Sunday, August 2, 2020

Torta Setteveli—From Gemma Capello’s Sicilian Kitchen from Guest Jen J Danna with #Giveaway

Today I’d like to welcome my friend and fellow Canadian writer Jen J. Danna with a recipe from her new book, Exit Strategy. Thanks to Jen for offering a copy of the book to one lucky winner. 
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When I created the character of Gemma Capello in the NYPD Negotiators series, I leaned heavily on my own Sicilian background, giving her family the same roots as mine—hailing from Siculiana in the province of Agrigento in Sicily. Part of a loud and loving Italian family of six first responders, Gemma is the only female, having lost her mother at age ten. She learned the traditional family favourites at her grandmother’s elbow, and when the entire family gets together to celebrate the Sicilian Feast of the Assumption, Gemma brings the ultimate Sicilian dessert: Torta Setteveli, or the Seven Veils Cake. This is a seven-layer chocolate and hazelnut creation: chocolate sponge cake, hazelnut crunch, hazelnut Bavarian cream, chocolate sponge cake, hazelnut Bavarian cream, chocolate mousse, and chocolate mirror glaze. Now that I’ve made it myself, I take my hat off to Gemma. That woman is a better baker than I am!










You can find the recipe I used here: https://foodcrumbles.com/torta-setteveli/. A word of advicethis cake is challenging and will take you 8 – 10 hours to create.
  
Do you have a traditional family favourite that is your go-to dish for family dinners? In honour of the launch of EXIT STRATEGY, I will give away a hardcover copy to one randomly selected commenter (U.S. and Canada entrants only).




Bio: Writing under the name Sara Driscoll, Jen J. Danna is also the co-author of the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries. The NYPD Negotiators is her debut solo series. Jen is an infectious diseases researcher at a cutting-edge Canadian university near Toronto, but loves to spend her time writing the thrilling and mysterious. You can find Jen here:





66 comments:

  1. That looks delectable! Our family has holubchi, a kind of cabbage roll, a Ukrainian recipe from my dad's side. And black forest cake for my mom's German heritage.
    kozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. The cabbage roll sounds interesting. And you can never go wrong with black forest cake. Yum! :)

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  2. I have several depending on the occasion. Everyone has their favorites. I don’t know I would make a cake this demanding. When I was younger I definitely would. suefoster109 at gmail dot com

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    1. It does look demanding but marvellous for a big occasion

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    2. It was definitely demanding. Before starting it, I watched a video on it where a professional chef said it took him 10 hours and that he'd never make it again. And I thought "What have I gotten myself into?" But it turned out well in the end.

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  3. My family go to dish for dinner is BBQ brisket.
    Kitten143 (at) Verizon (dot) net

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  4. My go to is a custard based peanut butter pie

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    1. I've never tried a pie like that, but I think I'd love it! Sounds wonderful!

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  6. Wowza! That is one impressive cake! Quite an undertaking.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  7. For special occasions I make the family's favorite which is A Jewish Apple Cake. Simply delectable and yummy. Your cake is so tempting and beautiful. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Love apple cake! And thank you. It especially looks great when it's cut. All those nice layers.

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  8. If we’re hosting I usually make London broil. And my boyfriend makes a vegan cake - either apple or chocolate. We’re not vegan but they taste good.

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  9. i make a coconut cake that my daughter absolutely loves and begs me not to make it because she eats most of it, lol!

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    1. Ha! The good and the bad of a truly great cake!

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  10. I look forward to reading this book. My family used to have a 7 -layer cake recipe that has vanished over the years. I can almost re-create it, the thin layers of sponge alternate with a rich icing concocted by beating chocolate ganache with butter, but I never get it quite right.

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    1. That sounds very good. The chocolate mousse base is a ganache as well, but then it's mixing with whipped cream, so a little different

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  11. Oh, that cake looks heavenly! My Mom's family is New Orleans-Sicilian (from Palermo)and my dad's side is Louisiana Cajun, so our traditions are a blend of both cultures. Gumbo or pasta with different sauces are faves, besides Tex-Mex. As for desserts, most requested are Pineapple Upside-Down cake, apple (or any kind of fruit) pie, and cobblers, especially peach or blackberry. lola777_22 at hotmail dot com

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  12. Years ago during the holidays when we had a party for relatives I would always make a marble cake which everyone looked forward to enjoying. This was a yearly tradition. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  13. Ohh thank you for this recipe. I will try it next gathering. When we have a family gathering such as thanksgiving etc. I am asked to bring my sweet potato casserole. My sister is asked to make her pumpkin pie and custard pie quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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    1. This recipe would be great for a big gathering. Good luck with it. Tips - I'd under roast the hazelnuts and give the sponge cake a few more minutes (and test it with a toothpick). Otherwise the instructions are good!

