A house is at its’ most beautiful when filled with guests ..today’s Sunday dinner, with a house full of people reminded me of the classic Italian  movie Il Gattopardo (The Leopard)..some of the film’s most beautiful scenes take place at the table of this royal Sicilian Family filled  with guests and their consorts..meals of many courses were well choreographed with banter as guests supped  and interacted together….

But moreover today’s lunch reminded me of one of Don Fabrizio’s( the Prince played by the award winning actor Burt Lancaster)  lines in the film

“If we want things to stay as they are ,things will have to change”

Today’s  Sunday dinner ..

*eaten at a table of 25 dinner guests but filled with new faces, new family and friends

*new twists on traditional recipes…the Sunday ravioli, made with a melt in your mouth pasta  but filled with a creamy pumpkin and amaretti filling not the usual ricotta filling..but the same delicious ravioli (pumpkin ravioli is traditional for the North of Italy not for the South).

*the dinner  was eaten not in my grandparent’s house in the South Philadelphia neighborhood…but in a house located 10 minutes from where my grandfather was born… (Tagliacozzo  Italy)

*same warm banter and feelings  being passed around the table with many of the same courses but different faces…

*an after dinner coffee at a local coffee bar and a passseggiata was enjoyed in the town my grandfather was born in Tagliacozzo…Sunday dinner usually ended  with coffee and my grandfather  sharing stories, photos and songs about that very  town..

My how things stay the same..my how things change..

Here is a recipe for one of today’s second courses

Flan di Pomodoro, Zucchini, e Formaggio (Zucchini, Tomato, Cheese Flan)

from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking:DaVinci Style

1 cup (200 gr) extra virgin olive oil

1 lb (500 gr) tomatoes pureed- fresh or canned

1 lb (½ kilo) zucchini-sliced

2 leeks

1 onion

4 eggs

6 tablespoons (90 gr) cream

1 whole carrot peeled and cleaned

8 ounces Emmenthal cheese-grated

pinch of oregano

pinch of salt and pepper

Place ¼ cup (60 gr) olive oil in sauce pan and saute finely chopped onion till golden. Add in sliced zucchini and saute for 3-5 minutes over low heat. Remove from heat, Place zucchini, onion mixture in food processor with 2 eggs, 3 tablespoons (45 gr) cream, grated Emmenthal cheese, pinch of salt and pepper. Blend to a puree. Set aside.

Place ¼ cup (60 gr) olive oil in saute pan, heat, place in tomatoes, pinch of oregano, salt and pepper, whole carrot (to sweeten sauce). Let cook for 15 minutes over low heat.

Slice leeks into round slices. Place ¼ cup olive oil in saute pan, heat and saute sliced leeks. Saute till golden. Remove from heat. Place leeks in food processor with 2 eggs,remaining cream, pinch of salt and pepper. Blend to a puree.

Oil a loaf pan. Pour in a layer of leek puree. Then on top of that a layer of zucchini puree. Then add in layer of tomato pulp that has been cooked. You can make a zig zag design with the tomato pulp on top. Place loaf pan in another pan that had been half filled with hot water. Bake in oven preheated to 350 F (175C) for 40 to 50 minutes till firm. Remove from oven, serve.

For more recipes get your copy of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: DaVInci Style here or the digital version exclusively at Kindle

Share the Joy! if you have a special Food Memory. This week Ginnie Bivona, author of The Seductive Chef: A Cookbook & More For Lovers  Shares the Joy! with her story:

How I wish I could go home for just one more Sunday. My fondest memories of holiday dinners were the family feasts at my Aunt Jo and Uncle Ed’s house. Everyone in the family, from the littlest kids to the family elders were all packed around the dinner table. All talking and laughing at the same time. Loud, I might add. We started with the antipasto, then platter after bowl after heaping tray passed around the table for hours. And of course, wine with every new offering. But my favorite part of the meal was not at the table (although it was there I learned to love Italian cooking) it was later in the day. When the meal was finally over, the boys went out to play, the girls and women cleaned up the dishes, the men went into the living room to drink port, smoke cigars and listen to scratchy Caruso records, weeping at the beauty of the Great Man’s voice. Then, finally, when the house was back in perfect order we all gathered around the piano, singing arias from opera and traditional songs from the old country. I never could carry a tune, but how I loved that singing. It day was full of great food, family love and beautiful Italian music. We sang till dark, leaving then in a flurry of hugs, kisses and pinched cheeks. Who wouldn’t want to go back one more time for a day like that?   

