Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts

Sunday, May 26, 2019

An Early Father's Day Telling My Italian Father's Story & Honoring Him

 As Father's day is closely approaching, I find myself taking more and more pictures and documenting my father and his daily rituals.  This past May my father turned 89, he suffers a multitude of health problems and can't move around like he used to and requires a chair anywhere he goes, its been getting very hard for him as he loses his breath dramatically and can't go far like he used to.   Its been hard to see a man who has always been so strong physically slow down so much and be limited.  Although this is the current reality right now, he continues to inspire me.

So, as he slows down at this fast rate, I'm faced with thinking about all the great things about him right now and in my whole life.  My father's story is this:  He came to America in 1956 and took a ship ( The Olympia, and Andrea Doria, which are famous historical ships) to get here, it was a 10 day journey on his first voyage. This trip he made several times over the first years as he went back and forth to support his family after he made his first minimal money here in the USA. 

My father landed on Ellis Island, as one of the last immigrant groups to actually dock there, but obviously the more modern version.   He settled in Newark, N.J., where my great uncle put him to work right off the boat.  My father also worked for the American Can Company, which was also American Can Company ranked 97th among United States corporations in the value of World War II military production contracts)

After earning some money, my father religiously sent money back to his mother and sister in Reggio Calabria, literally just to survive.

My parents both grew up very poor and poverty was common in Calabria.  Its was a very rural area (farm and agriculture) and with minimal work.  Even to this day if you're not in law enforcement, educator or government employee you're basically living the poverty line.  Today some families do well with their own businesses, but for the most part many emigrated out of Calabria and still do to this day and go towards either in Northern Italy or another country to sustain economic stability.

After World War II, my father was urged by my great uncle to come to America, so he could work and gain a better life.   The reason this all unfolded during that era was my father was the oldest of the family and was basically responsible for the family after my grandfather was killed in World War II.  My father's family never received official notice or my grandfather's body back from war, the government at the time sent a soldier to tell you that your loved one was killed in action.  It was a tragic time then for my father.  For my father when he was a small child he still remembers when German bomber planes were going over the mountains in Calabria and dropping bombs.  They were all living in bomb shelters built in the mountains, my father said there were actual true stories where German soldiers took Italian and American soldiers and would drown them in the wine vats.   My father also owned a goat who he loved that he said suffered a bomb injury from the shrapnel and eventually died.  My father was was just a little boy, can you imagine the horror?  Then fast forward to getting on a ship (mind you my father does not swim)  to a country you know nothing about because you have to make money and basically hope your family survives, it was the 1950s but even so, poverty was a reality.

My father married my mother when he went back to Italy for a visit and year's later in the 60s, she came to the USA on one of the first ever Pan Am flights.  My parents ended up having four children and I am the youngest.  Growing up there was never a time I remember my father not working.  He worked his day job in construction and then would come home eat and leave again to hustle and work other side job till late at night and then wake up and do again the next day.   What I learned from him was the hustle.  He worked his ass off, invested in buying his first homes in Newark, NJ - he would buy, refurbish and sell when he could, he did this all by himself and obviously at a time when the American dream was accessible.   My father was always an entrepreneur, he was busy none stop, but one thing I always knew was that he loved me, if he was leaving early in the morning, which was everyday at 5 am - he would stop in our rooms and say good bye and even as a smaller child he would bring me milk in the morning.  I mean you just can't make it up, so as Father's day comes around the corner, I celebrate my father for all things he did, does, and continues to do.   Let's celebrate all of our father's and Papas. 

Ciao- xoxo
Margaret






Saturday, March 9, 2019

The Italian-American's Guide to a First Visit Home

Everyone’s first trip to Italy is bound to be special. The land’s natural beauty, rich history and vibrant culture create an atmosphere that’s unlike any other in the world. Coming to Italy for the first time is even more special if you come from an Italian-American background. You may technically be a tourist, but you’re also a child of the land who’s coming home to the place where you can trace back your roots.

