Saturday, March 27, 2010

Traditions passed on - CORRECTED

My mom and I made Italian Easter cookies today, which my family calls muchalatti. (I have no idea if that's actually how you spell it.) We've done this every year since I can remember, and decades before my existence. The cookies are very mild, soft and lemon flavored. They are wonderful in the morning with a cup of tea. (Or anytime of day really!) There's something incredibly comforting about eating the same food at the same time every year, and passing that tradition down from generation to generation. It's an aspect of my family that I am so incredibly grateful for. As you'll see below, A is carrying on another tradition of my very own - messy baking!

Little helper
Like mother...
First bite!


Interested in giving it a try?

MIX:
6 eggs
2 Tablespoons of lemon extract - the pure kind
2 cups of sugar
2 Tablespoons of baking powder
and 2 sticks of slight-softened butter.

Cream that together with an electric mixer on high speed.
Then very slowly add 8 cups of flour. One cup at a time.

Make the dough into a ball and chill it for an hour.

Then take a golf-ball-sized piece of dough, roll it into a tube, and loop it around to form a circle or ribbon-shape.

Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Enjoy!



P.S. My mom ROCKS at carrying on family traditions.

CORRECTION - The recipe calls for two TABLESPOONS of baking powder, not teaspoons.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, your mother does rock! At many things.
Looks like we need to get you an apron, Missy! Look at the floury handprints on your butt! lol
I am a firm believer in cooking traditions. Happy Easter!
ps. so jealous of that long counter space.

Sharon said...

I am SO GLAD you posted that recipe. I LOVE THOSE COOKIES! (And I love your mom too.)

Sharon said...

bI'm making these this weekend! Sorry I haven't been able to respond to your email, it's been crazy over here. My mom is coming in tonight so I'll call you soon!