Ginnie Siena Bivona
www.ginniebivona.com

Get your copy of the book voted Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards-The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays &  Special Occasions-2nd edition

Visit OpenSky

Oct 29-31-See you at the Philly Gourmet Food & Wine Show at Valley Forge Convention Center this weekend at my culinary book signing

Nov 2nd- 7 PM-Book Signing, sampling at Fair Lakes Library, Fair Lakes, NJ

Nov 13-Borders Express- Woodbridge, NJ

Dec4-Borders, Mount Laurel, NJ

One  day  of the  week was always reserved for bread baking in most homes in Italy. From sunrise the loaves were kneaded and then left to rest and rise! The bread would be eaten all week and used and reused in so many delicious ways….

Bruschetta makes use of crusty bread that is day old..but it has become a new,  almost chic thing to make with so many ingredients. Years ago, Pane Cotto (literally means cooked bread) was invented as a recipe to make use of crusty day old bread.  And it too, is becoming fashionable to make.

Today, with the chill of Autumn here, Pane Cotto comes to mind..a dish that soothes the stomach and the soul..and takes away the chill of Autumn. This is a traditional soup from Abruzzo. The Tuscan version is known as Acquacotto and is similar. Either way they are sure to become one of your favorite comfort foods for a chilly autumn evening.

Pane Cotto

1/2 lb cauliflower (florets only)

2 ounces pancetta (optional)
1/2 medium onion

1/4 lb carrots

1/4 lb celery

1/2 lb potatoes

1/4 lb fresh zucchini

1/4 lb white beans

1/2 lb of red, ripe tomatoes

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 lb of crusty day old bread

2 garlic cloves

pinch of thyme

marjoram

pinch of red pepper

sage leaf

Soak white beans overnight. Cook them in 8 cups boiling water with  1 tblsp olive oil, garlic cloves, sage leaf, cook till beans are tender but still al dente.

Wash remaining veggies and peel and cut into large cubes. In a large frying pan, place in pancetta and onion chopped finely. add in chopped veggies and saute for 10 minutes. Add in tomatoes that have been seeded and cut and lastly add in white beans  with cooking water. Cook till veggies are tender.

Cut bread into large cubes. Place under broiler til golden. Place soup in large soup pot and place in bread. Let sit for an hour. reheat to medium heat and serve boiling hot.

For more great recipes get your copy of the book selected as The Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA- The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

See you on NBC TV-!10 Show on October 22 at 11 AM

October 29-31-Gourmet Food & Wine Show-Valley Forge Convention Center

November 2nd- at 7 PM –Book signing- Fair Lakes Library, Fair Lakes NJ

-Share the Joy! share your favorite food memory here

The Following Review was just published by ForeWord Reviews at www.ForeWordreviews.com

copyright ForeWord Reviews

COOKING

The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions —Second Edition

Maria Liberati

Art of Living, Prima Media

Softcover $24.95 (236pp)

978-1-928911-19-7

This is the second edition of the second book in Maria Liberati’s Basic Art of Italian Cooking series: The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions. This book focuses on cooking for celebrations, and its first edition won the 2009 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards for Best Italian Cuisine Book in the US A. It will surely be a celebrated addition to any foodie’s kitchen shelf. The book moves through the yearly calendar of holidays, beginning with Christmas Eve, a meal often celebrated in the United States. Liberati moves on to the lesser- known Feast of the Seven Fishes, a sumptuous Christmas Day meal, a celebratory New Year’s Eve and Day, La Befana, Valentine’s Day, and Carnevale (a feast rooted in Italian Roman

history). The author has assigned each festive occasion a few recipes for each course: appetizers,

first course, second course, desserts, and even beverages. Recipes each receive their own page, with Italian dish names translated into English for an American audience. At times, helpful tips related to food or table presentation are inserted along the bottom of the page.