As a returnee to the motherland, you’ll want to see as much of it as you possibly can in the limited amount of time that you have. It’s your opportunity to reacquaint yourself with where your bloodline came from and to experience what Italy is all about.

If you’re an American of Italian descent, here’s a list of places that you’ll want to visit when you go to Italy. You may not be able to land on all of these locales in one trip, but you’ll want to hit as many of these targets when you do make the trip. Here are our suggested places along with useful info on food and language:


Do Your Research
 The first place to begin this exciting journey is to research the roots of your family in Italy. A great number of the Italian diaspora left the towns and villages near Rome, along the Amalfi Coast and the Mediterranean island of Sicily. Whether you know the exact ancestral village of your family or just the general region, a journey to Italy will greatly enrich your Italian pride.


Caput Mundi
 Start your journey in the Italian capital of Rome. The Eternal City was once the capital of the ancient world and is now a vibrant, chaotic mix of  modern comforts and relics of the past. You can stand in the Piazza Campidoglio which was designed by Michelangelo and just around the corner, visit the Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland).
 Photo

Photo: Piazza Campidoglio in Rome

For those of you who have an interest in history, it’s important to understand how young Italy is.The country wasn’t the state that we know now until 1871. For centuries, Italy was a group of semi-autonomous territories ruled by monarchs, foreign leaders and popes. Rome was named the capitol of the Republic of Italy when the nation was put together, giving birth to the Italy that we know and love today.


Naples and the Amalfi Coast
 An easy distance from Rome is the ancient ruined city of Pompeii, the city of Naples and the enchanting Amalfi Coast.  Spend a day exploring Pompeii and learning about this once wealthy Roman town that was buried alive by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.Its fragments come alive with vibrant frescoes, houses, temples and shops all preserved in the volcanic ash that sealed the locale’s fate.

Head overto the city of Naples. It’s bordered by Vesuvius on one side and by the Bay of Naples on the other.  You can visit Bourbon castles, shop in lively markets and take long walks along the bay on newly pedestrianized lungomare.

Just under an hour from Naples is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. The over 1,000 twists and turns along the SS163, also known as the Amalfi Coast Drive, affords views off dizzying precipices, sparkling seas and fragrant lemon groves. Spend a few days exploring the pastel villages that seem to precariously cling to the steep cliffs. Take the time to immerse yourself in the culture and observe how the residents of this area have preserved a lot of elements in the old Italian way of life.


Photo: Road going to the Amalfi Coast


Sicily
 A large portion of Italian-Americans can trace their roots back to Sicily – Italy’s largest island. If you’re Italian-American and you’re not sure where your family hails from, there’s a good chance that this is your ancestry’s motherland. When you visit Sicily, be sure to see Mount Etna, the dramatic and still active volcano near the ancient cites of Ragusa, Noto and Modica. Modica, with its soft, orange baroque architecture is best known for the delicious chocolate that it produces. Combine learning about your family history with ancient history in the town of Agrigento with a visit to the Valley of the Temples.  The 5th century BC ruins are set in an almond grove with beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea.


Photo: Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily

Food
 Food is as much a part of Italian culture as art, fashion and history are. Italians who migrated to the US in its early days brought along their great culinary practices which have evolved over time. The result is a separation of paths between authentic “Italian cuisine” and what we know in the mainstream to be Italian food.

For the record, there really is no such thing as Italian food. The culinary styles in Italy are diverse and regionalized. What you’ll see being served in Rome will be vastly different from what you’ll see in Venice. Also, a lot of dishes that you might recognize as Italian in the US do not actually exist in Italy. A lot of what Italian-Americans know as Italian food are actually creations of Italian migrants who established food businesses when they were in the US. The difference in the availability of ingredients and the tastes of customers in America have compelled Italian cooks to improvise and adjust their recipes according to local supply and demand.


For instance, you will not find spaghetti and meatballs served together in Italy. You may get a strange look from a waiter if you ask for chicken parmesan. You’ll definitely not want to ask for Caesar dressing on your salad even if it seems like the right thing to do. In Italy, olive oil and balsamic vinegar are the preferred flavorings for fresh vegetables.

