Only about three more shopping weeks til Christmas! Oh, sorry!? Who wants to go shopping these days? And, really, who needs more “stuff”!?
Why not give family, friends, and yourself a real treat! Give an unforgettable experience!
2020 has been a challenging year for everyone! As you all know, travel to Italy (or anywhere!) has been restricted. But that hasn’t stopped my amazing Friends from innovating, creating and continuing to offer a taste of Italy to you!
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To YOU from Italy! My lovely Friends share some traditional holiday “sweets”.
Enjoy the stories, the recipes, and gift yourself or loved ones with a delicious virtual cooking class or a box of locally produced artisan treats to enjoy together!
Until you can come here, bring a little bit of authentic Italy into your home!
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Start Your Holiday Festivities with a Cocktail Sicilian Style!
Louisa, Villa Britannia
This recipe for a “Sicilian Mule” comes to us from my Friend Louisa at Villa Brittannia in Taormina. The recipe is from Andrea Giordano, a well known Sicilian bartender/mixologist who that collaborate with. He recently served it to John Legend who loved it and we think that you will, too!
Sicilian Mule: for 1 cocktail
20/25ml vodka
25ml campari
25ml aperol
10ml lemon juice
25/30ml mandarin or orange juice
Top ginger beer
Garnish mint/rosemary sprig
♥ Louisa offers amazing online virtual cooking classes featuring scrumptious Sicilian specialties. Having spent time in the cucina with Louisa and her culinary colleagues, I can personally guarantee that you will absolutely LOVE it!
⇒You can link to her zoom classes here: https://villabritannia.com/zoom-classes/
Or, why not have a unique friends and family Christmas experience: https://villabritannia.com/friends-family-sicilian-christmas/
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Ricciarelli, the History of Siena in a Sweet
Arianna & Alessio, KM ZERO Tours
Ricciarelli are one of the most famous and traditional sweets of the city of Siena. They have taken the IGP label (protected denomination of origin) that links them inseparably to the Tuscan territory where they were created.
Ricciarelli IGP are made with almond flour according to the recipe that has been handed down for centuries, and they are the symbol of Christmas in Tuscany. Along with panforte, they are among Siena’s sweets that best represent this town.
Just thinking about their orange and vanilla scent, soft texture and almond paste covered with a layer of icing sugar, is enough to make your mouth water. Why are they so called and what is their history?
Originally, they were known as ‘marzapanetti’ precisely because they were made of the typical almond paste. It seems that this had reached Siena from the Middle East, so much so that the word marzipan could derive both from the Burmese city of Martaban and also the Arabic word mauthban which refers to a container used precisely for marzipan sweets. It seems that it was Ricciardetto della Gherardesca who brought these delicacies to Siena upon returning from the Crusades. The sweets originating from the Middle East were supposedly called ‘ricciarelli’ because they resembled the tips of sultans’ slippers.
In Siena these sweets were prepared by the apothecaries who had spices and aromas available to flavor and preserve food. Orange zest was added to the initial recipe with almond paste, sugar and egg white. Even today, if you are in Siena, in the best pastry shops you can find handmade ricciarelli whose delicacy and taste cannot be described in words!
♥ Until you can be back in Siena in person, we are thrilled to share and bring these delicious sweets directly to your homes!
Ricciarelli are included in our first edition of Christmas boxes, which represent the incredible art of awarded artisans and producers of the region.
Products are of the highest quality and have been personally selected by Arianna and Alessio, owners of KM Zero. Every box will have a theme: the theme for this first gift box is Christmas with all its magic and delicious traditional products.
Have a look at the following link for more information. Let’s celebrate together!
⇒ Order their Christmas edition today:
https://www.kmzerotours.com/gift-boxes/a-new-project-is-born-km-zero-food-boxes-christmas-edition/
I can personally vouch for the ricciarelli and for their fabulous gift basket! (Confession: I didn’t wait for Christmas to sample!)
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Liguria Loves Pandolce (and So Will YOU!)
Emanuela & Anna, BeautifuLiguria
The most typical dolce for Christmas in Genova is the pandolce.
Pandolce is a traditional Genoa fruit cake with raisins, pine nuts or almonds and candied orange peel. The batter is flour, eggs,, butter and sugar. Its exact origins are varied including coming from Persia or the result of a competition for Genovese pastry chefs in 1500!
Pandolce can be prepared with natural yeast (high pandolce) making it more like cake or with baking powder (low or basso pandolce) which has a more concentrated flavor. The Genovese prefer the low or basso version.