The book’s straightforwardness and charisma comes as much from its tone as it s format of condensed, manageable ‘holiday’ chapters. In each section, the author introduces readers to the origins and significance of the meal by giving an anecdote from her own family experiences in her house in Italy. These stories lend a personal warmth, authenticity, and simplicity that

making readers feel that they might be in an Italian country house, chatting with extended family

members while the meal is being prepared. The recipes themselves are written simply, without jargon, and are accessible to cooks just beginning to dabble in authentic Italian cuisine. Liberati has also thoughtfully included a combined glossary and index of sorts in the rear, to help readers

navigate the many Italian words throughout the book. The only thing left wanting in this volume is the occasional photograph of a dish, either finished or in progress, which would be especially helpful to the novice cook.

When the holidays roll around, Liberati’s book might be a wonderful gift book for that gourmet chef in your life or the student of food culture, or for your own enjoyment. (July 2010) Gabriela Worrel

Review date: October 2010.

Get Your copy of the Book selected as The Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA- The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

October 27th-11 AM –the !10 Show NBC TV – cooking segment from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking : Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

October 29th-31st- The Gourmet Food & Wine Show at the Valley Forge Convention Center-culinary book signing with Christina of Christina Cooks! and Fabio from the Food Network.

November 2nd- Fair Lakes Pubic Library, Fair Lakes, NJ-Culinary Book signing and sampling of recipes

December 4th- Borders, Princeton, NJ- 1 PM

For more info on upcoming appearances email :events@marialiberati.com

Visit OpenSky

Couscous is a pasta too!..Most of us  don’t think of it as one. But in Sicily a dish of couscous is commonly served as  first course as is a pasta dish. Here’s my  recipe for an  easy to make, bright, fragrant couscous dish. Use  Meyer Lemon oil to emphasize the fresh lemon taste.

Lemony Couscous

1 cup couscous

1 1/4 cups water

1  teaspoon Meyer Lemon  Oil

1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3/4 tsp sea salt or kosher salt

1/2 cup shopped scallions

1/4 cup chopped leeks

1 fresh garlic clove minced

finely grated peel of 1 fresh lemon

1/4 tsp of freshly ground black pepper

In a saucepan (2-3 quart size) heat water till boiling. Add in couscous when boiling with sea or kosher salt. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for approximately 10 minutes, stirring once.

Place Extra virgin Olive Oil in small saute pan. Place in scallions, leeks, garlic and saute on low to medium heat for 3 minutes or until leeks & scallions, garlic, have just begun to turn golden. Stir in lemon peel. Remove from heat.

Drain couscous. Place couscous in saute pan with garlic mixture. Toss gently, drizzle with Meyer Lemon Oil.Serve and top with freshly ground black pepper. For garnish decorate plate with long strips of lemon peel or fresh lemon slices and fresh ,torn mint leaves.

Shop for yummy specialty oils and Balsamic vinegars to liven any dish

For lots of Holiday Ideas, Recipes, Tips, get your copy of the book selected as The Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA- The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

*October 14th-Lower Southampton Twp Library-book signing and Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar tasting and presentation

*October 27th-11AM-NBC TV !10 Show (morning magazine show-0check your local paper for listings)

*October 29-31- Philadelphia Gourmet Food & WIne Show-Culinary Book Signing event-signing copies of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

*Nov 2nd-Franklin Lakes Library-Book singing and Olive oil sampling & Tasting

*Dec. 4th-Borders Princeton, NJ

 Shar Family food memories right her on our blog in our Share the Joy Feature

Peace, Love & Pasta.

Maria

This week, a special thanks goes to Marlene Caroselli for Sharing the Joy! with everyone and her favorite family recipe for chocolate pizzelle. Marlene is an author and this story she has sent is a touching one since her Mom has since passed. Thanks Marlene and here is wishing you Peace, Love & Always Lots of Pasta!