Language
 I was recently chatting with a millennial 9th-generation Roman over a plate of amatricina and he said something interesting about Italian-Americans who visit Italy.  He explained to me that they often speak Italian with a vocabulary from 100 years ago. Using words that now in modern Italy only bis-nonna’s use and with a degree of formality seldom heard. Think of it as akin to someone speaking like one of our founding fathers. Also, know that sometimes the slang or dialect you may have learned at your grandfather’s and uncle’s knee may be infinitely more vulgar than you intend.

Your first trip to Italy will infinitely strengthen your Italian American identity and heritage.It’s a very special feeling that gives you a better sense of belongingness and perspective about yourself and the world around you, Pack your bags, board that plane and enjoy your trip to the land that gave rise to your family. Hopefully, your first trip to Italy is just one of many more to come. Ciao!


About the Author
 Priscila Siano is the Marketing Director of  Tour Italy Now, an online tour operator specializing in Italy travel. She's a respected expert on making dream Italy vacations a reality for clients. For more on Priscila and her work, connect with her on Google+.


Monday, September 3, 2018

Latest Podcast - My 10 Year Anniversary of the Italian American Girl Brand

Listen to my latest podcast as I reminisce about the last 10 years on the Italian American Girl site. This was my first ever web site and social media brand, I launched this site as the new social media revolution was coming to the surface. During the launch and through the years, I've partnered with great brands like Barilla, the Today Show, Keurig, Saeco and more, Artist, authors and celebrities have made their way onto the blog. Listen below, if you're a brand, artist, culinary expert, author and would like to be considered to be interviewed on my podcast, email me at margaret@italianamericangirl.com Ciao, grazie! <3 frameborder="0" height="102px" iframe="" scrolling="no" src="https://anchor.fm/margaretfontana/embed/episodes/My-10-Year-Anniversary-of-the-Italian-American-Girl-Brand-e24stk/a-a53ua9" width="400px">


Sunday, September 2, 2018

Anniversary Post Part 1- Celebrating Most Popular Italian American Girl Blogs

So, the Italian American Girl blog is coming up on 10 years!! How can that be possible? I remember when everyone was just starting their online presence and the Italian American Girl blog served as my real world example of becoming digital and yet sharing more about myself and my upbringing.   I truly learned how to become the digital media expert through becoming what they now called an influencer.   I'm very proud of the partnerships, content and events I've promoted, or published over the years.  I've met incredible people from our Italian American world and honestly we are all proud Americans celebrating our cultural heritage.  We all have history as immigrants, as our parents and grandparents.  This country was built on the hard work of immigrants from all over the world, that's what makes America great.

To celebrate some of the throwbacks of the Italian American Blog, I'm highlighting the top blog posts of all time.. it's interesting what topics resonate with so many.  Thank you everyone for the support and love over the years.    We'll be posting an anniversary special feature... perhaps even some LIVE guest posts on Instagram, and Facebook.  Stay tuned.

If you have a product, press or content you would like considered to be featured on my site, please send me a pitch at margaret@italianamericangirl.com

Here are the TOP posts of all time on the Italian American Girl site- Enjoy and thank you!

I'm Italian and Yes, I Have Curly Hair.




Italian American Girl Recipe - Eggplant Polpettone - Meatless Version


Saturday, February 10, 2018

Italy’s First Lady of Song FIORELLA MANNOIA Makes Anticipated American Debut February 23rd in NYC

New York —  — Fiorella Mannoia, the female voice of Italian song, announces her American concert debut.  The "singer’s singer" will take the Manhattan stage on Friday, February 23rd at Town Hall.  In this long-awaited Stateside appearance, the audience will be treated to Mannoia’s interpretations of the songbook that has accompanied fans of Italian music for over two generations. This special event also serves as the wrap-up of The Combattente Tour, a string of exactly 100 live dates through Italy’s most prestigious theaters as well as European capitals, in support of the artist’s latest platinum album release.  The Town Hall concert caps off a whirlwind year of activity for Fiorella Mannoia including her fifth return to the Italian nation's renowned Sanremo Festival.



