The Spirit of the Season
“Tis the season” is a phrase that’s often heard during the holiday months, especially around Christmas. It’s a phrase that carries a sense of anticipation, joy, and celebration. It is a…
Christmas
Mincemeat Christmas Cake
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My paternal grandmother made this cake every Christmas. The recipe was given to her by a very dear friend on December 2, 1953. We didn’t know what was in…
Cuccidati Kisses
So, you’ve made dozens and dozens of Sicilian Christmas cookies and have just a bit of fig filling left. What do you do? As I see it, you have…
Advent
Our Daily Advent Prayer Let us open our hearts to receive the grace of this Advent season, which is Christ himself, whom God our Father has revealed to…
Warm Butternut Squash Ravioli Salad
It seems to me that no sooner have the last of the trick-or-treaters gone home to sort out their bounty and I have polished off any remaining Halloween candy,…
Panforte
Panforte dates back to the year 1000 and is the traditional Christmas dolce of Siena, one of the first cities in Italy to use sugar and rare spices. This…
Foodie Gifts
In Italy it is traditional to give gifts of food during the Christmas season, a practice I have undertaken for many years. It gives me great joy to make…
The Perfect Gift
“We do not remember days, we remember moments.” Cesare Pavese, Italian poet and novelist. It was the magi, the Three Wise Men, who started the gift-giving custom of Christmas,…
Panettone Muffins
I discovered this recipe the last time I ordered Fiori di Sicilia for my biscotti recipe. King Arthur Flour is the oldest flour company in America and has served…
Braciolone
Depending on which part of Italy you’re from, Braciole (bra CHO lay) means different things. In the north it’s generally a cutlet of some kind that is cooked flat.…
Sicilian Girl’s Cuccidati Recipe
Each year I put aside a small container of these Sicilian specialties to be enjoyed long after the holidays have passed. As much as I enjoy the holiday season, I’ve…
Sicilian Christmas Cookies – The Cuccidati Story
Cuccidati are Sicilian Christmas cookies. Every year for as long as I can remember, my grandmother made these delicious biscotti. On Christmas Eve, my two brothers and sister and I…