want to learn how to say 'merry christmas' in italian?
buon natale!
(means happy christmas)
and how to say santa clause?
babbo natalie
(this is my uncle earl and my great grandmother angelina on christmas eve in her home. i wonder what she is thinking.)
and did you know that christmas started in italy?
(ever notice that the flag is the same colors as christmas?)
(yes-you are all welcome.)
want to know the best thing about being an italian on christmas eve?
no, it isn't the 7 fish dishes on christmas eve for good luck.
or your drunk uncle double parking in front of the house and blocking traffic.
no, it wasn't the 3 times your great grandpop came downstairs to yell at you for being too close to his wine barrels.
(for the record, we weren't even near them!)
no, it wasn't the 3 times your great grandpop came downstairs to yell at you for being too close to his wine barrels.
(for the record, we weren't even near them!)
or staying up all night on christmas eve, only to go to midnight mass when all YOU want to do is sleep and have santa visit!
the joy of being italian is eating.
seriously, could anything be better than that?
one of my favorite cookies are pizzelles. they look like waffles, but flatter, smaller and sweeter.
and italian.
some history on pizzelles...
they were made in the abruzzo region of south-central italy, which is where my great grandma came from. over time it became tradition to use pizzelles to celebrate any/all holiday or festive occasion, but they are especially common in italian homes at christmas and easter.
the name "pizzelle" comes from the italian word for "round" and "flat" (pizze); this is also the meaning of the word pizza.
(yes-you are welcome for pizza too!)
my friend, sandi, who I SWEAR is related to me gave her her recipe for a cookie party and i wanted to share with you.
(this is sandi while she was touring italy this year.)
3 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1 t baking powder
2 t vanilla
1t anise
add ingredients in order listed mixing well after each. spoon batter into middle of each section of pizzelle iron.
and the finished product looks like this!
(this tin used to be my nana's, so even though it is beat up, i love it!)
4 comments:
All wonderful gifts from Italy!
Friends of my hubby's gave us those for Christmas the last couple years and I L.O.V.E. them! They suggested adding fudge sauce, whipped cream, strawberries, etc. but I really like them plain. Thanks for the recipe, now to procure a pizzelle iron.
In addition to food, my special memories are my grandfather playing his guitar and dancing funny to make us kids laugh, my grandmother with flour on her face and in her hair, homemade wine, and all of sitting around the table talking and laughing and being together. Miss it!
Being Italian sounds like so much fun! I always planned on marrying an Italian man. That went hopelessly wrong.
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