CHRISTMAS 2009 PHOTO RECAP

I have been hiding out from the blogging world. I am not going to make any apologies because any more talk about F*@$ after this holiday and I will puke all over everyone! Then I will really have to apologize. So if you feel like you're pants aren't buttoning up quite right, then look in the back of your closet because maybe you were smart and hid some fat pants back there. I know I did.

I want to share some pictures and just a few words for context. And if you ignore this post entirely I completely understand. I do hope everyone had a wonderful holiday filled with laughter and lots of the the big F word. (Take that how you want.) And more of that for everyone in the New Year. Oh and lots of money for 2010, too!

Rocco's special Sicilian meat sauce with peas and cinnamon and topped with bread crumbs.
For Christmas day I made Rocco, who hate eggs and everything poultry related, Carrie's Coconut Cake, which is vegan. Its really moist and delicious. You will not miss the eggs or dairy.
Aunt Mary's Sfinci. These are like little Italian donuts and the hit of Christmas Eve every year.
Honey balls.
Too many oversized Italian pastries. I hate Italian pastries!
Nonna and Maria Sabella, who is nicknamed "La Discontenta" or "the discontented one." She is punk rock. She has purple hair. Sorry for the black and white photo. She is actually kind of bad ass.
Rocco. Que bella facia!
Espresso cups at midnight.
For Christmas Eve, I made the most delicious moist chocolate cake that no one ate because it couldn't compete with all the Italian pastries. I hate Italian pastries!
The Cassata Cake. Uncle Sal's favorite.
Mason: the cutest kid I have ever seen.

Carrie's Coconut Cake*

"hey girlfriend! here's the recipe:

1 2/3 cups sugar
*2/3 cup canola oil (I used Sicilian olive oil)
1 (14-ounce can) coconut milk
1/4 cup soymilk
1/4 cup lemon juice (i always squeeze em!)
3 tbsp grated lemon zest
2 tsp vanilla extract

*1 TBSP of Cointreau or Gran Marnier (not in the original recipe)
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
confectioners sugar

oven 350 degrees.
in a large mixing bowl combine sugar, oil, coconut milk, soymilk, lemon juice and zest, and vanilla.

sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the wet ingredients in batches, mixing well after each addition. fold in the coconut.

pour batter into greased pan & bake for an hour/ until inserted knife comes out clean. cool for ten minutes. flip cakeout of pan, let cool completely then sift confectioners sugar over the top.

eat it!"