Fran's Friday Forum...OOPS...I Knew I Forgot Something...!!!
Last Friday, New Year's Eve, I neglected to post my usual 'FORUM' contribution...
The holidays were a very busy time in the Gaspari household, and even though I watched The Sound Of Music twice and My Big Fat Greek Wedding twice with various of my children, nevertheless it was a busy busy time.
I did manage to squeeze in, during one three hour session, enough kitchen time to attempt for the 
second time in less than a week to reproduce an ethnic family favorite of ours...STUFFED OLIVES...
Now wait...they're probably not what your thinking or imagining...
Yes, I've seen various types of 'stuffed Spanish green olives'...from those with pimento to those with various cheeses...among which are jalapeno, pepper jack, mozzarella, provolone, etc...BUT...
The favorite family recipe of which I speak, however, is an Italian delight which originated in the Marche Province of Italy, and which has been handed down for several generations now...a peculiar hors d'oeuvres type dish which one might say is our 'signature ethnic delicacy'...
Problem is...My Mother seemed to be the last of a long line of Gasparis who still could faithfully reproduce these delicious gems...
Suffice it to say, that without any written recipe, and using only my recollection and former assistance on the job...I set out to duplicate to the best of my ability...this Italian Family Favorite...
Just to oversimplify...You take a few dozen of the largest Spanish green olives you can find, remove the pits so that what remains is a type of spiral shaped spring, fill the same appropriately with a browned ground meat and spices concoction, then in assembly line fashion from eggs to flour to eggs to bread crumbs to eggs again to bread crumbs again...all in preparation to be deep fried, cooled and enjoyed...!!!
Of course, if they turn out right, you end up with a beautifully shaped football-like object about two mouthfuls in size...just right for a holiday appetizer or between meal treat...MINE...
On this, the third anniversary of my Mom's passing, about twice the size they should be, slightly lumpy breading, devoid of parsley (a spice which I don't care for), and, because I used Colossal sized olives...ending up with a much more pungent olive taste...
Each specimen almost a meal in itself, yet quite a hit with many family members...a real surprise and a pleasant treat...!!!
Happy New Year...OOPS...I forgot it was only Monday...and...we miss you Mom...!!!
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