Pizzelles

One of the foods that I miss from Christmas are pizzelles. We always seemed to have these around for all the holidays on my dad's side of the family. Here are some interesting pizzelle facts:

Pizzelles are Italian waffle-like cookies made from flour, sugar, eggs, and butter and typically flavored with anise or vanilla. The name pizzelle comes from the Italian pizze, meaning "flat" or "round."

Believed to be the oldest cookie in Italy, pizzelles have a unique history. According to legend, in 700 BCE, snakes had infested Abruzzo, in south central Italy, and after they were banished, the townspeople celebrated by eating pizzelle. To this day, pizzelles are eaten to celebrate the Festival of the Snakes, now known as the Feast Day of San Domenico.

I bought a pizzelle iron years and years ago. I never managed to finish one batch of pizzelles. They kept sticking to my iron and it was a complete mess. I even asked for tips at the Italian deli where I bought the iron. But no luck.

This year, I decided to try it again. The first cookies completely stuck to the iron. The batter was stuck in every nook and cranny of the iron. I scraped it all out. Curt said it might take a few tries. I put too much batter in and the cookie smooshed all over the iron, but at least they stopped sticking. I didn't know pizzelle making was such an art. I have a great appreciation of the cookie now and the effort that goes into making it. I'm hoping to pass down the tradition to Jenelle. The cookies turned our really yummy!!!!!