Hidden Treasures of Italy

Pizzelle – An Italian Holiday Tradition

Joanne Natale Spigonardo

December 22, 2024

Most Italian families make the wonderful treat of pizzelle during the Holiday Season. Everyone has their own version either handed down through family recipes or from an improvisation of recipes from various sources. It’s all about the flavorings with some recipes calling for anise extract while others call for vanilla or even whiskey. The secret is the heat of the pizzelle iron and the amount of time for each pizzelle. Pizzelle need to be crisp and the sweet spot for the time for each to cook is about 45 seconds.

Pizzelle are the world’s oldest cookie. Historians say that pizzelle date back to the 12th century when pizzelle were first made by Monk Beato Roberto da Salle in the Abruzzo area of Italy. The origins are in the towns outside of Pescara and Ortona. The original Abruzzese name is ferratelle which means from the iron. Old pizzelle irons are an art form in their own right with some ancient ones that have crosses and geometric patterns. The most common are patterns of snowflakes.

The following is from my Mother-In-Law, Ida Spigonardo’s recipe. She was a master pizzelle maker, and passed the recipe down to us. My husband Francesco, has taken the reins of making them for holidays, parties, and on cold winter days for no reason. They are fun to do, with very little clean up. We share our bounty with family and friends.

Ingredients

1 ¹⁄₂cups sugar
6 eggs
1 cup butter, melted and cooled a bit (do not use more than 1 cup) – 1 cup of melted Crisco is an alternative – but the butter is better
2 tablespoons vanilla or 2 tablespoons anise extract or 2 tablespoons of whiskey
3 ¹⁄₂cups all-purpose flour
4 tsps baking powder
Directions
Beat eggs and sugar together until thickened and pale.
Add the cooled melted butter and vanilla or anise.
Sift in flour and baking powder and mix until smooth.
Let batter stand for one hour at room temperature
Place a heaping Tbspn of batter in center of mold, close lid, and cook for 30-60 seconds.
Remove Pizzelle carefully with a fork and lay on flat surface till cool – they should be laid flat to cool for about an hour
Store in air-tight container – pizzelle will keep for several weeks

Pizzelle are great with your morning coffee or for an afternoon snack. Pizzelle are also a wonderful treat if you are watching your calories and depending on the size – they are usually only 70 calories each. A big and tasty cookie and worth every calorie!

So if you haven’t made pizzelle yet – invest in a pizzelle iron and make it your new 2025 hobby!

Wishing you all a Buon Natale & Felice Anno Nuovo!

About the Author

Joanne Natale Spigonardo has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, music, literature, film, history, wine, and cuisine. She is a lover of nature and beauty. She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/White-Widow-Joanne-Natale-Spigonardo/dp/B085DT65DB. For more information about Joanne please visit her LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-spigonardo-b4824a9/.

The Sweet Life – Chocolates of Italy

Joanne Natale Spigonardo

November 18, 2024

As we embark on the holiday season, I’m thinking of all the wonderful chocolates I’ve experienced from Italy. My favorites are well known, for example confections from Venchi, Perugina, and Ferrero, while others are not, for example Baratti & Milano and Caffarel. Italy is known for its sweet life, or la dolce vita, and literally eating Italy’s scrumptious chocolates is a bite of happiness.

While chocolate dates back thousands of years to the Aztec and Mayan cultures, it wasn’t brought to Europe until the 16th century. Many historians believe that Christopher Columbus brought back cacao beans from his travels. Cacao was originally used for medicinal purposes until it became popular in Florence and Turin as a soothing drink to lift the spirts. Like I said it is a bite of happiness. In the 18th century, companies life Caffarel and Baratti & Milano began making chocolate candy for the aristocracy, for the House of Savoy, and for Napoleon.

Caffarel was founded by Pier Caffarel in 1826 in Turin’s historical district where Pier joined Michele Prochet to create Italy’s most famous chocolate flavor the gianduja. The gianduiotto is a luscious combination of artisanal chocolate mixed with hazelnut butter. It is on everyone’s Christmas desert table. The name comes from Turin’s carnival mask. Even though Caffarel is now owned by Lindt, it’s roots are deeply embedded in Turin’s culture.

