Panini Time!

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I’m excited to create new recipes with a few new ingredients that have been gifted to my pantry from Heather Ahearn and Alison Darnell, owners of the new Atlantic Saltworks Company! Thank You ladies…I love your products!  More Recipes coming soon using their amazing handcrafted sea salts!

Sista Felicia’s Tuscan Panini

Ingredients

2 slices Artisan Rustic Tuscan Bread

2 slices Prosciutto

8 pieces pre-sliced Mozzarella

1 tomato cut into slices

3- fresh basil leaves

1/2 teaspoon Atlantic SaltWorks Tuscan Blend

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 tablespoon olive oil

Step-by-Step

1  Place bread slices on flat work surface; arrange prosciutto slices on one slice of bread; top with 4 slices cheese; top basil and tomato slices and 1/4 teaspoon SaltWorks Tuscan Blend

2  Arrange 4 slices cheese on second slice of bread; top with 1/4 teaspoon SaltWorks Tuscan Blend; sandwich both prepared slices together

3  Drizzle both slices of bread with 1 teaspoon olive oil; place onto hot Panini press; cook 3-4 minutes until cheese melts and bread is golden and crisp!

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Click link below for more information about the Atlantic Saltworks Company product line!

http://atlanticsaltworks.com/

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Are You Giving The Gift That Keeps On Giving This Year?

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“Gifts Of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia, Harvest”  is a tangible archival treasure trove of  deep rooted authentic Sicilian recipes. Makes a perfect gift for all the cooks in your life and for all those who wish to bridge generations with the celebration of food. We are shipping daily…have you ordered  your copies yet? 

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Tonight “The Cave” will be, selling signed copies of “Gifts Of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia, Harvest” and Cape Ann Magazine December 2013 Issue.  Stop by to enjoy and  celebrate “Shop Local” with samples of Manchester based Fudge Everything, Gloucester Joe Coffee, Essex’s Lark Cookies, Duck Foie Gras, Wine, and Sista Felicia’s Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Dip!

Ladies Night on Main Street begins at 5 pm. The clock is ticking… only twenty days till Christmas. Call your girlfriends, line up a baby sitter, it’s always a fun girls night out and a perfect way to start your holiday shopping. Dozens of local merchants are ready and waiting for you!

 To order copies of “Gifts Of Gold” on line click link below

http://www.storenvy.com/products/2742897-gifts-of-gold-in-a-sicilian-kitchen-with-sista-felicia-harvest

Top Neck Stuffed Clams

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The Ultimate Appetizer of all times!

For years Stuffed Top Neck Clams have been the highlight of our holiday feast. It’s become tradition for the men in the family to gather around my kitchen island to prepare the clams for stuffing. A daunting task and skill taught to the younger generations year after year to keep the tradition alive. The only compliant you may hear from the men is that their not cooking fast enough!

clam10 This photo of my Father teaching my husband Barry how to open the clams safely several years ago, is a photo I will cherish forever. Although he may not be with us physically and mentally, he is forever with us in spirit as each clam is opened at my island each holiday.

Top Neck Clams

Ingredients

35 top neck clams split open and mussel loosened

4 stacks original Ritz Crackers crushed in food processor

1-2 handful of Sicilian Breadcrumbs (recipe pg 2o1 “Gifts of Gold”

1 envelope Good Season Italian Dry Dressing Mix

1 large sweet onion puréed

1 medium ripe tomato seeded and finely hand chopped

1-2 sticks melted salted butter

1 green pepper cut finely by hand

½ lb. sliced bacon cut into ½ inch pieces

1 tablespoon olive oil

Step-by-Step

1  Place all ingredients except butter, olive oil and bacon into a large mixing bowl

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2  Add butter a little at a time while working crumbs together with your hands, mixture should be a moist consistency not wet soggy

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3  Drizzle stuffing mixture with olive oil and mix well

4  Carefully place prepared clams on a cookie sheet, (keep natural clam juices in each shell)

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5  Using your hand top each clam with a heaping tablespoon of stuffing

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6  Top each stuffed clam with bacon

7  Place clams uncovered into a preheated 350 degree oven

8  Bake 5-10 minutes or until tops of crumbs are golden and bacon is slightly crisp

 For my Step-by-Step video Tutorial clink on link below at The Gloucester Daily Times Taste Of The Times

