• Blogger Spotlight – Jersey Girl Cooks

  Filed under blogger spotlight
  Dec 15
  I have been reading today’s Blogger Spotlight – Jersey Girl Cooks – for some time now!  I’m so happy she is here to share with us and let us get to know her a little better!

  

  

  Lisa loves to eat and cook! A Jersey girl all her life, she likes to use the freshest local ingredients in her recipes when possible. Lisa is a mom and CEO of a household of four. She also does freelance writing and internet marketing. If there is any spare time, Lisa loves to feed her obsession with food by working on her recipe blog, Jersey Girl Cooks.

  What inspired you to first start writing your blog?

  I have always had a love of food and cooking. I learned to cook partially by my mom and grandmother but expanded to ethnic foods by being self taught. Reading cookbooks and magazines as well as watching food shows on TV has really expanded my cooking knowledge. I love cooking with fresh local ingredients. New Jersey has great summer produce, hence the name of my blog.

  
  
  What kinds of posts are your favorite to write? What do your readers seem to like the most?

  I love to write about my foodie adventures however I think my readers like my quick and easy family style recipes best. My kids love to get in on the action so I tend to include them in many posts.
  
  
  Do you plan a weekly menu? If so, what inspires your menu?

  I do not write out a plan however I do have an idea of what I will be cooking that week. Many times it is inspired by a recipe on someone else’s blog. I will admit that I have been known to be a fly by night cook! I decide at 4pm what our family will be eating at 5pm. Some times I like to challenge myself to see how quick I can get dinner on the table.

  What is your favorite kind of food to make?

  I love cooking Italian food especially pasta. I also like to take traditional recipes and lighten them up and make them healthier.

  What is your favorite recipe posted on your blog?
   

  

  I love making this because it is one of my husbands favorite meals. It also is a great dish for a party. As long as the guests are not vegetarians.

  Meaty Cheesy Lasagna

  Meat sauce:
  1 lb ground beef
  4 hot Italian sausage links, casings removed
  2 TBS chopped garlic
  2 (28 oz) cans crushed tomatoes
  1(28 oz) can tomato puree
  handful fresh basil, chopped
  handful fresh parsley, chopped
  3 TBS sugar
  salt and pepper to taste

  In a large Dutch oven, brown beef and sausage. Drain any extra grease. Add garlic, tomatoes, puree, basil, parsley and sugar. Simmer (covered) for 1 hour on low while stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.

  Lasagna:
  1 lb fresh lasagna noodles
  32 oz part skim ricotta cheese
  2 eggs, beaten
  handful fresh parsley, chopped
  1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

  Cook noodles for 1 minute in a large pot of boiling water. When noodles are cooked, make sure they are drained very well. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix ricotta, eggs, parsley and Parmesan cheese. To assemble, spread meat sauce (about 1 1/2 cups) on the bottom of a 13×9 lasagna pan. Arrange 4 noodles in the pan. Spread half the ricotta cheese mixture on top of the noodles. Cover with meat sauce then 1/3 of the shredded cheese. Add another layer of noodles, ricotta cheese, meat sauce and shredded cheese. Arrange the last 4 noodles, then top with sauce and remaining cheese. You will have extra meat sauce to serve with the lasagna. Cover with foil, making sure foil does not touch cheese. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil then bake for another 10 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

  Link to post : http://www.jerseygirlcooks.com/2008/06/fathers-day-lasagna.html

  Where do most of your recipes come from? (Family favorites, you make them up, magazines, cookbooks, etc.)

  I love to read magazines and other blogs however when it comes to following a recipe, I always seem to be a rebel. I always end up changing at least an ingredient or two. I guess I like to cook with whatever ingredients I have in my pantry.

  What would you eat as your last supper?

  Fresh pasta and shell fish. I love lobster, scallops and shrimp. It is my absolute favorite!
  
  
  What is your favorite part about blogging?

  I like the whole food blogging community and interacting with other food bloggers. Whether it’s meeting in person or connecting through email, it is always fun to talk to people you have so much in common with. Of course, I also just love food and talking about it!

  What kind of camera/lens/equipment do you use?

  I use an everyday digital camera. Photography is one area that I am interested in learning more about and improving.
  
  
  What kind of food did you eat growing up? Do you cook the same kinds of things today?

  My dad was from Croatia so we ate many Mediterranean foods that our friends considered strange. My mom cooked things such as tripe (cow’s stomach), different types of fish such as octopus, and we ate fruit such as quince and pomegranates. I basically will try anything. I like to cook lots of ethnic foods and fish however I stay away from organ meats.

  If you could travel anywhere in the world – just for the food – where would you go?

  Italy. After seeing the movie Eat, Pray, Love, I want the pasta, seafood, pizza and desserts that Julia Roberts ate!

  What are your favorite blogs to read?

  I have so many blogs that I love to read that there are too many to name. I keep up with about a100 blogs regularly and of course Taste and Tell is one of them.

  What is your best tip for saving money on groceries?

  I own a large deep freezer. Unless it’s a special occasion, I only buy meat when it is on sale. I stock up so that there is always something to pull out of the freezer for dinner.

  What is your best tip to becoming a successful blogger?

  If you do what you love, you will be successful. Make sure you get involved with the blogging community. Get advice from other bloggers and read as many other blogs as you can to see what success is out there.

  ———————————-

  Thank you so much Lisa! Want to see more from Lisa? Here is where you can find her:

  Website – Jersey Girl Cooks
  Facebook – Jersey Girl Cooks
  Twitter – @jerseygirlcooks

  Is there a blogger you’d like to learn more about? Contact me at tasteandtell @ gmail . com and I will see if they want to participate!

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  6 Comments

6 Responses to “Blogger Spotlight – Jersey Girl Cooks”

1. 

   Jennifurla said on December 15th, 2010 at 7:24 pm

   Nice to meet you! I am your newest follower!

   [Reply]

2. 

   Monet said on December 15th, 2010 at 9:46 pm

   Yipee! I love being introduced to new bloggers. I'm excited to explore her site. The lasagna recipe that she included looks like it could please any and all! I hope you have a wonderful end to your week. Thanks for brightening my day!

   [Reply]

3. 

   Rosa's Yummy Yums said on December 15th, 2010 at 10:45 pm

   Thanks for introducing us to other bloggers!

   Cheers,

   Rosa

   [Reply]

4. 

   Georgia (The Comfort of Cooking) said on December 15th, 2010 at 10:56 pm

   What a delicious lasagna! My Jersey-bred guy would definitely love to dig into that dish. Thanks so much for featuring Lisa and introducing me to another blogger, Deborah. This is a great feature, keep it up!

   [Reply]

5. 

   Joanne said on December 16th, 2010 at 12:12 am

   Awww I love how down-to-earth and sweet lisa is. Plus she loves lasagna. Two thumbs up in my book!

   [Reply]

6. 

   Jersey Girl Cooks said on December 22nd, 2010 at 10:52 pm

   Thanks for having me on your spotlight!

   [Reply]

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