The festive recipes I have included are essentially hearty, family inspired traditional recipes. Some of these unique holiday specialties can be traced to remote villages of Italy. Many were the guarded secret of the community for generations. Others are seasonal specialties with a rich history of ancient tradition-- now expanded in the American culture by the abundance and flavor of American foods.

Each recipe is aimed at elegant simplicity, simple enough for even children to follow directions and prepare, as indeed the children of our family have demonstrated.

Simple as the preparation of these coice seasonal foods is, the elegance of serving them can make a celebration of any meal.