Bella I feel like I’m in my grandmama home , haven’t heard the word moppina since she’s gone . Allesandra watching u is warm to my eyes and heart, not to mention I can taste and smell the aromas . God bless u for keeping traditions alive .
Thank you so much Susan. I feel the presence too when I cook. I truly get so excited sharing the recipes and certainly an obligation to pass on the traditions. I’m sure your nonna was a wonderful cook. 💕💕
Thank you so much Jackie. So sorry for your loss, I am sure he will be watching over you as you make his favorite cookie. Enjoy the holidays, merry Christmas to you and loved ones. God bless💫🎄🙏🏻💖
My grandmother was from Italy and she made these cookies they were the best. I am a grandmother now and still remember her old oven baking these. What memories that I will never forget.
Thank you so much for watching and for this post. That is absolutely wonderful and I am so happy that you’re carrying on the tradition with your grandchildren. Hope you’re like all my videos. I started so I can pass on the recipes to my daughters. Buon Natale🎅🏼🤶🏻💫🎄💚🤍♥️
Here in New Orleans, we eat these fig cookies from a St. Joseph's Altar. We visit several St. Joseph altars on his Feast Day and get goodie bags with these cookies along with sesame cookies, a "Lucky Bean," a piece of Blessed Bread (to put in the freezer and then to throw out the window during a storm), and a St. Joseph prayer card. The Lucky Bean is a Blessed fava bean. We all have one of these in our wallet/coin purse. Thank you for showing how to make these cookies. St. Joseph's Day (and weekend) is a wonderful tradition here in New Orleans where we go to several church cafeterias to eat a good meal and pray for our families at the beautiful altars.
looks great. I do put my figs, nuts and raisins in a food processor and the mixture comes out real well. Mama never put chocolate chips in her cucidati, but I'm sure they make it extra good and rich.
Great job, I learned how from my Nannie. My grandmother didn't put chocolate in hers ... But sounds great!!! I make these and sale them, no one can find anyone in my area who makes them... Merry Christmas
This Italian, slovakian, Irish , Pennsylvania Dutch , Tennessee girl made this today !!!!!! The figs are soaking and I added dry cherries because they are my family’s favorite. I cannot wait to bake and share with my southern friends . Thank you !
It’s WONDERFUL how Joe explains everything in an expressive detailed manner - thank you. I am going to make this for Christmas for sure. This is an excellent video - the best I’ve watched - thank you 😊
Thank you so much Patricia. Joe was a professor for many years that’s why he explains it so well. Happy holidays! It was so much fun doing the video with him. 💕💫🎄
My grandmother uses a Kitchen Aid mixer with the Meat Grinder attachment to make hers. We are able to split the figs into quarters and put them in with our nuts and raisins. It comes out nice and roughly ground so you get the chunks of nuts. We also use red wine instead of orange juice. I want to try your method though, I think the orange juice could add a nice flavor!
Thank you for this recipe and video; have been trying to recreate my Sicilian grandmother’s recipe for years & this might be the closest I’ve found. Sometimes she added mini chocolate chips to the dough, which I forgot until I saw chocolate here. Brought back a very happy memory and I hope making your recipe will bring back even more :). Thank you again so much.
This is the closest to my family's recipe. My recipe doesn't use chocolate chips or walnuts. Instead it has hazelnuts and almonds and the raisins are a mix of light and dark. Like the video said it's best to mix the dough and filling a day ahead so it makes assembling and baking easier. Otherwise you'll be in the kitchen all day. When making these you have to have a very systematic and organized way of doing it so you don't waste dough or have to reroll so many times. So far this is one of the best videos I've seen and very helpful for anyone who has never made these cookies before. I'm 61 now but as a kid my mother used to have me put the figs through the meat grinder and that's how we processed the figs. Now I pre-chop and use a food processor.
Thank you so very much for watching. It’s my mission to pass on tried and true recipes. I will certainly the mixture you make. Yes, mixing filling and dough a day ahead sure helps. No matter how many I made they’re just never enough. Lol Buon anno 🎆thank you for the beautiful words
OMG I remember my dad making these when I was just a kid. I remember him frying the dough though and it looked like a round ravioli but they filling was this. You just brought back so many fond memories. 💖🙏
Thank you! My parents originally from Sicily We don’t add honey in our fig mixture We add strong espresso coffee and let fig mixture sit in fridge couple days absorb all of the flavours Also, we add small amounts of clementine peels as we grind the dry figs
@@alessandrasfoodisloveMe too, its getting close to that time of year again Sorry forgot to mention also some cacao and semi sweet chocolates chips Have a great day!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Dear Catherine, your messages always make me smile. You’ve been following me from the start and I’m humbled. ☺️ Merry Christmas to you and loved ones. Joe was truly amazing. He is an awesome baker. As a young man he worked in his uncle’s German bakery and makes delicious pies. Hope to be doing more videos. Food is indeed love 💖 Thank you always for watching.
