You probably know from many of my blog posts, my books, and author takeovers I’ve done, that quilts are my favorite things…and they are, most definitely!
However, there is a very close runner-up…I love making Italian cookies! Baked and decorated mainly for the holidays, I have wonderfully fond memories of helping my mother, grandmothers, and aunts baking cookies for weddings, bridal and baby showers, and significant anniversaries.
About two weeks prior to the occasion, my mother and my aunts would gather in the evenings at Aunt Cel’s or Aunt Bonnie’s or Aunt Bea’s (that’s my mom!) home to begin the marathon. Soon the house would be filled with the sweet smells of sugar, lemon, orange, and vanilla extracts. Bowls of raisins, dates, and nuts waited to be added to the doughs. Bags of confectioner’s sugar mixed with water or milk were turned into frostings and glazes and waited to be topped with colored sprinkles.
Of course, a tasting ‘just to make sure they tasted right” was a highlight. And as luck would have it, there always seemed to be a handful of “oops” that somehow never quite made it into the trays.
Recently, I had the chance to indulge in this favorite activity when my grandson and his lovely fiancé got married in early August. Despite the downpours and the humidity, it was a lovely, intimate wedding with their immediate families and college friends.
In mid-July, I made several varieties of dough and froze them. Because I was on a deadline for “Olivia’s Odyssey” (Westward Homes and Hearts), I made one different cookie a night…I even drafted Papa Bob into helping! The morning before we left for the trip to Virginia, I made up the trays and found a cooler large enough to transport them.
It’s already the end of August. I’ve got two more books to write before the holiday baking season begins…wish me luck!!
Neapolitan Cookies Cherry Ricotta Cookies
Chocolate Mexican Wedding Bells Thumbprint Cookies (courtesy of Papa Bob)
Lemon Poppy Seed & Orange Cranberry Biscotti Russian Teacakes
Italian Cookies (Taralle) Fig Cookies Scandinavian Almond Cookies
Before the wrapping…In a traditional Italian Wedding Tray they would have used Jordan Almonds symbolizing how the newlyweds will share everything equally and remain undivided, and Jordan almonds are often given five at a time. Each almond represents a quality guests wish for the couple getting married: health, fertility, wealth, longevity and happiness. I had to substitute Hershey Kisses as my grandson doesn’t like almonds… I sure hope Hershey Kisses have the same effect!
Final Products!
Born and raised in western Massachusetts, Jo-Ann Roberts was fascinated by America’s Old West and always felt she was destined to travel on a wagon train following the Oregon Trail. With her love of history and reading, she began reading historical romance during high school and college. Victoria Holt, Jude Deveraux, and Roseanne Bittner were among her favorites. Influenced by her father, she fell in love with John Wayne, James Garner, and her all-time favorite, James Stewart and grew up watching Wagon Train, Bonanza and Rawhide.
A firm believer in HEA with a healthy dose of realism, Jo-Ann strives to give her readers a sweet historical romance while imparting carefully researched historical facts, personalities, and experiences relative to the time period. Her romances take her readers back to a simpler time to escape the stress of modern life by living in a small town where families and friends help one another find love and happiness.
When she isn’t creating believable plots and relatable heroes and heroines, Jo-Ann enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandson. She also enjoys baking, quilting and eating way too much chocolate.
After 38 years in public education in Connecticut and Maryland, she’s now calls North Carolina home.
Yummy. Reminds my of Christmas at my friend Rosa’s house. Good times. I blended in with the family, so they called me Cousin Denise.
I bet those were great memories, Denise. Thanks for commenting on the blog.
Looks delicious!
Thanks for your kind words, Janice. As I can’t taste them due to g.f. sensitivity, my husband does assure me they were very delicious. Thanks for commenting.
Oh my goodness! That’s a lot of love wrapped up here! I’m totally impressed. As a baker, I realize the time given to make all these goodies! Good luck meeting all your book deadlines to!
Thanks for your kind words, Kathy. They were a lot of work, but I loved every minute of baking and assembling the trays. Thanks for stopping by P&P.
Sounds good, and they look yummy! What a great way to celebrate! The orange cranberry biscotti would be my favorite, based on how much I like orange cranberry scones from Publix!
Thanks for your kind words. The orange cranberry biscotti are from a cake mix. If you would like the recipe, I’m happy to share. You can email me at jrobertsauthor1@gmail.com. with your email address. Thanks for stopping by.
What wonderful memories!
Thanks for stopping by, Karijean. Whenever I’m making any recipe that is handed down from my grandmothers and mother, those memories are with me. Thanks for stopping by.
Those look so good. Lot of love and devotion went into them I’m sure. I love quilting also.
You all sure were industrious. That’s lots of different cookies, as well as such a wide range of ingredients. It almost reminds me of our kitchen when mom started making goodies for Christmas. Mostly it was candies. My favorite is divinity candy.
Thanks for your comments, Judy. I usually start my Christmas baking the week after Thanksgiving so I can deliver the cookies to my neighbors before Christmas. Thanks for stopping by P&P.
WOW!!!! I’m so impressed, Jo-Ann!!
Thanks, Pam. Making these cookie trays was especially sweet because our grandson wanted his new bride, and all his friends to enjoy the cookies he grew up with during the holidays. Thanks for commenting.
All of them look so yummy!
Thanks, Barb. As I can’t taste them due to g.f. sensitivity, my husband does assure me they were very delicious. Thanks for commenting.
Wow, your cookies look beautiful and I bet they are delicious! When my 2 now grown children were growing up, I would always bake all kinds of Christmas cookies , I would bake them for us and for my parents and for all of my 5 siblings and their families. They all really loved them .
Thanks for commenting, Alicia. As I can’t taste them due to g.f. sensitivity, my husband does assure me they were very delicious. Isn’t it wonderful how certain recipes bring back special memories for us.
They look so tasty a
Thank you, David. As I can’t taste them due to g.f. sensitivity, my husband does assure me they were very delicious. Thanks for commenting.
Nice!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Vickie.
Wow! I want to come to your house. What a fantastic array of cookies. I can see several that I would like the recipe for. We used to have cookie parties around the holidays, but with everyone spread out and busy it doesn’t happen anymore. I would enjoy just being able to bake for several days and have results similar to yours. Your family is so very lucky. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
The trays were beautiful. The cookies brought back memories of when my mom and sister were still alive and we would bake before the holidays,
Look delish, Jo-ann!