Fiorella Mannoia’s recent projects range from a tribute to Lucio Dalla to appearances on the Italian version of X Factor.  Her latest album 2016’s Combattente features compositions by old friends including Fossati and new collaborators such as Negramaro’s Giuliano Sangiorgi as well as songs penned by Mannoia herself.   In 2017 Fiorella Mannoia returned to the Sanremo Festival stage in competition for the fifth time.

Fiorella Mannoia is a five time winner of Italy’s prestigious Tenco Prize and her recorded body of work counts some two dozen albums.
Fiorella Mannoia US Debut Concert

Friday, February 23rd / New York, NY
The Town Hall
123 W 43rd St
8:00pm (Doors 7:30pm)
Info.: http://thetownhall.org/event/fiorella-mannoia
Tickets: https://www1.ticketmaster.com/fiorella-mannoia-at-town-hall-new-york-new-york-02-23-2018/event/0300536D4A830847?artistid=2436183&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=5&tm_link=venueartist_msg-0_0300536D4A830847




Sunday, September 3, 2017

Columbus Citizens Foundation Committed to the Preservation of the Columbus Monument



 The Columbus Citizens Foundation is committed to the preservation of the Columbus Monument at Columbus Circle.

Over the years, Columbus Day and the Columbus Monument have played a vital role in Italian-American acceptance and the celebration of Italian culture. 

The statue itself was created by renowned Italian sculptor Gaetano Rosso in 1892 and funded by Italian-American immigrants through newspaper sales. At the request of the city, the Columbus Citizens Foundation is proud to have played a significant role in the statue’s restoration, which was completed in 1992.

Every year we are asked the question, “Why is the celebration of Columbus important to the Italian- American community?” The legacy of Columbus was essential in truly legitimizing our transition from Italians to Americans. Our Italian-American ancestors, facing bigotry and discrimination, identified Columbus as an Italian celebrated greatly across America for establishing a lasting bridge between the Old and New World. 

Lear more: https://www.columbuscitizensfd.org/announcements/the-columbus-citizens-foundation-is-committed-to-the-preservation-of-the-columbus-monument-at-columb


Controversial topic - Saving Columbus Circle Monument in New York City, -- CF statement "Every year we are asked the...
Posted by Italian American Girl on Sunday, September 3, 2017

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Italian American Girl T-Shirts - Shop Now!

Italian American Girl T-Shirts! Last of the stock available now till the New Year! Make great gifts! #italianamerican http://www.italianamericangirl.com/p/italian-american-girl-t-shirts.html

Posted by Italian American Girl on Saturday, December 19, 2015

Monday, December 29, 2014

In Partnership with 'Cinema Made In Italy' Presents New Film - INSIDE THE MIND OF LEONARDO IN 3D



Submarine Deluxe and History Films Present…
INSIDE THE MIND OF LEONARDO IN 3D
Directed by Julian Jones

"With over 6,000 pages of handwritten notes and drawings, Leonardo da Vinci’s private journals are the most comprehensive documents that chronicle the work of the world’s most renowned inventor, philosopher, painter and genius. Inside the Mind of Leonardo uses this precious collection of writings and drawings to recount Da Vinci’s story in his own words, and combines them with stunning visual effects and 3D technology to re-create the mindscape and ideas of mankind’s greatest polymath.

In a powerfully haunting performance, award-winning actor Peter Capaldi portrays Leonardo and dramatically narrates passages and monologues taken directly from the artist’s journals. Capaldi captures the passion of Leonardo’s ambition, his opinion of the world and his views on art and life. From the epic to the ordinary, Inside the Mind of Leonardo explores how Leonardo experienced the world around him. Following a biographical narrative, the feature captures the artist’s thwarted ambitions, hurt, anger –and sexual desire — as documented within his diaries, but also the everyday-ness of normal life: his shopping lists, health tips and even bawdy jokes."