This is my dad's favorite cookie, so I had to make them. This version with chocolate chips was a bit concerning at first, but, I TRUST ALESSANDRA 100%...and she DID NOT disappoint! these are great and will be making them again & again. No more trips to Brooklyn when we can make it ourselves!! lol Buon Natale can i freeze the leftover fig mixture? **Poor joe needs a food processor/chopper..much easier than it looks.JOE,Thank you for sharing🥰😇
Thank you Roxanne!! The 100 uses of a Mappina 😂😂😂 Buon Natale To you and loved ones. I did send your message to Joe. He was very happy to know. Xoxoxo ❤️💚🤍♥️🎄🎁💫🎵🤶🏻
Oh that's amazing! This reminds me of my Nonna's recipe growing up in Sicily Palermo and Messina. I'm live in Australia with all my family now but this recipe floods back so much nostalgia. I miss my extended family in Sicily. Thankyou for sharing this recipe I'll be trying this to surprise my dad! Love from Australia 🦘
Dear Nancy, You can’t imagine how happy your message makes me. It’s all about the foods we grew up with and passing down the recipes to our next generation. Thank you Don Kuching! Through my channel I’ve met many wonderful paesani in Australia. Hopefully one day I’ll have a book and come to Australia for signing. Oh boy I’m dreaming again. 🤞buon Anno a te e tutti i tuoi cari. 🥰💚🤍♥️🎆
@@alessandrasfoodislove She sure is! She said she gets her nieces with her and they make them together. They are definitely a lot of work, but like you said, a labor of love! 🙂
Cara Antonietta, (What a beautiful name) was my wonderful aunt’s name 💖 I’m sure you’ll do just fine. Remember I’m a messsge away if you have a question or better yet Joe and me will come over and bake with you. Lol 💖😂 sending you lots of hugs 💖
I made these today. :) THANK YOU so much for the step by step instructions that are a pleasure to watch you do this together. I am better seeing the recipes done and then using the written one. Anyway, I used your ingredients (except didn't have as many nuts on hand, no problem with that.) I did add some B & B (Benedictine & Brandy) about 1/4 cup to the mix. I seem to think my Grandma putting some kind of booze in there haha) Anyway they came out delicious! She used to do the individual cookies but I did it Joe's way and it was easier and neater. Merry Christmas!!!! Oh I also made the Spritz and they were great and tomorrow I am making the Strouffoli!!!
Dear Mary-rose. Thank you so much for watching and for your beautiful words. I’m sure nonna added booze!! Lol I remember Strega and Galliano went in all desserts. Later years we started with limoncello. The struffoli recipe is from my late aunt. Her name was Tina. I learned so much from her especially gardening. She would go in the garden pick a few tomatoes a little of this and that a can of beams and boom she’d make an awesome salad. Miss her dearly. I so appreciate you making my recipes. Grazie e buon Anno. 🎆🎊🎈
I made these every Christmas also using basically the same recipe but I add orange or apricot marmalade and Bourbon and not quite so much chocolate Each part of Italy has their own way of making it but they’re all delicious! Thank you for this video, have a merry Christmas and a happy new year!🎄🎊.
Thank you so much for watching. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you too. It’s all about keeping the traditions alive. God bless and let’s keep cooking together 💕💚🤍♥️
Grazie Cara Rosetta! Food is indeed love and brings everyone together. Sereno Natale anche a te e famiglia. Una delle cose mie preferite sono i mostazzoli calabresi. Un caro abbraccio 💫🎄💕
I made these yesterday evening! I added dates to the mixture and replaced the orange zest with lemon zest, because I didn’t hav3 an orange. The result was very good.I never thought to use a dish cloth to roll the dough on, but on reflection, I recall my mother using one for a certain cookie.Thank you again for another great recipe and excellent demonstration. Buon Natale in advance! PS..you remind me of my sister…she would ask her children to put things away or find something in the “scapozino”! I’d correct her each time by asking her to say closet instead. SHE’d say, ok next time, I promise! She was so cute! My nieces still use scapozino today! ( and yes I still correct them to no avail! LOL
Thank you so much. I’m still laughing over the scabuzzino. Some words I just need to say in napoletano. 😂😂 like how do you even translate a chucchiarella? 😂 my youngest daughter imitates me when I go off in napoletano and it’s hysterical. I need to get her on video. Lol Buon natale e sereno anno nuovo a te e famiglia ❤
Thank you so very much. My friend from Ragusa wasn’t familiar with them either. I guess with in Sicily it goes by the city by city. Did you watch my Zeppole sfinge video? Merry Christmas
P.S. Sorry, I forgot to add. I cracked up at the part about the mapine... so I found a clean linen dish towel (rag as Joe said... no not a dirty rag omg !! :) and it worked perfectly!! What a great hint!
Thank you so much!! I’m laughing reading your message. The 100 uses of a mapine. 😂😂 Joe is quite a baker. Look forward doing more recipes with him. He makes a killer apple pie and pear tart. 💖 buon Natale
🇮🇹This is one of those outstanding recipes that I will put into my "Precious Recipe Box" 💋 ...now i'm on the hunt for beautiful dried figs 😛⭐️ I'm obsessed with your channel and thank you again for sharing all of your wonderful knowledge, traditions, stories and skill.. priceless!🇮🇹
Watching Alessandra makes me feel warm & happy. Joe really knows what the heck he’s doing in the kitchen too. BUT HERE’S A QUESTION 🙋🏽♀️ Please? In Agosto AUGUST, my Grandpop’s 90 year old Fig tree gives us thousands of juicy, beautiful Figs. So……. CAN WE USE FRESH FIGS FROM THE 🌳? Love ❤️ her channel!
My parents were from Calabria, I was always too intimidated to try and make this cookie, but Joe explained it so easy, thank you for sharing this recipe, Buon Natale Bella 🎄🎅😘
Cara Salvatrice hope you’ll give it a try. Really super easy, I must say Sal was very thorough in explaining step-by-step. Let me know how they turn out. Just had one with my first cuppa coffee and oh boy just the vine. Lol merry Christmas to you and loved ones🎅🏼👏🏻💫🎄
@@alessandrasfoodislove ALESSANDRA!!! I love you, honestly. I've been making and trying ALL different kinds of recipes for struffoli, even ones from Giada and Food Network, but let me tell you, yours, omgeeeeee as I'm frying them literally it was 1 for the plate and 1 for my mouth, never and I mean NEVER have I had a struffoli that was so light and airy like that, and tasted almost like the shell of a cream puff, I didn't need the honey, well at least I thought I didn't but who did I think I was kidding because once those peels candied in that honey and sugar 🙄 long story short, struffoli became my dinner tonight 😆... so, I've already shared your struffoli to my friends on Facebook and this recipe is my new keeper, I cannot thank you enough!