Baratti & Milano is one of the most eclectic names in Italian chocolate. Usually found in elite gourmet shops, although it is readily available online. It’s origins date back to the Baratti family in the mid 1800’s who then joined forces with the Milano family, both prominent chocolate makers in the Piemonte region and also based in Turin. Baratti & Milano are still family owned and did not merge with a global company. The company is known for its Cuneese from Cuneo a provincial city outside of Turin. Cuneese are the most delectable confection that you may ever eat, it is a creamy bitter-sweet chocolate that is infused with rum. Ernest Hemingway was known to import them to his house in Key West.

Venchi and Perugina are also outstanding chocolatiers that are now very common globally. Venchi has flagship stores through Italy, its most famous are in Rome and New York. Now Venchi is also in the King of Prussia mall with exquisite chocolates and gelato. Perugina is always recognized for its infamous Baci.

Take a bite out of the simple pleasures during this holiday season. In the middle of shopping, wrapping, card writing, stop and take a moment to savor the flavors of Italy. It’s as easy as enjoying an Italian chocolate. Small things go a long way and will definitely make you joyful!

About the Author

The Heritage of Italian Wines in Sonoma County

Joanne Natale Spigonardo

October 7, 2025

I had the pleasure of visiting Sonoma County this summer. It was my 8th visit to the area and this time I learned even more about the heritage of not only the Italian immigrants in the area, but also the influence of Italian winemaking there. The region is mostly known for its pinot noir, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc, negro amaro, and zinfandel. I was particularly intrigued by the zinfandel.

Zinfandel is also known as Primitivo, and it is nearly identical to the red wine grapes in Italy. It is an excellent table wine, that goes well with pasta, meat, cheese, and salumi, such as sopressata, and prosciutto.. It has many varitals such as rose and white wine versions of primitivo. Some historians say that immigrants from the Ligurian Coast brought primitivo plant cuttings from Liguria to Sonoma during the mass migration between 1870 – 1910. Many Italians in Sonoma County have roots from Genoa. They established agricultural colonies and flourished in their new homes. These immigrants maintained traditions, love of family, and generations of artisanal wine-making. They had a huge impact in Sonoma County and still do, and make an enormous contribution to the region’s economy and diverse and rich culture.

Award Winning Pinot Noir – Sangiacomo Vineyard

The agriculture and climate in Sonoma County is similar to wine country in Italy. The farmers in the area started their own boutique wineries and are producing some of the best wines in the United States. The people, like the wine, are genuine, kind, and embracers of the beautiful land they cultivate. Their respect for nature and its fruits are easily seen and tasted in the exquisite landscape of their vineyards and the excellence of their wines. Some of my favorite Italian wineries in Sonoma County are Sangiacomo Winery, Orsini Winery, and Saini Winery. All are excellent and renowned in fine restaurants and wine vendors nationally. I was really proud to see this long-time success of Italian immigrants in the area.

I’m all about the Made in Italy brand, but I must say Sonoma County sometimes surpasses imported Italian wines. While I often champion and purchase the fabulous wines from my mother land, I must say that the Italian wines from Sonoma County are becoming my go to, and often a front runner. They are artisanal, authentic, and just amazing! I hope you get to visit Sonoma County and its many Italian vineyards soon. Life is short so take the time to drink the good wine. Cin-Cin, Salute, Cheers!

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All Roads Lead to Pasta

Joanne Natale Spigonardo

August 23, 2024

Bucatini Amatriciana

Yes, it’s true that all roads lead to Rome, but also all roads lead to pasta. Pasta has been famous for thousands of years, approximately 3500, and dates back to the Shang Dynasty, ancient Greece, the Etruscans, and of course the Romans. Pasta came to high popularity during the 1800s when wealthy travelers visited Europe on the Grand Tour. The delight of pasta travelled back to the United States. With the influx of Italian immigrants and the affordability of making pasta at home, it became even more prevalent in the United States and beyond.

Timballo

Pasta’s versatility and creativity make it a blank canvas for many sauces. It can be as simple as Pasta Pomodoro, with olive oil and basil, or it could be a gourmet delight with variations of Tuscan mushrooms and truffles. It can be regional to specific areas of Italy, traditional creations like pasta alla ghitarra, using an old fashioned pasta guitar appliance, and Timballo. Both are creations of the beautiful Abruzzi region. If you remember the movie Big Night, with actor Stanley Tucci, the script centered around making the complex Timballo, literally a pasta pie, which is luscious, and an art form.

