GMG contributor Bridget Mathews (Center) hands out Easter Bunny shapped Cookie Dough during last’s night annual baking event!
105 Esster Bunny Cookies were baked decorated and packaged up for Easter Sunday! Comere Andrea Carlson and Cousin Eleanor Tucker carefully securing their dyed eggs onto their cookies!
It’s become tradition that I treat my St. Joseph Novena “Cumnaries” to a night of baking the Italian Easter Classic Cookie “Pupa Con L’Uova.” My way of saying thank you for their support, commitment, and countless hours of hard work they put into helping me with all things related to hosting a St. Joseph novena. This year a few days into the novena “Coconut” Our family dog took ill and was literally on her death bed by St. Patricks Day. Coconut underwent a four and half hour emergency gallblater surgery, her veterinary surgon didnt think she’d survive. To say our family was devested and in distress is an understatment. A group of my Noveana “Cumnares” and girlfriends realized the severity of Coconuts situation and decided together to put their own lives on hold and take over doing everything needed to complete all 9 rosaries and this years open house St. Joseph Feast. Each went above & beyond to help me keep my promise to st. Joseph, and I’ll be forever greatful!
Are looking for something to do with the kids/grandkids this weekend? Try this Last Minute Halloween Craft. It’s fun for all ages!
Supplies
1 14 inch metal wreath form with 4 dividing sections
8 large black trash bags
1/4 Yellow plastic table cloth
1/4 Orange plastic table cloth
1 Festive bow
1 -3 sequence embellishments
1 twelve inch length thin craft wire
Step-by-Step
1 Cut trash bag in half length wise; place one half ontop of other; fold in half again; cut; fold in half again and cut, fold and cut one last time making eight 15×17 pieces; repeat with remaining 7 bags (64 pieces)
2 Cut each plastic table cloth section into five 15×17 inch pieces( 5 of each color)
3 Tie 8 black pieces in a single knot, one at a time, to the inside ring; repeat this step, until all 4 inside sections are completed
4 Tie 8 black pieces to each outside ring section
3 Tie orange and yellow pieces evenly spaced around wreath; fluff and open all pieces
4 Using craft wire secure festive bow, and sequence embellishments
Last night we celebrated Joey’s Birthday and look who stopped by…
Happy Halloween Lets Go Red Sox!
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Last night I whipped up a delicious “Roasted Heirloom Tomato Soup” and batch of “Oven-Dried Tomatoes”, (recipe highlighted on page 62 in my cookbook “Gifts Of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia; Harvest”) using freshly picked tomatoes, from gardens in the backyard garden that neighbor Deanna and I share!
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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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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Indian – Curry Sauce with Lamb over Rice with multiple condiments (Red Peppers, Bacon Bits, Red Onions, Crushed Nuts, Boil Egg White, Chutney, and Boil Egg Yellows)
Would love to hear about some of Sista Felcica’s Lamb Recipes.
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I hope you are not hungry while looking at the following mouth-watering deliciousness. I am straight out with work and again came home to the most fabulous dinner–Son Alex’s deluxe veggie delight Swiss burger.
On our porch table I discovered a Sista Felicia-super-surprise-melt-in-your-mouth chocolate-concoction-Halloween-treat. Did I mention I am very blessed with both thoughtful son and dear friend? Thank you Felicia and Alex for a double whammy of deliciousness!
Sista Felicia’s Halloween Treats
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Comere Andrea Carlson and Cousin Eleanor Tucker carefully securing their dyed eggs onto their cookies!
