Buon Natale…Merry Christmas…

And Happy Birthday Jim!

Preparando Per Natale.…Preparing For Christmas…

The decorating is done,  gifts are wrapped,  and this lovely rainy day has me in the mood to start my Christmas baking… it's almost here!

Quasi Natale… Almost Christmas…

It will be Christmas before I know it… there are so many things that I want to do,  and make for the season… some will be done,  and others I will cross off the list until next year.  Baking always tops the list,  followed by a little crafting.  This cake felt like both because making the snow globe almost felt like doing a craft… probably because nobody was going to eat it.  I made the globe by making a gelatin bubble like I had made for another cake,  put a figurine inside,  and placed it on a gingersnap cookie.  I knew that the globe would not be crystal clear because there needed to be several layers of gelatin,  otherwise it would have been far  too fragile.  I liked the effect,  it had a vintage look,  which is exactly what comes to mind when I think of snow globes.  I brought this Gingerbread Cheesecake to Dave and Yuri's dinner party… dinner was great,  we had lots of fun,   and we even did a craft,  which Jody organized and coincidentally happened to be a snow globe…  I will be making,  and trying to perfect this snow globe idea  for a Christmas/Birthday cake for Jim…

Tradizioni… Traditions…

Thinking back to when I was younger,  there were times I may have taken traditions for granted… sometimes they got in the way of something I would rather have been doing.  Now,  more than ever,  I realize and appreciate everything that was and is a family tradition.  Those monday night dinners when Dad took the day off from the restaurant ,  Uncle Marco,  and Vito  did the same,  and they all went fishing with the women,  bringing fish home for dinner.  So many times when we were young,  we wished we could be out shopping or doing something fun instead of the "Monday Night Dinner".  Now,  I miss those times,  and I know I am not alone in that. During Christmas time,  Mom spent a very long day at the restaurant with Dad,  making lots of delicious  Cartellate for family and friends,  even sending some to family in  New York.  I've only made Cartellate a  few times since Mom stopped making them,  but  with Zia Lina,  Angelo and Pina visiting from New York,  we thought it would be fun to do together.  Priscilla was working and not able to join Anna,  Isa and the rest of us.  It was fun to see Mom watching us with a smile on her face,  perhaps remembering when she used to make  them.  In any case,  she was happy and even seemed to give us a little advice on our shaping technique.  I know that this tradition will be part of every Christmas,  along with new traditions that we are making,  and enjoying,  and never taking for granted… these things which we do as  family and for  family…

Thanksgiving…

As tradition goes… I did my part for our Thanksgiving Dinner at Anna and Nicola's. I made the  Pies, Cranberry Sauce, and the Decor,  and Table Setting… This year I decided to use  my dried hydrangea and some dried seed heads from the garden,  along with  bunches of roses which I allow to dry in the shed and in the kitchen.  Natural elements with a touch of gold … So thankful  to be having another Thanksgiving with Mom and the rest of the family… It was a great meal,  and we all had a wonderful time !

Una Torta Per Isa… A Cake For Isa…

I'm loving all the Chalkboard Design Cakes that are so popular right now,  and thought I would try to make one  for Isa.  I didn't have a particular design in mind and ended up with this simple look.  I found the technique to be  easy and difficult all at the same time.  Just like a real chalkboard,  smears and irregularities are part of the look…  I will be trying  my hand at this again,  but next time I will have a better plan.