Italian Fig Cookies..Cucidati!

Hope everyone is having a great Holiday season celebrating Christ's Birthday ! Like many of you I love this time of year especially the gatherings of loved ones during Christmas time, ( even if we are a little crazy and dysfunctional around here)  the traditional yummy baking, the lazy days being a couch potato watching classic old movies with your fury friends and loved ones, the smell of fresh cut pine trees, December rain ( sorry no snow here) all the twinkling lights, a cracking fire to keep you cozy and warm are just a few things that touch our heart and soul this time of year. I know its hard for some who may have lost loved ones during this time, but know your loved ones are always with you in the spirit of this beautiful time of the year, and they are shining down on you, protecting you, and will bring some joy  to your heart where ever you are.

I don't really blog much being on Facebook & Instagram but plan on getting back to it this coming year to be able to share more recipes & things to inspire some of you.

Here's a start...

CUCIDATI-meaning " little bracelets"...love this name!

Every year I bake these tradition Italian fig cookies also know as " Cucidati"  Truly little treasures that melt in your mouth. They originated from Sicily ( where my grandmother on my mothers side is from) so I love to make them. I have had many ask for my recipe so here it is enjoy and if you have any question feel free to message me.

 

you can cut them like tiny logs above

                                           or  shape them in tiny half moon shaped crescents adding little slits.
  Ingredients

Filling
2 cups dried figs
1/2 cup dried dates
1 cup yellow raisins ( I don't add them all the time)
3/4 cup almonds
3/4 cup whole walnuts
1/2 cup orange marmalade
1/2 cup of honey
1/4 cup brandy or rum
1 tea freshly grated orange zest
1 tea cinnamon
1/2 tea nutmeg
1/2 ground cloves

I basically pre chop all the dried fruit first in tiny pieces then add ever thing to my food processer blend until it is a paste  but not too pasty

Dough

four cups of flour ( can replace with gluten free flour if you want)
3/4 cups of sugar ( can replace with xylitol) excellent sugar replacement.
1 tbl plus one tea of baking powder.
1/2 tea salt
two sticks butter cut up in cubes
one large egg
1/2 cup milk ( I use almond milk) you can use what you like.
I tbl vanilla


1 egg for wash be sure to brush tops with eggs whites or white & yoke before baking
 sprinkles I like the ones pictured best.


make your dough first then roll in a ball cut in quarters wrap in plastic wrap and chill.

make filling.

when dough is hard, take out roll out on floured surface to create your dough to fill and roll up.
I usually roll into a rectangular shape, place the filling in a straight line then roll up, shape how ever you like and cut them.
place back in fridge to chill again be sure to brush with egg was & sprinkles then put into a 375 preheated oven for about 15 mins or until golden. watch them so they do not burn you can also turn then as they cook I do.

they are work but are the best cookies and will become a Holiday favorite!
It's work but you only make them once a year so go for it!!!


I think I love making pottery so much because it's like baking to me...I have been working on a new website that is still a work in progress.. feel free to take a peek if you wish to shop for a special gift. I will be adding my own Organic custom tea line this year,  many new pottery designs I am creating and am very excited to share.

Wishing you all blessings, peace and everything great in 2014. So make something sweet to start off your New Year!

God Bless You Always!!! Laura

www.lauravenosa.com

Kindness

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.
—Naomi Shihab Nye

A full plate

 

 

 

 

I've been busy here getting the store ready for the holidays.. please check back beginning of October for some new designs & a special place to share & sell. xoxoxo mad potter girl

Dear Ms. Blog,
I am very sorry I have been absent for such a long time...but you see I have found some new loves..well there is one in particular..Ms. Instagram, she is really nice, kinda private, pretty and most of my friends and I hang out with her. Yes I know Mr Face book has gotten on my nerves with way to much to say and twitter will that's not for me so you see I will come visit when I can because after all you are my first love. I will never forget you. Tell me how have you've been? Lonely? Yea I understand.  Me? I have been super busy just keeping up with the house, the kids, the chickens, the horses, the dogs making and selling stuff... don't forget...I still love you!!! xoxo Laura

feel free to email me if you have any questions lvdellaporta@gmail.com
I will have a brand new website this coming fall..I am very excited about it. you can visit my etsy for now
www.apieceofvintage.etsy.com

here's what I have been up to..my love bird paintings are doing extremely well..selling as cards, prints & wedding seating cards.