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http://food.gloucestertimes.com/recipe-video/Stuffed-Top-Neck-Clams.html

Breaking News…The Cave Cheese Shop Is Now Selling “Gifts Of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia,Harvest”

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 Sunday afternoon Laura Cramer owner of The Cave Cheese Shop on Main Street here in Gloucester, reached out to  me after a patron shopping in her store informed her that he had just heard on the GMG Sunday Morning Pod Cast with GMG Chief Joey Ciaramitaro, Toby Pett and Amandacakes, that I  was interested in participating in this upcoming Thursday’s Ladies Night on Main Street. I’m thrilled to announce that I will be teaming up with the Cave for this weeks event. Laura cordially invited me to her shop Ladies Night this Thursday Evening  December 5th beginning at 5 pm for a Cookbook/ Magazine signing.

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 Laura’s shelves are  currently stocked with copies of my newly released cookbook, “Gifts Of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia, Harvest.” Copies will be on sale at The Cave throughout the holiday season, along with Cape Ann Magazine December 2013 December issue! 

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Laura has been very busy planning a special night. Last year her shop was a hot spot for shoppers and this year she is gearing up for an even bigger crowd. She will be serving several local products, including: wine spirit refreshments, Duck Foie Gras, Fudge Everything fudge sauce~ produced locally in Manchester By The Sea MA., Lark Cookies from Lark Fine Foods located in Essex Ma. , Gloucester Joe’s Coffee, and samples of Sista Felicia’s Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Dip, a recipe featured in “Gifts Of Gold”. The Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Dip will be specially made for this event using a delicious Laura Chenel’s Chevre ~ a mildly flavored soft creamy goat cheese sold regularly at “The Cave.”

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I look forward to meeting many GMG FOB, stop by “The Cave to celebrate “Shop local” and purchase you your copies of “Gifts of Gold”, Cape Ann Magazine, cheese, wine, coffee, cookies, and fudge sauce gifts for your family and friends, and  say hello!

Cape Ann Magazine Is On Sale Now!!!

Harbor Loop Gift Shop Just unloaded their shipment of Cape Ann Magazine December 2013 issue! Congratulations to Editor in Chief Andrea Holbrook,Gail McCarthy,Allegra Boverman and the entire magazine staff on producing another beautiful piece of artwork. The December issue has captured the true essence of Cape Ann. It is packed with truly amazing content from cover to cover, and I know every household will want to have at least one copy on their coffee table for the holiday season!

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

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Look who is the latest GMG Cook!

GMG cook Steve LeBlanc

Re-Elected Ward 3 City Of Gloucester Councilor Steven LeBlanc Jr.  is the latest GMG Cook

Steven writes~ ” I made your cranberry orange tort and it came out AWESOME!!!!! It was soooo tasty!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!”

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Great Job Steven! tTank you for sending in your photo and comment. I personally welcome you to the GMG Cooks Club!

You too can join all are welcome…simple sending in your photo of a Sista Felicia recipe. They will be featured once per week right here on GMG’s Sista’s Dish!

“Gifts Of Gold”…The Gift That Keeps on Giving

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 On the eve of Thanksgiving while prepping my families feast, I received another “Gift Of Gold!” A Photo taken back in late October with photographer Allegra k. Boverman and reporter/writer Gail McCarthy from Gloucester Daily Times & Cape Ann Magazine was publically announced to have been chosen for the cover of Cape Ann Magazines’ 2013 December issue. I was fully aware that Gail had been working on an article about my cookbook project for the magazine, but was completely surprise by the cover!  Just prior to  the launch of my cookbook “Gifts Of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia,Harvest” in late August, Gail and I met to discuses my cookbook project and it’s journey for her story. In Late October Gail contacted me again, asking if  she could stop by my house to take a few photos for her piece with a photographer named Allegra, and hesitantly  asked if I could possibly stage my kitchen to look as it would during the holiday season, by the end of the week to make the magazine’s deadline. Always up for a challenge I immediately said yes. Knowing I had only days to pull this off, and knowing my holiday decorations were all in storage, I realized I had to get creative and  use what I had on hand left over form past functions and craft projects!  After quickly making a list,  I got to work. Crunched for time I reached out to the Mariposa Company in Manchester Ma, to borrow a few of their lattest holiday collection pieces that would best display my confections planned for the photo shoot. I am a huge fan/collector of Mariposa, and I use their products to display the foods I serve everyday. The company graciously agreed and within hous of my initial phone call to them, my table was beautifully set Sista Style decked out with the latest Mariposa Holiday Collection and ready for my homemade Sicilian treats.  I’m thrilled for Allegra and Gail that their hard work made the cover and I personally would like to congratulate them on a job well done. I also would like to personally thank the Mariposa Company for their willingness to help on such short notice and for consistently producing elegant serving wear for all my entertaining needs. Cape Ann Magazine 2013 December issue is  scheduled to hit newsstands this Tuesday December 3, Again I have been blessed to work with amazingly talented people who help make my mission to keep my cultures rich Sicilian Traditions alive for future generations. I simply can not wait to pick up dozens of copies for my family and friends on Tuesday. Cape Ann Magazine is sold at the following Gloucester Businesses:

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To purchase copies of “Gifts Of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia, Harvest” Click link below

http://www.storenvy.com/products/2742897-gifts-of-gold-in-a-sicilian-kitchen-with-sista-felicia-harvest

Lunch Break In “Sista’s Kitchen”

The men are getting a little help preparing our lunch this year! Sent from Xfinity Mobile App

Stocking Up For Family Cookie Day Tomorrow

First stop Costco….25 Lb sugar 24 doz eggs
18 lb butter 14 lb Confectioners sugar 2 lb Pistachio 9 lb walnuts 9 lb pecans 9 lb almonds 2 gallons milk… heading to our next stop for ingredients! Sent from Xfinity Mobile App

Happy Thanksgiving From Sista’s Kitchen

PrintWishing You & Yours A Happy Thanksgiving !

We began our Turkey Day with Grandpa Joe Italian Donuts, Grandma Felicia Apple Spice Cake, Sausage Soufflé, & Baked French Toast!

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Morning Pie making…

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Time to flip the Turkey breast side up…Its a 2 person job! Our Turkey went in the oven at 7:00 am …roasted covered for 2 1/2 hours upside down, quick flip breast side up…back in the oven it goes…..Stay tuned…

Did You Make Olive Cunsati For Thanksgiving Yet?

PrintI know in our family it would be a holiday without  Olive Cunsati on the table. I made it this morning after visiting Joe Virgilio at his family run Italian Bakery here in Gloucester on Main Street….There is still plenty of time to get downtown to Virgilio’s Bakery and pick up Sicilian Green Colossal Olives  from Joe and make a batch for your holiday table tomorrow! Tell him Sista sent you in, he  and his staff will take good care of you!

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Click The Picture For The Video at The Gloucester Daily Times Taste of The Times Site

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My recipe and Cooking video tutorial QR Code for Marinated Vegetable Salad With Olives “Alivi Cunsati” is on page 200 in my newly released cookbook Gifts of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia, Harvest” Click Link below to order on line

http://www.storenvy.com/products/2742897-gifts-of-gold-in-a-sicilian-kitchen-with-sista-felicia-harvest

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While shopping at Virgilio’s Bakery this morning Joe shared a sample of their Semolina Olive Bread…It was delicious! I’m planning to make a pork loin dinner this evening for my family and can’t wait to incorporate it into the meal in some way …I’ll keep you all posted I have an idea for a stuffing swirling around in my head right now, but must stick to preparing my feast for tomorrow first!

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Thanksgiving Shopping Live from Market Basket At Gloucester Crossings

Market Basket is doing a great job today keeping shelves stocked and keeping the checkout lines moving! Sent from Xfinity Mobile App

Sea Salt Chocolate Fudge Caramel Candy

PrintLast week Joey and I received this tweet from a new company located in Salem Massachusetts, about their new  sea salt product line. This Recipe had already been swirling in my head after a friend of my mother’s recently shared with her a box of Caramel Sea Salt Fudge. My mother simply can not stop talking about how delicious this fudge tastes, and keeps nagging me to make It for the holidays. I finally sampled a piece and she was right! The wheels in my head began to swirl and I added it to my running list of recipes to create for my family and friends this year. A few days latter my brother Joey and I receive this tweet “AtlanticSaltworks@AtlanticSalt @SistaFelicia we are excited for everyone, incl. you and @Joey_C to try it! Will be on its way to your table via USPS this week…enjoy!.” I couldn’t wait for their product sample to arrive and I knew exactly what I was going to make first with their sea salt sample.

salt35When the samples arrived, I went straight to my kitchen to create my own version  incorporating my family’s love for sea salt caramels and chocolate fudge together to create “The Ultimate”  of all confections”. The results far surpassed my expectations and turned out to be a five star recipe perfect for the upcoming holiday season. If your looking for a new holiday candy to gift or bring to a cookie swap, this is the recipe for you.