Pasta Cacio e Pepe

Pasta is a huge part of the landscape of the Roman dining experience. Rome has four famous pastas. They are Bucatini Amatriciana, Cacio e Pepe, Carbonara, and alla Grecia. Bucatini Amatriciana, are thick tubular spaghetti with guanciale (cured pork cheek), tomato sauce or fresh chopped tomatoes, pepper flakes, white wine and olive oil. If you haven’t prepared it, it is often featured on cooking shows, and there are countless recipes online. Often chefs have their own versions. With the ingredients used it is impossible to not come up with a great personal version.

When I visit Rome, my favorite first meal is always, classic spaghetti alla carbonara. For me it is part of the Roman experience. The recipe for the sauce includes pecorino and parmigiano cheeses, pancetta (Italian bacon), eggs and heavy cream. This pasta is the most decadent and luxurious, however it is not healthy, and should be consumed in small quantities. Perhaps a long walk after the meal should be a requirement, but it is exquisitely sumptuous.

Spaghetti Carbonara

So little time, and so many delicious pastas. You can be creative and invent any recipe and use the ingredients in your fridge or in your pantry. Pasta is inexpensive, it is not only a comfort food, but a culinary adventure. Some other noteworthy pastas are some you’ve heard of, pasta alla grecia, or the classic aglio e olio – garlic and oil that is eaten on Christmas Eve, the Neapolitan version include anchovies.

Alla Grecia Pasta

For your next meal, I hope you consider making one of these pastas that are mentioned here. Pasta can even be eaten for breakfast! Hope you invent a new recipe of your own. Buon Appetito e Viva Italia and its wonderful pastas!

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Vernazza – Cinque Terre – Timeless Treasure

Joanne Natale Spigonardo

May 29, 2024

Vernazza is a small medieval village on the Italian Riviera that is part of the beautiful Cinque Terra landscape. It is nestled in the Ligurian Coast and is in the province of La Spezia. Vernazza dates back to about 1050AD and was an important base for Genoa and its tributaries that led to its industrial growth. Today its main economy is centered on agriculture with production of olive oil, lemons, and its famous wines. In addition, tourism is an integral component of its economy with approximately 5 million visitors a year.

Vernazza is so spectacular, it seems like you are in a dream world. The colors are vibrant and from a painters pallete board. The blue of the sea is absolutely stunning. If you are celebrating with your significant other, it is a place that will revitalize romance. It is a journey within your senses, and is definitely a place to go for your Honeymoon or Anniversary. Life is serene in Vernazza with each day slipping into the most beautiful memories.

**My wonderful husband, Francesco climbing to Doria Castle and door of locks**

Taking the steep hike to the alcove of love locks in the ruins of Doria Castle is worth the energy. The facade of the castle is an artform. You can see that others that made the climb left their mark on Vernazza with love locks on the timeless door. It is un viaggio d’amore, a trip of love. From this door you can see the expansion of the Ligurian Sea into the Mediterranean, an unforgettable sight. You can feel the many who declared their love by leaving a lock.

I hope you get an opportunity to visit Vernazza, and the other exquisite villages of Cinque Terre!

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Science is not an Opinion Remembering Raffaela & Smart Italian Women Celebrating International Women’s Day

**Raffaela Natale – Far Left – Nusco, P. Avelino – Science Competition Winners 1937**

Joanne Natale Spigonardo

March 8, 2024

Happy International Women’s Day! I wanted to celebrate my Mother, Raffaela DellaVecchia Natale as part of this day. She was a smart Italian woman.

In 1937 Italy was dominated by Fascist principles and programs. One of the programs was to promote education to young girls. Among the horrendous toxic environment of Facism, the movement for educating women was progressive, especially in the sciences and it benefited the girls in Italy. One of them was my Mother, Raffaela DellaVecchia Natale. She lived in a remote village in Southern Italy, Nusco, Province Avellino which is in the Apennine Mountains. The town was basically a small rural area with its main economy being agriculture.

