Cookbook Friday: Anginettes

Ah, Thanksgiving.  A day to rehash all of the old family stories over and over and over again until you have no other recourse but to compile them all into a family cookbook on your blog.  Right? 

We had a nice Thanksgiving in New Haven with Nonni, my dad, my great uncle Joe, and great aunt Reggie.  After all of my turkey talk, there was no actual turkey consumed.  There never is at Nonni’s.  She’ll usually make some kind of pasta first course (manicotti, this year), some kind of meat (like porchetta), roasted potatoes, some kind of stuffed vegetable (like stuffed mushrooms, if that counts as a vegetable), and maybe a few other things.  Then, the obligatory trio of pies: pumpkin, cheesecake, and perhaps rice.  And, if you’re my dad, you’ll top that off with four of five Klondike Bars from the freezer after everyone leaves.

With her 89th birthday approaching next week, Nonni’s slowing down just a bit.  Meaning that when I dare to contribute some squash and cranberry sauce to the spread, she still gets super-pissed, but I can totally outrun her. 

Right after dessert, the Toddler stopped his yelling so we knew something was wrong.  He spiked a fever soon afterwards.  Worried about Nonni’s octogenarian immune system, I suggested she might not want to kiss the Toddler good-bye and risk catching whatever bug he might be carrying.  Her response: “That’s true.  If I get sick, I might not be able to get pregnant.”

That’s what I get.

 

Anginettes

These frosted citrus cookies are kid magnets.  Must be the sprinkles.  Both Nonni and my great-aunt Dava always had these around for us kids around the holidays. 

½ cup shortening (or butter, softened)
½ cup sugar
2 large eggs
½ cup orange juice
½ tsp. orange extract
3 cups flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder

Icing
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
½ tsp. lemon extract
½ tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. milk
Colored sprinkles

Preheat oven to 400°F.  Grease cookie sheets, or line with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, cream together shortening (or butter) and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add orange juice and orange extract, and mix (if using butter, it may congeal unattractively during the mixing process, but it doesn’t matter).  Sift together flour and baking powder.  Stir into wet ingredients until combined. 

Drop by smallish tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake 10-12 minutes.  Remove just before they start to take on color.  Cool.

For icing, mix confectioner’s sugar with lemon extract and vanilla in a medium bowl.  Add about 2 Tbsp. of milk and whisk until smooth (you want it thick enough to cling to the cookies without being gloppy; if it’s too thick, add milk a few drops at a time or you risk thinning it out too much).  Dip cookies top-down into icing and set on a rack over a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper to contain the mess.  Shake colored sprinkles over the top before the icing dries.  Let stand until set.

Makes about 30.  Recipe can be doubled.

Dava [Barbaresi] Catone
New Haven, Connecticut - Hamden, Connecticut
1921 – 1998

 

Next Recipe: Chocolate Balls

   (Previous Recipe: Bambury Tarts)

Comments

[Bri]

"she still gets super-pissed, but I can totally outrun her. "
I love it! Sounds like you had a good holiday, but did the Toddler get really sick? Hope not. Hey, what's rice pie? Never heard of it.

[Dad]

For crying out loud! Who snitched about the Klondike Bars? Is nothing sacred anymore!?!

[Husband]

Wow, I ate enough manicotti for a whole two Thanksgivings. And that was the first course!

The kids are calling these "sprinkle cookies." How cute!

[Sally]

I once made lasagna for Thanksgiving just to be contrary. I missed the turkey. Hope toddler is OK.

[Maggie]

I grew up eating cookies very similar to these. Thanks for the moment of nostalgia. Yours look yummy!

[Husband]

Sally, toddler's fever only lasted about 36 hours, so all is well. He is back to whacking his big brother with full force. Thanks for asking!

[Kathy]

OMG! These are like my FAVORITE! I can't wait to try the recipe!

[Tammy]

Kathy: Let me know what you think!

Maggie: They're nostalgic for me, too. The Preschooler wanted to dye the frosting different colors and I was all *no, they have to look a certain way.*

Sally: Hope you ate double turkey for me.

Husband: I know. Too. Much. Food.

Dad: I didn't even know she was still buying the Klondike Bars. You'll have to fight me for them next time.

Bri: Rice pie is like thick rice pudding in a crust. It often has ricotta in it. I forgot to put a link in the post to the family recipe. Now, it's up and you can see.