Last year my Christmas Day Italian Brunch posting was viewed by readers across the U.S., Australia, Europe and as far as Indonesia. Such is the legacy of Italian cuisine and the nostalgia for holidays filled with friends and family.Last year we met with my husband’s cousin from Australia for Christmas. We spent a few beautiful days in Manchester, Vermont and enjoyed several meals together. My husband and his cousin Pete belong to the Italian diaspora that left Italy during the turn of the century to explore the opportunities of the New World. The Pittorino family originates from the Aeolian Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Sicily. Some of the cousins came to Massachussets, where my husband’s grandparents landed, some to New York and other’s to Australia where cousin Pete’s grandparents made their home.
This year cousin Pete is back in Australia with his new grandson but our thoughts are with him so Buon Natale to the Pittorino family all over the world!
Menu
Recipes in following posts
Scrambled eggs with Cremini Mushrooms, grated Parmesan and White Truffle oil
Potatoes with Italian banana peppers, Cipollini onion and sweet Italian sausage
Mascarpone-Pannetone stuffed French toast
Italian Fruit Salad with Zabaglione
Bar of: Mionetto Prosecco, assorted juices, Peroni beer, and Aqua Panna Water
Why brunch?
A hearty brunch is a great way to entertain earlier in the day when you can politely designate the start and end of the party, “brunch from 11:30 to 1:30”. If you are preparing this for overnight guests (and you never know who will wake up on your sofa), it’s a way to provide the meal of the day without worrying about lunch.
Host(ess) gift
If you are a guest for the holidays, bring some of these ingredients with you as a host(ess) gift – like a bottle of white Truffle oil or a basket of Italian peppers. If you live on the North Fork of Long Island or in another agricultural area, stop by a chicken farm for a few dozen farm fresh eggs. And if you offer to help cook, you will be a life long recipient of holiday invitations!