My Mother was one of the few women to continue her studies, as many only went to the primary grades. She was mostly proficient in Math and Science, and one of her most relevant quotes was, “Science is Not an Opinion”. Mom believed that proven facts were the foundation of good decisions. Raffaela won the competition for her general knowledge of Science. Her parents encouraged her to study, and because of this she was able to pass her knowledge to her family. Her love of learning was carried out through her life, and she was always proud when we did well in school. She would always say it’s easy to be pretty, but hard to be smart, she would say that you have to constantly work hard to learn.

Among her many talents, Mom was an outstanding baker. The main reason is that there is chemistry involved in baking, she was precise in her calculations, and made some of the best cookies and cakes in our area. She was very creative, and made dresses, curtains, pillows and blankets all without a pattern. She was just able to figure it out, and could always solve problems easily. She loved to read and tell stories, and she loved to write about her experiences during the war. Mom was practical and said there was always a solution to any difficulty. I will always be grateful to her for her intelligence, resourcefulness, and love of beauty.

Mimosa – Traditional Flower for International Women’s Day

I hope you celebrate International Women’s Day, by remembering the woman who most shaped your life, and also celebrating the woman that you are. Cheers to all the smart Italian women out there, keep learning!

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Italians – The Forever Romantics on Valentine’s Day and Always

Joanne Natale Spigonardo

February 1, 2024

We all know that Italians are passionate, romantic, and loving in all aspects of their culture, whether it is with food, literature, music, wine, film, art, relationships, fashion and really in everything. Adding the Italian component usually makes life more dramatic, embellished, defined and bright. There is no such thing as an understated Italian. We are up front and personal, and I’m proud of this. The Italian patina of life is at its most vivid every day.

Let’s talk about romance in Italy in honor of St. Valentine’s Day. Romance in Italy is the appreciation of a soft breeze in a fragrant vineyard in Tuscany enjoying a glass of wine with a life long life partner or a new person of interest. It is a walk along the Ponte Vecchio, the Tiber River, the Grand Canal or the beach in Positano or in Cinque Terre. It is a scrumptious meal in Trastevere, or a gourmet homecooked masterpiece in your own kitchen. Romance among Italians embraces every aspect of life. The melody of romance is in every aria of Italian opera, it is in the brindisi of La Traviata, and in the deep empathy of La Boheme. Romance is part of the Italian DNA, but interpreted differently and individually.

Fashion in Italy is also romantic because it embraces spectacular materials, like silk, pure wool, and the finest leather products. It is romantic because there is a story behind each piece of clothing. It is the history of the designers and the famous fashion houses. To me Italian fashion is pure art and every item is a creative spectrum of beauty.

Italian films exemplify passions unspoken, and passions embraced. My favorite film of all time is La Dolce Vita, and I also love La Grande Bellezza – both films speak about all the fabulous nuances of Rome, its night life, its day life, its wealth of emotion and sometimes its poverty of spirit – but the films are always romantic, deep, and real. The actors are five dimensional – if there is such a thing – the most interesting to me are Rudolph Valentino, Marcelo Mastroianni, Sophia Loren and Anna Magnani.

Just a brief note on literature – I greatly celebrate the epic romantic authors and poets of Italy, which to me are Boccaccio, Petrarch, Leopardi, Pirandello and others – and the romantic novels of all novels is I Promessi Sposi by Manzoni – the famous Betrothed. Take a month or two to read at least one of these famous and romantic Italian authors.

Hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day with a fabulous Italian Romantic of your own.

About the Author:

Joanne Spigonardo has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, music, literature, film, history, wine, and cuisine. She is a lover of nature and beauty. She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/White-Widow-Joanne-Natale-Spigonardo/dp/B085DT65DB. For more information about Joanne please visit her Lin

The Adoration of the Magi – Celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany

January 6, 2024

Joanne Natale Spigonardo

In Italy the feast of the Epiphany on January 6 is considered one of the most important religious holidays. While the glitter of Christmas Day fades, Italy embraces the solemnity of the Epiphany with vigor. It is celebrated with Mass and family gatherings. Children receive gifts from the Befana, who is the good Christmas Witch. The true meaning of Christmas is not only the birth of Jesus, but the adoration of Him, His eternal manifestation and place in the world.

When I celebrate the Epiphany I think about the multitude of Italian paintings of the Adoration of the Magi. There are many versions but one of the most famous is by the Italian Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. The painting is currently on display at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Although the dates are not accurate it was painted around 1475. The painting was originally commissioned by Gaspare di Zanobi del Lama as the altar piece for his funerary chapel in Santa Maria Novella, Florence.

