Maybe it was this melancholy feeling that made me want to bring back an Easter tradition that I grew up with....when we were young my Mom always made an Italian Easter Cookie called Pupa Cu L'Ova...I'm sure some of you have heard of them or even made them yourselves, but it's something I had never attempted...until this year!!!
My Mom always made them look so beautiful.....I'm not sure mine are as pretty, but my family & friends loved them and the memories that came flooding back as I was rolling out the dough and decorating them were so special!!! I can only hope that some day my girls will carry on this tradition!!! :)
BISCOTTI - PUPA CU L'OVA
4 cups flour
6 teaspoons baking powder
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup of milk
1 teaspoon anise or vanilla
about 1 teaspoon anise seed (optional) if using anise seed
hard boiled eggs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine flour and baking powder; set aside.
Mix together softened butter and sugar; add 2 eggs. Combine flour mixture with butter-egg-sugar mixture. Add milk, anise extract, and anise seed (if using). After mixing, let rest for about 15 minutes.
Knead on lightly floured surface.
Here is where you use your imagination. It's supposed to look like a bird's nest: Make a base (about 4-5-inches in diameter each) and place a hard boiled egg in the center. I use scissors and make slits around the base. Add a small piece of cookie dough on top of the egg. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet.
Bake for 10 - 14 minutes, depending on the thickness of your cookie dough. Do not over-bake (they are not supposed to be brown). Remove from oven and cool.
Make an icing with confectioner's sugar and milk (or water). Divide and add pretty pastel food coloring. Drizzle over cookie (top of egg) and base of cookie (nest). Sometimes I sprinkle some little colored candies over icing.
ICING
Mix together:
Confectioner's sugar and milk (or water)
food coloring
little colored candies (optional)
This is what they look like before the icing:
This recipe can also be used to make the cookies shown in the lower right hand corner....which is probably what I'll be doing next!!!
Before I go, I just wanted to share the beautiful flowers that Daughter #3 gave me
when she came home from work....
My girls know what makes me happy!!!
'Til Next Time......
Enjoy!!!!
Wow!!! I am so impressed Patti, I would never be able to make anything that looked and tasted good at the same time!!! lol. That is awesome!!! I seriously need some lessons on cooking.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow... you just brought me back. I completely forgot about these similar Easter cookies I used to make w/ my Mom and sister. I'll have to ask her for the recipe! xo
ReplyDeleteOh my I hope you're happy,,,,,making your big sister cry, at work no less!!!! How many times did we all sit at the kitchen table and help Mom make these???? She had a special way of whippin' that dough around the egg!!!! Then she would make up the frosting so we could drizzle it on and I loved shakin' those lil candies on!!! You, my dear sister, did an awesome job from the looks of them! I haven't gotten to taste them YET....hint hint! I am totally sure they are marvelous!! MOMMA WOULD BE SO VERY PROUD!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh these sound so good and they look wonderful. What a special treat. I need the recipe. Your flowers look amazing. Thanks tons for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteMy aunt made these every year for me growing up. Now she makes these for our kids every year. This is definitely part of our Italian Easter tradition! I am following you, I hope you follow me back! I am also on Facebook!
ReplyDeleteWarmest Regards,
Annamaria
I've never heard of these before! Yours turned out beautiful; thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday :)
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! I have never made or even heard of these cookies. It is amazing how many recipes are floating around! That is what I love about food blogging, I learn something new everyday! Thank you for sharing :) Now following your yummy blog :) Thank you for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteYour cookies look beautiful and delicious! Love how colorful they are! I made some Italian Easter bread this Easter, and it had dyed eggs on it too! I didn't know there were cookies like this too! :o) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Patti- I've never heard of those cookies, but I've seen a lot of Easter recipes online this year I've never heard of before. Your cookies look really good since they are so colorful with the bright eggs and sprinkles.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining the Your Cozy Home Party. When joining please remember to include a link back like you have with your other parties as a courtesty so others can find the party. Thanks!
This is such a great recipe and a nice family tradition!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this at our "Beautify It Monday" Party! We hope you'll be back again next week!
Just found your blog and love this post! My dad was Italian and my mother made a lot of his favorite cookies. I don't remember these, but they look so good. Would love for you to share on Simple & Sweet Fridays. I'm a New Follower.
ReplyDeleteJody
Thanks for linking up this post!
ReplyDeleteJody
Wonderful! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
ReplyDeleteSherry