@@salvatrice850 I’m reading your message over and over. You can’t imagine how happy I am. This recipe is from my aunt Tina who passed away 3 years ago. I have such beautiful memories making them with her. She worked it by hand. I’ve tried different recipes but this our family favorite. I laugh when I see people roll each struffoli. Impossibile task. Lol Buon Natale a te e i tuoi cari. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m also on Facebook and have a Alessandra’s food is love group and page. 💖💖🎅🏼🤶🏻💫💫🎄
I saw your apron that said “food is love” and had to watch. My Italian mother, God rest her soul, used to tell me she couldn’t watch the cooking show The Galloping Gourmet, I think it was back in the 70s. She said, “He threw his food around, you don’t do that! Food is love!” ❤️ 😊
Thank you so much. I wish your mom could watch me…maybe from above she’s right there with you. I always say that we need to achieve world peace through food. Every culture has its own that warms the heart and brings families together. God bless you ♥️🙏🏻
@@alessandrasfoodislove you are so sweet! Thank you so much! Even though my grandparents spoke Italian, we were never taught to speak it. But I do know the most important word in Italian, mangia! 🙏🏼❤️
I am definitely going to try this recipe but I hope you can help me by finding another recipe.. my mother during christmas would make a fried sweet dough with anchovies and it was so light and fluffy with a mouth watering bite of anchovy.. miss my mom and this would bring back some good memories of a time long gone by... thank you.
Thank you so much for watching. I know exactly what you’re looking for. One of my favorite on Christmas Eve. And oh boy the cold white wine goes so well with it. 💖 I’ll send the link. It’s under Crispelle. I know your mom must’ve been from Calabria? Buon Natale
You mentioned that the filling was enough for double recipe of dough. The recipe you gave us was for 3 1/2 C flour. Should I just double the recipe for the filling? Thank you! I cant wait to make these.
We call this grandmoms christmass roll. Our Nonna would add prunes and brandy. Am looking for cast iron pizzel presses for the solid dough recipe you roll into little cigars, and hand squeeze with the long handled irons to form solid pizzels. My family shares the 2 that have been handed down in our family. Have tried the aluminum ones and they dont work. Anyone know of somewhere to find some?
It sounds like you have a wonderful family tradition with your Nonna's Christmas roll and the cast iron pizzel presses! For finding cast iron pizzelle presses, you might have better luck looking for vintage or antique kitchenware sellers, as these traditional tools can be harder to find in new production.
I absolutely adore you. I've made your Manicotti and your meatballs. Fantastic. I've started my Christmas cookie dough using your recipes. I found you out of necessity, peace of mind, to escape the news. I felt so comforted by your voice, MY Bronx family voice. When you looked at your daughter and said: Yeah. I'm looking at you! I died. My mom said that, along with the rolling pin. We even have the same Weight Watchers Scale. Question: Your Manicotti shells were nice however if I needed to use the Brand name brand hard Manicotti shells could I? Or is that a different recipe.
Thank you so much for watching! 💕💕 love love my weight watchers scale but don’t tell my leader I use it for bee we king. 😂😂😂 I didn’t understand the question. Please send it to me again. Thank you
I think I answered my own question. I made your delicious "crepe" Manicotti as per your recipe. I was wondering why you did not use like my mother did, the supermarket Manicotti shells, Ronzoni, or Barilli? Answer: the homemade tastes 100% better.@@alessandrasfoodislove
Hi Lucia, they freeze veri well. Place in a Tupperware container and use parchment paper in between layers. Thaw at room temperature. Thank you for watching 💕
Li cuocio a 350 °F 180 °C per 25 minuti. Tutte le mie ricette si possono stampare con le apposite istruzioni su www.alessandrosfoodislove.com grazie. Buon natale e sereno anno nuovo
That's perfectly okay! Recipes are often adaptable to personal tastes and preferences. I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe even without the sprinkles. Sometimes simplicity can be just as delicious.
The spelling is actually cucciddati with the double DD sound in Sicilian. There are many different versions of this word, but we always use double DD with dots below or DDR or DDH. Otherwise the word has a different meaning for us. 😂
Apologies for late reply. Traditional Italian fig cookies, such as Cuccidati (Sicilian fig cookies), typically do not contain chocolate in their classic recipes. The authentic filling is usually made from figs, raisins, nuts (such as walnuts or almonds), honey, orange zest, and sometimes spices like cinnamon and cloves. However, some modern variations of the recipe include chocolate for an added twist. If you're looking for a traditional recipe, you would usually not include chocolate. Thanks for watching.
@@mariagirome1609 you are showing your ignorance. When you say "Not a true Italiano" and "Not a clue how to make em right", those are indicators of lack of knowledge. Southern Italian Cuccidati have dried fruit, orange peel in them that is soaked in Brandy. Those are the classic Cuccidati, but of course, you wouldn't know about things classic, would you now?
@@rraddena piacere conoscerti. Sono napoletana, nata a Vico Equense sulla penisola sorrentina. Ho tanti tanti amici siciliani dove ho imparato da fare tante stupende ricette. Una delle mie preferite sono lei spinge con la ricotta. Tanti cari saluti
@@alessandrasfoodislove amo la lingua napoletana. Sai, mio nonno palermitano cantava sempre in napoletano perché secondo lui non esistevano canzoni più belle di quelle napoletane.
Bella I feel like I’m in my grandmama home , haven’t heard the word moppina since she’s gone . Allesandra watching u is warm to my eyes and heart, not to mention I can taste and smell the aromas . God bless u for keeping traditions alive .
Thank you so much Susan. I feel the presence too when I cook. I truly get so excited sharing the recipes and certainly an obligation to pass on the traditions. I’m sure your nonna was a wonderful cook. 💕💕
Fig cookies were one of my dads favorites! I will make these in his honor this week. Missing him so much especially on Christmas...
Thank you so much Jackie. So sorry for your loss, I am sure he will be watching over you as you make his favorite cookie. Enjoy the holidays, merry Christmas to you and loved ones. God bless💫🎄🙏🏻💖
My grandmother was from Italy and she made these cookies they were the best. I am a grandmother now and still remember her old oven baking these. What memories that I will never forget.