To find a screening near you - http://insidethemindofleonardo.com/screenings/



Saturday, December 27, 2014

Italian American Christmas, Food, Family and Love

Merry Christmas to all my Italian American Girl readers, hope you all had an amazing holiday and I'm looking forward to a prosperous and healthy New Year.  This year for Christmas, as we always do my mother and sister baked and cooked some our favorite dishes. I posted a lot of our cookies and traditional cookies on my Facebook page here -- Italian American Girl  My sister is becoming quite the baker with her cookies, which resemble those of my mother's.  My mother fried her traditional zeppole, which obviously are a staple every year.  With each passing year, I get more and more sentimental about the traditions and maintaining the recipes and 'ways' that my mother always did.  Thank God, my sister is the skilled one when it comes to cooking and baking, but for me it's about the company, serving the food and always the right coffee.   This year, we had all of our get togethers, accompanied by Lavazza coffee.  Usually, we have espresso, since they've come out with their new drip coffees, I'm able to offer cafe Americano to my friends as well, who are not so versed in espresso.  There is nothing like the aroma and consistency of this coffee.   If you want to venture into a new coffee for the New Year, I highly recommend.  You can shop Lavazza here http://www.shoplavazza.com  



**This post was sponsored by Lavazza** 



Saturday, November 15, 2014

Going Back to Italy

It's been a long time since I've been back to Italy or my parents home town in  Italy.  The reasons for not going back seem to get more complicated and I seem to get busier with either life or work.  Going to Italy used to very important to me to at least visit once a year.  My parents haven't been back in a while either just for reasons of life, getting older and handling their financial business and issues here.  As I've posted in the past, my parents are in a place now where the time has come where they have to either have sell off or condense their lives.  My parents have always managed to live a modest life, work hard and own their own homes, but are faced with many challenges here in America as seniors.  As the daughter of senior parents it's not easy taking care of all those things, my parents are complex people, who don't like you in their business, but I guess we're past that now, my siblings and I try very hard to be care givers, but as many of you with strong headed people --especially Calabrese parents--- that task is not easy.  It's a very strange day when you realize your once strong parents are getting old, are old and now need your help.  I'm sure throughout your life you get upset with you parents for different reasons and then the day comes when you realize your roles are reversed.  So, getting mad anymore is gone and now we as children have to do our best to take care of our parents, even if we still don't agree with them.. ( I laugh as I write this, because they are so damn stubborn!)

I travel often for either work or pleasure, but it seems lately more domestically, my goal is to get back to Italy soon and do my normal visit and stay in our home town in Italy.  There is nothing like Italy and it's my second home, but America is my first and our lives are here.  I'm sure many children of immigrants struggle with this sort of identity crisis.  I love my Italian family as well and sometimes I get upset when I hear they think Americans live like KINGS, and in essence I feel we work very hard with every reward earned.  Today was a day of reflection and an inside scoop to the journey of getting back to Italy.  I will be in Italy in the next few months, stay tuned.

-Margaret

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Cinema Made in Italy Presents 'HONEY' (MIELE) A film by Valeria Golino



HONEY
(MIELE)
A film by Valeria Golino
Starring Jasmine Trinca and Carlo Cecchi
Buena Onda Presents A Buena Onda and RAI Cinema Production
In Co-Production with Les Films Des Tournelles and CitéFilms


THE STORY 

Irene lives alone on the coastline outside Rome. To her father and her married lover, she’s a student. In reality, she often travels to Mexico where she can legally buy a powerful barbiturate. Working under the name of Miele ("Honey"), her clandestine job is to help terminally-ill people to die with dignity by giving them the drug. One day she supplies a new “client”with a fatal dose, only to find out he’s perfectly healthy but tired of life. Irene is determined not to be responsible for his suicide. From this point on, Irene and Grimaldi are unwillingly locked in an intense and moving relationship which will change Irene’s life forever.



