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Grab the Good Life with Rocco DiSpirito

October 19, 2005 - WOR 10/19/05

WOR 10/19/05

***IMPORTANT***
Rocco's Cookware has RETURNED to QVC! Please go to:

ROCCO'S KITCHEN

Grab The Good Life Wednesday style everyone! We have a funtastic show ready for you! Today we have the delectable Daisy Martinez in the house talking about her new book: Daisy Cooks! Daisy also hosts her own show on PBS called Daisy Cooks!

And you all, the best part of our show at 800-321-0710!

Rocco: So last night we went to the Light in the Piazza with 20 winners from WOR's contest.

Winners:
Veronica Barry
Ashley McGraff
Elaine Murray
Gwenievere Youngvorse
Dave Heathe
Beatrice Carlisson-Chi-Chi
Mikey Matero
Josephine Pacie
Theresa Lipp
Joe Fiaro

Rocco: Joe thinks that I have fake enthusiasm but I tell you, when I come in here and turn the mic on I happy and excited. We had such a great time, Fiorello's was amazing from pasta, to think crust pizza to the porter house steak. Mikey was singing Happy Birthday and he came with his childhood friend! So we had an amazing time.

Chi-Chi from New Jersey: I had so much fun last night, between you and Momma and Mike, we had the best time. You were delicious to look at!
Rocco: Oh stop it Chi-chi! Thank you so much Chi-Chi it was really great to meet everyone.
Chi-Chi: I really felt like I was among family and friends all night, it was really like that.
Rocco: There were a lot of paisans, it was like the Upper West Side social club.
Chi-Chi: My friend was so excited and it was her Birthday that Mikey was singing about -
Rocco: Did you like the Light in the Piazza?
Chi-Chi: It was real old fashion and slow paced, I really felt like we were in Italy.
Rocco: Momma said this play is really like Italy. She even said to me "Rocco, this is how it used to be Italy Rocco, this isn't America!"
Chi-Chi: That's right!
Rocco: Hopefully we could do this again real soon!

Theresa from Long Island: Kisses and Hugs and we had such a great time! I had the best time and it really did feel like we were amongst friends and family!
Rocco: Did you go home by yourself at the end of the night?
Theresa: Rocco, I was with my fiance Joe!
Rocco: Hmm...which Joe?
Theresa: Rocco! So there was a movie based on the Light in the Piazza that moved a little faster than the play, but the play was great.
Rocco: We had a great time.
Theresa: We had a great time with you, Momma and Mike - really felt like we were amongst close friends. Such great stuff.

Joe in Queens: Rocco, thank you so much, we had the ebst time last night. You and Momma, you stayed so late, we had the ebst time.
Rocco: You don't have to thank me, it was a great time.
Joe: It was just like we knew each other. And let me say, if I can become your number groupie I would love it! I could drive you around!
Rocco: Hmm...you took Janice on the train home last night so I don't know.
Joe: So I'm so glad we shared the platters last night and I save dsome of the food you didn't eat last night and I'm gonna sell it on E-Bay!
Rocco: Oh boy - they will close your E-Bay account if you do that!
Joe: It really was an aamzing time, thank you Rocco!

Layla in New Jersey: Hi Rocco, I wished I could have been there last night! Grab The Good Life. By the way, I LOVE the way you say fantastic!
Rocco: FANTASTIC.
Layla: Love that - so I love sword fish, but with the weather changing I can't grill it outside so, how can I make it inside?
Rocco: You can still grill it inside but if you can't, here is what you do to keep it nice and moist: cut it into thin pieces, flour and egg them, pan fry it in an inch of oil and then drain the oil out. Then put some lemon juice in the pan, crushed capers, butter and parsley and you're good to go.

Walter in Massachusetts: Grab The Good Life Rocco, how are you?
Rocco: Great wish you could have come to the show last night!
Walter: I know! Listen I have a question about roast chicken - can you give me a good way to make it?
Rocco: Never over cook it, that's a big thing. There are so many ways to prepare it, you can do the beer can method, people put fat on the outside to make the skin crisp, filling the caity with oranges, lemon, pepper, rosemary anything makes it more tasty. You should marinate the chicken for a day, fill up the cavity with onions cut in half, rosemary, salt, pepper and coat the outside with olive oil. Start cooking it at 325 or 350 slowly, then put a thermometer in the thigh and when the temperature is about 145 degrees, turn the heat up as high as you can and the skin with crsip nicely. Then make sure you let it rest for 20 minutes before you cut into it.

