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Good Friday in Italy
Italy is a very Catholic country and Good Friday is reverently observed with the Via Crucis, the ritual of the 14 Stations of the Cross. In many cities and towns this can be very dramatic with people in costume acting out evets at each of the stations. PESCADO a la VERCRUZANA An exciting fish dish with a… Continue reading
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Holy Thursday and Baked Fish with Tomatoes
MAUNDY THURSDAY At every Catholic Mass we attend we hear these solemn words “on the night He was betrayed” and rightfully so because this night is Holy Thursday. It is part of Holy Week and devoutly celebrated in Italy because for Catholics it is one of the most important nights in all of history for… Continue reading
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NEAPOLITAL SFOGLIATELLA
NEAPOLITAL SFOGLIATELLA There are several versions of sfogliatella but this is a classic created by Nuns in a Monastery in Conca dei Marini, along the Amalfi coast, way back in the 17th century. While it in itself is time consuming, this recipe still is easier than the version we are familiar with today which calls for… Continue reading
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HOT CROSS BUNS
(Pane Dolce Pasquale) I remember singing this little jingle years ago as we waited for the buns to bake. HOT CROSS BUNS, HOT CROSS BUNS 1 A PENNY 2 A PENNY HOT CROSS BUNS IF YOUR DAUGHTERS DON’T LIKE THEM GIVE TEM TO YOU SONS HOT CROSS BUNS! 1 PACKAGE ACTIVE DRY YEAST ¼ CUP… Continue reading
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AUGELLO FAMILY CHEESECAKE with Strawberry Glaze
I’ve made this no-crust cheesecake for years on all special occasions. This year it will be our Easter Sunday dessert. ½ CUP BUTTER – unsalted 1 LB RICOTTA – drained ½ LB CREAM CHEESE ½ LB IMPASTATA 4 EGGS – large, room temp 3 TBS CORNSTARCH 3 TBS FLOUR – sifted JUICE OF ½ LEMON… Continue reading
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Easter in Italy
If you ever happen to be in Italy for Easter, you won’t see the cagey bunny or enjoy an Easter egg hunt. However, Easter in Italy is a huge, festive holiday, second only to Christmas in its importance for Italians. While the days leading up to Easter include solemn processions and masses, Pasqua is a joyous celebration… Continue reading
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THE FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH AND THE STORY OF THE ST. JOSEPH TABLE
Joseph was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who, according to the canonical Gospels, was married to Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus, and was made the legal father of Jesus. Joseph is venerated as Saint Joseph in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, Anglicanism and Lutheranism. Scripture tells us that he was born… Continue reading
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Irish Soda Bread Muffins
Slainte is Tainte! A PERFECT WAY TO START YOUR ST. PATRICK’S DAY. 2 ¼ CUPS FLOUR ½ CUP SUGAR ½ TSP SALT 1 TSP CARAWAY SEEDS 2 TSP BAKING POWDER ¼ TSP BAKING SODA 1 EGG¼ CUP VEGETBLE OIL EXTRA SUGAR – for dusting the tops 1 CUP BUTTERMILK¾ CUP DRIED CURRANTS ¼ CUP BUTTER… Continue reading
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St. Patrick’s Day in Italy and Dublin Coddle Stew
CELEBRATING ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN ITALY While many of us associate St. Patrick’s Day celebrations with green beer, Irish music and corned beef and cabbage here in our own United States, it is fun to know that this day is also celebrated in Italy. Expats from Ireland and the US have even created a tradition of… Continue reading
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Roman Style Tripe for the Ides of March
BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH “Beware the Ides of March.” Not only did Shakespeare’s words stick, but they also branded the phrase—and the date, March 15—with a dark and gloomy connotation. It’s likely that many people who use the phrase today don’t know it’s true origin but history tells it this way. In modern times, the… Continue reading
Ancora 