Q & A WITH VALERIA GOLINO

How did you come across the novel?
Almost three years ago I read a very interesting review of the novel, the theme attracted me enormously. The writer was hiding under the pseudonym Angela del Fabbrowhich made me think that she might be shrouding her identity because she was the same character as Miele, and doing an illegal job. Also, the book was written in first person and was very detailed, which intrigued me even more. It made me feel that I was dealing with a very authentic story. It was only a year later, while we were already way deep into the script, that we found out that the author was Mauro Covachic, a well known novelist.

What was it about the novel that made you want to make it the subject of your first feature film as a director?   First of all, the subject of mercy killing is taboo in Italy, much more so than in any other European country, because of the Vatican influence and of our catholic imprint. But I feel that whereas the Italian people are ready to address this and other ethical issues, the politicians are not. Also, I wanted to make the film because the novel had a very cinematic material. Despite the gravity of the subject, the book had a lot of visual potential. The protagonist, Miele, has a powerful vitality, even more pronounced because of her dealing with pain and death. That contrast attracted me.

The subject of "mercy killing" is certainly a very current one. While the film is as much about a young woman's growth as an examination of the morals of "mercy killing", what are your thoughts on the subject?

I believe every human being should have the right to choose over their body, their life, and how to end it. Having said that, I don't mean the film to be a manifesto. In fact it doesn't give answers, it only poses questions. I would like to think that the film is about shifting convictions, prejudices and the fears that we all have.


Have you wanted to direct for a long time?
Vaguely so. I love cinema and photography, and having made so many movies as an actress I learned a lot of things without even realizing it. I never consciously thought to become a director until three years ago when I was asked to direct a short movie (Armandino e il madre). During the shoot I had my private epiphany: probably I had a calling I never knew was there...:-)
Does your experience as an actress make it easier to direct actors?
I suppose it does. I have a lot of empathy with actors, and gratitude.

Was casting a relatively straightforward process?
I did a lot of auditions, but actually the two main roles (Jasmine Trinca as Irene /Miele and Carlo Cecchi as Grimaldi) invaded my imagination and my co-writers’ since day one.

What did you look for when selecting the key crew?
I wanted to have a crew of friends, of people I had worked with, that knew me well and would be patient with a beginner. At the same time, people that were inspiring and inspired. The only new addition was GergelyPoharnok, an Hungarian DP, whose work I ran into by chance and immediately felt connected to.


Release Information 

New York City March 7-13
Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center at Lincoln Center
Tickets:   http://www.filmlinc.com/films/on-sale/honey-miele


Los Angeles, March 14-20
Laemmle Music Hall, Beverly Hills, Laemmle.com
Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena, Laemmle.com

Miami, March 28-30, April 2-3
Miami Beach Cinematheque, Miami Beach, mbcinema.com

Miami, March 28-30
Cosford Cinema, Miami, cosfordcinema.com

Washington, DC, March 28 – April 3
West End Cinema, westendcinema.com

OFFICIAL SELECTION
Cannes Film Festival - Un Certain Regard
Venice Film Festival - Venice Days
Chicago International Film Festival

WINNER
Special Mention - Ecumenical Jury - Cannes Film Festival
Nominee - Discovery Award - European Film Awards



NY & LA PRESS CONTACT:
Ryan Werner
ryan@cineticmedia.com
Office:  212.627.9898
Mobile:  917.254.7653



