Octopus Salad

Printoctopus salad (1)

Octopus Salad

Ingredients

2½ cups Octopus, cooked, cleaned, and cut into ¾ inch pieces

1 cup sweet Vidalia Onion, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped

¼ teaspoon red crushed pepper

½ teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

6 tablespoons red wine vinegar

¼ cup pure olive oil

juice of 1 large lemon

Step-by-Step 

1  defrost octopus in large sink filled with cold water( will take several hours)

octopus salad (17)

octopus salad (3)

2  fill large stockpot with water; bring to rolling boil over high heat

octopus salad (14)

3  carefully add defrosted Octopus to boiling water by holding the head firmly while lowering the legs in and out of the boiling water 3 times allowing the legs to shrink and curl; release and submerge octopus in water; return to boil

octopus salad (9)

4 boil octopus 1 1/2- 2 hours or until fork tender; using long kitchen tongs, remove from water; cool 10 minutes in large colander

octopus salad (10)

octopus salad (11)

5  clean by removing lose skin, eyes, and center core; and cut legs and cleaned head into 3/4 inch bite size pieces

octopus salad (5)

octopus salad (4)

octopus salad (7)

6  place cooked, cleaned, and cut octopus in mixing bowl, add onions; mix; reserve

7 in separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients; whisk well; pour over reserved octopus and onions; mix well

8 transfer to airtight container; refrigerate minimum 24 hours (I prefer to marinate several days); remove from refrigerator 1 hours before serving

Notes~

(1) Do not be fooled by the size of the uncooked octopus, as shown in the photos they cook down in size considerably

(2) I usually cook two or three 4-5lb frozen octopus which yields the amount shown in the first photo

March of the Olive and Carrot Penguins

Melissa Cox, our Ward 2 City Councilor, came to the GMG Holiday party and brought her famous penguin platter, only this time they appeared to be marching out of their fortress made of sugar cubes.
Melissa Cox, our Ward 2 City Councilor, came to the GMG Holiday party and brought her famous penguin platter, only this time they appeared to be marching out of their fortress made of sugar cubes.

A Sight Only A few Can See

Going passed the Manchester Historical Society, if you are very lucky, you can see the Nutcrackers standing guard… They appear only to those who can see beyond the streets and houses…

Nutcrackers at the Historical Society
Nutcrackers at the Historical Society 

Cape Ann Solstice Tickets Available at the Door ~ Plenty of FREE PARKING

You can’t get advanced tickets online any more, but you can still go the Gloucester UU Church and get tickets at the door ($25 for all ages).  Box office opens at 4pm.  Doors open at 7.  Concert starts at 7:30.  There’s plenty of free parking at the Church and nearby (Trinity Church parking lot and Library lot off School St. are both plowed) so come on down and celebrate the longest night of the year with some of Cape Ann’s finest musicians while you help to restore one of Gloucester’s most treasured buildings!

WinterSolsticeSm_Fly

Holiday Specials Galore on Cape Ann TV

It’s a big week of holiday specials on Cape Ann TV featuring Bruce Tarr’s Toy Drive,  Holiday Delights, Local Music Seen Christmas special, Cape Ann Symphony Holiday Pops Concert, Church services, plus many other holiday events — and of course lots of football!  Get the schedule here — and check out Cape Ann TV’s young Santa guiding his sleigh through the night sky below:

Live Shopping: It’s the Farmer’s Market!

If you need some amazing local hand made gifts, snacks, desserts, pastas, honey, guacamole, soups, local veggies, breads, books, and crafts, then get your ass down here! You have until 12 noon to get to the Unitarian Universalist Church downtown. Make it happen!

A view from the stage, where you’ll find Sista And her books, along w GMG gear!

Spinach Risotto

rossoto 3

Spinach Risotto, a perfect dish to serve on cold winter nights. Risotto is one of the items that can always be found in my pantry. I reach for it often during busy holiday seasons.  Risotto is easy to prepare, makes a hearty meal on its own, and can be served as a side dish to almost any meal.