by Marlene Caroselli

The cookie table was laden with delicacies the Italian aunts had been baking and freezing for weeks. The waiters were prepared to serve–salmon, yes, but the traditional Italian dishes as well, an unending stream of them. The neighborhood priest was ready to give his blessing. First, though–the toast to my aunt on her 50th wedding anniversary from her sister, my mother. With only an 8th grade education to her name, my mother was understandably nervous addressing the assembled guests. But, she raised her glass
to honor the anniversary couple. Then, in a quivering voice, she offered her toast….and an unfortunate spoonerism, “I wish you continued love and joy, from the heart of my bottom!” (None of the laughter-evoked choking from the guests subsequently proved fatal.)
Our favorite family recipe for chocolate pizzelles:
3 medium eggs or 4 small ones
3/4 c. flour
1/2 c. butter (no substitutes), melted
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 c. sugar plus three tablespoons
2 tsp. favorite flavoring
3 tbsp cocoa powder
Beat eggs and sugar together. Add cooled butter, flavoring and cocoa. Sift the flour and baking powder together. Add them to the egg mixture.
Use a spoon to put the batter in the pizzelle machine. Remove when pizzelles have turned a golden color.
The recipe makes about two dozen pizzelles

If you have  a special food memory Share the Joy! and see your story published here and it may be selected to be in a national publication. Email your story of 300 words or less to sharethejoy@marialiberati.com

Get your copy of the book selected as The Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA-The Basic Art of Italian Cooking:Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition  filled with recipes and charming Holiday stories, wine pairing tips, menus.

October 14th-Lower Southampton Library, Feasterville, Pa 7PM-book signing, lesson on olive oil tasting/Reservations required. email: events@marialiberati.com

October 27- TV appearance on NBC the !10 Show

October 29-31 Philadelphia Gourmet Food & Wine Show-Valley Forge Convention  Center- email: events@marialiberati.com

November 2-Franklin Lakes Public Lilbrary, Frankllin Lakes, NJ Book signing and lesson in olive oil tasting. Email: info@marialiberati.com

December 4th: Borders, Princeton, NJ book signing and olive oil tasting

For any info on appearances or to schedule an appearance email: events@marialiberati.com

 

copyright 2010 Maria Liberati/art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc

My suitcases were small (all that my airline would allow) but I brought back a lot, (things that are too special to carry in a suitcase) my souvenirs are made up of memories and flavors that I experienced while in Sacramento, California. One of my book tour appearances, last week)  brought me to the Italian Cultural Center there….a short visit that brought a long list of more memories filled with flavors and an experience of history that I never knew…

Large amounts of Italians emigrated from Italy to California during the Gold Rush  Many worked as miners, began hotels for the miners and helped in many other ways during that time….seems to be a fact hidden away in the history of the US and something I never knew. But one of my favorite things about Northern, California is a recipe that, is an Italian one,but adapted a bit to California style. It is Cioppino and one that California  call their very own. Legend has it that this recipe, in the 1850′s was brought there by an Italian named Buzarro, who had a restaurant  on a boat anchored off Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. Although Californians proudly acknowledge it as one of their own recipes it was brought there and adapted by this Italian and became a popular one to this day. It is an Italian version of Bouillabaise or a fish chowder. Serve over toasty slices of day old Italian bread and you have a delicious meal!  Serve with a dry white wine from Napa Valley..

Cioppino

 

* 1 1/2 lbs firm flesh fish (fish like sea bass, shark, etc.)

*1/2 lb shrimp

12 -clams or oysters or mussels or combination thereof

*1 large or 2 small crabs

1/3 cup Extra virgin olive oil

*2 cloves garlic whole

*3 lbs fresh red ripe plum tomatoes, fileted-or two cans of plum tomatoes

*1 small onion chopped finely

*2 cups of dry red wine (Chianti, Montepulciano,etc)

*1 small handful fresh parsley chopped

*1 small greeen pepper chopped

*Salt and ground pepper to taste

Clean, shell and devein shrimp, clean clams, crabs and mussels but leave in their shells. Place olive oil in large pot, add in garlic cloves, chopped onion, chopped pepper, tomatoes, saute for approximately 10 minutes. Then place in fish, layering with clams, oysters or mussels on top, then top with chopped parsley, ground pepper, pinch of sea salt. Cook for 30 minutes, or until fish is done. Top again with fresh parsley and ground pepper. ladle over crusty Italian bread slices. For an extra great taste, drizzle with Meyer Lemon Oil..   Enjoy.

 

For info on any of these upcoming appearances email:events@marialiberati.com

October   14th, 7 PM-  Lower Southampton Twp.  Library, Feasterville, Pa. for a demo on Olive oils and tasting and a book signing of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd ed. For more info or to make a reservation call  the Library 215) 355-1183 X104. Reservations are needed, this usually sells out fast!

