If you’re Italian, then I’m sure you’ve had the experience of biting into a crisp pizzelle cookie and having it crumble into your lap. For those of you who aren’t Italian or aren’t familiar with pizzelles, pizzelles are a thin shortbread cookie that is stamped with a snowflake pattern. The recipe my family uses is from my great grandmother who immigrated to the United States in the beginning of the twentieth century when she was just fourteen years old. Coming overseas with her was the recipe and the family’s prized pizzelle maker. Celebrating the holidays with pizzelles was a tradition that she would bring with her from Italy and eventually pass down to her children, including my grandfather. After my great grandmother passed, my grandpa became the one that pressed shortbread into snowflakes every holiday season. This recipe connects me to my Italian heritage because it’s something that has remained constant for my family in both Italy and the United States. After my grandfather passed away, the honor of making my family’s pizzelles was passed on my Uncle Lou. Crunching on a pizzelle brings me back to a simpler time in my childhood when most of my extended family lived in Western New York and I got to celebrate holidays with them. Over the years my family has slowly moved out of the area, but regardless of distance, we all feel the same connection to our Italian heritage when we bite into a pizzelle. 
 

– Ruby Matricardi

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more