The pandolce is traditionally eaten at Christmas lunch. Following the tradition, a spring of laurel is placed on it as a symbol of good luck. The youngest of the family brings the pandolce to the table and the oldest one cuts it and distributes the slices with greetings.
♥ Emanuela and Anna are the co-founders of BeautifuLiguria, my Friends and outstanding local destination experts. We have collaborated on local tours and many wonderful experiences among which is their Food Tour of Genoa!
⇒ Please visit: https://beautifuliguria.com/experience-detail/genoa-food-tour/
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Irresistible Artisan Cioccolato a la Fiorentino
Linda, Italy Customized
Gaia Mecocci is the owner of DonaMalina Cioccolateria, local cioccolato and gelato boutiques (there are three) located in Florence. Of course, chocolate and gelato aren’t only for the Christmas holidays, are they?
Gaia became interested in chocolate after a trip to Paris where she visited delicious chocolate boutiques and boulangerie. When she returned home to Florence she threw in her career as a violinist and opened a chocolate shop!
Her brand name is after Dona Malina (https://donamalina.it/), the lover of Hernàn Cortés. It was Dona Malina (known in Mexico as La Malinche) who convinced Cortés to bring chocolate to Europe in 1528. The unity of the arrival of sugar cane and cocoa beans is where the birth of eating chocolate began!
The favorite of customers is the darkest chocolate, (fondant) which has little to no sugar. Those who are used to the sugary sweetness found in many chocolates are surprised, even put off by the “bitterness”. It’s an acquired taste well worth experiencing!
Today Gaia is dedicated to using all locally sourced, natural ingredients – only the best! Her exquisite creations are delights for the eye and will satisfy any sweet tooth!
♥ Together with Linda in Florence, you can participate in organized chocolate workshops at Dona Malina the next time you are in the city. A treat for families!
⇒ Click here for more about all of the fabulous tours and experiences you can enjoy with Linda: www.italycustomized.it
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A Sweet Salame di Cioccolato from the Salento!
Ylenia, CookinPuglia, YLTOUR DMC
A chocolate salami? Si! And it is not what you think it is! I’ve enjoyed many scrumptious cooking sessions with Ylenia and the patient Mamme in her Cooking School in Puglia. And I remember well making salame di cioccolato! Simple, no baking and absolutely irresistible!
As Ylenia shares, chocolate salame is always a great idea, not just for Christmas times!
Although the name of this recipe evokes the salami shape, the ingredients do not!
I remember the joy in my family when my grandma made it and it was not just one, since she always made more to share with the rest of the family. Packing the salami in parchment paper with a nice ribbon on it was a classic!
Another great aspect of this recipe is that there’s no baking! Just a few ingredients and the chocolate salami will be there ready to be sliced. And since I don’t add eggs in my recipe, it is lighter and lasts longer, making the recipe also perfect for your vegan friends.
Many people make it during the Christmas festive holidays, but I love making it anytime. I have extra dark chocolate and plain cookies available, at home (probably just not in summer times, as it is crazy hot in Puglia). Also, it is a top match with a cup of tea or coffee anytime of the day.
So be ready to make the chocolate salami with just a few ingredients:
250 g plain cookies
100 g unsalted butter (or vegan butter)
200 g dark chocolate
60 g dark cocoa, powder
100 g brown or white sugar
100 g icing sugar for topping
Water or milk (if necessary)
20 g Grand Marnier or Whisky/Rum you have at home
♥ Join Ylenia online for classes directly from her Cooking School in Puglia!
This and more Italian recipes are offered in my online cooking classes which are offered for private small groups of family and friends every weekend at 10 AM ET.
⇒ To schedule your date, or even offer this Italian virtual experience as a gift card just contact: info@cookinpuglia.com
http://www.cookinpuglia.com/on-line-cooking-classes
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Of course, there other traditional Italian “dolce” which can be found at Christmas. Two of these are very well-known and beloved traditional sweet cakes; panettone originating in Milan, and the star shaped pandoro originating from Verona.
For more about their ingredients and fascinating origins:
A Culinary History of Panettone from Smithsonian Magazine
Panettone vs. Pandoro from Life in Italy
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♥ Buon Natale Amici! ♥
And, per favore, mention that you heard about them here!
From, Victoria, Your Boots on the Ground in the Boot!
CLICK HERE for More About Friends of Victoria!
And, please share what Italian treats you decide to enjoy this Christmas!
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