all kinds of cookies on Christmas

and cake, too...

Mendham, NJ

Animal Crackers

when i went home to New Jersey on Sunday, i was surprised by the plate of cookies my mother the gourmet presented following lunch.  

the chocolate Thin Mints were not the surprise, my father has always loved them and we used to stock up on them when Girl Scout fundraising season rolled around each year. 

Animal Crackers? i asked.

yes, my mother replied, popping one into her mouth. 

really?  i asked. 

we like them. from a bag, not a box. she clarified matter of factly.

times really do change...

Sunday, Mendham NJ 

Sunday evening sky

Morris Plains station... 

sweet Wednesday!

the last of the holiday pine nut cookies...

and the magical recipe from my mother...

cookies!

on new year's eve, some of us found ourselves indulging in a post party cookie fest.

my mother's recipes were requested.

here is one of the top 10, originally my Grandma Marie's:

Grandma Marie's Anise Cookies....

station stop

Morris Plains ...

daily bread

Rain or snow, it is Easter! and spring!

My Italian mother, Mary Rose Catherine Benedict Tina Crisera Bush, makes many exquisite confections for this holiday, including chocolate and lemon glazed egg-shaped mini cakes and a pound cake in a lamb shaped mold, smothered in coconut dusted marshmallow cream icing.

My favorite? the authentic, buttery, Italian holiday "basket" bread, Casatielli -- melt in your mouth magic for Easter breakfast.

An added surprise? the egg tucked into the "bread basket" before baking!

Thanks, Mom, and Uncle Richard, for perfecting this recipe and passing it down from Grandma Marie (and Naples) to all of us!

excerpted from Mary Cooks, a food memoir (forever in progress) about my mom, Mary!