Thank you so much for watching and for this post. That is absolutely wonderful and I am so happy that you’re carrying on the tradition with your grandchildren. Hope you’re like all my videos. I started so I can pass on the recipes to my daughters. Buon Natale🎅🏼🤶🏻💫🎄💚🤍♥️
Here in New Orleans, we eat these fig cookies from a St. Joseph's Altar. We visit several St. Joseph altars on his Feast Day and get goodie bags with these cookies along with sesame cookies, a "Lucky Bean," a piece of Blessed Bread (to put in the freezer and then to throw out the window during a storm), and a St. Joseph prayer card. The Lucky Bean is a Blessed fava bean. We all have one of these in our wallet/coin purse. Thank you for showing how to make these cookies. St. Joseph's Day (and weekend) is a wonderful tradition here in New Orleans where we go to several church cafeterias to eat a good meal and pray for our families at the beautiful altars.
@@eileencostilow7801 so beautiful how traditions are carried on. Thank you so much for watching 💕
looks great. I do put my figs, nuts and raisins in a food processor and the mixture comes out real well. Mama never put chocolate chips in her cucidati, but I'm sure they make it extra good and rich.
Thank you so much for watching. I will try it in the food processor. It will surely speed things up. Buon Natale 💫🎄🎁
Great job, I learned how from my Nannie. My grandmother didn't put chocolate in hers ... But sounds great!!! I make these and sale them, no one can find anyone in my area who makes them... Merry Christmas
I also wanted to tell you how much I loved you speaking in Italian... Oh my God it was wonderful, reminded me of being with family....
I have never heard of putting chocolate in it either. I guess you can pull whatever you'd like. Gives it a different flavor or a different flair.
A food processor does a great job with the filling. Figs, raisins, walnuts, apricot preserves and honey are what I use. My family loves these cookies!
This Italian, slovakian, Irish , Pennsylvania Dutch , Tennessee girl made this today !!!!!!
The figs are soaking and I added dry cherries because they are my family’s favorite. I cannot wait to bake and share with my southern friends . Thank you !
You have the best of all areas! Love it!! 💖💖 I’m so excited, I’m sure it’s going to be delicious please keep me posted. Buon Natale 🎁💫🎄💖
It’s WONDERFUL how Joe explains everything in an expressive detailed manner - thank you.
I am going to make this for Christmas for sure. This is an excellent video - the best I’ve watched - thank you 😊
Thank you so much Patricia. Joe was a professor for many years that’s why he explains it so well. Happy holidays! It was so much fun doing the video with him. 💕💫🎄
My grandmother uses a Kitchen Aid mixer with the Meat Grinder attachment to make hers. We are able to split the figs into quarters and put them in with our nuts and raisins. It comes out nice and roughly ground so you get the chunks of nuts. We also use red wine instead of orange juice. I want to try your method though, I think the orange juice could add a nice flavor!
@@Tonyisgaming I’ve done it with the meat grinder too. It was a great texture. Thank you so so much for watching. 💫🎄💕 buone feste
This is wonderful, thank you for sharing your recipe my grandmother was from Sicily and she was a wonderful cook as was my mother.
Thank you so very much for watching. You are a very lucky lady to have had a wonderful mom and grandmother that cooked so well. Merry 🎄
Thank you for this recipe and video; have been trying to recreate my Sicilian grandmother’s recipe for years & this might be the closest I’ve found. Sometimes she added mini chocolate chips to the dough, which I forgot until I saw chocolate here. Brought back a very happy memory and I hope making your recipe will bring back even more :). Thank you again so much.
Thank you so much for your beautiful message. It’s messages like this that give me the drive to keep sharing my recipes. Buon Natale 💫💚🤍♥️
This is the closest to my family's recipe. My recipe doesn't use chocolate chips or walnuts. Instead it has hazelnuts and almonds and the raisins are a mix of light and dark. Like the video said it's best to mix the dough and filling a day ahead so it makes assembling and baking easier. Otherwise you'll be in the kitchen all day. When making these you have to have a very systematic and organized way of doing it so you don't waste dough or have to reroll so many times. So far this is one of the best videos I've seen and very helpful for anyone who has never made these cookies before. I'm 61 now but as a kid my mother used to have me put the figs through the meat grinder and that's how we processed the figs. Now I pre-chop and use a food processor.
Thank you so very much for watching. It’s my mission to pass on tried and true recipes. I will certainly the mixture you make. Yes, mixing filling and dough a day ahead sure helps. No matter how many I made they’re just never enough. Lol
Buon anno 🎆thank you for the beautiful words
Thanks Alessandra for bringing Joe on & sharing his recipe. Looking forward to making this. Grazie di cuore & buon natale
@@ciao4nao buon Natale 🎁💫🎄 thank you for watching
Very nice recipe, looks really tasty and delicious, thank you very much for sharing 💖
Thank you so much! Let’s keep cooking together.
I made these today. Absolutely love them. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so very much! Happy holidays.
OMG I remember my dad making these when I was just a kid. I remember him frying the dough though and it looked like a round ravioli but they filling was this. You just brought back so many fond memories. 💖🙏
Thank you. Hopefully I will make that recipe to. The sweet memories t so fond in our hearts. God bless 🙏🏻
Thank you!
My parents originally from Sicily
We don’t add honey in our fig mixture
We add strong espresso coffee and let fig mixture sit in fridge couple days absorb all of the flavours
Also, we add small amounts of clementine peels as we grind the dry figs
Thank you so much. I will certainly try the way your family made it. They’re one of my favorite cookies. 💚🤍♥️
@@alessandrasfoodisloveMe too, its getting close to that time of year again
Sorry forgot to mention also some cacao and semi sweet chocolates chips
Have a great day!!!!
❤️❤️❤️
@@antonellaprovenzano270 I’m so happy that you’re sharing 💕
@@alessandrasfoodislove Thank you!!