October 29-31-See you at the Philadelphia Gourmet Food & Wine Show at the Valley Forge Convention Center, Valley Forge , Pennsylvania

Nov 2, Franklin Lakes Library for a book signing, reading and sampling from the latest award winning cookbook

Get your copy of the book selected as the Best Italian Cuisine Book

The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

Share your favorite food memory and Share the Joy! See your favorite story in Print

Try some of my new oils and Balsamic Vinegars..great for a special recipe or just drizzled on salads and bruschetta!

This week, Nunzio Addabbo, a  talented,retired writer who you can find more about
at : .target-jfk.com, and sisterglobe.com    shares this beautiful and touching story with us. Many Thanks to Nunzio for sharing, this sad, but endearing story..

Soon after my beloved wife, Elizabeth, was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer, she picked Italy for her final holiday. If she wanted it to be the moon, I’d figure some way to get us there. We made reservations and flew to Rome. Italy is beautiful in May and we toured much of the country the first three weeks from the magnificent Amalfi Coast to the Leaning Tower, ending up for our final week on one of Italy’s best kept secrets— the island of Ischia which is famous for its thermal baths and hot “fumaroles” along its sandy beaches. After stopping, shopping and eating gourmet meals at every city and village around the island, we made several stops at the gorgeous Poseidon Gardens, where Elizabeth underwent inhalation therapy, sulfuric mud-packs and massages, giving her hopes of recovery. The highlight of Ischia was our visit to Maronti Beach after breakfast. We rented a large umbrella and two beach chairs just under the Lido Nettuno Restaurant, where we would have lunch . I buried Elizabeth in the hot sand over a “fumarole.” Because Ischia is a volcanic island, fumaroles are warm to hot sulfur fumes rising out of the sand. Elizabeth slept soundly for three hours, until a waiter brought us a menu. Elizabeth an eponymous recipe historian, looked at the menu and chose PASTA a la NORMA. She needed to know the origin of this recipe and since I’m also a recipe historian and speak the Neapolitan dialect, I obtained the story from Chef Mario. The dish was named after the opera NORMA by composer Vincenzo Bellini, his greatest opera. This dish is prepared with San Marzano tomatoes, bucatini pasta and other fresh ingredients; and is truly unforgettable. My unforgettable Elizabeth died in my arms on December 16, 2003.

Be A Guest Writer & Share the Joy! In honor of the release of the award winning book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition.Share your favorite food memory and send your story of 300 words of less to sharethejoy@marialiberati.com

Get your copy of the book selected as the Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA..The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition

See you at the Philadelphia Gourmet Food & Wine Show at Valley Forge Convention Center of Oct 29-31

Visit me at OpenSky

“Every friend is to the other a sun, and a sunflower also. he attracts and follows”

Jean Paul Richter (German novelist and humorist 1763-1825)

copyright 2010 Maria Liberati/art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc

This phrase rang so true in my head spiraling along the winding curves of the hills of Chianti. Rows of sunflowers seemed to be bowing to the beautiful Tuscan sun, and they almost seemed to be smiling as a welcome to this beautiful region.

Along Route 222 passing through the beauty that is Chianti, I begin to remember that  here may have  once passed DaVinci, Michelangelo, Giotto.. My eyes dance in the landscape of  castles and villas and vineyards that in some way may have been touched by these artistic masters and I  begin  to feel as if I am in a colorful kaleidoscope..or  in a living painting..for the scenery is too perfect to be real.

Driving through the Hills of Chianti part 1

Continuing the drive along we almost become hypnotized with  the vines that seem to decorate the hills. Well, for me it’s  a problem I’m only the   passenger, but Alfonso is driving and although he has been silent for over a half  hour, too dazzled to speak ,we quickly remember that we are going back to our castle in Radda in Chianti and have lost our way..”Are you looking for Route 222? he mutters. “Yes, Yes” I answer, just to appease him..I really had no idea where we were..but wanted to just continue riding along (what seemed to be) the endless hills..

Luckily when I regained my consciousness, we were really on Route 222 continuing back to Radda in Chianti…passing through the little towns of Impruneta, Greve in Chianti and then Radda in Chianti..we both breathe a sigh of relief and decide that tonight we will go for a coffee and a passeggiatta in Radda in Chianti..a warm August night  will make the perfect canvas for an evening walk.

