Chatting with Nick Carlino of Carlino’s Specialty Foods and Catering about holiday traditions made me long for the comforts of home—how could I ever wait for Christmas dinner now? Our conversation was focused on Wanna Taste? Stories and Recipes from Mama Carlino’s Kitchen, a book he and sister Angela put together in memory of Mama Carlino. (Carlino family pictured with Wanna Taste, Angela and Nick on left.)
I asked Nick to pick a recipe from Wanna Taste to talk about—he chose “Mama’s Traditional Holiday Soup.” When I asked him to tell me a little bit about the recipe, Nick went back to the beginning.“The reason I chose this recipe is because I can remember when I was little, waking up to the smell of the Holiday Soup on Christmas morning. Christmas in the Carlino household is insane, but Mama Carlino always made sure to wake up early on Christmas morning and get the aroma of her holiday cooking in the air,” remembered Nick.
“Another reason this recipe is so near to my heart is because about 6 years ago, Mama Carlino, my sister Angela and I traveled back to Italy to purchase a meatball machine that produced little baby meatballs, small enough for the Holiday Soup. The Holiday Soup brings back fond memories of Mama Carlino.”
Hearing about these Carlino family traditions made me curious about the holiday traditions at the store.
“Our normal business hours are 9 am to 3 pm on Christmas Eve,” he said. “However, usually at 7 am on Christmas Eve, customers are lined up outside the store and down the street waiting to get inside. We have to open the doors early amidst the wave of eager customers! It is such a great feeling to see so many people sharing the Christmas Season with us and knowing that they are enjoying our food.”
After hearing Nick’s stories, I may be one of the people lined up outside the store on Christmas Eve. Carlino’s Market sells their Holiday Soup in the store, as it has been a customer favorite for years.
You can also pick up a copy of Wanna Taste? at either Carlino’s Market locations (Ardmore or West Chester). In addition to the great Holiday Soup recipe, Wanna Taste? also includes other great holiday recipes, from appetizers to desserts.
If you would prefer, you can also get a copy by emailing Nick at [email protected]. Beginning in February, 2012 the book will be available for purchase online at carlinosmarket.com. Happy shopping!
Mama’s Holiday Soup
Serves: 8-10
Time: 2 1/2 hours, including prep time for mini meatballs
Ingredients:
- 1 (3-4 pound) stewing chicken, cut in quarters and thoroughly rinsed
- 1 large onion, peeled and cut in half
- 4 celery stalks, cut in half
- 3 carrots, peeled and cut in half
- 1 head escarole, green leaves only, washed and thoroughly chopped
- Mini meatballs, 1 batch (recipe on page 83)
- 3/4 pound pastina (small pasta), cooked according to package directions
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt, additional salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- Scrippelle, 1 batch
Directions:
1. In a large stock pot, add chicken, onions, celery, carrots and salt.
2. Add enough water to cover 2 inches above the ingredients to allow everything to boil freely.
3. Simmer, uncovred, until the chicken begins to come off the bone (about 1 1/2 hours). Occasionally skim off the foam from the top.
4. Remove chicken from the broth and strain vegetables, add to separate bowls to cool.
5. When chicken is cool enough to handle, shrd by hand, discarding the skin and bones.
6. Dice all of the cooked vegetables.
7. Replace the broth back into stock pot.
8. Add escarole, shredded chicken, mini meatballs, and cooked vegetables.
9. Bring the soup to a boil and continue to boil for 5 minutes.
10. Season with salt and pepper.
11. Add cooked pasta.
12. Ladle soup into individual bowls (being sure to include the mini meatballs to each dish). Add a small handful of scrippelle, if desired.
Photographs credited to Allison Benford, Bonsai Doll Fern Photography. More scenes from Carlino’s “Wanna Taste?” Cookbook Launch are available by clicking here.
