Cappuccino Corretto con Liquore alla Nutella
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Author: Sista Felicia
St. Joseph Coffee Time at Sista Felicia’s Day 4
Last night the dinning room table was once again filled with delectable confections! Lets just agree that this week is not a good week for dieting! On Wednesday evenings Novena Coffee mimicked coffee times around my Aunt Vinci Militello’s dining room table like they did years ago, with hilarious old stories, joke telling, and sharing of Italian Recipes! Outburst of laughter filled the air! late into the night. Wednesday evening a recipe that was shared on Facebook earlier that day made with “Nutella” was the topic of our coffee time conversation. Last night “Cumnares” Bridget Mathews and Nicloe Curcuru surprised us with two delicious treats that wowed our taste buds! Bridget Mathews whipped up a batch of the made homemade “Liquore alla Nutella,” a Heavenly Nutella Liquor we had talked about Wednesday evening. We made a toasted to friendship, before sampling our shots. It was outstanding on its own but even more delicious when added to our freshly brewed Cappuccinos. Bridget’s Chocolate Hazelnut cordial served straight up and mixed with cappuccino, paired beautifully with Nicole’s’ homemade Spumoni Bomba! Today I created a Sista Felicia version of “Liquore alla Nutella.”
My Step-by-Step Recipe will be shared this evening…Check back for details!
Latter this week I will share the Spumoni Bomba Recipe!
Click Read More for Photo Gallery of last night “Novena Coffee”
Continue reading “St. Joseph Coffee Time at Sista Felicia’s Day 4”
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Flowers of the St. Joseph Altar
Hundreds of fishing vessels once lined the seaport of Gloucester years ago during the fishing industries prime. Gloucester’s Fishing fleet was comprised of dozens of family owned day boats and several offshore “larger boats,” that fished the oceans for several consecutive days, and or weeks. It was customary for fishing related businesses and vessels to supported the deep rooted Sicilian Feasts throughout our city each year. The booming industry funneled money directly back into our community in many ways. A a child raised in a Sicilian family with direct ties to both the fishing industry, and the feasts of St. Joseph and St. Peter I experienced the strong connections and presences each had with one another. Years ago there were over 38 St. Joseph altars throughout the city of Gloucester. Each altar was draped and surrounded by gifts of fresh floral arrangements, sent by the families who owned fish processing plants, and fishing vessels from the Gloucester fishing fleet. Often the arrangements were accompanied by gifts of fresh fish for the celebratory feast day and gifts of money to help the hosting families with the enormous cost assumed with the nine day novena. A few days ago as I was placing beautiful floral bouquets that had been sent from family and friends in front of our altar I found myself reflecting back to my childhood days in front of the altar of my Aunt Vinci and uncle mike Militello, on School Street. Their altar was always beautifully lit with candles and lined with a sea of flowers. I’m sure everyone who experienced the beauty of the gorgeous ornate altars years ago, remember looking for their families bouquet among the sea of floral arrangements in front of the altars of St. Joseph, St. Anthony, and St. Peter and the strong floral fragrance that filling the air around the altar’s.
With deep gratitude I thank my Aunts Eleanor Curcuru, and Gina Ciaramitaro and their families, for the gorgeous matching floral bouquets framing this years altar and to friends Frank and Barbara Ciolino for the stunning arrangement of Red Roses. The flowers smell heavenly and adorn the altar beautifully. I’m truly blessed to have the love and support of so many people. Thank you all for everything you do to help me continue our families St. Joseph Tradition.
Viva San Giuseppe!
This year we decide to display our families’ Oar carried in the St. Peter’s Fiesta Parade in remembrance of my Paternal Grandfather’s Fishing Vessel
“The Benjamin C”
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The Faces Pastries & Nightly Rituals of the St. Joseph Novena
Just prior to beginning our rosary prayer service, my “Cumnares” are buzzing around the altar, kitchen and dining room lending a helping hand with the many behind the scene rituals that are necessary to keep each evenings novena running smoothly and enjoyable for all who attend. It takes many helping hands to pull off this type of tradition for nine consecutive evenings. Many hosting families have a crew of devoted helpers, who show up a little earlier each night and stay a little late to help with set up and clean up! The tasks of fixing the altar candles, adding new names to our growing prayer list, organizing and handing out prayer books, and preparing the dining room table for “Novena Coffee Time,” including the arrangement of freshly baked desserts, preparing pots of Cappuccino, and the after coffee cleanup are all performed with love!
