Ok, so Mardi Gras is just around the corner, February 21st, and if you know me, you know I’m preparing for the feast day commonly known as Fat Tuesday!  You might also know that Mardi Gras is also known as Fat Tuesday, but, did you also know that one of the great delicacies of Mardi Gras is the Muffuletta Sandwich?  And, you guessed it, the greatest American city to celebrate Mardi Gras is home to this deliciousness:  New Orleans!

And, if you’re like me, you’re brave enough to visit Naw’Leans, but not brave enough to actually visit during Mardi Gras.

Thanks to Formato Brothers, I don’t need to travel farther than my kitchen cupboard to enjoy the taste of Mardi Gras all year long!  So according to legend, the Muffuletta sandiwch originated at the Central Grocery in New Orleans back on Decatur Street in early 1906.  The true sandwich starts with a 10″ round loaf of Italian bread filled with all the Italian fillings you can imagine:  salami, cheese, ham, and most importantly, olive salad — and, oh, by the way, NEVER heat or toast the sandwich!!!  It must be served at room temp or you’ll be disowned by the family.

And, this is the easiest recipe ever:  just all all ingredients til your heart’s content!

Here’s how I would create my Formato Brothers Muffuletta (layer each item):

1 – 10″ round Italian bread (if you can’t find round bread, just use regular Italian), cut into the top and bottom
6 oz sliced provolone cheese
6 oz sliced salami
6 oz sliced Italian ham
4 Tablespoons of Formato Brothers Muffuletta Spread (regular or Hot will work)

Cut sandwich into quarters, serve, enjoy!

Ok, so one more thing:  I’m actually going to New Orleasn in a few months (like I said, not brave enough to actually go during Mardi Gras), but, I’m going to track down and visit the original Central Grocery on Decatur Street and post the pics on Facebook (formatobrothers.com).

If you “like” the picture, then go ahead and  “like” the Facebook page (formatobrothers.com).  Look for the $5.00 discount code available there.

Click on Recipes for Chicken Muffuletta Sandwich, Crispy Mufuletta Raviolis, Meatless Eggplant Meatballs made with Muffuletta Olive Salad.  Come back to our Blog page for a New Orleans update once Andrea returns from her trip there.

The following was written by a Formato Family member, Andrea.

I’ll never forget my first Valentine’s Day memory:  6th grade, Dallas, Texas.  There was a really cute boy in my class and I had the biggest crush:  Chris.  He was blonde and CUTE.  Unfortunately, the week of Valentine’s Day I got the flu, was super sick, and had to stay home from school all week.  It was 2/14 (sometime in the 80″s) and I was lying on the couch feeling less than Valentinesy.  Around 6:00 pm the doorbell rang.  My mom came over and said, “Andrea, you have a special visitor.”  It was Chris at the door!  Clearly his mom was waiting in the car.

Chris:  “I know you weren’t at school today because you were sick, but I wanted to bring this box of chocolates and tell you Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Andrea:  (Speechless)……

Are you kidding me?  I looked horrible and he was so sweet.  I said, “Thank you,” told him I’d see him at school next week, took the chocolates (sick or not, chocolates are chocolates!), and closed the door.  I was so frustrated that I wasn’t prepared for my surprise visit, but my dad reassured me I’d have many more Valentine’s Days to look perfectly perfect.

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone out there who was ready for their Valentine or was just slightly off with the timing.

By the way, Andrea’s grown up, a working business woman who still likes chocolates, and who still can be surprised.

Why don’t you surprise your special someone this Valentine’s Day?  The Pernigotti chocolates imported from Italy are some of the best Italian candies available.  Your “sweet” person will always remember this Valentine’s gift.    We are offering this Shipping Included Special:  1 of each of  our Pernigotti bags will be sent with a personalized note if you like.  $ 39.70 and we will pay for the shipping!

(This offer does not qualify for the $ 75.00 Shipping Included Special or for any other discounts or coupon codes).

• Cooked turkey chopped into tidbit size pieces
• Formato Brothers Hot Muffuletta Olive Salad
• Wonton wrappers
• Oil from FB Hot Muffuletta salad

Prepare wonton filling:

Chop turkey into small tidbit size pieces
Add Formato Brothers Hot Muffuletta ( to taste ) and mix in a large bowl

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Spray cookie sheet or large oven tray with non-stick Canola oil ( or vegetable oil spray or olive oil spray if you prefer )
Place wonton wrappers on tray, evenly spaced so that sides do not touch each other or tray/pan edges
Place a tablespoon of turkey/muffuletta mixture on wonton wrapper
Wet all four edges with water
Place another wonton on top of wonton with turkey/muffuletta mixture
Seal top wrapper to get any air pockets out by pressing edges together
Brush lightly with a small amount of hot muffuletta oil on one side only

Place tray(s) in oven at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until crisp

Enjoy !

Many thanks to Gary Marino for submitting this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• dash of ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup shredded Havarti cheese
• 3 heaping tablespoons of Formato Brothers Hot Giardiniera
• 2 tablespoons chopped red pepper
• ¼ cup chopped breakfast sausage

Preparation:

Beat eggs and milk in small bowl with fork or wire whisk until yolks and whites are well mixed.  Heat butter in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until butter is hot and sizzling. As butter melts, tilt skillet to coat bottom with butter.  Add chopped red pepper and hot giardiniera to pan.  Stir the mixture and add ¼ cup of chopped breakfast sausage. Cook until sausage browns, season with pepper.  Pour eggs into skillet.  While rapidly sliding skillet back and forth over heat, quickly stir eggs with a fork to spread them continuously over the bottom of the skillet as they thicken. When they are thickened, let stand over heat a few seconds to lightly brown bottom of omelet.  Do not overcook… Sprinkle with cheese over omelet and fold in ½.  Note that the omelet will continue to cook after being folded.  Tilt skillet and run a spatula under edge of omelet, then jerk skillet sharply to loosen omelet from bottom of skillet and serve over a slice of whole wheat toast.

Enjoy…..