ABOUT CINEMA MADE IN ITALY
Cinema Made in Italy is a major new initiative between Instituto Luce-Cinecittà, the Italian Trade Commission and Emerging Pictures that will provide distribution and marketing support to five major Italian films with the goal of broadening the audience for Italian cinema in the United States.  Instituto Luce-Cinecittà (with funds from the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Culture) and the Italian Trade Commission (Agenzia ICE) have created a fund that will provide marketing and distribution support for 5 films.  The first film to receive support was Paolo Sorrentino’s THE GREAT BEAUTY (distributed by Janus Films) which is nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film as well as the Film Independent Spirit Award and the César.  It is the first Italian film to win the Golden Globe in 25 years and also won the Best Film at the European Film Awards and Best Foreign Film from BAFTA.  The remaining 4 films will be distributed by Emerging Pictures and include Valeria Golino’s HONEY, Bernardo Bertolucci’s ME AND YOU, Gianni Amelio’s L’INTREPIDO:  A SELF MADE HERO and Marco Bellochio’s DORMANT BEAUTY.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

New Lavazza Drip Coffee With Traditional Christmas Cookies & My Family Italian Cookie Recipe

Tis' the season for eating and baking, especially in any Italian American household. This year, I got together with my sister Maria, my niece and my mother for some holiday baking. Mostly, my sister is more the aficionado on baking, I like to document with photos and video and lastly decorate the cookies. We tend to make more  traditional Italian cookies, along with my mother's variations, where she usually bakes up a honey biscotto.  As you can see to the left. 

This year my sister incorporated her variation of the cookie which we worked on together and was actually not so time consuming, a great traditional Italian cookie. 





Here is the recipe :

Biscotti de Natale

1 lb butter
1 cup sugar
Six eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
5 cups flour

6 teaspoons of baking soda

-Bake at 375° 10–12 minutes until light golden
-Combine butter sugar vanilla and eggs. 

-Add flour and baking soda
-Should be fluffy and not stiff drop by rounded teaspoon onto nonstick cookie sheet bake and allow this thoroughly cool.


Icing
-One box of confectioners sugar
-2 1/2 teaspoons of lemon extract
-Combine and ice cookies for the traditional decorated look.



Lavazza Drip Coffee
To accompany a traditional holiday cookie, is a great coffee, as you know we are truly lovers of coffee from our traditional espresso to our cafe Americano, as you know Lavazza is our staple for espresso, so when I was introduced to the newly available concept of drip coffees for Lavazza I was so HAPPY!  My favorite coffee is now in drip varieties!  This is truly Christmas!  

I received a wonderful package from the Lavazza team, which included a variety of the new drip coffees and gift cards to make this wonderful batch of Italian Christmas cookies. 

My family enjoyed these amazing coffees this holiday and I will be using for the rest of the year to make my daily coffee.   I hope you enjoy the cookie recipe and Buon Natale! 

You can shop the new line of drip coffees here http://www.shoplavazza.com/  and it maybe available at your local grocery stores.  Don't forget to follow www.twitter.com/LavazzaUSA on Twitter for coffee inspiration, recipes and more.

~Buon Natale!

*This post was sponsored by Lavazza.





Thursday, August 8, 2013

Eros Ramazzotti World Tour Comes to the USA!



Brace yourselves!  Eros Ramazzotti will be making his World Tour debut here in the states, which is sure to excite the droves of Italian Americans who love his music - including me!  He'll be performing in Brooklyn, New York, Atlantic City, NJ - Los Angeles, CA, then onto Miami, FL.  

Check his website for direct links to purchase tickets, see you there!  


*Photo from ErosRamazzotti.com -- Paolo Zambaldi 2012

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Introducing our New Italian American Girl T-Shirt With Our New Design!

I'm really excited to announce we just updated our site and also redesigned our new Italian American Girl T-Shirts to match our new logo!  I absolutely love the design and could not be happier with the quality! You can purchase the T-Shirts here:

http://www.italianamericangirl.com/p/italian-american-girl-t-shirts.html




Thank you everyone for your support!

