Panetonne Bread - a holiday treat

A treat and a literary connection for holiday sharing -- Panetonne Bread (Available from Bauducco Foods - a recipe from their Italian ancestors -- http://www.bauducco.com/en/discover/) and a copy of Tony's Bread by Tomie dePaola. dePaola provides the story behind it in Tony’s Bread: An Italian Folktale. The book shares the origin of the Christmas bread, panettone, and tells the story of Tony who dreams that one day he'll become the most famous baker in northern Italy. His poor daughter Serafina wants to be allowed to marry. Each of their dreams can come true.

Listen to a reading of Tony's Bread at https://youtu.be/oTmHoCOdxGI

The Brown Eyed Baker has a blog post that includes a recipe for making your own panetonne.  Check it out at https://www.browneyedbaker.com/panettone-recipe/

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Cooking with Tomie dePaola

Telling Stories with Tomie “Food as Storytelling”

There are stories in many foods.  Tomie dePaola talks about his favorite memories and the food associated with his fifth birthday in a YouTube video from Jim Henson’s Company at:  https://youtu.be/tTnT1O7rYWI.  Start your own food traditions.

Strega Nona has always been a favorite story and sometimes it is fun to share a literary meal with friends and to make your own memories.  In Strega Nona’s first book spaghetti plays a major role --  Strega Nona is Italian and so is Tomie dePaola.  Together they make a great pizza. If you want to make Strega Nona’s pizza with Tomie dePaola and Italian chef Mary Ann Esposito take a look at the four episodes on Ciao Italia which aired on New Hampshire public television.  Episode 2726: Easy Homemade Ricotta-Strega Nona's Pizza-Strega Nona's - Calzones-Tomie's Pizza Dough. 

https://www.ciaoitalia.com/seasons/season-2/episode-2726

For a look at all of dePaola’s Srega Nona books visit his website at https://www.tomie.com/strega-nona-books-1

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Panettone is another Italian favorite. It is the traditional tall, fruit-filled (candied citron, lemon zest, and raisins) Italian sweet bread that is served at Christmas. Panettone can be made up to two months in advance, wrapped tightly  and stored in heavy-duty foil and refrigerated. Tomie dePaola provides the story behind it in  Tony’s Bread: An Italian Folktale.  The book shares the origin of the Christmas bread, panettone, and tells the story of  Tony who dreams that one day he'll become the most famous baker in northern Italy. His poor daughter Serafina wants to be allowed to marry. Each of their dreams can come true. 
There are several read alouds on YouTube - this one is read by Ms. Linda at Go Read!  https://youtu.be/oTmHoCOdxGI

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Strega Nona Returns

A holiday gift -- an idea for all year.

Just before the holidays I learned that my toddler grandson's father had a very favorite tale as a child.  That story was Strega Nona.  Just by chance Tomie dePaola (the author of Strega Nona's books) had just released a collection of the Strega Nona stories.

I was able to order a signed copy of the book from Morgan Hill Bookstore.   http://www.morganhillbookstore.com/book/9780399173455

I had this book inscribed to my grandson but wanted to make it special for his father as well.  Then I went searching for fabric that might coordinate with this book.  Unlike some other favorite authors such as Eric Carle and Dr. Seuss there does not seem to be any illustrator created fabric, but generally I am pretty good at finding fabric that will provide coordinating images -- I envisioned perhaps some fabric with white doves, ... but then I remembered...

In the late 1980s, a reading organization obtained sketches from many illustrators, and permission to reproduce them.  one of the items was tote bags.  I had several in a stash that I have been saving. Saving for what I don't know but now I had an idea.  At first I was going to create  a blanket to use as the two cuddled up to read, but the one image did not seem to lend itself to being included in a blanket of any sort.  So a pillow idea was born.

The tote bags were made of a sturdy cream colored twill.  I cut off the seams, and the top hem which left a piece of 12 1/2 inch square fabric with the Strega Nona image.

The image was printed with a very dark blue ink so I choose a very dark blue twill fabric to use as the border fabric (I wanted an 18 x 18 inch pillow), and used the same fabric to create the envelope style back so the cover could be removed from the pillow form for laundrying.


We gave the book and the pillow to father & son as a "read aloud" kit.  Hope his daddy does read and share the book (and other stories) with him.
But I liked it so much that I made a set for myself too.  My pillow is going in the "reading" guest room.

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Do you have a book package that you'd like to order -- suggest something special just for you...  Visit Greenfroggifts on Etsy for the latest choices. 

Order cookie cutters, aprons, and baker's cloths from Green Frog Gifts -- unique gifts -- many $10.00 or under.