Botticelli executed several paintings about the Adoration, it could be as many as eight or more. This version depicts several members of the Medici family, notably Cosimo de’ Medici, the Italian banker and politician, he could be the Magus kneeling in front of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Although there are varied opinions as to the identities of the other Medici figures, most art historians tend to agree that the painter, Sandro Botticelli, is the standing figure on the right of the frame, wearing the red gown.

Several masters have painted the Adoration of the Magi, one of them is Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo was given the commission by the Augustinian monks of San Donato in Florence in 1481. He did not finish the work, as he decided to leave Florence for Milian leaving the painting behind. The unfinished work is also displayed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. There are other versions of Botticelli’s Adoration in the National Gallery in Washington, DC. Other similar paintings of the Adoration are also on display in Washington painted by Fra Angelico and Fra Lippi.

In this new year of hope and vitality, and for those of us that are Christian, we are reminded that Jesus is always in our hearts. Most Italian families have a Nativity display in their homes. Having these displays are traditionally and personally symbolic of the meaning of Christmas. The beautiful paintings of the Renaissance are a testament of our timeless faith in Christ. Happy Feast of the Epiphany!

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SPQR – Rome Eternal

By: Joanne Natale Spigonardo

December 28, 2023

SPQR, is an abbreviation for Senatus Populusque Romanus, which means governed by the ancient Roman Republic. It refers to the eternal city of imperial beauty that has not changed in thousands of years. It is not only about the timeless art and architecture by Michelangelo, Bernini and Brunelleschi, or the majesty of the Coliseum, the Roman Baths, the Forum or the Vatican, it is about the charm and charisma of the people. It’s about the food, and the fashion.

Every nuance and scene in Rome is splendid, whether it is a charcuterie and cheese shop, eclectic chocolate, Roman carriages or the pointy nose of Pinocchio, it is all a feast for the senses. Here are some of the photos from my recent trip to Rome. Rome truly is La Grande Bellezza!

Salumi, Formaggi, Prosciutto

Via Condotti, Prada, Valentino, Versace, Dolce & Gabana

Pinocchio, Big & Small

Piazza di Spagna, Carrozza e Cavallo

The Angel Gabriel, Pantheon

The Pantheon was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa in 25 BC as the Temple to all the Gods of Ancient Rome. The Pantheon became a Christian church in the Byzantine era.

Piazza Barberini, Outdoor Market

Venchi Chocolate Wall

Streets of Rome

All roads lead to Rome, may your journey in 2024 bring you to SPQR for the first or twentieth time, I hope you get there. Buon Anno!

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O Sole Mio – My Song of Gratitude

Joanne Natale Spigonardo

November 13, 2023

When I hear the song Il Sole Mio I feel gratitude in my heart for a day of sunshine, a day of hope. Even as the sun is setting the astounding beauty that is so simple yet so complex lightens my soul. It is a Neapolitan love song that was composed in 1898 by Eduardo Di Capua, while the lyrics were written by the poet Giovanni Capurro. To me Il Sole Mio is a song of appreciation, and promises for a bright future ahead.

As November progresses to Thanksgiving Day, I’ve been thinking more and more about Il Sole Mio. The lyrics explain that sometimes even simple things are spectacular. When I hear it, I feel gratitude for the goodness of the Earth, I feel gratitude for the love that surrounds me, for the sun that encompasses my life. I feel gratitude for each day, that it can be a new beginning for me to fulfill God’s purpose. It reminds me that to serve God and to serve others is a gift not a burden.

Il Sole Mio represents to me the essence of the Italian persona, finding the romance in life, it could be a whimsical smile, the laughter of children, and the surprise of finding so much happiness that is right in front of us each day. Italians embrace life fully, and that is what the song is telling us to do. The song is timeless and has been produced by many artists in so many variations, but the message is the same. Everyone has his or her sun, it represents different things to each of us, but the universal message to all of us is to look for positive energy. The message is to look for the many gifts facing us, and to be grateful for them.

After a year of many challenges, I’m looking ahead, and hoping to remain a sunshine girl, no matter what faces me. I’m basking in the light that is right in front of me, and I am grateful. Wishing all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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