Baci- xoxo 
~Margaret

Saturday, September 22, 2012

The Italian Culture of Coffee - Conversation, Family and Love

Enjoying a cup of Lavazza espresso with my family --made with my new Philips Saeco Espresso Machine



What is it about espresso and Italian families?  The one food element in an Italian family that often brings us together and gives us a sense of comfort at family dinners, occasions and most events.   Since I was little, growing up in our Italian household --I always thought coffee was normal where even kids could drink it.  I remember my father even putting a little bit of coffee in my bottle as a baby. Granted I may have been a hyper baby, but ask any Italian and they say they put a little coffee in the latte.    As I got older,  you realize that having a cup of espresso is really a lifestyle.  There is style, etiquette and a lot of emotion that goes into espresso.  Often when we would visit my family in Italy over the summers, I remember my Uncle Franky taking such pride in boiling the espresso, waiting, stirring the sugar and then serving it right away so it wouldn't lose it's savory taste or heat.    Not only did making espresso at home become such an important element in our family, but it also signified a time for family to gather, talk,  digest and really slow down to enjoy the moment.  You think -- 'Really does espresso do all that? I say, yes... if you go to Italy and someone invites you for an espresso,  you better accept!  If you deny someones invitation for an espresso at home or at an espresso bar you're basically saying 'I don't want to invest in that slow down or in conversation or time with you.' -(Yes --That is the translation--no, not really literally but Italians can get dramatic..)  I laugh as I write this, because to someone who doesn't know or understand the Italian culture you could say, wow Italians take their espresso as serious business.  I confirm that! 

Recently, I received a Philips Saeco Syntia Espresso Machine along with Lavazza coffee beans from the awesome teams at both companies.   I have to be honest with you,  I've never made espresso in a machine like this, espresso was always made in the old school pot called a 'bialetti.' The only time you would see an espresso machine would be if I went to an Italian coffee bar.  

My first time experience with making the espresso in this machine was beyond any appliance experience, the machine is so easy to use, it tells you exactly what to do, what you need and it respects the process of making espresso so much, that you end up respecting the machine.. it sounds silly, but I honestly want to spend a lot of time now really perfecting and make variations on my espresso.  

I was unsure how I was going to make the espresso,  let's be honest, when I make espresso I'm usually in company-- and by company I mean by my loud, overly involved family. So I wanted to wait when I knew I could share my espresso first time experience with my family.  I'm not kidding.   In setting the machine up I had my mother and father in on it too, my mother really loved looking at all the intricate details of the machine and was so impressed with the taste and 'crema' of the espresso. 

The quality and taste of the espresso was beyond my expectations and my family's.  Let's be honest as Italians we are very critical of food and especially the holy espresso. My sister, Maria was so in love with her cup that she asked if she could take my espresso machine home with her.. of which I said no, but she can come over when she wants.  My brother Santo, wanted to try the cappuccino variation and asked me "Marg, what do we need, what kind of milk should we go buy so it comes out perfect?" I mean this Philips Saeco espresso machine turned my family into a competitive bunch of baristas -- of which I have to laugh.. my family is a sit-com in itself.   So, I had to fight everyone off not to take my machine home with them, now they're begging to use it or for example my brother is moving into a new home soon and gently hinted "you know Marg, that would make a nice house-warming gift.."  I told him .."Sure Santo..." --yeah right.. you're not touching my machine." 

So what turned out to be a first time experience using my Philips Saeco Espresso Machine, turned into a night of conversation, family and lottttssss of love.  I love my new machine, the coffee beans from Lavazza were also as my mother says, "speciale"-- the brand Lavazza is something we grew up using our whole lives, so when I told my family I have Lavazza beans to use in the machine, they all immediately nodded with approval, because any Italian knows and uses Lavazza coffee.   Lavazza is also history to me -it's a familiar staple in the Italian family.  Overall, if you're going to invest in a way of etiquette for espresso making the Philips Saeco 'Espresso Perfetto' machine will fulfill your needs and supersede your expectations.  Grazie a Philips Saeco e Lavazza! 

To learn more about the Philips Saeco machine visit:

To learn more about Lavazza:



Saturday, August 27, 2011

Photo of the Day: Reggio Calabria, Italy


Reggio Calabria, Italy -- a great photo from the hill top on the country side closest to the beach. With all extreme weather we are experiencing here on the East Coast in the United States, this image can let you visualize calm and beauty.




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