This recipe looks so delicious! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you always for watching. I will surely keep some for Christmas
Just the best cookie!! Thank you both for this one. Wanted this recipe for a long time...Merry Christmas to you all!! Xoxo
Dear Catherine, your messages always make me smile. You’ve been following me from the start and I’m humbled. ☺️
Merry Christmas to you and loved ones. Joe was truly amazing. He is an awesome baker. As a young man he worked in his uncle’s German bakery and makes delicious pies.
Hope to be doing more videos. Food is indeed love 💖
Thank you always for watching.
This is my dad's favorite cookie, so I had to make them. This version with chocolate chips was a bit concerning at first, but, I TRUST ALESSANDRA 100%...and she DID NOT disappoint! these are great and will be making them again & again. No more trips to Brooklyn when we can make it ourselves!! lol Buon Natale
can i freeze the leftover fig mixture? **Poor joe needs a food processor/chopper..much easier than it looks.JOE,Thank you for sharing🥰😇
We used to toss the moppina to each other at dinner.... My mother never liked to waste money on paper napkins!.."Pass the moppina " Love you guys xxx
@@aphroditesupperclub8603 thank you so much my moppina friend. lol 💕💕
Alessandra let Joe kno the dish cloth trick was fantastic! I made my cookies today and the mapine was a God Send. Bono Natale
Thank you Roxanne!! The 100 uses of a Mappina 😂😂😂 Buon Natale
To you and loved ones. I did send your message to Joe. He was very happy to know.
Xoxoxo ❤️💚🤍♥️🎄🎁💫🎵🤶🏻
mom and i are watching this as we eat dinner!!! love your intro!! and your video!!!
Thank you so very much. I keep watching Santa and loving it more and more. Give my love to Mom
Oh that's amazing! This reminds me of my Nonna's recipe growing up in Sicily Palermo and Messina. I'm live in Australia with all my family now but this recipe floods back so much nostalgia. I miss my extended family in Sicily. Thankyou for sharing this recipe I'll be trying this to surprise my dad! Love from Australia 🦘
Dear Nancy,
You can’t imagine how happy your message makes me. It’s all about the foods we grew up with and passing down the recipes to our next generation. Thank you Don Kuching! Through my channel I’ve met many wonderful paesani in Australia. Hopefully one day I’ll have a book and come to Australia for signing. Oh boy I’m dreaming again. 🤞buon Anno a te e tutti i tuoi cari. 🥰💚🤍♥️🎆
Oh how wonderful a book! All the best with that. Auguri anche a voi, un abbraccio. 🙏😘
My boss makes these and brings them to us at work every year before Christmas. They are my favorite Christmas cookies!
That’s a very nice boss. A true labor of love. Thank you so much for watching! 💕
@@alessandrasfoodislove She sure is! She said she gets her nieces with her and they make them together. They are definitely a lot of work, but like you said, a labor of love! 🙂
Going to try this afternoon !
The cuccidati look so delicious! Anxious to try them,thank you for sharing the recipe!😋
Cara Antonietta,
(What a beautiful name) was my wonderful aunt’s name 💖
I’m sure you’ll do just fine. Remember I’m a messsge away if you have a question or better yet Joe and me will come over and bake with you. Lol 💖😂 sending you lots of hugs 💖
@@alessandrasfoodislove Thank you Alessandra! Not only are you a great chef but a beautiful person!God bless you! 😘
@@antoniettadipalma9819 thank you so much! Life is too short not to love each other 💖
LOVE these and they both did a fantastic job! BRAVO!!
Thank you same much Lou. Happy new year 🎊🎆🎈
Tried it. It's lovely and very good. I found it very convenient to give one of the rolls as a gift. It's very very good. ❤❤❤❤❤
Thank you so much! I would love that as a gift too. 💕 happy new year!
They look fantastic!
Thank you so much! Buon Natale 💫🎄
Yo, I'm gonna make this this weekend, thanks for the recipe!!!!
Thank you so much for watching! Making mine today too. Buon Natale 💫🎄
Thank you Joe l definitely will be making them 🙏😀
Thank you so much!! 💕
I made these today. :) THANK YOU so much for the step by step instructions that are a pleasure to watch you do this together. I am better seeing the recipes done and then using the written one. Anyway, I used your ingredients (except didn't have as many nuts on hand, no problem with that.) I did add some B & B (Benedictine & Brandy) about 1/4 cup to the mix. I seem to think my Grandma putting some kind of booze in there haha) Anyway they came out delicious! She used to do the individual cookies but I did it Joe's way and it was easier and neater. Merry Christmas!!!! Oh I also made the Spritz and they were great and tomorrow I am making the Strouffoli!!!
Dear Mary-rose. Thank you so much for watching and for your beautiful words. I’m sure nonna added booze!! Lol
I remember Strega and Galliano went in all desserts. Later years we started with limoncello.
The struffoli recipe is from my late aunt. Her name was Tina. I learned so much from her especially gardening. She would go in the garden pick a few tomatoes a little of this and that a can of beams and boom she’d make an awesome salad. Miss her dearly.
I so appreciate you making my recipes. Grazie e buon Anno. 🎆🎊🎈
Made them, they are delicious. Thank you for the recipe.
Thank you so much for watching and letting me know! You just made my day 💕
I made these every Christmas also using basically the same recipe but I add orange or apricot marmalade and Bourbon and not quite so much chocolate Each part of Italy has their own way of making it but they’re all delicious! Thank you for this video, have a merry Christmas and a happy new year!🎄🎊.
Thank you so much for watching. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you too. It’s all about keeping the traditions alive. God bless and let’s keep cooking together 💕💚🤍♥️
Love these and every goodie you make. Buon Natale!!!
Grazie cara Anna. They were truly delicious. Buon Anno 🎊🎆
Mi son sentita tra amici a guardare questo video 😍 tra Calabrese e siciliani come me...grazie per il video e Buon Natale a tutti...Merry Christmas 🌲🌲
Grazie Cara Rosetta! Food is indeed love and brings everyone together. Sereno Natale anche a te e famiglia. Una delle cose mie preferite sono i mostazzoli calabresi. Un caro abbraccio 💫🎄💕
cookies look amazing !