I am framing all my artwork in vintage barn wood made here on the farm selling on line & also locally.

this one is selling out.I named this one...Love at first sight.

Pinky is very popular with owl lovers & the young girls. I originally painted this for my dear friend Joyce.

Now this is Hazel my favorite..she is a lady bird..smart, sweet and romantic.

here she is framed in vintage washed barn wood.

these are just a few of the many prints I am selling very well. I will cut any size frame to fit one of these wonderful whimsy birdies for you.

 

when Harry meet Pinky!






 our most popular lady bird who makes everyone smile

Ms Violet!!!

I love her in pale pink washed barnwood!

now what really keeping me busy every day...

my pottery..I love sculpting, molding & painting I think I found my true love

The Olivia Rose wreath cup.

oops...put some clothes on!!!

always ready for a cup of tea! many many new tea cups avail this week in the store.

 

 

 my hand sculptured love birds are very popular..they make great gifts & wedding cake toppers!!!

so that is my little share for now.

my next blog post will be super special as I have some amazing news to share I just have to put all the pictures together for you all.


till we meet again..xoxoxoLaura

FEATHERED FRIENDS

Hello my dear feathered friends...for those of you who are not on facebook, instagram or somewhere out there in social media land, well then if I am lucky maybe you landed here again on this old blog again. It's like you have to go to so many places to communicate with the outside world...remember when it just use to be a phone call or  writing a nice sweet note to a friend or loved one? I know some of you still do. I love beautiful cards and love to send them off with the gifts I make.
I also love when great things just happen out of the blue..and that's just what happened ..it's like the heavens opened up one morning and I started to paint these sweet, whimsy ethereal birds.

                  It started with this sweet bird above that I have named "rejoicing in the clouds"

                       then along came the ever popular Ms. violet sporting her stylish bonnet

 

                                        and every ones favorite world traveler..blue eyed Sue!!!!


                           these are just some of the birds that I have created from my heart
                           every bird has a special name and meaning.


                           If you love them and would love to but a print, a framed print I am making in salvaged old barn wood or a note card collection beautifully packaged,  I will have them available this Friday night at art walk and also my etsy site... feel free to message me with any requests. I will also be offering them wholesale as I have already taken retail shop orders.
This is just the beginning of something great to come...to be continued.

I am very grateful for this sweet blessing that has come to me would love to share it with you...xoxoLaura

AS CLEAR AS DAY

hello my old blogging friends!!! I thought it would be nice to share a fun and easy project that I did and love the results.

Several years back, my mom who is an amazing decorator turned her spectacular living room  chandelier into an even more spectacular piece by doing the following except she used tea!!!! Her own invention at the time.

I wanted to update my rusty old piece by adding crystals but didn't want them clear... I wanted my  favorite accent shade of a  sea glass green.

love the way it turned out.

RECIPE:

small paint brush

Elmer's glue or mod podge

food coloring..I used some old coloring left over from Easter.

just put some glue in a bowl as much as you need..start out with 1/2 a cup, add a few drops of color to the shade you want. not too much, you can add a few drops of water but you want the mixture to be thick.

I hung the drying colored crystals by the wire on a tall glass to dry

                                                                   GO FROM THIS

                                                                        TO THIS!!!!

                                                                  this was my test piece

                                                         COLOR YOUr WORLD
                                          I used the last color but think pink would be really pretty in a girls room.

                                            I even brushed a little on the rust to give it more of a patina

                                           better view...need to add more crystal ropes.
                                          If you know where to get them please let me know.

                                               
                                            this is where it all started..my moms beautiful chandelier.

 keep this in mind you can also paint big dollar store jars for flowers in fun Spring colors, chandliers in soft romantic shades for your special spot,  a funky bohemian shade for your teens room...have fun hope you enjoyed my post. xoxoxo Laura

winter nesting

 

well hello out there hope everyone is great. It's been quite a few months around here to say the least
and my sweet little blog has been calling me back to the nest...we have been winter nesting here how about you? ..slowly coming out so in the next few weeks I will be posting some lovely pictures of projects I have been working on, and some very exciting new  projects in the works. xo Laura