Concetta (Connie) Malone, my grandmother's sister, was and is one of my favorite people--even though I only knew her for the first five years of my life. I remember her vividly: unwrapping candy in the store before buying (she said it was a waste to not eat it since it was opened...by her).
Aunt Connie joked about keeping her children (which she didn't have) in the closet when she was over our house. She showed me her variety of belly buttons, which were really surgery scars. She was an interesting person to say the least, who cursed like a sailor when watching basketball.
She was the type of aunt who gave you her old purses, even though you were four or five; it was like gold. The old fashioned cross-snaps, red leather, always hid a $10 or $20, accompanied by Ferrero Rocher Chocolates. They weren't nearly as delicious as her cream puffs, though.
Or, her Pizelles. I'm honored that my mother shared Aunt Connie's recipe with; it was one of the three she had, all of which were ruined (from baking supplies) and torn, laminated back together with tape. I'm grateful that she also allowed me to share it with all of you.
For those of you who don't know, Pizzelles are Italian cookies that look like this:
Aunt Connie's Pizzelle Recipe
Ingredients:
-three eggs
-one and three-fourths cup of flour
-three-fourths cup of sugar
-a quarter pound of butter (melted)
-two teaspoons of baking powder
-two tablespoons of anisette seeds (or you can use one teaspoon of anise extract)
Directions:
1. Melt the butter. Set it aside; let it cool.
2. Beat the eggs.
3. Add sugar to the eggs, beating again.
4. Add the anisette seeds.
5.Sift flour and baking powder. Add it to the egg mixture.
6. Drop a tablespoon of batter onto the heated and greased (with butter or oil for non-stick) Pizzelle iron. Press down, holding the handles of the iron together as if they were a spatula on a pancake. Let it bake for 20 to 45 seconds.
Some older versions of the iron need to be held over the stove, flipping for each side (for 20-45 seconds) to cook. Newer versions are electric.
If you don't have a Pizzelle iron, check your local thrift store or find one on Amazon.
Want more of a variation? Add cocoa powder for chocolate pizzelle! Try your Pizelles with a cup of tea or coffee--although they definitely don't need either for tastiness, but it makes the experience even better.
Enjoy! If you make them or have any questions, please comment below!