Sea Salt Chocolate Fudge Caramel Candy

*Special Note From Sista~Make fudge and caramel at the same time in separate pans

Fudge Ingredients:

2 cups granulated sugar

10 ounces evaporated milk

1 stick Margarine

16 oz. marshmallow fluff

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoon chocolate flavoring

24 ounces semi sweet chocolate morsels (dark or milk)

Step-by-Step

1 combine first five ingredients in 5 quart saucepan; stir over low heat 3–5 minutes

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 2 increase heat to medium-high; bring to roiling boil; boil 5 minutes, continuously stirring

3 remove from heat; Stir in chocolate and chocolate flavoring; whisk well

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Caramel Ingredients:

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 sticks unsalted butter cut into pieces

1  14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

2/3 cup dark corn syrup

1/3 cup maple syrup

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon molasses

1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

 2 tablespoons Alantic Saltworks Flake Finishing Salt

Step-by-Step

1  In 2 1/2 quart sauce pan combine first 8 ingredients; stir over medium low heat until sugar dissolves and butter is completely melted

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2 Attached candy thermometer to side of pan increase heat to medium-high

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3  Bring mixture to rolling boil until candy thermometer reads 230° stirring constantly

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4  Carefully transfer hot, two mixing bowl; attach candy thermometer to side of bowl; cool caramel to 200°

5 Generously spray 11×16 aluminum foil line cookie sheet with cooking spray

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6 Carefully pour caramel into reserved chocolate fudge mixture; mix well

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7 Pour into prepared cookie sheet

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salt188 Sprinkle Atlantic Saltworks Flake Finishing Salt over top; cool 8 hours at room temperature

salt349 Using long sharp knife cut into 1×1 inch pieces

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salt 4010 place candy pieces salt side down on wax lined foil candy wrap; fold and twist wrapper ends

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11 Arrange foil warped Sea Salt Chocolate Fudge Caramel Candies in festive candy dish; or wrap in holiday candy boxes to gift!

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For more information on Atlantic SaltWorks products visit their website at

www.atlanticsaltworks.com

Coconut Loves Her Sunday Dinner

Christmas eight years ago, an elf dressed in traditional elf attire, holding a red velvet pocketbook, knocked at our backdoor with special delivery from Santa for a little girl named Amanda. After the screaming and yelling caused by the excitement of seeing an elf standing at the back door subsided, my stunned and in shock daughter raised her hand replying in her sweet raspy voice, “my name is Amanda.” The elf bent down eye level to Amanda carefully handed the red velvet bag to her. the elf explained that Mr. and Mrs. Claus wanted her to receive this very special Christmas gift one week early. Peeking out from the open end of the bag was a fluffy snow white fur ball with a little button nose. The look on our little girl’s face was priceless and that very moment is one our friends and family visiting that night will never forget. The elf quickly vanished into the dark of the night and from that point on our family life was forever changed. A note from Santa was attached to the bag explaining that Mrs. Claus had chosen to name this adorable snowball “Coconut.” Two hours later in the thick of celebrating my husbands birthday, Amanda tapped me on the shoulder and asked me, “Mommy where did this dog come from and who does it belong to?” It was at that moment we all realized that she truly was in shock and had no recollection of the elf knocking at the back door….A priceless Christmas story and moment in time my husband, family, friends, and I will never forget!
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Coconut loves her Sunday Pasta…

Every Sunday for the past eight years Coconut waits patiently by my stovetop for her Sunday Pasta Sugu Dinner! Mr. and Mrs. Claus must have know she had some Sicilian blood running through her veins.  Let the Holiday season begin, and lets all welcome the new memories into our lives.

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Santa must have known she had some Sicilian blood running through her body when he sent her to join our family, because she  licks her lips and bowl clean every week!

Sunday Sauce and Meatball recipe is featured in my newly released cookbook “Gifts Of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia, Harvest” Click link below to order online

http://www.storenvy.com/products/2742897-gifts-of-gold-in-a-sicilian-kitchen-with-sista-felicia-harvest