Calvin Cooke – the B.B. King of gospel steel guitar
Don’t worry if you missed Aurelia Nelson’s wonderful interview, on her show Curtain Up, with Calvin Cooke (the B.B. King of gospel steel guitar) on Sunday at 9am (like we did because we were at Joey’s surprise birthday Mug Up).
You can listen to the whole thing right here.
Calvin tells the fascinating story of the birth Sacred Steel and how he blends its unique sound with blues and classic rock on The Slide Brothers’ latest CD and live in concert.
You can see Calvin and his band tomorrow night right down the road at The Larcom Theatre in Beverly. This is rare chance to see the greatest living masters of steel guitar (the people who taught Robert Randolph how to play) close up and close to home. Local virtuoso Michael Thomas Doyle (who played with Robert Randolph, while at Berklee) opens the show.
Good seats in the historic Larcom Theatre’s fully restored horseshoe balcony are still available (get them here).
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“As an official global charity, Movember’s vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of millions of moustaches on men’s faces around the world. Through the power of the Mo, vital funds and awareness are raised to combat prostate and testicular cancer and mental health challenges. HOW IT WORKS Movember encourages men to join the movement by growing a moustache for the 30-days of November. After registering on Movember.com, these generous Mo Bros start the month clean-shaven, then grow and groom their Mo (slang for moustache), asking friends and family to donate to their efforts. With their new moustaches, these Mo Bros bring much needed awareness to men’s health issues by prompting conversations wherever they go.
Movember’s not just for men. Mo Sistas are an important part of Movember’s success. Once registered, Mo Sistas raise funds and encourage the men in their lives to get involved. Essentially, Mo Sistas do everything that Mo Bros do, without a Mo. Learn more about Mo Sistas here.
At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their Movember journey by throwing their own Movember events or attending one of the official Gala Partés held around the world.”
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Today I thought I’d take todays post as an opportunity to answer the mystry question about where one can purchase Fig Filling. If your questioning why one might be asking then you must not have purchased a copy of my cookbook yet. For those who have, I thank you very much for your support and hope your enjoying every page! My recipe for Pork Tenderloin with Vidalia Onion Fig Sauce on page 196 includes fig filling in the list of ingredients, many folks are writing in asking where it is sold. I have seen it in many grocery stores but the other day while I was shopping at Market Basket I noticed the Fig Filling on the shelf, and took out my phone and snapped this photo to clarify it’s exact location in the store to make your life a little easier. Fig filling can be found at the far end of aisle #7 .
Happy Shopping …I know what I’m making for Sunday Dinner this week!
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Seven year old Sam Palazola, the robot boy. Love it!The Seahorse girl! This is Ellina Parson of Gloucester. What a creative costume, and she wears it well.GMG’s Donna Ardizzoni costumed as Cindarella, and Andromeda Lamotte is the other princess. What a great pair.
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Have you had a day when a song is stuck in your head like Peanut Butter Jelly Time…
It recently happened to me. With peanut butter and jelly on my mind, the craving for it followed. I Googled recipes containing peanut butter & jelly and found hundreds of the same-old-same-old cookies and dessert bars. After refining my search I came across this recipe for PB&J Cookies and went straight to the store for the supplies….the results were outstanding and I now keep the supplies on hand in my pantry at all times. This is a perfect recipe that can be whipped up and on the table in minutes. While enjoying every bite of my PB&J Cookie, I could feel my creative juices start to flow and the Sista Felicia PB&J Caramel Apple was created!