 Spinach Risotto

Ingredients

2 tablespoon salted butter

¼ cup olive oil; plus 2 tablespoons

¾ cup yellow onion diced

1½ cups Arborio Rice

4 cups chicken broth

2 cups water

½ cup Pecorino Romano Cheese

8 cups whole fresh spinach leaves with stems

1 large garlic clove finely grated

½ teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Step by Step

1  Placed spinach in large colander; rinse under cold water;  roughly chop; reserve

2  Heat ¼ cup olive oil in medium sauce pan over high heat; add diced onion; sauté 1 minute

rosotto10

3  Add Arborio Rice and salt; cook 2 minutes; stir often; reduce heat to medium/high

rosotto8

4  Stir in 1 cup chicken broth continue cooking; stirring often, until liquid is 75% absorbed

5  Continue adding 1 cup broth at a time; until all 4 cups are added and absorbed; Note: this process should take approximately 20 minutes

6  Stir 2 cup water into al dente Risotto; stir; cook until 75% absorbed

7  Add finely grated garlic and roughly chopped spinach; mix well cook 2 minute; stir often

rosotto7

8  Mix in cheese; top with freshly ground pepper; drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil

rosotto9

Note: This creamy rich Risotto is hearty and tasty enough to serve as a meal on its own and makes a perfect side dish anytime of year!

Maybe a Thaw

This is the First Period Old Ellery House on Washington Street in Gloucester, about 1930. I'm really hoping that the mild weekend weather will melt much of the snow.
This is the First Period Old Ellery House on Washington Street in Gloucester, about 1930. I’m really hoping that the mild weekend weather will melt much of the snow.

Fish on Fridays

The Fish on Fridays series is a collaboration between Gloucester photographers Kathy Chapman and Marty Luster. Look for various aspects of Gloucester’s centuries-old fishing industry highlighted here on Fridays.

FOFcardKatMar Photo © Kathy Chapman 2013
http://www.kathychapman.com

Coconuts Favorite Italian Dog Cookies

Print

Coconuts Favorite Italian Dog Cookies (3)

I hope you didn’t think I was leaving out our beloved family dogs this seasons. Coconut AKA our family dog, loves a good cookie! A few years ago I searched for a dog cookies recipe that would please Coconuts Palate.  After trying several online recipes, that she turned her nose up to,  I decided to create my own, and included some of  Coconut’s most favorite foods and flavors, Cheese, Chicken, and Italian seasonings. She absolutely loves them and I have to quickly slip them into her airtight cookie jar to stop her from begging for more….I swear she is human…like us one cookie at a time is never enough! If you have a beloved pet in your home or family I highly recommend this recipe.

Italian Dog Cookies

Ingredients

2 cups flour

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup brewers yeast or natural yeast ( can be purchased at Common Crow in Gloucester)

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

3  tablespoons canola oil

1  tablespoon garlic finely minced (****optional, can be omitted from recipe)

1 cup store-bought chicken broth plus 1/4 cup for basting

step-by-step

1 combine oil, chicken broth and garlic in mixing bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment; mix on low speed 30 seconds

Coconuts Favorite Italian Dog Cookies (17)

2 sift flour into large mixing bowl; add wheat germ brewers yeast, kosher salt, Italian seasoning and freshly grated Parmesan cheese; mix my hand

Coconuts Favorite Italian Dog Cookies (21)

3 working in small batches add dry ingredients to oil mixture; mix on medium/low speed until dough ball forms

Coconuts Favorite Italian Dog Cookies (18)

4 cut dough ball in half; roll one half  ¼ inch thick on lightly floured work surface

Coconuts Favorite Italian Dog Cookies (19)

Coconuts Favorite Italian Dog Cookies (14)

5 using dog bone shaped cookie cutters cut several cookies; transfer cut treats onto parchment lined cookie sheet; repeat with remaining dough

Coconuts Favorite Italian Dog Cookies (12)

