John F Kennedy -50 Years later

The wave of the future is not the conquest of the world by a single dogmatic creed but the liberation of the diverse energies of free nations and free men
                                  -John Fitzgerald Kennedy


One of my earliest memories is JFK's portrait hanging in our family/TV room (with palm Sunday fronds) in Somerville, Massachusetts. Having a Catholic Irish President was a "big deal" 50 years. New England Catholics were proud to have one of their own in the White House.

His legacy is without par: civil rights, human rights, NAVY Seals, Peace Corps, Space exploration, National Seashore and so much more...

His family keeps his legacy alive through philanthropy and service to this country. In College I met with Sen Ted Kennedy and interviewed him for our College Newspaper the "OWL". 

Forever, he remains, youthful, optimistic sun-drenched and loving the sea. These are things I really can relate to.

Best Homemade Gluten Free Baked Manicotti

Super Bowl Weekend means comfort food to me, and comfort food to me means Italian food!

My Grandmother (Nonni) made the best homemade manicotti from scratch. It was a favorite of mine growing up in Somerville, MA. The aroma would spread throughout the house and it was a welcome sign to all that entered: eat/mangia.

I have take her recipe and modified to a gluten free version. It is just as tasty and healthy as well as comforting!

You will need the Following:

1 seven inch non-stick pan. Spray with non-stick spray
1 cup of water
6 large eggs
1 cup of Gluten Free Flour ( I use Bob's All Purpose Gluten Free Red Mill)
half teaspoon sea salt
1 pound of Ricotta (500g)
8 to 12 ounces of grated Parmesan or other cheese ( Romano or Mozzarella)
Fresh basil
Fresh garlic (6 cloves)
Pepper/Oregano
Tomato sauce of your choosing. (we use homemade).
Makes 10 to 12 manicotti

In a large bowl, add gluten free flour, salt and 3 eggs. Mix ingredients well.

In medium heat pour @about quarter cup of "batter" into frying pan. Allow crepe/pasta shell to bubble, then flip the crepe, let cook for 30 seconds. Remove crepe/pasta shell from pan and allow to cool.

Filling:
In a large bowl add one  pound of ricotta, two eggs and 8+ ( or more)  ounces of grated Parmesan cheese. Blend together. Add in crushed garlic, fresh basil or oregano. Salt and pepper. Spoon in @ quarter cup of mixture to each shell/crepe and fold.

In a glass baking pan (Pyrex style), spread tomato sauce or olive oil on bottom, then place manicotti in pan. Layer sauce and top with 2 to 4 ounces of cheese. Cover with tin foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove tinfoil and continue to bake for 15 minutes.
Serve warm, garnish with basil leaves or oregano

Enjoy this Sunday favorite!

Childhood Christmas Memories

Christmas means so many things to so many people. My Christmas memories are warm and idyllic, and I thank my parents for that.

My father really enjoyed the season. Papa Testa made the holiday special and meaningful to me as a child. I remember we lived in the city of Somerville, Massachusetts,  and we did not have a fireplace. Every year my father would assemble the faux fireplace. My father insisted  that Santa would be able to visit us with this makeshift fireplace. My mother would assist me in writing a letter to Santa Claus letting him know that I was "a good boy", and in the letter there would be a short list of Christmas wishes....

(Somerville, MA mid 1960's)

Every Christmas eve my mother would bake sugar cookies, The shapes were always the same: Christmas tree, bell and star. The frosting was white and there was always sprinkles of red and green. The cookies were always left out the coffee table near the Christmas tree with a glass of milk AND, a carrot for Rudolph.

Every Christmas morning my father would be first to awake and he would always say "Good bye Santa Claus, Good bye Santa" We would rush down the stairs, amazed that we missed him. Upon coming down the stairs, I was always in awe to see how the living room was transformed into a magical world of toys and presents. Christmas morning was spent opening presents, as my parents sipped their coffee and watched the smiles on their children grow wide.

(Christmas Card from 1963)

As I got older, I realized that Christmas is not about presents, or what you have or what you don't have, but rather its a feeling. A feeling of happiness and joy. When I sit back  now and think of my parents, I think of the joy my father had in shopping for presents. His joy in decorating the Christmas tree with the family while "The Chipmunks" Christmas album played on the hifi. And the joy he would get "waving" bye to Santa Claus, knowing his children would wake up, thinking they had just missed the jolly man in the red suit...

My father was what you call a "good guy". He was good father, husband and person. During the holidays these traits truly shined. My father worked for the Boston Globe  Newspaper. One of the Globe's charities was Globe Santa, which provided toys to needy children in New England. My dad was involved in this charity. He believed in the magic of Christmas and the joy that spread from this magic. I truly miss my father during this time of year and I am happy he gave me the gift of joy. That is the gift I carry with me everyday. This gift will never go out of style and is non-returnable. Thank you, Papa!

(me, in my new velour shirt, which was the rage in the Italian-Americans in the 1960's. My father, and I  at my Aunt Santa's house-Yes, that is correct, I had an aunt named: Santa....).

October is Italian-American Heritage Month!

As a child, I grew up in Somerville, MA which, is situated next to Boston and Cambridge. With only slightly over 4 square miles (10 km²) of land, Somerville is the most densely populated city in New England. Italians made up a large minority of the population there. My church was St Anthony's. When I growing up, St Anthony's was a "mission" church focused on the Italian Americans. Masses were in English as well as Italian. Many houses had grape vines, bocce courts and statues of various saints that adorned the small postage stamp size yards. Neighbors would meet at the Dante Club, and Italian-American social club across the street from my Aunt Santa and uncle Joe's house. As an adult I also lived in  other Italian neighborhoods too; East Boston and the fabled North End.

Being of Italian heritage, I always loved the culture and enjoyed the food. When I moved to Maine 13 years ago, I found it a challenge to find good Italian food and groceries. In the mid 1990's at the local Hannaford's Supermarket, the Italian food section was in the "ethnic" aisle next to the "LaChoy" food and "Old El Paso" taco sauce. Italian Restaurants were few and far between. There are not a large number of Italians in Maine, there are small pockets in Portland and Rockland Maine.
However now there are some decent Italian restaurants in Ogunquit: Angelina's   Roberto's and Caffe Prego. Caffe Prego is great! It is at the end of my street and features incredible pastries, coffee and brick oven pizza. This is close as you will get to the North End of Boston or Rome for that matter. Its nice to sit on  Caffe Prego's "piazza" and watch Shore Road and ocean. The coffee is authentic, the music is jazz or opera and the food is "delezioso". The European staff is cute and helpful. I think this has been a nice additon for Ogunquit! Roberto's is Ogunquit's oldest Italian restaurant with handcrafted food. Roberto's always is pleasing!

I am named after my grandfather, Gregory Mario, ( pictured to the left). My father wanted to name me Gennaro Mario, but when I was born, my mother refused!
Here I am, ready to go to church.