The Italian word for sweet is dolce.
While the word is used to describe pastries and dessert, it’s also used as a form of endearment.
Sei dolce means you are sweet!
Blogging has many rewards including the opportunity to express a shared passion, in my case baking.
But one of the rewards of blogging that I would never have imagined when I started my blog, way back in 2005, is the opportunity to meet people that I would have otherwise never have met before.
This past week I met up with a lovely (very dolce) woman who had contacted me about the subject that is near and dear to the hearts of all cooks and bakers: cooking equipment. A friendly e-mail about corzetti stamps turned into an e-mail exchange that turned into a meeting over coffee and the realization that the world is actually a small place full of kindred spirits.
It was such a pleasure to meet my new friend and I just wanted to say thank you very publically. I also wanted to highlight one of the many shared pleasures my new friend and I have: Rosetta Costantino’s Calabria from Scratch.
This beautiful blog is an homage to the cuisine and customs of Calabria. Since my mother is Calabrese, I loved Rosetta’s blog from the first and am really looking forward to her upcoming cookbook
One of Rosetta’s recent posts feature an Italian dolce called Bocconotti (little mouthfuls). While I have heard of Bocconotti, I never realized that there was a version of the cookie attached to Calabrian sweets. I asked my mom if she knew of these cookie and she wasn’t familiar with them.
My new friend also told me that she hadn’t heard of them before (in relation to Calabrian baking) but that she was on a quest to discover a recipe that would recreate the Bocconotti that a family member of hers used to make.
In the spirit of adventure, my mom and I decided to try these cookies one Sunday afternoon and the result was quite nice. Not only did I get to bake with my mom but we turned out some cookies that were very good.
While I don’t consider these a traditional family cookie, I really enjoyed trying them. It was a reminder of something that I sometimes forget when it comes to blogging: my blog is about baking.
I started my blog because I love to bake. Because I love dolci. While my blog is an avenue for many pursuits, it makes me happiest when I’m baking something sweet.
I want to thank my new friend for meeting up with me. I’m looking forward to many dolci adventures!
Ciao!
You can find the recipe for Bocconotti Calabresi here.
16 comments
Rosa
Delicious little tartlets!
Cheers,
Rosa
Ciaochowlinda
Your bocconotti are beautiful. They bring back memories of my husband’s relatives in Abruzzo, who make these. I even brought some freshly made ones back in my luggage. I also have his cousin’s recipe for bocconotti on my blog.
Jan
These look wonderful! Who wouldn’t love a tartlettes with a chocolate-nutty filling! Thanks for sharing a great blog with us.
Claudia
Enticing and on my agenda.
caffettiera
How sweet, indeed! Rosetta’s blog is very interesting. also my man comes from Calabria, it is a unique land. Whenever we go there, we eat to happy collapse. I never heard of bocconotti there, though, but every little village has its own dolci, on the other hand.
Wizzythestick
Isn’t lovely that food isn’t just about the recipes it’s about the relationships and friendships that happen around the act of eating and sharing. Thanks for sharing this with us:-)
Palma
Hi Ivonne-Just have to tell you I’m so glad I stumbled upon your blog (via DaveLebovitz I believe) Then also saw you listed in NY Times top 50 blog list- I can see why. I am Sicilian & love to cook & especially bake. I bake something from scratch Every Day! I will be trying the Bocconotti asap! I sent the link to my best friend from childhood who is from Calabria -We will both be looking out for Rosetta’s new book!Thank you so much for your great blog & I look forward to your future posts. Ciao- Palma
brilynn
I’m happiest when baking sweets too
I’m thinking a cheesecake might happen sometime later today…
Juanita
How pretty!
HappyWhenNotHungry
I love baking as well and agree that blogging is a great way to share our baking recipes; It also gives us an excuse to bake something a few times a week too! My mom’s side of the family is from Southern Italy as well. I have seen these Bocconotti before, but never knew what they were called. Thanks for sharing this recipe! I will definitely have to try.
Cajun Chef Ryan
These are delightful diminutive tarts! The dusting on top is perfection!
Bon appetit!
=:~)
Tiffany
Your Bocconotti cookies don’t look like the ones on the recipe you posted, since you put the filling on top, but I think yours look better. every time you change the original recipe even a little, I like to follow that change too, because yours always look better
. I’ll definitely try making these.
Jamie
I have met amazing people through food blogging and have been lucky enough to get to know some face to face – and they have become fast and true friends. What an amazing world food blogging is. These dolce look fantastic! I’d love to make these for my family. I think we’d love them!
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes)
These tartlette cookie mini things look scrumptious!
JillS.
This is my first visit here – delighted I found you! These look fantastic – I was think of trying with hazelnuts instead of almonds – don’t know what would happen but in my mind it sounds delicious! Or the Nutella – but it is not the same in the US as it is Europe (not as good). I’m sure there are lots of options – I’ll be online looking for the tartlet forms as I don’t have them that small but so cute!
Emma @CakeMistress
“I started my blog because I love to bake. Because I love dolci. While my blog is an avenue for many pursuits, it makes me happiest when I’m baking something sweet.”
- so very true. Hours happily pass in the kitchen without realising.
This dessert looks intriguing. Yummo