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  14. My Italian grandmother created a whiskey pie that uses ricotta as the main filling ingredient. You add orange zest, chopped chocolate, and of course whiskey and then bake. Delicious! I don't make it often, but it is soooo good! Thank you for the chance to win and congratulations on the new series. aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Yes, I have my grandmother's coffee cake recipe, and I never give it out!!

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    2. Whiskey pie?? That founds fascinating! And thank you!

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    3. Donna, that must be a great coffee cake! :)

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  15. I make stuffed peppers with ground beef and mushrooms. Thanks for the chance!
    Jess
    maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  16. A coffee cake my Dad used to make is one of our favorites and my Mom's pork schnitzel is another. This cake looks amazing and quite a project. I love hazelnuts and would definitely enjoy a slice. Congratulations on your new book. Thanks for the chance.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. It was a project, but I have to say, it's really exceptional. Hope so after all that work! ;)

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  17. We usually make lasagna. That cake looks so good. Maybe I can convince someone else to make & share it with me.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

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    1. Lasagna is always good when you're feeding a crowd! Two pairs of hands making that cake would definitely be easier and more fun than one. :)

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  18. Hubby has several, including his salsa and enchiladas. I love his daughter's pumpkin cheesecake. I would love to read this, sounds fabulous!
    jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot)com

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    1. Ooh, all of that sounds great! I have a really good homemade salsa recipe that I've been too busy to make for years. Maybe this year I'll get to it. And you can never go wrong with cheesecake! :)

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  19. That cake looks awesome! I have several different cake that friends and family request a lot! Carrot Cake, Chocolate Sheet Cake, Pineapple Cake with Creamed Cheese frosting, Apple cake with Vanilla sauce... Oh and Cherry Pie Bars! Jen is a new author for me. I would love to read her book! Thanks for the chance! almaj80(at)suddenlink(dot)net

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    1. Those all sound amazing; I wouldn't know which one to try first!

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  20. I have my own home made Mac and cheese that everyone loves

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  21. We have a special family cherry Jell-O salad that has sweet canned cherries, chopped pecans and pieces of cream cheese. It is delicious as either a salad or dessert.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  22. In my family, my mom made Cornish pasties on special occasions! Her grandfather emigrated from Cornwall when he was ten years old. My favorite from my father's side is pine nuts that we picked from pinion trees in our Nevada mountains. We just roasted them over a campfire or in the oven.

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    1. Cornish pasties are wonderful! And I've never had fresh pine nuts before. I bet they are much better than pre-packaged.

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  23. Looks good but I'm allergic to Hazelnut. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. So is my daughter, unfortunately, so she hasn't been able to share it with us. I wanted to make it to follow the traditional recipe this time,but it could easily be made without the hazelnuts with just a plain Bavarian cream and chocolate crunch. I think that would also be nice!

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  24. I no longer cook but I think I just gained 10 pounds from reading your post.

    kpbarnett1941(at)aol(dot)com!

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    1. Now just imagine eating it! It's a big cake. A few days later and there's still a bit left... :)

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  25. For birthdays it's chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and nuts on top! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com

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  26. The recipe looks good and so does the book! Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  27. Wow, this sounds amazing and completely impossible, LOL! Congrats on the new book release! We don't really have a family tradition related to dessert, but my mom and brother enjoy making pies. My brother and sister in law have apple trees so they make some amazing apple pies.

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    1. Forgot my email: khpinelake @ gmail dot com

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    2. You simply cannot go wrong with apple pie!

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  28. Congratulations! Don’t have a dessert tradition, mostly I like all of,them 😂😂

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  29. I make a “poor man’s lasagna” for Christmas dinner and other special occasions. It takes a lot of work to some with hot Italian sausage, some with mild and a gluten-free one with sweet Italian sausage and make enough for 4 families to have leftovers. I can do it in stages over a few days but it still takes a lot of time.

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    1. Wow, that's dedication! That would take a long time!

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  30. I usually make my broccoli salad or potatoe salad! tWarner419(at)aol(dot)com

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  31. Not really a "dish" but I make a spinach artichoke dip with bacon. My extended family always asks for it when we have family gatherings! It's SO tasty!

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    1. That sounds SO good! I'd definitely like that one...

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  32. That cake looks absolutely DIVINE... the layers of Bavarian cream and chocolate laced throughout this hazelnut masterpiece. Thank you for sharing your adventure and recipe! My family’s go to meal is using leftover rice (which we always have!) to make fried rice. saimah.sanders(at)gmail(dot)com

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