Let's welcome Daisy Martinez of Daisy Cooks the book and TV show to the show!
Rocco: Daisy welcome back!
Daisy Martinez: Thank you Rocco!
Rocco: You look so cute Daisy, I can't stop saying it. I love your look.
Daisy: Oh thanks Rocco.
Rocco: So when you first came here it was first time on the radio and now you're a seasoned pro and super star.
Daisy: I wouldn't say that but you really make me feel so comfortable here.
Rocco: So let's talk about the book.
Daisy: It was a lot of wok and it took about a year and a half. It has over 200 recipes.
Rocco: Wow - this is big kudos for you here.
Daisy: The book is really to welcome you into my home, family and into my table. It is family food and not structured.
Rocco: Is it Latin oriented?
Daisy: Yes but Daisy-fied it. And being a Mom, I care about nutrition. For example there is this Brazilian Cake in Brazil it is Akaraje, it is a little griddled cake with beans fried in oil. Which is easy to make. It has white beans and cook them, then mash half of them. Then had chunks of fresh shrimp. Then made them into cakes, rolled them in flour and cooked them up. They are delicious.
Rocco: That sounds really good! So where can we get your book?
Daisy: barnes and Nobles, Amazon.com everywhere for!
Rocco: With 200 recipes, this is well worth it.So why are all the cute Latin women named Daisy?
Daisy: Is that true?
Rocco: Yeah Daisy Fuentes, what's going on?
Daisy: Well Daisy translates to Margarita.
Rocco: Well good luck with the book Daisy! Want to stick around and take a few calls?
Daisy: Sure Rocco, thank you!

Mikey from Brooklyn: Hello Rocco, I haven't been to a gathering like that since I was a little kid!
Rocco: And you sang!
Mikey: Yep - and I came with my childhood friend Phil and we were laid back and relaxed. So I sang with friends!
Rocco: Yeah it was a laid back fun night.
Mikey: I gotta ask Daisy how to do scallops.
Daisy: Oh I love scallops, the less you do the better. Pan sear them to get caramelzation. Put a squeeze of lemon and salt and serve them with black eyed peas. Then you can make a sauce for them using garlic, parsley and white wine sauce, then add scallops, clams, lobster with yellow rice or angel hair pasta and you have a dish!

Bella in Brooklyn: I am an avid fan Rocco!
Rocco: Thank you Bella!
Bella: I love your show Daisy and I have to say I saw you make the rice and the figs and there was somethin that you did with the oil to amke it not burn.
Daisy: Yes, here is the trick: Annatto seeds, known as achiote in Spanish, are small irregularly shaped, deep reddish colored seeds. They grow in pods but are sold loose in jars in the spice aisle. Steeping annatto (achiote) seeds in hot olive oil for a few minutes will do more than give the oil a brilliant orange-gold color; it will infuse it with a nutty, delicate aroma and add a quick kick to whatever you use it in. So use about 1 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons achiote (annatto) seeds
Then heat the oil and annatto seeds in a small skillet over medium heat just until the seeds give off a lively, steady sizzle. Don't overheat the mixture or the seeds will turn black and the oil a nasty green. Once they're sizzling away, pull the pan from the heat and let stand until the sizzling stops. Strain as much of the oil as you are going to use right away into the pan.

Jane in Long Island: Hey Rocco! So I heard you review of Serendipity and now I donlt know where I am going to take my nieces!
Rocco: Well I said that it was fantastic and I am not a theater critic and they might be afraid with the fireworks...
Jane: Um...
Rocco: Oh wait you are talking about Serendipity the Restaurant? Sorry I did a lot of drinking last night. So yes do NOT go to Serendipity's. Now where do you go? I would try a few of these:

Dallas BBQ
27 W 72nd St
212-873-2004

Jekyll & Hyde Club
1409 6th Ave
Btwn 57th & 58th St
Phone: 212-541-9517

Brooklyn Diner
212 W 57th St
Btwn Bway & 7th Ave
Phone: 212-581-8900

The Sea Grill
19 W 49th St,Btwn 5th & 6th Ave
Phone: 212-332-7610

That's all for today and see you all tomorrow, Grab The Good Life!