Rocco Winners (Probably Not You)

I haven’t done many giveaways here because I was never sure of the best way to pick winners.

On my last contest, I had the participants make up their own rules and then follow them, but some of the entrants made such self-serving “rules” that they’d be the only ones that could possibly win. The nerve!

Then I had the idea of constructing life-sized cutouts to represent each person entering the giveaway, and then settling it the way they did in ancient times: with a game of dodge ball. It was a lot of work to pick winners… but an exceptional arm workout!

But then I downloaded a random number generator app and it helped me pick the two winners of my Rocco DiSpirito/Jacko DiSh*ttio Giveaway: Brandi (A Life Change: My Journey to Happiness) and Robby (Fat Girl Vs. World). They'll each be receiving an autographed copy of Rocco's newest cookbook. Congrats, ladies!

I’m also using the random number generating app to determine how much of my mortgage payment I’m going to make and what kids’ allowances should be. There’s nothing quite like randomnoisity!

Thanks to everyone for participating, and as Rocco DiSpirito would say “Thanks to everyone for participating!”

The Rocco DiSpirito/Jacko DiSh*ttio Giveaway

I really hope that this doesn’t sound gay, but I’m hot for Rocco DiSpirito.

No, I don’t mean that I’m attracted to his roguish good looks or that I want to go out dancing with him, though he is a rather attractive man and looks to be an excellent dancer from the commercials I saw when he was on that star-dancing TV show.

No, I’m exhibiting a man-crush on Rocco because he’s helping shatter the stereotype that the only thing men can cook are dead animals charred on the grill. As a celebrity chef and cookbook author, he’s broken new ground for guys who want to show that they know their way around a kitchen. I’d have done it myself, but I can’t find a publisher interested in my proposed cookbook Dishes Too Spicy for Your Family.

In his new book Now Eat This!, Chef Rocco has created a ton of low-calorie versions of favorite recipes, including Chocolate Mousse (originally 455 calories, now down to 145),  Jalapeno Poppers at only 144 calories (vs. the original at 447), Loaded Nachos (down from 880 calories to 341) and Buffalo & Blue Chicken Tenders (at a fourth of their original calorie count).

That’s why I went out of my way to track down Rocco and see if he and I could do a little something-something over here. After all, we’re both celebrities. He’s a celebrity because he’s been on TV and written best-selling cookbooks; I’m a celebrity because I have a warped sense of reality.

Actually, Rocco’s PR team got hold of me and were interested in me running a contest where I gave a couple of lucky readers signed copies of his newest cookbook, which showcases 150 options for eating favorite no-no foods the healthy way. As an added bonus, he even includes healthy tips and ingredient substitutions that will keep you on track towards your healthy living goals.

The only mandatories were that I had to make the contest last a week, had to discriminate against everyone not living in the United States of America and couldn’t reveal that Rocco DiSpirito’s real name is Howard Higgenbottom.



Winning your own signed copy of Now Eat This! signed by Chef Rocco DiSpirito himself couldn’t be easier; simply leave a comment on this post or tweet me (and include “Rocco”) at @JackSht. But you’ve got to do it before Tuesday, February 8th. I’ll pick 2 winners (U.S. Residents only, sorry) to receive the book and announce them a week from today.

If you don’t win the cookbook, rest easy because Rocco shares healthy tips and recipes from both his Twitter account and his Facebook page. It’s like having a celebrity chef cheering you on towards your healthier self!

So enter now and eat the healthy 

Rocco DiSpirito/Jacko DiSh*ttio way!