Ciambelline

This is a traditional cookie recipe from my awesome island of Sardinia. We usually make this cookies during the Christmas time of the year.

Ingredients:

4 cups flour
2 tbsp baking powder
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups Lard
6 eggs
Lemon zest of 2 lemons

Start by mixing in a large bowl everything, adding the flour for last. Roll your dough and make double cookies for each shape you pick.... one has to have a hole in the middle, while the other does not (as you can see in the picture).
Bake in the oven at 350 F for about 10 minutes or until lightly golden. Let your cookies cool completely and then start assembling them. Place the cookie without the hole at the bottom, spread it with your favorite jam, nutella, or whatever you like, and then place the cookie of the same shape with the hole on top (As you can see in the picture).
Sprinkle some sugar powder on top and enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Chocolate Chip Yum Squares

Hey Y'all! This year I spent my Christmas Vacation in Birmingham, Alabama, and I had many occasions to try some very delicious southern food! The best! Among all of the delicious things I have tried there was one in particular that won my heart. I have to thank Mrs. Darlene for being so nice to pass me this great recipe that I am sure you will all love!

Ingredients:

1 egg, beaten                                        6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup butter, softened                    1 cup pecan pieces

8 oz. cream cheese, softened            1 cup coconut

1 yellow cake mix(Duncan Hines)   3 eggs, separated

1 box confectioners sugar

With a fork, stir 1 egg, butter, and cake mix.  Press into a 9x13 greased dish.  Using mixer, combine cream cheese, 2 eggs, and confectioners sugar.  Pour over crust.  Mix chocolate chips, pecans, and coconut together.  Sprinkle on top.  Bake at 325 for 55 to 60 minutes.  Cool before cutting. It's so good! You'll know what I mean when you bite into it! Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Papassini

In my first attempt making this traditional Sardinian Christmas cookies I was surprised that they tasted like the ones my Nanny makes! So happy I can have some of my traditional food here in South Florida too!

Ingredients for the cookies:

4 cups of flour
9 Tbsp of Lard
1 cup sugar
3 eggs + 1 yolk (Save the egg whites for the frosting)
1 cup walnuts
1 cup raisins
2 Tbsp baking powder

Ingredients for the Frosting (Cappa):

1 egg white
3/4 cup sugar powder
Decoration sugar

In a bowl mix the lard, flour,eggs, sugar, crushed walnuts, raisins (previously soaked in warm water for 30 minutes and drained), and baking powder at the end.  After creating a nice dough, start rolling your dough in tubes shape, flat their top and cut them in a shape similar to a mashed square as you can see from the picture. Bake in the oven at 365 F for about 12 minutes.

For the frosting, simply whip the egg white and the sugar powder until thick. Coat each cookie with the frosting and top each one with the decoration sugar. Enjoy! Buon Appetito!