It’s with my deepest gratitude that I personally thank ! Bridgette Mathews Abbey Mathews, Andrea Randazza Carlson,Caryn Linquata Ryder, Nicole Imbrunone Curcuru, Mo Klop and Julie Sanfilippo, Eleanor Tucker, my mother Pat, daughter Amanda and all who pitch in to help me keep this tradition alive night after night!
XO
Sista
The Novena Coffee desert assortment changes each evening, and never disappoints!
Click read more for~Last nights Novena Day 3 photo gallery
Continue reading “The Faces Pastries & Nightly Rituals of the St. Joseph Novena “
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The Saints Come Marching In!
In the past hour, as I prepare for this evenings Novena, Saints continue to find their way to our St. Joseph Altar today in pairs. My girlfriend Kerrie Callahan Donahue just stopped by to gift two St. Patrick statues to our alter, as gifts from her Irish family. As Kerrie was placing the beautiful green and blue statues on the altar the door bell rang. To my surprise stood Sebastian Lovasco with a matching St. Joseph Statue to the one I purchased this morning at Second Glance thrift Shop. After reading my morning GMG post Sebastian went looking for the matching St Joseph statue he knew he had in his families collection, to gift to our family knowing it would keep with the old altar tradition of displaying everything in pairs! I’m truly speechless. If you look closely at the altar you will notice many of My Aunt Vincie and Uncle Mike’s antique paired statues and figurine that once adorned their altar for over 35 years. Our 2015 altar continues to come together magically in pairs, just as it did generations ago!
Thank you Sebastian and Kerrie for the gorgeous additions to the Ciaramitaro Family 2015 St. Joseph Altar!
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Live From “Second Glance” The Thrift Store Of The Open Door
Yesterday Charlene M Delany a Facebook friend posted the photo and caption above. After liking her post, I couldn’t stop thinking about the photo of the religious statues. This morning after meeting friends for coffee, I decided to stop by The Open Doors Thrift Store, Second Glance to see if the St. Joseph and St. Anthony statues were still on display, and find out if they were indeed for sale. After a quick scan of the glass and collectable area of the store, I was directed to their back room, where I immediately spotted them on a display shelf, exactly as shown in the photo on Facebook yesterday morning. As I approached the shelf I was thrilled to see they both were labeled with very reasonably priced sale tags! As I carefully lifted the heavy statues from the display, my heart was fluttering with joy, as I carried them to the cash register to purchase them!
After a quick wash and polish, they were added to our family altar!
They make beautiful additions to our collection!
Second Glance is located on Pond Road, Gloucester Ma.
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St. Joseph Novena Coffee Time at Sista Felicia’s
Raspberry Shortbread cookies made by Susan Lovasco
Last night an assortment of freshly baked deserts were enjoyed during the customary “Novena Coffee” time following the rosary!
Tonight I’m planning to surprise the ladies with a few of my all time favorite sweet confections, Pinulata and Fried Ricotta Cassateddi.
Click link below for my Step-by-Step Pinulata Video recipe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqQXrN7_h80
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Live From The Ciaramitaro Family’s St. Joseph Altar
Sebastian McDonald Just stopped by to gift antique statues that once adorned the St. Joseph Altar of his deceased grandmother, Ida Lovasco. Sabastian shared his beautiful St. Joseph childhood memories with me while he unwrapped the precious figurines. We broke into song together as we looked through the delicate pages of an original copy of the pray/song booklet used annually for over fifty years at the Lovasco Family altar on Addison Street here in Gloucester. I’m honored to have pieces of another families St. Joseph Altar displayed on this year altar. I personally would like to thank Sabastian and the Lovasco family for their special gift! Our family with cherish them forever!
XO
Sista Felicia
Today I’m overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support by family and friends. Three years ago this altar was constructed after a vivid dream. I woke my husband St. Barry from a sound sleep, to share my dream after having it six nights in a row. On that sixth night he handed me a piece of paper and pen and asked me to draw what I had dreamed. He glanced at my sketched drawing and said ” My Love, you only have 3 saint statues, that altar looks large, what are you going to fill it with?” I replayed, “I’m not worried about filling it, I have faith that the saints will find their way to this altar. Within the next 24 hours literally dozens of saints arrived at my doorstep, and fo the past 3 years they continue to find their way. Feeling truly blessed and honored. The vibe felt each night praying in front of this altar is amazingly powerful.
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Sista Felicia’s St. Joseph Novena Kickoff Night!