Thank you so very much for watching. 💖
I made these yesterday evening! I added dates to the mixture and replaced the orange zest with lemon zest, because I didn’t hav3 an orange. The result was very good.I never thought to use a dish cloth to roll the dough on, but on reflection, I recall my mother using one for a certain cookie.Thank you again for another great recipe and excellent demonstration. Buon Natale in advance! PS..you remind me of my sister…she would ask her children to put things away or find something in the “scapozino”! I’d correct her each time by asking her to say closet instead. SHE’d say, ok next time, I promise! She was so cute! My nieces still use scapozino today! ( and yes I still correct them to no avail! LOL
Thank you so much. I’m still laughing over the scabuzzino. Some words I just need to say in napoletano. 😂😂 like how do you even translate a chucchiarella? 😂 my youngest daughter imitates me when I go off in napoletano and it’s hysterical. I need to get her on video. Lol
Buon natale e sereno anno nuovo a te e famiglia ❤
Fantastico Gio. My Mother is from Sicily and she never made these. Loved the cooking show.
Thank you so very much. My friend from Ragusa wasn’t familiar with them either. I guess with in Sicily it goes by the city by city. Did you watch my Zeppole sfinge video? Merry Christmas
@@alessandrasfoodislove I will check them out. My mother makes the pumpkin Sfinge
@@CowboyJojosAdventures that sounds delicious.
@@alessandrasfoodislove it is an isolana specialty
Just baked this recipe. DELICIOUS!
Thank you
Omg. Those are my favorite cookies in all the world. But, I have never had them with chocolate. Just orange/lemon with the figs and spices.
They were really delicious! Hope you’ll try them. ❤
I haven't heard a kitchen towel called a mapina in years, thank you so much for the memory.
You’re very welcome. Thank you so much for watching and buon natale 🎄💫💕
Love all my italian words. 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
P.S. Sorry, I forgot to add. I cracked up at the part about the mapine... so I found a clean linen dish towel (rag as Joe said... no not a dirty rag omg !! :) and it worked perfectly!! What a great hint!
Thank you so much!! I’m laughing reading your message. The 100 uses of a mapine. 😂😂 Joe is quite a baker. Look forward doing more recipes with him. He makes a killer apple pie and pear tart. 💖 buon Natale
😊 wonderful! Just like momma and poppa recipe !
That’s a very beautiful compliment. Thank you so so much. 💕
This is so beautiful! Thank you
Grazie mille for watching!
Very good!
Thank you so so much. 💕🎄
Alessandra, it’s perfectly ok to do all the chopping on a food processor! I do it all the time for the last 40 yrs.
Thank you! I will certainly do that. Thank you for all the tips. Nothing better than coming from experience. 💖💖💖buon Natale
Love this video and the recipe ❤️
Thank you so very much! Not a difficult recipe and so delicious. 💖
🇮🇹This is one of those outstanding recipes that I will put into my "Precious Recipe Box" 💋
...now i'm on the hunt for beautiful dried figs 😛⭐️
I'm obsessed with your channel and thank you again for sharing all of your wonderful knowledge, traditions, stories and skill.. priceless!🇮🇹
Good morning? You can’t imagine how happy I get finding your messages. Grazie di cuore. Food is indeed love. 💖thank you for watching.
That’s one big cookie!!!
Right why cut it when you could just bite into one of those logs lol
Alessandra, it’s perfectly ok to do the feeling in a food processor, I do it and it turns out perfect.
Thank you so much for watching. I will surely try with the food processor.
My mom always used a grinder..back in the day lol
Watching Alessandra makes me feel warm & happy. Joe really knows what the heck he’s doing in the kitchen too.
BUT HERE’S A QUESTION 🙋🏽♀️ Please?
In Agosto AUGUST, my Grandpop’s 90 year old Fig tree gives us thousands of juicy, beautiful Figs. So…….
CAN WE USE FRESH FIGS FROM THE 🌳?
Love ❤️ her channel!
Thank you so much! the figs would need to be dried out first.
I’m making these super bowl this looks delicious 😋
The house will smell divine!! 💖 enjoy Super Bowl and every bite of these delicious cookies.
My parents were from Calabria, I was always too intimidated to try and make this cookie, but Joe explained it so easy, thank you for sharing this recipe, Buon Natale Bella 🎄🎅😘
Cara Salvatrice hope you’ll give it a try. Really super easy, I must say Sal was very thorough in explaining step-by-step. Let me know how they turn out. Just had one with my first cuppa coffee and oh boy just the vine. Lol merry Christmas to you and loved ones🎅🏼👏🏻💫🎄
@@alessandrasfoodislove today I am making these, plus your struffoli recipe, can't wait to enjoy them with my family thanks again! 😘🎄
@@salvatrice850 Buon Natale dear Salvatrice. If you have any questions I’m a text away. 💖💖
@@alessandrasfoodislove ALESSANDRA!!! I love you, honestly. I've been making and trying ALL different kinds of recipes for struffoli, even ones from Giada and Food Network, but let me tell you, yours, omgeeeeee as I'm frying them literally it was 1 for the plate and 1 for my mouth, never and I mean NEVER have I had a struffoli that was so light and airy like that, and tasted almost like the shell of a cream puff, I didn't need the honey, well at least I thought I didn't but who did I think I was kidding because once those peels candied in that honey and sugar 🙄 long story short, struffoli became my dinner tonight 😆... so, I've already shared your struffoli to my friends on Facebook and this recipe is my new keeper, I cannot thank you enough!
@@salvatrice850 I’m reading your message over and over. You can’t imagine how happy I am. This recipe is from my aunt Tina who passed away 3 years ago. I have such beautiful memories making them with her. She worked it by hand.