Driving thorugh the Hills of Chianti Part 2

As we drove up the Piano D’Albola (the plains of Albola)  I tried to imagine how the nobility that once lived here entered the gates and the long drive up to the main house, but I could hear my stomach rumbling as I thought of the fresh porcini mushrooms we bought at the market today..a pasta dish with porcini mushrooms was definitely in order.

Under castello D’Albola in the Original Cantina

Lunch for that day was a yummy Penne ai Porcini  ( a plate of penne pasta with porcini mushrooms),served with white wine from Castello D’Albola-produced here. Since this dish includes fresh mint the preparation included a mandatory  walk outside along the castle walls to follow my nose and  pick fresh bunches of mint… it only calls for a  small handful but the fragrance was so enticing I picked a bit more and put  the remainder in a  (makeshift vase) - large  plastic water bottle cut in half- with some fresh water- and used it as our table centerpiece..

 Penne ai Porcini (Penne Pasta with Porcini Mushrooms)

1 lb of penne pasta

5 funghi porcini

1/4 lb of pumpkin

1 scallion

1 handful of fresh mint chopped finely

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

dash of freshly ground black pepper

salt to taste

Chop scallion. Clean mushrooms with a damp paper towel and cut into slices. Take off sin of pumpkin and cut into small cubes.

Place olive oil in saute pan, place in scallions and saute over medium heat for 2 minutes, then place in mushrooms,saute. After 5 minutes place in cubed pumpkin. Saute for 10-15 minutes over low heat, stir gently. Add in salt, then add in chopped mint and toss, saute for 2 minutes and remove from heat.

Place penne in boiling water and cook as indicated on package directions till al dente. Drain and place into sauce, toss gently, grind black pepper on top and serve

For more great recipes get your copy of the award winning The Basic Art of Italian Cooking : Holidays & Special Occasions-2nd edition the book that was selected as the Best Italian cuisine Book in the USA by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

Be A Guest Writer and Share the Joy! and your food memory

Visit  me at OpenSky

October 3 see you in Sacramento, California at the Italian Cultural Center

October 12th- Lower Southampton Library in Feasterville, Pa

Otober 29-30 the Philadelphia Gourmet Food & Wine Show in the Valley Forge Convention Center

In honor of the release of the award winning book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Food Occasions our readers are Sharing the Joy! and sharing their food memories. Here is the next one that was selected. Be a guest writer and Share the Joy! also

This story is  from Kay Murdy,thanks Kay for Sharing the Joy!

Kay Murdy is a Bible teacher and speaker. Her web site is http://www.daily-word-of-life.com

I can still smell the warm, yeasty aroma coming from my Hungarian Auntie Ann’s kitchen. She was my mother’s younger sister and she lived with us after the Great Depression. Auntie Ann was an amazing cook who worked for a wealthy family in Cleveland. But she also prepared dishes for us that I will always treasure. On Christmas Eve we usually had stuffed cabbage and a sweet pastry roll filled with poppy seed or walnuts called beigli. I’ve failed to find anything comparable.

Auntie Ann learned to cook and bake from her mother. Her instructions consisting of little more than a list of ingredients in her hand written recipe book. There were no measurements. It was a pinch of this and a handful of that, a dab of butter the size of a walnut or a lump the size of an egg. Today’s cooks like me are lost unless we have precise measurements.

As a child I loved to watch as her strong hands kneaded the dough until it was satiny. Then she placed it in a covered bowl and let it rise until it doubled in size. After a couple of hours or so she punched down the dough and rolled it out on a sugared board. The poppy seed was spread on one rectangle and the nut filling on the other. The dough was rolled it up, shaped into crescents and baked until they were a nice brown color. Her recipes didn’t mention any baking time. She could see with her eyes just exactly when something was done.

We were very poor at that time but with Auntie Anne’s Christmas pastries, I always thought that we were as rich as the people who lived up town!

Share your stories and Share the Joy!

Get your copy of the award winning book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions  selected as the Best Italian Cuisine Book in the USA

Oct 29-30th- Philadelphia Gourmet Food & Wine Festival, Valley Forge Convention Center. The Basic Art of Italian Cooking and Maria Liberati will be onstage throughout the event.