Last night before the we began the first rosary of the season, Dolores Sheehan and her son John placed the Linquqta Family Candelabras onto the top tier of our altar with their Linquata cousins and relatives in attendance. Just piror to our prayer service, Dolores invited her cousin Nicole Imbrunone Curcuru up to the altar to have the honor of lighting the candles. The glowing candelabras lit the altar beautifully as my dear friends Roasile Olrando Foti lead us in prayer.
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Following the prayer service cappuccino and assorted Italian pastries were enjoyed during “Novena Coffee Time” around the dinning room table!
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International Women’s Day…”Feste Delle Donne”
Last night The Figli di Trappeto women hosted their annual International Women’s day celebration with a country western theme. Due to a conflict in schedule I was unable to attend this year but my girlfriends and family captured the event Beautifully! Enjoy!
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Taking Down Gloucester’s Lobster Trap Christmas Tree
Live from Main Street!
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The Linquata Family’s Altar Candelabras
Dolores Sheehan & son John Sheehan
Tonight Dolores Sheehan granddaughter of the late Francis Linquata will have the honor of placing her grandmother antique candelabras onto the top tier of our families altar this evening, during our official kickoff to 2015 Feast Of St. Joseph, and 10 rosary. The heirloom pieces were once displayed on the Linquata family’s St. Anthony Altar for over 70 years. Last year Dolores was brought to tears with happy memories of attending her grandmother prayers services in front of their families’ shrine after attending one of my rosaries. After the tears were wiped and stories of novenas past were told around the dining room table during coffee time preceding that night’s rosary, Dolores pulled me aside to tell me that she had been storing her grandmother antique candelabras for several years waiting to find a special place for them to be once again displayed. Dolores then stated that, the special place she was looking for was our families’ altar. After a long teary-eyed embrace, I accepted Dolores precious gift and we began planning their début for this year’s St. Joseph Altar. A few weeks ago Dolores invited my brother Joey and I over to her home and graciously gifted them to be displayed on the top tier of my family’s St. Joseph altar this year. In keeping with my Aunt Vincie & uncle Mike Militello’s tradition of adding one extra night to the traditional 9 day novena/rosary,( just in case you need to miss a night you still can fulfill your 10 day commitment/devotion,) we will be kicking off the 2015 Feast Of St, Joseph by once again extending an invitation to all other families who host a St. Joseph Altar, to join us tonight for the first rosary of the season. The rosary tonight will be led by my dear friend Rosalie Orlando Foti. Tonight’s services will begin at 7:00 pm in front of our family’s altar. ALL Host Families are welcome to attend. The gathering of families at one altar the past two years has been a wonderful experience for all who attended. Our Family is looking forward to seeing many altar hosting families in attendance tonight.
Dolores Sheehan Writes~ Linquata family in the 40’s celebrating St, Josephs at 55r Main St (now the Dogbar Parking Lot).
Sista Felicia Writes~ I personally would like to thank Dolores and the Linquata family, for entrusting me and my family with your precious family heirlooms. I’m deeply touched by your kindness and our family is honored to have a pieces of The Linquata Family history on the altar this year. Through years of friendships, and business the Linquata and Ciaramitaro families have shared a connection that has tightly been intertwined for generations. It’s only fitting that the linquata family be represented on the highest tier of our altar!
XO
Sista Felicia
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Live From Cape Ann Giclee
James Eves owner of Cape Ann Giclee creating another amazing design using the ” Sista Felicia Logo” for a special treat that will be served to Sista’s guests at this years Private St. Joseph Feast !
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Sista Felicia’s 2015 St. Joseph Altar Assembly With Friends & Family!
Feeling blessed to have the best girlfriends and family!
Yesterday aunt Gina Ciaramitaro, cousin Mary Marcantonio, BFF Dee Noble, and friends, Andrea Randazza Carlson, Kerrie Callahan Donahue, Christie Guarrasi DaSilva, Andrea Butler Bridget Mathews, all stopped by to help set up the altar, and dinning room tables for this years St. Jpseph Rosary. Ladies thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you did yesterday! I can’t believe the altar is ready and the tables are set! I love our tradition of spending the day together, preparing for the nine day rosary, and especially love, our traditional Virgilio’s St. Joseph Sandwiches lunch around the dinning room table and afternoon Cappuccino break reminasing about past years. We make an incredible team! I’m looking forward to building more memories together this year!
