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American Food Roots meets Italian Christmas Cookies

Posted December 10, 2012 By Adri

Adri’s Great Blog Cook-a-thon #5

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Greetings of the season to all. And to those of you who follow me on Facebook, welcome to installment #5 of my Great Blog Cook- a-thon. For the rest of you dear Readers all, who are wondering “Great Blog what?” – let me explain. I often wonder if anyone actually makes the recipes I post. I figured I could not possibly be alone in the wondering. So I thought I’d cruise my fave blogs and make some of the recipes I see. So far I’ve made Linda’s Spiced Persimmon Cake, Greg’s Potato Galette, Mette’s Parrozzo, and Paola’s Ciambella.

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Today it is Gabriella’s Calcionelli, a Christmas cookie from Italy’s Abruzzo region.

Read more… »

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The Garibaldi Guard – the 39th New York Infantry Regiment

Posted July 21, 2012 By Adri

La Figlia del Reggimento – The Daughter of the Regiment

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All’armi!

They called them Lincoln’s Foreign Legion, men from all over the world who fought on the side of the Union. Of the many foreign born patriot units, none is more well known than the 39th New York Infantry Regiment, the Garibaldi Guard.

On December 20, 1860 South Carolina seceded from the Union. A house divided. The Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter commenced before daybreak on April 12, 1861. The Civil War was on. Our nation was on a course that would sorely test the Union, pitting brother against brother and expatriot against expatriot. Read more… »

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When the Moon Hits Your Eye or Spaghetti in the Sky

Posted July 16, 2012 By Adri

Spaghetti al sugo di carne

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We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.

President John F. Kennedy, September 12, 1962


Gaetano Crocetti

 

 

 

I often find myself wondering what my grandfather, Gaetano Crocetti, thought as he sailed to America in 1913. As he voyaged across the Atlantic Ocean from Naples to New York he must have looked up from the deck of the Hamburg and gazed at the Moon. I bet he never dreamed he would have two sons, and of those two Italian-Americans, one would help send men to the Moon and the other would become world famous singing about the Moon. Read more… »

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Philip Mazzei and the Declaration of Independence

Posted July 3, 2012 By Adri

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Philip Mazzei
b. December 25, 1730 – d. March 19, 1816

 

Tutti gli uomini sono per natura egualmente liberi e indipendenti. Quest’eguaglianza e necessaria per costituire un governo libero. Bisogna che ognuno sia uguale all’altro nel diritto naturale.
-Philip Mazzei – Virginia Gazette, 1774

 

All men are by nature equally free and independent. Such equality is necessary in order to create a free government. All men must be equal to each other in natural law.
-translation by Thomas Jefferson

 

These are the words of Philip (Filipo) Mazzei, Italian emigre, surgeon, businessman, friend and neighbor of Thomas Jefferson. It is so easy for us to think that everyone who lived in the United States prior to the Revolutionary War hailed from England. That is, however not the case. Read more… »

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Punch Abruzzo Float for Father’s Day

Posted June 16, 2012 By Adri

William Crocetti

Well, Father’s Day is here, and I hope you all spend a wonderful day with your dads. My dad, William Crocetti, passed away many years ago, but I think of him often. That’s him in the photo. He enjoyed fountain specialties, so I thought I’d create something special in his honor. Of course, I looked first to Punch Abruzzo, the wonderful liquore from Italy. It is great over ice cream, and with its rum and coffee notes, spice and orange, is perfect in a float.

Here’s to you Dad. You would have loved this! Read more… »

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On the Occasion of Italy’s National Day

Posted June 2, 2012 By Adri

Italian FlagAmerican Flag

Press Statement

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State, United States of America



On the Occasion of Italy’s National Day – Festa della Repubblica



On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Italy as you celebrate your national day this June 2. I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of those who lost their lives in Tuesday’s earthquake. The United States stands by the Italian people as you rebuild and recover.

As we look forward to 2013 as the Year of Italian Culture in the United States, we reflect on the history and shared values that have bound our nations and peoples over the centuries. Americans have long been drawn to Italy to marvel at the art, admire the antiquities, and rediscover their heritage. For years, Italian-Americans have enriched and enlivened American culture in ways large and small.

Our two countries are working together for the future peace and prosperity of our world. As you celebrate this special day with the warmth of good food, family, and friends, know that the United States stands with you.

Washington, DC
June 1, 2012
PRN: 2012/874

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