Chef Gio is a fabulous woman, chef and passionate about integrating the most important aspects of life into the kitchen - sex/passion, food (of course!) and rock and roll!  Her philosophy is that people should create intimacy and bonding through cooking, create fun, delicious dishes and rock out while doing so!  Sounds like she's onto something!

Giovannina Jennifer Bellino has often been called a modern day Renaissance woman. Her talents range from the arts of dance and interior design to the traditional skills of vegetable gardening and cooking. Gio teaches her Goddess Dance classes in various locations in Long Island, N.Y. With 30 years of dance and exercise experience, she developed her signature class, conceived for the "Female Form." Goddess Gourmet, Gio's catering business  was started 15 years ago after years of managing and  cooking for Teacher's Luncheons in the Port Washington schools and for events at her local Parish. Her cooking style exemplifies the finest continental cuisine with a "home style" flair. As a result of her entrepreneurial spirit, Gio has launched Sex~Food~RockandRoll as the perfect culmination of her past endeavors. She’s a Baby Boomer with the heart of a hippie and the soul of a groupie who hopes to offer some "food for thought” to the masses.

Chef Gio says, "We’ve perfected the art of having fun. We didn’t care what people thought “then” and we don’t always care “now.” We still tune in. We still turn on. We still rebel. “We” are “me”. The Me Generation is still in your face. We are beats, we are folks, we are greasers, we are hippies, we are bikers. We didn’t die before we got old."  She has her own line of tanks and t-shirts, videos to show you how to do what she does - check it out at www.sexfoodrockandroll.com!

Oh, and did I mention that she served meals to cast members of "The Godfather" and one of her family members taught Al Pacino Italian for his role in the film?  She is just a doll, full of great stories AND cooking advice!  Check out the podcast on my podcast page!

Here are some of her great products you'll find on her website:

The recipe we discussed was her recipe for SEXY Shrimp Appetizers and yes, they absolutely can be sexy!  Here is the recipe:

  SEXY SHRIMP APPETIZERS
 

• 1 lb. shrimp peeled & deveined (medium or large are fine)

• 1 shallot minced

• 5 tbsp. butter

• 1 tbsp. x/v olive oil

• 2 tbsp. sherry (if you don't have sherry, substitute 1 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp lemon or lime juice)

• 2 tbsp. seasoned flour (salt,pepper,garlic powder,Spike seasoning - If you can't find Spike Seasoning, use Old Bay)

• 1 cup light cream

• 2 tbsp. grated Romano or Parmesan cheese

• 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese

• 2 packages Mini Phyllo shells (in grocers freezer)

1. Coarsely hand chop half the shrimp and pulse half in food processor.

2. Saute the shallot in 3 tbsp. butter and oil for 2-3 minutes over low heat.

3. Add shrimp, raise heat to medium and saute a min., add sherry and simmer 2 minutes.

4. Remove shrimp and liquid and reserve.

5. Add remaining butter to pan, melt and add flour, whisking to make a roux. Cook 2 minutes

6. Add light cream, whisking and simmer to make a Mornay sauce. If too thick add a little more cream.

7. Add grated cheese, whisking.

8. Add shrimp and liquid, stirring to combine.

9. Let Cool Completely.

10. When cool, add shredded Gruyere cheese and stir to combine.

11. Fill Phyllo shells with a teaspoon. Don't overfill so they won't bubble over when baked.

12. Freeze appetizers.

13. Bake at 375 degrees for 5-8 minutes.

I was fortunate enough to be the recipe tester for this appetizer and was it ever fantastic!  It took me less than 20 minutes to make, was super easy and delivered a 10+ on taste!  They crumble in your mouth, the cheese oozes and makes a wonderful, gooey mess and the taste is just to die for!  Feed these appetizers to your significant other and yes, you have a SEXY shrimp appetizer!!

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