Thank you all
XO
Sista
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Chifeletti Cookies
Baking Chifeletti Cookies for the gang coming over today to help decorated the St. Joseph Altar! Perfect cookie for St. Joseph coffee time…
Chifeletti Cookies
Ingredients
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
5 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup finely ground Almond Meal/Flour
1/2 cup whole milk
1 cup thinly sliced almonds
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
Step-by-Step
1 in bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment; cream butter and granulated sugar together 2 minutes
2 add vanilla bean paste, almond extract, and kosher salt; mix well
3 add flour, almond flour; and milk; mix well
4 using 1 inch cookie scoop fix scant dough balls; roll each dough ball into 3 1/2 inch long rope shape; curve slightly and dip into sliced almond pieces
5 arrange cookies 1½ inches apart on parchment lined cookie sheet; bake in preheated 375 degree oven 12-14 minutes or until edges are golden
6 cool 3 minutes; dust with confectioners’ sugar; Serve
* will keep stored in airtight container 7 days and will keep several months stored in airtight container frozen
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Construction Of The St. Joseph Altar
The 2015 altar is officially under construction! Yesterday, St. Barry assembled our families St. Joseph Altar, while my dear friend Tanya Frost and carefully removed dozens of Saints and Statues from the “vidina,”China cabinet, for their annual bath, polishing, and inspection for repairs, in preparation of todays traditional decorating the altar gathering at my home with friends and family!
A special thank you to “My Love” St. Barry, for all his help, love, and support.
Thank you for helping yesterday Tanya Frost. You saved me many hours of doing it alone.
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Packing Up The St. Joseph Pasta!
Last night the family carefully packed thousands of handmade dried Fettuccini cuts of St. Joseph Pasta made Saturday, during our Annual Pasta Making Day. Packing up the pasta requires team work and patience! Each and every strand is placed into large plastic storage bins that will latter be placed under the constructed Altar until the traditional Feast Of St. Joseph Blessing is preformed by a roman Catholic priest.
The Pasta Is Ready For the Goranza!
The Pasta Making Is Officially Done!
Now onto preparing the Altar!
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Marty Luster Captures The Action At Sista Felicia’s Pasta Extravaganza!
Marty Luster Thank You!
You did an amazing job of capturing the pasta making action yesterday! I already have a list of favorite photos for the pages of Cookbook #3!
Click on each photo in the gallery for larger images! Enjoy!
Madame Mayor Of Gloucester Sefatia Giambanco Romeo Theken Bringing laughter to Sista Felicia’s kitchen!
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Sista Felicia’s St. Joseph Pasta Day 2015 From Beginning To End!
Yesterday was my dear friend Mo Klopp first time making homemade past. Abbey Mathews’ captured Mo’s perfect 10 point toss, of her very first pasta dough into the bowl at the rolling station!
Thank you All…yesterday was simply amazing!
Last night I went to bed feeling incredibly blessed and proud of my amazing team of family and friends who successfully pulled off another massive production of making over 100 pounds of “Homemade St. Joseph Pasta.” All 110 lbs of Semolina flour was lovingly handcrafted into delicate cuts of fettuccini! Just prior to production yesterday everyone gathered around my kitchens island for a short tutorial of the pasta making process. It’s vital to keep the flow of production running smoothly. Each step of the production must be done correctly to insure the consistency of a high quality final product. Every job starting with dough maker’s assistants to dough runners and pasta hangers were performed with precision! Yesterday’s pasta event was an amazing team effort from start to finish. Additional thanks to my husband St. Barry for his support and behind scene list of chores, my twins Amanda and BJ and awesome mother Pat, and brother Joey for their support and help setting up for yesterday and assistance in production, blogging, and live Streaming! Many thanks to my dear friends and owners of Nobel Electric, Steve and Dee Nobel, and Rick Moore and Donna Ardizzoni, owners of Circle Consultants, for their assistance in getting our crashed internet back up and working for the live stream. Special thanks to my incredibly talented Creative director James Eves at Cape Ann Giclee for designing the first ever Sista Felicia Apparel! The “Sista Felicia Kitchen” aprons were perfectly “Felicitized! Also a huge shout out and big thank you to GMG Contributor and friend Marty Luster for spending the afternoon photographing yesterday’s event for cookbook #3. Special thanks and to Erich Archer, Executive Director at Cape Ann TV and his photographer George for filing a portion of yesterday to air on Cape Ann TV soon!
XO
Sista Felicia
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Count Down To Sista Felicia’s Pasta Day Live Stream!
We are officially under 2 hours until Pasta Day at Sista Felicia’s Kitchen goes live! Join Us today virtually through the live Stream! Looking forward to chat & answer a few questions!
!
Good Morning Gloucester 
