Look Outside For The Rainbow & Anginetti

copyright 2009, Maria Liberati
Where did this message come from? All of a sudden in my e-mail inbox after a trying day; a well needed message to remind me to look for the rainbow outside, such a metaphor for I really did need to find my rainbow by the end of today…
The timing was perfect! Look for the rainbow, “that’s it Maria” (I said to myself) “always look for the rainbow”. There is usually a rainbow amidst a cloudy, dark sky you just have to look for it. If you don’t look for it you will never find it…
First of all, a special thanks to a special friend who sent this message!
A perfect way to end a not so perfect day!
And it also reminds me of a favorite saying of my better half:
“Rosa di sera, bel tempo si spera” he will remind me after a particularly rainy night and the sky will open up with this beautiful red color to remind us that the weather tomorrow will become beautiful.
Roughly translated means that ‘the red evening sky will bring beautiful weather tomorrow’.
Where is this leading to… anginetti cookies…something else that really cheers me up when I have had an unusually stressful day. They are light little angel puffs…. Baking up a small batch of these brings the sunshine back into a dreary day. And oh yes ,eating them are just as much fun, and put that lightness back into your spirit…
Hope you got to see a rainbow today….
Anginetti Bite-Sized Cookies: (yields approximately 40 cookies)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon zest
6 tbsp butter
½-cup skim milk
½-cup regular or organic sugar
3 whole eggs
3 -1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda

Icing:
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
1-cup confectioners’ sugar
1 tbsp water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees while lining large cookie sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil and non-stick coating.

In large mixing bowl, beat vanilla, zest, margarine, milk, and sugar with electric mixer on medium setting until texture is well blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating each addition, and then continue to beat mixture for 1 minute.

On low speed, blend flour (1 cup at a time), powder, and baking soda until consistency becomes firm, sticky dough. If needed, have wooden spoon available for mixing. Dust hands lightly with additional flour, rolling dough into bite-sized balls. Place approximately 20 onto prepared cookie sheet, spacing 2 inches apart.

Bake 10-12 minutes, or until light golden brown.

Icing: While first batch is baking, combine vanilla, lemon juice, sugar, and water into a small mixing bowl, whisking ingredients until mixture is completely blended. Remove cookies from oven, placing a sheet of wax or parchment beneath wire rack. Using a small pastry brush, frost the tops of each cookie with icing, sprinkle with additional confectioners’ sugar, and transfer to rack for cooling. Begin second batch.

Still have a sweet tooth? Check out Maria Liberati’s delicious Cannoli recipe… http://marialiberati.com/blog2/?p=221
Be sure to visit https://www.marialiberati.com and get your copy of the bestselling book, The Basic Art of Italian Cooking, by Maria Liberati.