Grab the Good Life with Rocco DiSpirito
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August 12, 2005 - August 12, 2005
WOR 8/12/05
Grab The Good Life! We have a most def show for you all today, so give us a call at 800-321-0710!
Today is the one and only 5 Minute Flavor! We are doing Capellini alla Puttanesca with our Food Fight winner from Tuesday Theresa in New Jersey! She has family and friends over to enjoy the dish so stick around for that!
Today we have Chicago actress Carol Woods on the show! She loves to cook and plays "Big Momma" in the hit play Chicago!
And like every Friday, Momma is here!
Today it is our Producer, Mike Fig's Birthday!
Call us up and wish him a happy one!
Let's get to your calls at 800-321-0710!
Mikey from Brooklyn: Happy Birthday Mike and I'm Grabbing the Good Life Rocco!
Rocco: Thanks Mikey!
Mikey: You have to take Mike to L and B Spumoni Gardens or Casa Calamari in Brooklyn!
Rocco: Where is Casa Calamari?
Mikey: It is in Bensonhurst Brooklyn.
Casa Calamari
1801 Bath Ave, Brooklyn
718-234-7060
L & B Spumoni Gardens
2725 86th Street
Brooklyn, NY
718-372-8400
Mikey: Hey what can I do with some cooked sardines in water?
Rocco: You can make a salad with that, but that is a little plain. I would make a Ceasar Salad: add Parmesean cheese, romaine lettuce and a little bit of mustard and toss it. You can even make a bruscetta topping with some mayo and mustard added to the sardines.
Mikey: Thanks and Grab The Good Life Rocco!
Eloise in Pennsylvania: It's so nice to talk to you and Momma!
Momma: Thank you Eloise!
Eloise: With all this excess Zuccinni I have, is it possible to freeze it?
Rocco: No No, you will MASSACRE it if you do that. My go to method of saving Zucchini is pickling. To make a sweet pickling just add a little more sugar a little less vinegar and salt. If you want to make bread out of it, make the bread and freeze the bread. You can also scoop out the seeds, make a puree out of itand freeze the puree. I would also suggest cooking it with a little butter before pureeing it. Then cool it and freeze it. You can also puree some bananas with it and freeze that, that would make for a good bread as well.
Eloise: Can I use that for zucchini pancakes?
Rocco: Sure - but I wouldn't use butter there.
Pete from Long Island: Happy Birthday Mike and Bonjourno Momma. Is there an Italian word for the red and white clam sauce?
Rocco: It is called Marechiara which means ocean clear. It is all kinds of seafood not necessarily clams. If you want white clam sauce, it's called Macchiata.
Carol Woods, actress who plays "Big Momma" on Chicago is here! Go to www.gotickets.com to get tickets to see Carol in Chicago.
Rocco: Momma, Tell Mike his birthday is dope!
Momma: ...
Rocco: Carol, tell Momma it's ok.
Carol: It's ok Momma!
Momma: It's dope. And chill.
Rocco: hahahahaha!
Mike: Happy Birthday to me!
Rocco: What's up Carol!
Carol Woods: Your Mom is too cool.
Rocco: You have been on Chicago for 6 years. It is a huge deal - congrats.
Carol: Thank you
Rocco: Now, you brought some mac and cheese here, you're love of cooking came from your Grandma or Mom right?
Carol: Yeah, I used to watch them cook in the kitchen and was just mesmerized with all the cooking. They came from Jamaica Queens.
Rocco: That's where we came from!
Carol: Wow - we were like neighbors!
Rocco: So when did you find out you can sing?
Carol: We used to go to Church and I used to sing there in the choir.
Rocco: So you were all singing in Church and performing at home and having a Bishop for a Grandfather!
Carol: Well he was really cool - I was the youngest Grandchild and so I got away with a lot, but I was a really good kid.
Rocco: Icooking a big part of your life cause Mike told me you cook for the cast of Chicago right?
Carol: When I have a kitchen I LOVE to cook. I have done some wonderous things while cooking on the road.
Rocco: Like what kind of Food?
Carol: I LOVE cooking Soul Food: Collared Greens, Corn bread, Mac and Cheese -
Rocco: What do you use in your collared greens?
Carol: I add smoked tukry in my collared greens - or a lil smoked turkey butt.
Rocco: But...oh I thought you were gonna say something else!
Carol: haha...come on Rocco!
Rocco: So you make mostly southern food?
Carol: I also make West Indian Food. Like Black eyed peas and rice, Palenta and grits.
Rocco: So we are trying your Mac and Cheese - can you tell us how you make it?
Carol: One pound of macaroni, about 8 slices of cheese. Cook the pasta Al Dente (use salt and olive oil in the water). I put the pasta in the bowl, I add a half a stick of butter, kraft cheese and a half a bar of sharp white cheddar. Then mix egg, slat and pepper and milk in a seperate bowl. Then I combine the two put it in the oven and bake it until it is golden brown.
Rocco: It looks amazing. What's your most popular dish?
Carol: I make a great spanish rice - which is delicious.
Rocco: How do you make that?
Carol: I brown my rice (Carolina Rice), add tomato paste, bacon, sautee onion, green pepper and olives. Then I add 1 packet of sauzon from Goya. Then I add water and boil. I like my rice fluffy.
Rocco: Thanks so much for being here Carol and go to www.gotickets.com and look up Chicago to see your show!
Carol: Thanks Rocco!
Rocco: Hey Theresa, you ready to be a 5 Minute Flavor Champion?
Theresa: Yes, and hold on:
Theresa and family: HI ROCCO HI MOMMA!
Rocco: Love you guys that's so sweet! Sound like you have a huge family there!
Theresa: I have a huge Italian family and once they heard I was cooking with you, they all came for some good food and swimming! And you, Momma and Mike are all invited!
Rocco: Yeah and you are all invited to Mike's Birthday tonight!
Mike Fig: Right it's my get evicted birthday!
Rocco: You reday to go then Theresa?
Theresa: All set!
It's 5 Minute Flavor Time on Food Talk! Today we are making Capellini alla Puttanesca with Theresa, this weeks Food Fight winner! You ready? here is the recipe!
Number of Servings: 4
Estimated Cost: $15.06
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil*
5 cloves garlic, sliced thinly
10 anchovy filets, chopped
24 oz Victoria Fra Diavolo Sauce
3 tablespoons capers
1 pound capellini (angel hair pasta)
salt and pepper to taste*
Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions, about 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile heat a large sauté pan with the olive oil until hot. Add garlic and sauté for one minute, stirring constantly. Add anchovies and cook for an additional minute, smashing with the back of a spoon. Add sauce and capers and bring to a simmer. Toss with cooked angel hair and serve.
Thanks to everyone today, Happy Birthday Mike and Grab The Good Life!
