 2 Tablespoon of green curry paste
1 ½ pounds of medium sized prawns, peeled and deveined
1 ½ cups of red California seedless grapes, halved
Juice of one lime
½ cup of chopped fresh basil.

Directions: Heat oil in a large skilled over medium heat. Add onions and ginger and cook until onions are softened, about four minutes Add coconut milk, chicken broth and bring to a simmer; cook uncovered until slightly thickened. Whisk in curry paste and add prawns and cook just until prawns are opaque in center, about three minutes. Remove from heat and stir in grapes and lime juice and basil. Serve with rice.




Spice-Rubbed Salmon with Cucumber Relish & Capers

The bold spice rub works well with rich-flavored salmon and would also be tasty on pork. Serve with an angel hair pasta, mashed potatoes or even a spinach salad.

1 Tablespoon of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of dried oregano
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 teaspoon of chili powder
1 teaspoon of paprika
½ teaspoon of salt, divided
¼ teaspoon of dried thyme
4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, skinned
Extra virgin olive oil or Olive Oil Cooking Spray
2 cups of chopped cucumber
½ cup of chopped red bell pepper
¼ cup of chopped onion (red preferred or white onion)
2 Tablespoons of chopped fresh mint
1 Tablespoon of capers
1 Tablespoon of cider vinegar.

Directions: Preheat the broiler. Combine first six ingredients, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and dried thyme; rub evenly over fish. Place fish on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Broil eight minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Combine ¼ teaspoon of salt, cucumber, and remaining ingredients; serve with fish. Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 fish fillet and about ½ cup of the cucumber relish)

Calories: 312, 39% from fat, 13.6 grams (saturated 3.2 g, mono 5.7 g, poly 3.3 g); protein 37.3g, fiber 2.3 g, Chol 87mg; iron 1.7mg; sodium 450mg; calc 53mg.

Easy Chocolate Raspberry Mocha Cheesecake

2 teaspoons of espresso powder
1 package of cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup of sugar
3 Tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 container of whipping cream
1 graham cracker pie or chocolate pie crust
1 pint of fresh raspberries, washed.


Directions: With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, espresso powder, sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract, mix until smooth. Fold in the whipping cream, mix well. Spoon mixture into prepared chocolate pie crust. Refrigerate for three hours. Dust with cocoa powder or powdered sugar. 

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Happy Halloween from Author Gina Meyers (recipes included)

Boo! Yes, it is scary that it is Halloween already. Nevertheless, Happy Halloween. Please enjoy the lyrics to The 12 Days of Halloween. I was introduced to this song earlier in the week at my son’s Cub Scout Meeting. Also,  enjoy these simple yet timely recipes to get you in the mood for your trick or treating- Butterbeer (found in my Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook), and Werewolf Chow (found in my Love At First Bite Cookbook).  If you ever run out of ideas, feel free to visit my YouTube Channel, recipes galore. Have a safe and sane Halloween!

Best witches, Gina


The 12 Days of Halloween Song Lyrics



 Butterbeer

2 scoops of vanilla bean ice cream
2 Tablespoons of butterscotch syrup (or Carmel/Butterscotch flavoring)
1 bottle of cold cream soda
Directions: In a large mug, scoop vanilla bean ice cream, add butterscotch syrup and top with a bottle of cold cream soda.






Werewolf Chow

9 cups of rice cereal, such as Chex brand
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup chocolate chips, semisweet, or a combination of 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter, not crunchy
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions: Place the cereal in a large ziplock-seal bag. Next, microwave the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter or margarine for about 1 minute. If the mixture hasn’t melted, stir and place in microwave for another 20 to 30 seconds. Once melted, stir in the vanilla extract. Pour the chocolate chip–peanut butter mixture over the cereal; then add the powdered sugar and shake. Spread the mixture on waxed paper to cool.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Twilight Inspired Cooking Class


What do vampires, and muggles  have in common? They  have unique themed cookbooks written by, Gina Meyers!

Gina’s Cookbooks have been featured internationally on the shows: Alan Carr: Chatty Man, The Office, and Bewitched Fanatical.


Fans of Twilight, and Harry Potter—all have something to sink their teeth into.

Now you get the opportunity to take cooking classes from Gina!


Love At First Bite, And Second, serves up something scrumptious even for the pickiest puritan “vegetarian” vampires. Bell’s Lasagna, Harry’s Famous Fish Fry, I Dare You To Eat Pizza Edward, Mushroom Ravioli, Blushing Bella Punch, just to name a few.

CE66-4100, Thursdays, 6:30-8:30pm, 10/3-10/24
Cost: $57.00, Alta Sierra, Room 604


Welcome to the wizarding world of Harry Potter and smuggle in tons of muggle magic with: Rock Cakes, Frog’s Eye Salad, Pumpkin Juice, Hagrid’s Hearty Potatoes, Shepherd’s Pie, and much, much more, if you dare! Get ready for Halloween.

CE66-4102, Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm, 10/2-10/23
Cost: $57.00, Alta Sierra, Room 604


For class supplies list, please visit, http://www.ginameyers.com

Friday, February 8, 2013

Love at first bite, Red Velvet Cake Recipe

This Valentine's Day, why not sink your teeth into sinfully delicious Red Velvet Cake recipe?   If you want to lighten up this recipe, substitute eggs for egg whites, low fat milk instead of buttermilk and if you want to add a little bit of applesauce instead of the yellow cake mix with the pudding in the mix, you can.

Love at First Bite Cookbook

Red Velvet Cake




4 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 ounce liquid red food coloring

3/4 cup water

1 yellow cake mix, with pudding in the mix

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon butter

4 tablespoons buttermilk

1 tablespoon white vinegar





Directions: Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, mix cocoa powder, red food coloring, and part of the water to form a paste. Next, add all of the other ingredients except the white vinegar. Blend for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes with a mixer on medium speed. Then add the vinegar and mix with a spatula. Pour the batter into a bunt or round cake pan, and bake for approximately 35 minutes. This recipe can be made into cupcakes as well.
Author Gina Meyers
Kellan Lutz of Twilight, trying a Love at First Bite recipe
Kellan Lutz, star of Twilight, trying Gina's Twilight Tribute Punch