Tatù Sicilian Cookies Food

ITALIAN SESAME COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well., Turn onto a lightly floured surface, knead 10-12 times or until smooth. Divide dough into 8 portions. Shape each portion into a 24-in. log. Cut logs into 2-in. pieces., Place sesame seeds and milk in separate shallow bowls. Brush pieces with milk, then roll in sesame seeds. Place 2-in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° until set and bottoms are lightly browned, 7-9 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

TATù -- SICILIAN COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift the flour, almonds, and sugar and add cocoa powder to darken it. Form a well and add coffee, vanilla extract, butter and orange marmalade. Combine into a dough. Use the dough to form balls the size of a walnut. Put them on a greased cookie sheet and bake them at 375 F until golden. About 15 minutes.
• At this point make the veil: heat the chocolate and sugar over a very gentle flame, stirring constantly, and when the mixture is smooth and creamy remove it from the fire. Stir in the vanilla extract, let it cool slightly, and ice the cookies. Dust the cookies with just a hint of cinnamon and they're ready.

SICILIAN SPINACH SAUTE

Steps:

• Combine spinach and 1/4 cup water in heavy large pot over high heat.
• Toss until spinach wilts but is still bright green, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer spinach to colander; press to release excess liquid.
• Wipe pot dry.
• Heat oil in same pot over medium heat.
• Add garlic; stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add currants and capers and stir 1 minute. Mix in spinach, then cheese and toss until heated through, about 1 minute.
• Season spinach to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

CUCCIDATI (SICILIAN FIG COOKIES)

Steps:

• Directions:.
• Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Run the blade a few times to mix.
• Add the butter to the bowl and pulse to combine. Add the eggs, and run the blade until forming a consistent dough.
• Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and wrap in a plastic foil. Place in the refrigerator.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine the figs, raisins, candied orange, almonds, chocolate, apricot preserve, rum, cinnamon, and cloves. Pulse the blade until a smooth compound is obtained.
• Transfer the fig paste to a bowl.
• Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
• Prepare the egg wash by beating the eggs with a pinch of salt.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator, and unwrap it on a floured work surface. Add a small quantity of flour. Knead the dough to make it soft and smooth.
• Cut the dough into 10 - 12 pieces. With the help of a rolling pin, flatten each piece into a rectangle approximately 3 x 15 inch (7 x 35 cm).
• Brush the egg wash on the dough.
• Place approximately 1/3 cup of filling in the center of the rectangle lengthwise.
• Take one edge of the dough and bring it over the filling to form a roll.
• With the palm of your hands roll the cylinder to make it even.
• Cut the roll into 4-5 pieces approximately 3 - 4 inch (8 - 10 cm) long. Set them aside. Continue forming the rolls until all the dough and the filling are used.
• Using a sharp knife, cut 4 - 5 diagonal incisions on the surface of the rolls. You can also cut straight incisions on the surface of the rolls, and curve the cookies in a "U" shape.
• Transfer the rolls to 3 cookie pans lined with parchment paper.
• Brush the surface with the remaining egg wash.
• Optionally sprinkle with multicolored nonpareil.
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden. Transfer onto racks to cool.

TUTU'S AKA ITALIAN CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, cinnamon and baking powder. Mix with hands. Add Crisco.
• 2. Add eggs. Mix well.
• 3. Add milk. Mix well.
• 4. Add chocolate chips and walnuts.
• 5. Make balls about half the size of a walnut.
• 6. Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment.
• 7. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes.
• 8. Cool.
• 9. Mix glaze. Combine powdered sugar, vanilla and milk to a thin consistency. Dip cookies on glaze and allow to dry.
• 10. Store in an air tight container or tin.
• 11. *** NOTE: I have written the recipe exactly as given to me. Years ago I mixed these with my hands! Today I use my food processor to combine the dry ingredients with crisco. Using the pulse button I combine like I do for pie crust. I then place these ingredients in my large kitchen aid mixer bowl. I then mix on low speed until combined.