I’ve tried different recipes but this our family favorite. I laugh when I see people roll each struffoli. Impossibile task. Lol
Buon Natale a te e i tuoi cari. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I’m also on Facebook and have a Alessandra’s food is love group and page. 💖💖🎅🏼🤶🏻💫💫🎄
Wao sicuramente delicious 😋
Veramente buoni. La pasta frolla un incanto. 💖
I saw your apron that said “food is love” and had to watch. My Italian mother, God rest her soul, used to tell me she couldn’t watch the cooking show The Galloping Gourmet, I think it was back in the 70s. She said, “He threw his food around, you don’t do that! Food is love!” ❤️ 😊
Thank you so much. I wish your mom could watch me…maybe from above she’s right there with you.
I always say that we need to achieve world peace through food. Every culture has its own that warms the heart and brings families together.
God bless you ♥️🙏🏻
Email me your address I would love to send you an apron. 💕 you can send it to me on instagram message.
Or www.alessandrasfoodislove.com
@@alessandrasfoodislove you are so sweet! Thank you so much! Even though my grandparents spoke Italian, we were never taught to speak it. But I do know the most important word in Italian, mangia! 🙏🏼❤️
Thank you Joe..Beautiful..
Thank you for watching! It was just a fantastic evening learning from Joe 💖
Ha! I was just thinking of making these! Fun!
Perfect timing! Thank you always for watching. Buon Natale cara Valentina . 💖
Merry Christmas to all !
Buon Natale anche a te e famiglia.
Thank you, Joe!!💯👍🏻
Thank you so much! Joe is the best
These have to be great! Any left over filling i think I'd try in my oatmeal..
That sounds like a great idea. Even little healthy snacks. 💕💕
@@alessandrasfoodislove yes!
Adorei a receita
Adorei a receita vou fazer 🇵🇹🇺🇸
@@mariafeliz1593 you can print the recipe on www.alessandrasfoodislove.com obrigada
Looks so delicious 👍😋
Thank you so much! They’re truly a wonderful cookie. Was so much fun baking with Joe 💚🤍♥️
@@alessandrasfoodislove stay connected ❤️
I am definitely going to try this recipe but I hope you can help me by finding another recipe.. my mother during christmas would make a fried sweet dough with anchovies and it was so light and fluffy with a mouth watering bite of anchovy.. miss my mom and this would bring back some good memories of a time long gone by... thank you.
Thank you so much for watching. I know exactly what you’re looking for.
One of my favorite on Christmas Eve. And oh boy the cold white wine goes so well with it. 💖
I’ll send the link. It’s under Crispelle. I know your mom must’ve been from Calabria? Buon Natale
@@alessandrasfoodislove yes both my parents were from Calabria ...
You mentioned that the filling was enough for double recipe of dough. The recipe you gave us was for 3 1/2 C flour. Should I just double the recipe for the filling? Thank you! I cant wait to make these.
Thank you so much for watching.
Make one batch and then see how much filling you have left.
Hope this helps. 💕💕💕🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
These cookies are wonderful. Can they be frozen and if so for how long?
Thank you so much for watching. They can certainly be frozen. Use wax paper in between layers. I would say no longer than two months. Merry Christmas.
can you use anisette instead of vanilla and can you use rum to soak the dates in with oj ?
Both sound like a wonderful idea. Buon Natale and thank you so much for watching 💕💫🎄
I have a fig tree, can I use fresh figs or do I have to dry them then re hydrate?
Can you rehydrate the figs in the orange juice and once rehydrated then mince them in the food processor?
Not sure. Sorry for not replying sooner. Joe’s method really worked.
Alessa'.....sei simpaticissima😃😃😃😃😂😂😂😂a màppina...macari io a chiamo così😂😂😂
Mappina in napoletano is a very interesting word. 😂😂😂 grazie di cuore. 💕
Looking forward to making these! Can you use fresh figs and get the same result?
Hi Charity,
Might be too runny by using fresh figs. Maybe dehydrate them first. Buon Natale 💫🎄
@@alessandrasfoodislove Thanks so much for a response! Can't wait to try making them :)
@@CharityVictoriaJones please let me know how they turn out! Happy baking 💕
We call this grandmoms christmass roll. Our Nonna would add prunes and brandy. Am looking for cast iron pizzel presses for the solid dough recipe you roll into little cigars, and hand squeeze with the long handled irons to form solid pizzels. My family shares the 2 that have been handed down in our family. Have tried the aluminum ones and they dont work. Anyone know of somewhere to find some?
It sounds like you have a wonderful family tradition with your Nonna's Christmas roll and the cast iron pizzel presses! For finding cast iron pizzelle presses, you might have better luck looking for vintage or antique kitchenware sellers, as these traditional tools can be harder to find in new production.
@@alessandrasfoodislove Thank you for the suggestions!
Mom also added black coffee and then heated it through on low heat to blend the flavors.
Thanks for sharing that, I’ll try it next time!
I’ve never seen anyone make frosting with water. Milk would definitely be better! Merry Christmas! ❤️🎄❤️
Thank you Ariane. I will certainly try it with milk. I know it makes for a whiter frosting. Merry Christmas to you smd loved ones. 🎉💫🎅🏼🎄💖💚🤍♥️
Alessandra sono buonissimi mia li faceva sempre 🤗💋
Cara Maria, quando li ho fatti insieme a Joe ti ho pensato. Sapevo perfettamente che sarebbe stata una ricetta della tua infanzia. Buon Natale
@@alessandrasfoodislove si e vero mi a zia li faceva ogni anno adesso poverina non ne fa più perche e anziana ora e il lavoro e molto ♥️🤗
I absolutely adore you. I've made your Manicotti and your meatballs. Fantastic. I've started my Christmas cookie dough using your recipes. I found you out of necessity, peace of mind, to escape the news. I felt so comforted by your voice, MY Bronx family voice. When you looked at your daughter and said: Yeah. I'm looking at you! I died. My mom said that, along with the rolling pin. We even have the same Weight Watchers Scale. Question: Your Manicotti shells were nice however if I needed to use the Brand name brand hard Manicotti shells could I? Or is that a different recipe.