Sista Felicia’s PB&J Caramel Apples
Ingredient
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
12 Gala Apple
12 wooden popsicle sticks
1 fine or medium grit sandpaper
1 lb. peanut butter flavored chocolate wafers
1 lb. purple colored chocolate wafers
1/4 teaspoon LorAnn grape flavored Candy Flavoring (can be found at any craft/candy supple store)
12 PB&J Cookies (see recipe below)
Step-by-Step
1 Make Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies; reserve (see recipe below)
2 In 2 1/2 quart sauce pan combine first eight ingredients; stir over medium low heat until sugar dissolves and butter is completely melted
3 Secure one popsicle stick into the stem side of each Apple; gently rub sandpaper along the sides of each Apple removing wax this step will help adhere caramel all to apples
4 Attached candy thermometer to side of pan increase heat to medium-high; use pastry brush and water to remove sugar crystals from the sides of pan to avoid burning
5 Bring mixture to rolling boil until candy thermometer reads 230° soft ball stage stirring constantly
6 Carefully transfer hot, two mixing bowl; Attach candy thermometer to side of bowl; cool caramel to 200°
7 In two separate double boiler pans melt chocolate completely; turn heat off; add grape flavoring to purple chocolate; mix well
8 Line 2 cookie sheets with aluminum foil; lightly coat foil with cooking spray
9 Place 12 PB&J cookies flat side down on one cookie sheet 2 inches apart
10 Dip each Apple in Caramel; in a rolling motion twists Apple until excess caramel drips off and Caramel is evenly distributed around each apple; immediately place on greased aluminum foil lined cookie sheet; rest 5 to 10 minutes until caramel is set
11 Carefully peel each apple from aluminum foil; and smooth caramel on bottom side of each Apple
12 Dip apple into grape flavored purple chocolate turn Turn pink coat bottom Half of apple in warm chocolate; place on greased aluminum foil cookie sheet; cool 5 minutes
13 Dip apple in peanut butter flavored chocolate one quarter of the way up the sides of each Apple; Immediately place Apple onto a PB&J cookie
14 Transfer remaining purple grape flavored chocolate into disposable plastic pastry bag
15 Transfer remaining peanut butter flavored chocolate into disposable plastic pastry bag
16 Make small cut at ends of H disposable pastry bag; drizzle chocolates over sides and tops of each Apple; pipe small dollop of chocolate at top of each Apple; fix one miniature Reesie’s peanut butter cup and one half PB&J cookie on top; cool completely at room temperature
PB & Jelly Cookies
Ingredients
1 white cake mix
½ cup salted butter melted
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 heaping cup mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cup candies
1 3.25 oz. premium Dark Chocolate Raspberry filled candy bar, broken into pieces (I used Market Basket brand)
Step by Step
Combine cake mix, butter, eggs, and vanilla in a bowl, using a large spoon, mix well until creamy batter forms
Add peanut butter cups and raspberry filled candy bar pieces, mix well (candy bar pieces will break up in the mixing process…that’s a good thin
Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper
Using a 1 inch cookie scoop, place scant balls of chilled cookie batter ½ inch apart on prepared cookie sheet
In preheated 350 degree oven bake 12 minutes; cool 10 minutes before serving
*Yields approximately 2 dozen cookies
Happy Halloween!
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This probably isn’t Gloucester, but the first period house looks a lot like our Old Ellery House. Halloween has been around for just over a century, and in 2011 Americans spent over 7 billion dollars on it, including costumes. Until the 1930’s, all Halloween costumes were home made. So have fun, stay safe, and I’ll have candy here for the spooks and goblins.
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Yes, the dream came true. The Red Sox beat the Cardinals soundly. As I occasionally do, I watch the game next door at Jalapenos. Big TVs and great service. Bartender Sam Saputo is also happy about the win. We all had champagne afterwards.
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This has to be the funniest, most clever commercial I have ever seen. Some people think their poo doesn’t stink, but most people’s do. I just want to know what prairie dogging it is.
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It’s Halloween! This Thursday nite! What better way to celebrate than to ooze out your door and slither down to the Rhumb Line. We’re offering our own version of corn on the macabre featuring Mr. John Keegan™, a vital ingredient in the recipe of soul. Dynamic leader of Madhouse®, Johnny K. is more than willing to interrupt all neural circuits in his quest for musical retardation.
And we’ve got the band to do it! Keyboard millipede and jazz snob, Mr. John Hyde, threatens to use both fingers. He’ll be there! Mr. Marque Earley, tenor and barium wizard will reinterpret all known facts. Glitar wonder boy Steve Sadler will be tuning up half the evening. Cataleptic converter, Mr. Forrest “Frosty” Padgett will thrill you with his timekeeping. I’ll be basest.
You should dress up! There might be a prize or two involved, although the band doesn’t count (only to four!).
Festivities start at 8:30.
N.B.: STARTING NEXT WEEK NOV.SEVEN, WINTER HOURS IN EFFECT; WE’LL BE STARTING AT EIGHT.
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Donna Ardizonni stopped by, and said she was going to try and get onto the HBO set. No luck, but if there was anyone who could, it would be her. She’s the little photographer who could, and does. She’ll be on Main Street tomorrow dressed as Cinderellla. I’ll be the pirate and we’ll be handing out candy to the young goblins.Donna shows her Red Sox colors. She is an avid Sox fan. So much so that she gets nervous during the series. I admire how she finds time to give us great photos here every day, and still works full time. Thank you Donna!
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Good Morning Gloucester 