BINGLE BELLS SPECIAL! BRUNCH WITH BINGO: MOLTO BATALI - A DELICIOUS GIVEAWAY

 It's BINGLE BELLS Time Again!

BINGLE BELLS BOOKS are books I recommend for reading during the holiday season and/or giving as gifts. If a book is on this list, you can expect the warmth of the season in the story, or a book that anyone would love to receive as a gift.

THIS YEAR'S FIRST

BINGLE BELLS  COOKBOOK IS:

 

GIVEAWAY ENDED
MOLTO BATALI

Simple Family Meals from My Home to Yours

BY MARIO BATALI

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Molto Batali features 120 of the favorite recipes of Mario Batali, bestselling, James Beard Award-winning author of Molto Italiano and Molto Gusto. One of America’s favorite chefs and a popular fixture on cable television’s Food Network, Mario offers up simple and simply delicious seasonal recipes in month-by-month menus, perfect for celebrating with family and friends.

The bestselling author of Molto Italiano and Molto Gusto shares 120 of his favorite seasonal recipes in month-by-month menus perfect for celebrating with family and friends

For Mario Batali, privilege is also a responsibility. Dedicated to giving back, the renowned chef believes that sharing is crucial to leading a fulfilling life—especially at the table. That spirit of togetherness is at the heart of Molto Batali, a collection of festive and delicious recipes meant for sharing with friends and family throughout the year.

From lush summer salads to hearty winter braises, the seasonal dishes in Molto Batali—all easy to prepare and made with simple ingredients—enliven any dinner table, from a weeknight meal to a holiday celebration. Better yet, the recipes are organized into perfectly paired combinations for stellar meals. Each month features a sumptuous main course such as Leg of Lamb in a Clementine Crust; three toothsome pastas such as Wine-Stained Gemelli with Sausage “Meatballs” and Eggplant; four delectable veggie sides such as Sautéed Rutabagas with Chile, Mint, and Maple; a rustic, flavorful soup such as Green Garlic Soup; and an indulgent dessert such as Nectarine and Black Pepper Cheesecake.

The tantalizing recipes in Molto Batali reflect Mario’s passion for food and family, his belief in the importance of eating together, and the joy that comes when we share lovingly made meals. This same spirit of community and family informs the charitable work of the Mario Batali Foundation, the mission of which is to feed, protect, educate, and empower children—encouraging them to dream big while providing them with the necessary tools to become an active force for change in today’s world.

MY PERSONAL NOTE ON MARIO BATALI:

Mario Batali is a member of the ensemble cast of the ABC hit daytime show, THE CHEW. I tivo or watch it daily and that says a lot as I don't do that except for one other show. I think the cast works so well together and Mario is adorable and so easy to follow as he cooks. The recipes are online the day before the show so you can follow along if you want to. Check your local listings and check it out!

From the ABC website for the show:

"The Chew celebrates and explores life through food, with a group of dynamic, engaging, fun, relatable co-hosts who serve up everything to do with food -- from cooking and home entertaining to food trends, restaurants, holidays and more -- all aimed at making life better, fuller and more fun.  It is broadcast live, weekdays, from New York City.

The Chew stars Mario Batali, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly and Daphne Oz."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Raised in Seattle, Mario Batali followed an initial career path that had him studying Spanish theater at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Soon after graduating, he began his culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu in London, from which he withdrew almost immediately due to a “lack of interest.” An apprenticeship with London’s legendary chef Marco Pierre White and training in an Italian village gave him the essential skills and knowledge to return to the United States to begin his restaurant empire.

With his partner Joe Bastianich, Batali operates eight New York City hot spots, the flagship of which is Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, where he has seamlessly combined traditional principles with intelligent culinary adventure since 1998. The James Beard Foundation honored Babbo with the Best New Restaurant award and The New York Times gave it three stars, as well as later to Del Posto, another formal dining establishment. Batali and Bastianich also own the Roman-style trattoria Lupa, the southern Italian seafood trattoria Esca, Otto Enoteca Pizzeria, the Spanish tapas bar Bar Jamon, the Spanish taverna Casa Mono, and the wine shop Italian Wine Merchants. And Batali is a new partner of the Spotted Pig. In Las Vegas, Batali and Bastianich opened B&B Ristorante and the more casual Enoteca San Marco at the Venetian Hotel, and a steakhouse also opened there in early 2008. They have also joined forces with Nancy Silverton for the recently opened Pizzeria Mozza and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles.

Batali has hosted his own TV programs, Molto Mario, Mario Eats Italy, and Ciao America with Mario Batali, and he has appeared on Iron Chef America on the Food Network. He has also appeared on Mark Bittman’s PBS show, The Best Recipes in the World, and the Sundance Channel’s Iconoclasts, with Michael Stipe. He has five cookbooks: Simple Italian Food, Mario Batali Holiday Food, The Babbo Cookbook, and most recently, Molto Italiano, winner of the James Beard Award for International Cookbook, as well as Mario Tailgates NASCAR Style. In 2006 Bill Buford published Heat, the book that takes you behind the scenes in Batali’s kitchen. Among his many culinary accolades, Batali was named Man of the Year in the Chef category by GQ magazine, and from the James Beard Foundation, both Best Chef: New York City and Outstanding Chef of the Year. Since 2003, Batali has been a vital part of the Food Bank, serving on its board and participating in numerous hunger awareness campaigns. 

Batali lives in New York City with his wife Susi Cahn of Coach Dairy Goat Farm and their two sons.

A SAMPLE RECIPE FROM MOLTO BATALI:

GRAPEFRUIT & HONEY CAKE

 

SERVES 8 TO 10

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons plus ¼ cup finely ground fresh breadcrumbs
• 2 medium grapefruits
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup honey
• 1-½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder

Directions: 
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Oil a 9-inch round cake pan with tall sides, and dust it with the 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs.

2. Using a grater, zest both grapefruits. Juice one of the grapefruits to yield ¾ cup juice. In a small bowl, combine the zest, juice, and olive oil. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and salt with an electric mixture until frothy and light. Slowly beat in the sugar and honey, and continue to mix until pale and thick, about two minutes more.

4. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, the remaining ¼ cup breadcrumbs, and the baking powder together. Then gradually beat the dry ingredients into the egg mixture. Fold in the citrus zest mixture just until incorporated.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Then remove it from the pan and let it cool to room temperature.

 

 GIVEAWAY

I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE ONE COPY
OF THE NEWEST MARIO BATALI 
COOKBOOK TO GIVE AWAY TO 
ONE LUCKY READER!

 
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO 
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU READ ABOUT MOLTO BATALI THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK

+1 OR MORE ENTRIES: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING AT MARIO BATALI'S FASCINATING WEBSITE HERE 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY TO RECEIVE EXTRA ENTRIES

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT

6 PM, EST, DECEMBER 31

GOOD LUCK!