Thank you so much for watching! 💕💕 love love my weight watchers scale but don’t tell my leader I use it for bee we king. 😂😂😂 I didn’t understand the question. Please send it to me again.
Thank you
I think I answered my own question. I made your delicious "crepe" Manicotti as per your recipe. I was wondering why you did not use like my mother did, the supermarket Manicotti shells, Ronzoni, or Barilli? Answer: the homemade tastes 100% better.@@alessandrasfoodislove
So what was Joe using to roll out the pastry dough ? It was not a pastry cloth ?
Hi Zena we used a thick kitchen rag that had the consistency of a pastry cloth. A pastry cloth would work just great. 💕 thank you for watching.
@@alessandrasfoodislove Thank you so much for your reply ! I Love your channel
@@kouklakee thank you so much for watching. 💕
My mother put it all through a meat grinder. Works great!
That sounds like a great tip for a smoother texture!
Where did you buy the pastry towel?
Thank you for watching.
It was a new kitchen towel. Nothing specific but I know they sell pastry towels. Buon Natale 💫🎄🎁
Can we freeze them
Hi Lucia, they freeze veri well.
Place in a Tupperware container and use parchment paper in between layers. Thaw at room temperature. Thank you for watching 💕
My dough keeps breaking and cracking. Do you happen to know why? Thank you
Hi Rose,
Maybe the eggs too small. Did you rest it enough in the fridge?
Try working it a little more. Hope this helps
Can I leave the chocolate out?
@@jchatfield1963 thank you for watching. Absolutely can
Can you taste the chocolate?
yes you can taste it. Thank you for watching.
a che temperatura li cuoci?
Li cuocio a 350 °F 180 °C per 25 minuti. Tutte le mie ricette si possono stampare con le apposite istruzioni su www.alessandrosfoodislove.com grazie. Buon natale e sereno anno nuovo
Put oil on your hand when you putting the feeling onto the dough
Another great tip! Grazie dear Jody. 💖
when I make mine, I use a meat grinder to make the filling. Much easier than dicing.
Thank you for the great tip. I will certainly try it. Buon Natale cara Angela. 💫🎄
I love this recipe but I didn't use the sprinkles.
That's perfectly okay! Recipes are often adaptable to personal tastes and preferences. I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe even without the sprinkles. Sometimes simplicity can be just as delicious.
I buy the bag of smyrna figs at Costco and grind them in my kitchen aid grinder attachment.
Thank you for the tip. I will surely try. Grazie. Happy holidays. 💫🎄💚♥️♥️
The spelling is actually cucciddati with the double DD sound in Sicilian. There are many different versions of this word, but we always use double DD with dots below or DDR or DDH. Otherwise the word has a different meaning for us. 😂
Oh oh I better be careful don’t want to be saying the wrong word. 😂😂. Thank you ❤
❤❤❤❤
Grazie di cuore!!
I don't think they add chocolate chips in Sicily.
So many different recipes all very good. Thank you for watching!
We never put the chocolate in ours
Thank you for watching. So many variations from family to family. Buon Natale 💫🎄
Gonna nake these soon. Not an italian or something, just a JoJo enjoyer
Husbands family from Sicily. There is NO chocolate in the authentic fig cookies!!!!
Apologies for late reply. Traditional Italian fig cookies, such as Cuccidati (Sicilian fig cookies), typically do not contain chocolate in their classic recipes. The authentic filling is usually made from figs, raisins, nuts (such as walnuts or almonds), honey, orange zest, and sometimes spices like cinnamon and cloves. However, some modern variations of the recipe include chocolate for an added twist. If you're looking for a traditional recipe, you would usually not include chocolate. Thanks for watching.
chocolate in Cuccidati? NO!!!!!! You forgot dried fruits and Brandy
Thank you so much for watching!
Not a TRUE Italiano
Not a clue how to make em right!
@@mariagirome1609 you are showing your ignorance. When you say "Not a true Italiano" and "Not a clue how to make em right", those are indicators of lack of knowledge. Southern Italian Cuccidati have dried fruit, orange peel in them that is soaked in Brandy. Those are the classic Cuccidati, but of course, you wouldn't know about things classic, would you now?
My family never put chocolate in and did add brandy
@@MrLaddieboy1 everyone has a family tradition! 🇮🇹 I’m sure it’s delicious.
You need vinocotto
Thank you Gina. Do you add the vino cotto to rehydrate the figs?
I’ve used vino cotto for the cartellate.
Buon Natale to you and loved ones. 🎄💫🎅🏼💚🤍♥️
Or cssateddri.
Thank you. I
Will add that name too. 💕💚🤍♥️
@@alessandrasfoodislove grazzi assai! A me piaci taliari tutti 'sti ricetti siciliani. D'unni si in Sicilia? Nuatri semu ri Maesalla e Paleimmu.
@@rraddena piacere conoscerti. Sono napoletana, nata a Vico Equense sulla penisola sorrentina. Ho tanti tanti amici siciliani dove ho imparato da fare tante stupende ricette. Una delle mie preferite sono lei spinge con la ricotta. Tanti cari saluti
@@alessandrasfoodislove amo la lingua napoletana. Sai, mio nonno palermitano cantava sempre in napoletano perché secondo lui non esistevano canzoni più belle di quelle napoletane.
@@rraddena bravo tuo nonno. Devo dire che anche io adoro le canzoni napoletane. 💚🤍♥️ un abbraccio grande 💕
They look good but I will stick to my Italian mom’s recipe.Completely different then yours.l have been making them for years.
Thank you for watching. Nothing like using recipes passed on by loved ones. 💕
The Chinese invented these cookies, and like usual, the Italians copied them.
@@appolop8273 just like spaghetti and Marco Polo. Lol
You didn't once scrap bowl at no time...can't stand it
Hi Margie,
Buon Natale. I’m so sorry but I didn’t understand what you meant. Thank you so much.