6 bake 10 minutes in preheated 400 degree oven; brush each cookie with chicken broth

dcookie3

7 return cookie sheet to oven;  bake 10 additional minutes until golden; cool 1 hour before serving

dcookie4

Stack and wrap 3-4 cookies using decorative ribbon

To make Dog Cookie Ornaments~ make a small opening at one end of cookie before baking ( I use a metal pastry tip)

Coconuts Favorite Italian Dog Cookies (4)

Coconut and I made a special Boxwood Tree adorned with her favorite Italian Dog Cookies for her Groomer Julie at K-9Cuts.

Coconuts Favorite Italian Dog Cookies (23)

Coconut Woof’s You all A very Happy Holiday!

Only a few hours left to get discounted tickets to Cape Ann Solstice

Advanced tickets are $20 General Admission ($15 under 12 or over 65).  Pews are still available (online only) $195 side pew seats 10 adults, $225 center pew seats 12 adults.

You can get advanced tickets online here, or the Winter Solstice Farmers Market at the UU Church (10 Church Street) from 9AM – Noon, or at Liquor Locker 287 Main St.

After the Farmers Market closes tomorrow at noon, all tickets are $25 for all ages.  We’ll open up the box office at 4pm at the UU Church (cash only please).  Doors open at 7pm.

WinterSolsticeSm_Fly

The best radio Christmas shows you’ll hear this year ~ SUN 12/22 @9AM & 7PM on 104.9

Curtain Up host Aurelia Nelson

We’ve pointed out before that North Shore 104.9 host Aurelia Nelson frequently features local talent on her show, “Curtain Up” (see examples here).  This Sunday 12/22 she pulls out all the stops with her hyper-local Christmas show featuring some of Cape Ann’s top talent performing a Christmas repertoire that rivals what you’d hear on a big city radio show!

You’ll hear Dan King’s wonderful new Christmas song “Handmade With Love (Present)” featuring Charlee Bianchini, “I wish I Could Fly” written by Allen Estes & Fly Amero, new songs by Bryan Alex, John Stevens and Angie Miller (Beverly’s own Idol finalist) and selections by the Beantown Swing Orchestra.

We know you’ll be at Gloucester’s UU Church on Saturday night, where you can see many of these stars LIVE — and we promise the show will be over in plenty of time for you to get a good night’s sleep and get up by 9am for Curtain Up on North Shore 104.9.

Then on Sunday night at 7pm, you can hear a real radio play, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  This is a rare experience you simply can’t get any other way.  Build a fire, sit together as a family in the living room, tune the radio to 104.9, chill in a comfy chair, close your eyes and lose yourself in this classic story.  When’s the last time you heard a radio play?

Men’s Night 2013

We had a very successful Men's Night in the gallery. Lots of customers, and a good amount of sales. I had a surprise visit from my sister, "Painter Barb." Joey C. came by twice. Always good to see him. Also from GMG was Lowell Peabody, Craig Kimberly, and Anna and James Eves of Cape Ann Glicee. Big shout-out to Donna Ardizonni, who helped me clean up and get ready for this event.
We had a very successful Men’s Night in the gallery. Lots of customers, and a good amount of sales. I had a surprise visit from my sister, “Painter Barb.” Joey C. came by twice. Always good to see him. Also from GMG was Lowell Peabody, Craig Kimberly, and Anna and James Eves of Cape Ann Glicee. Big shout-out to Donna Ardizonni, who helped me clean up and get ready for this event.

live from pop gallery: free proctology exams

Gretchen just redefining the Proctology Game here going “All In” in the name of a thorough examination.


See Gretchen at http://saltwatermassage.com/

161 MAIN ST. 2ND FLOORGLOUCESTER, MA

(978)390-7600

INFO@SALTWATERMASSAGE.COM

Face Down-Ass Up

#Kablammie!

DSC01339

Craig holding onto that beer for dear life.

DSC01341

Needless to say Craig booked monthly exams through 2015