Culinary Gifts

Cooking at home has always been an intrinsic part of my family life, regardless of whether the economy was booming or busting--especially at Christmas time. My Italian parents never took part in the frenzy of gift buying. The excitement that lead-up to Christmas was never about what was wrapped under the tree, but about what was unwrapped in the kitchen and put on the table. As children, my siblings and I would only receive one or two practical gifts, yet we rarely felt deprived. How could we when there was such abundance in the kitchen?

Preparations would begin right after Thanksgiving when the kitchen was transformed into the culinary wing of Santa's workshop and a crew of Italian elves seemed to show up on an almost daily basis donned in house dresses, armed with aprons and loud, female Italian accents. Instead of trips to the mall, our shopping list could only be attained from the local markets. This was usually done on weekday evenings when I would be summoned by my father to accompany him on a search for the finest ingredients needed for the vast production of assorted sweets that the ladies of the family and neighborhood would effortlessly create amidst their boisterous and festive chatter. It was a continuous celebration that could not be contained on any single day. I didn't know then that the gifts that came out of that kitchen would last a lifetime: that I would remember the aromas of cinnamon, lemon and chocolate; the sound of walnut shells being cracked or voices cracking up; or what it felt like to walk into the kitchen after school and see rows and rows of S shaped cookies covered with white confectioner's sugar icing spilling onto the large cutting boards where hungry fingers could easily scoop up the delicious, lemon flavored sugar. Aha, this was heaven.

For weeks the spirit of Christmas was so palatable in that kitchen that it followed us everywhere. We didn't need to find it in fancy trimmings or forced party festivities. It came from the warmth of the oven and infiltrated our hearts. It went into everything we stirred and kneaded, baked and iced. Lots of dough was needed (and kneaded) far more than money.

Whether you need to watch your wallet or not this Christmas, let gift giving take a back seat to merry making. Remember how much fun Scrooge had in Christmases past when he was poor? This year, cook up something special. Do it in the company of friends and loved ones. Wrap it up and share what you've made together, in gratitude and celebration. Allow Christmas to be uncomplicated again. Let more meager means inspire us all to celebrate it's true meaning...Love...and pass it on.

Wishing you all a truly abundant holiday,

Chef Silvia

S Cookies

Ever since I can remember, these cookies were made every year for the holidays. They are simple, and great with a cup of coffee or tea. Reduce the amount of sugar if you like to make more of a biscuit rather than a sweet cookie. And yes, licking the spilled icing is the best part. Don’t deprive your children of this memory.

Dry Ingredients

4 cups unbleached flour
1.5 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Wet Ingredients

4 eggs
1 cup butter--melted and cooled
Juice from one fresh lemon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat the over to 350
2. Mix together the dry ingredients except for the sugar.
3. In a separate bowl beat the eggs and whisk in the sugar and then the remaining wet ingredients
4. Gradually mix the dry into the wet ingredients and chill for 5 min
5. Put the dough onto a flour covered board and working in small batches make rods 3” long by 1/2” thick (approximately) and shape into and S and place on a greased cookie
5. Bake 10-12 minutes
6. Cool on a rack and ice

Icing
2 cups confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Struffala

Struffala
Bite sized pieces of fried dough balls covered with the gooey sweetness of honey and multicolored sprinkles…passed on by generations of Italian grandmothers.

Basic Bread Dough
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup warm honey (approximately)
Multi-colored sprinkles

• Working with a small piece of bread dough at a time (after it has risen and doubled in size) on a floured board, shape it into 1/4 inch rods.
• Cut each rod into 1/4 inch nuggets and set aside
• In the meantime heat the vegetable oil in a deep fry or wok shaped skillet. Working in batches, fry the nuggets until golden brown (less than a minute) and remove with a slotted spoon onto paper towels.
• When all of the nuggets are fried, begin piling them onto a decorative platter, drizzling with warm honey every inch or so until all of the nuggets form a large mound or ring shape.
• Decorate with sprinkles and serve


Basic Bread Dough

1 1/2 cups warm water
1/4 cup white sugar
1 .25 package active dry yeast
2 teaspoons salt
3 cups unbleached all purpose flour

• Dissolve yeast and sugar in the water. Let sit for about 10 minutes until it froths.
• Place flour and salt into a large mixing bowl and form it into a funnel shape with a hole in the center.
• Add liquid a little at a time, working in the flour until all of the flour is mixed.
• If the dough seems too sticky, add a bit more flour, if too dry, add a bit more water.
• Kneed the dough (you can transfer it to a floured board if you prefer or kneed it right in the bowl) until all of the flour is worked in a the dough is smooth.
• Cover the bowl and let it rise in a warm area, away from drafts, for an hour or so until the dough had doubled in size.

Stocking Your Pantry for Cookie Making

Stock your pantry and refrigerator with all the items you need to make batches of goodies: flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, flavored extracts, eggs, nuts, dried fruits, chocolate and anything else you may need to whip up your family's culinary gifts any time you feel inspired to fill your kitchen and home with the true spirit of Christmas.

A Feel Good Christmas

The holidays are often a difficult time for many people if they feel that they lack the family or the funds to be merry. Recognize that the feeling you are seeking does not come from outside of yourself. Find a way to feel good inside and then you may be surprised as to what comes your way. Love always finds a way to you when you already feel it within.