Ciao a tutti! Hello everyone!
We’re back in my kitchen which, this week, has been busy with cookie making.
My grandson, Andrew, will be making his First Communion this weekend. I’m honored to be in charge of making a dessert cookie tray. As always, I go above and beyond in my endeavor, especially for my loved ones!
I remember very vividly my own First Communion in Italy. I was only 5 and had to have special approval by our priest. In fact, the Catholic religion states that children make their First Communion at 7. We had a large extended family in addition to friends (in a small town like ours, everyone is either family or a close friend, so you get the picture).
My parents and grandparents had decided to have one big party for both my brother and my First Communion. Problem was, my brother is four years older than me. When he turned 9, our priest began complaining to my parents that he was getting too old and needed to make his First Communion ASAP.
My mom asked if I could make it as well but our priest replied that I was way too young — I would never be able to learn all the requirements and pass the exam. After all, I wasn’t even able to read yet. But, my determined mom did not shy away. She struck a bargain with our priest: if I was able to recite every prayer required and pass the exam, would he allow me to participate in the First Communion event? Surprisingly, he said yes.
My mom was on a mission! Every day, she would sit me down and read the prayers, the homework and everything else required. I was an attentive and smart little girl. In no time at all, I learned everything.
The day of the exam came. It was a large class because every 7 year old in our Catholic town was in it! We all took the test and when we received the results, I had the highest score.
It was not that I was smarter than anyone else, it was because I took it more seriously. My smart mom had promised that, if I worked hard, I would get to wear a pretty white dress, like a princess. What 5 year old, especially in those days when toys were a luxury, would not like that idea?
So, I got to make my First Communion, and the homily that day was about a little angel who stepped up to the plate.
Sweet memories that make me smile to this day…
For this week’s recipe, I decided to give you one of the cookie recipes
I’ve been making this week.
I hope you like it and that you’ll be back in my kitchen next week!
Bacioni (big kisses),
Nonna Antoinette
CINNAMON WALNUT BUTTERHORNS
Ingredients:
Dough:
2 sticks butter, cubed
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tbsp sugar
Pinch of salt
Filling:
3/4 cups cinnamon sugar
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
Milk for brushing
Directions:
Mix all five (5) dough ingredients with a pastry blender or in stand mixer until dough forms.
Place dough on a lightly floured working surface and knead by hand until dough is shiny and smooth.
If dough is sticky, use a little more flour.
Do not overwork dough.
Cut dough in four (4) equal pieces.
Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least four (4) hours or overnight.
Take dough out when you’re ready to make cookies, one piece at a time.
Dough will be hard to the touch.
Let it stand a few minutes on your working surface until workable.
Meanwhile, get filling ingredients ready.
On a floured surface, roll the first piece of dough into a 10-12” circle.
Brush circle with milk.
Sprinkle it with 1/4 cinnamon sugar mix, followed by 1/4 of the nuts.
Cut circle in four (4) crosswise.
Cut each section in three (3) equal triangles.
Roll each triangle, starting with wide side, into a mini croissant.
Each dough circle will yield 12 cookies.
Place rolls, seam side down, on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Repeat with remaining dough.
Bake in preheated 375 oven for 16-18 minutes or until lightly golden.
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