One month since Christmas

Christmas in my world revolves around the birth of my Saviour, sparkly decorations, some crazy gift shopping, family time and home cooked food.

This year we all went back to our childhood Christmas Day place... Nonna's house.  My Christmas lunch

was haunted by memories of the boys claiming the turkey drumsticks, wrapping paper under the couches, posed photos under the gum trees with new presents and the smell of percolating coffee.

2013, and the boys still got the turkey drumsticks. 

I was reminded of how food can be an expression of love through hard work.  

Besides the glorious golden turkey, here are some of Nonno & Nonna's contributions: 

the tenderest home grown lettuce, home brewed vinegar, olives from our trees and homemade lemon cordial.

This year, in recognition of our Cooking With Nonna cookbook project, Nonna picked out a new recipe that she'd always wanted to try: Zuccotto (blog post coming soon!)  

Imagine cream, chocolate, hazelnuts and sponge cake all squashed attractively together. Yesssssss.

Sensational.

No wrapping paper under the couches this year...

But family table time was extended now that the children are drinking that percolated coffee and have university-educated brains to test with several games of 4 Pics 1 Word going at once.