My Love for QVC, David Venable and Meatloaf

Hi, guys!  The holiday time almost always makes me the lucky recipient of a few things.  I can usually count on receiving teas, crafty items and cookbooks. These are some of my favorite things.  I am known to enjoy watching and shopping off QVC (home shopping via television).  The only in-store shopping I enjoy is grocery shopping and shopping for stamps and other crafty items (no surprise there, right?). One of my new cookbooks this year was written by David Venable of QVC.  I get a big kick out of watching him on Sunday as he is one host who likes to eat and is very enthusiastic. His happy dances just crack me up!  While flipping through the book I decided to make his meatloaf.  What made me happy about it was that it was tomato-free!  My hubby cannot have tomatoes and all my standard meatloaf recipes use them.

I really loved that he topped his meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes and made a brown onion gravy. My husband and I really enjoyed it, and have made it again since.

Here is the recipe from the QVC website:
http://www.qvc.com/MeatLoafWithMashedPotatoTopping.content.html

My suggestion is to make sure you use low sodium beef stock.  I like to use sodium free or very low sodium ones and adjust later.  I used cheddar cheese to top the one in this picture and I preferred it!

This cookbook is a basic, comfort food one.  It is not a gourmet style one, but fun and easy.  I have so many new cookbooks this year and will share more of them with you as I cook from them. 

Just to be clear, I have no affliation with QVC, or David Venable.

Off to get my fingers INKY so I can share some new creations with you!

Until next time!

The Pioneer Woman Rode Into Town!

Hi, guys! My husband and I were able to attend a great panel discussion at the 92nd Street Y in NYC a few weeks ago. It was hosted by BlogHer. I was really looking forward to it as one of my favorite bloggers was going to be there and speak. Her name is Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman). She is a blogger, author, mom, photographer, cook and, as she likes to say, "an accidental country girl." The evening was filled with great women bloggers who each took turns talking about their blogs and fielding questions from the audience. I was really excited as my blog wasn't up yet, and I had a lot of questions in my head that were answered. The highlight for me was after the session, when my husband and I got to meet Ree and have her sign my books. I have all three of her books - one cookbook, her love story and her children's book about her basset hound Charlie. My husband was able to tell her his favorite recipes from her book and she was gracious to take a picture with me.

Thank you, BlogHer, for making that wonderful evening a reality. I am looking forward to attending their blogging convention in NYC in August.

Have a great day!  Hope you find a few moments in your day to do what you love!