Wandies aka Quandi = Fried Cookies

This week I'll share a recipe with you. These are a "not too sweet" dessert cookies. They also have the distinction of being one of the most popular Italian cookies. And are really fun and pretty easy to make.

The actual Italian name for them is "Quandi". The "Q" is silent. In the Italian language the "qu" cluster is how Italians say "w". There is no "w" in the Italian language. Therefore, in English "wandie" or plural, "wandies". In Italian "quandi" is already plural. The singular is "quando". You would never have just one of these, however.

Ingredients:

1.5 cups flour, sifted
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter
2 tablespoons of liqueur (I use white wine)

confectioners sugar for dusting
canola oil for frying

Method:

Combine flour and sugar in a large bowl. Make a hole (fontana) in the center of the mixture and pour in the eggs, butter and liqueur. Gently mix the wet ingredients while gradually bringing in a bit of flour until flour and egg mixture is combined. Remove this dough to a floured counter and knead until you have a nice, smooth dough. Form the dough into a ball and hide it under the bowl for an hour while you go and watch a couple TV programs. When I return, I cut this dough into quarters. I work with one of the quarters while the others are still hiding under the bowl.

Roll the dough to about 1/8 inch. Slice it into 1" ribbons. I carefully either tie the ribbon in a knot or make a 1" slit on each ribbon and slide one end of the ribbon through the slit, thus making a cool looking ribbon doohickey.

Fry these ribbons in a large skillet until golden, in the hot canola oil. Don't crowd. Drain and cool on paper towel covered cookie sheets. After you've fried all the wandies, put a couple tablespoons of confectioners sugar in a small strainer and dust them with sugar. Pile high on a beautiful cake plate and serve. 

No need to be concerned about keeping them in a tin or Tupperware because they'll never last long enough for that.

Part 3 and Final Installment of the Genesee Valley Quilt Fest

At this festival, oftentimes you'll see a vendor that has expanded her textile reach far beyond quilts. Pat Pauly is one such. She makes these fabulous hand painted aprons.

There are vintage quilts at the fest also. I took photos of some of my favorites. These were made before computerized quilting machines. All the tiny stitches and patterns were done by hand.

I saved what I consider to be the "best" for last. I have seen this quilt before at a previous quilt fest but I was so pleased to see it again. It is huge and tells a story. In fact, I consider it a historical document of family letters back and forth from Europe to America during World War II.

The quilter used the old letters, a Western Union telegram and a photo of the mama to tell the story.

Because it seems I have been sewing almost forever, you can see why this annual event is a highlight for me.

Part II ~ Genesee Valley QuiltFest

In my previous post, I talked to you about the Iron Quilter Contest where members of the Genesee Valley Quilt Club take on the challenge of making a quilt in 3.5 hours right on the arena floor. I love this contest because it's totally "edge of your seat" tense and "under the gun". Just read last week's blog post for all the details.

In this installment, part II of the QuiltFest, I'll take you for a walk with me up and down the aisles of quilts and point out to you some of my favorites. C'mon, let's go................

This quilt is so precise, it looks like a photo of winter in the woods


 

Used car lot

 

 

Walled city of Jerusalem - dome of the rock on lower left



Family portrait - Mind boggling ! tiny slivers of fabric for face features and shadows

This one's right up my alley - all vintage doilies !!!

Hankies

This is a quilted embroidered tablecloth !

I love the pale colors and water color effect of this one


Those are a few of my favorites.

More quilts to come next week.
 

The Genesee Valley Quiltfest ~ Part I

This event took place last weekend (first weekend of June) as it does annually. It's really the first big and warm weekend of our very short Summer here in western New York (on the southwestern shore of Lake Ontario). Although there was an enchanting menu of local events to choose from, my choice was to attend the Genesee Valley Quiltfest.

The venue is a local college campus, therefore plenty of free parking. Held in the campus field house, therefore huge spaces, high ceilings - all perfect for presenting quilts. 600 plus quilts, plus quilted fashions and vendors specific to quiltmaking all around the perimeter of the space.

The event is a 3 day affair. I like to go on Saturday (day 2) because on this day there is a quilting contest entitled "Iron Quilter". A take-off on the Food Network show Iron Chef. Members of the Genesee Valley Quilt Club may volunteer to take the challenge to make a quilt from start to finish in 3.5 hours. This year the show's theme was "The Universe of Quilts". The theme for the Iron Quilters was "My piece of the Universe". They may interpret this theme in any way they like with one restriction - size. Their quilts are "wall-hanging" size. The crowds of onlookers can observe quietly as the quilters work furiously to get their projects done on time. Quilters use their own fabrics and sewing machines but there is a huge supply of snippets and scraps available for them to use, as well.

I usually check in on the quilters during the 3.5 hours they create but also wander up and down the aisles admiring the 600 plus quilts, taking pictures of those that particularly impressed me.

As the time comes to a close for the Iron Quilters to be done, I hang around that area to watch their quilts get displayed and to try diligently to decide which one is my favorite. I get to vote. The quilt with the most votes wins a prize of $100.

This was my favorite - in her universe, there are quilts hanging on the line

This one was the winner


Next week, I'll take you on a tour through the aisles of quilts, showing you a few of my favorites.

I hope that one day you will have an opportunity to attend this event. The creativity, the skill, the imaginations of these quilters of today and yesterday (vintage quilts) is awesome

 

 

Pizzelles

Pizzelles is an old Italian family recipe. We make these sweets for celebrations like graduation parties, Christmas parties, even weddings. The recipe I'm going to share with you came to me from my Aunt - my father's sister - I always called her Mimi because I couldn't pronounce her name when I was little. The name stuck. Everyone called her Mimi. This is her recipe but there are probably as many pizzelle recipes as there are Italian families.

First thing you need is a pizzelle iron



I rub the paper that wrapped the margarine over the grill so my pizzelles won't stick. They never do. The new pizzelle irons today have non-stick surfaces. I heat mine up before adding a tsp. of batter to each side of the press. Close the press and bake for about 30 seconds then remove them to the parchment or wax papered table surface to cool completely. 

Mimi's recipe written in her own had - no directions - she expected me to know that

If you don't know that already: you beat the softened margerine (I use margarine instead of butter) and sugar together with an electric mixer. Add the eggs then orange juice or other flavoring of your choice. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl then add them to the wet ingredients about a third at a time. You may have to apply elbow grease to the final mixing because batter may be too dense for your beater.

I cool mine completely before stacking - this makes them stay crisp

 

when cooled they can be stacked for storage

sugared and ready to party

This recipe yields approximately 100 pizzelles.

The orange juice flavors the pizzelles very subtly. You can use vanilla, orange or lemon extracts if you prefer.



A Visit to the Lilac Festival

 The Lilac Festival has been an annual event in Rochester (NY) for over 100 years. Actually since 1898. It takes place in Highland Park which is home to more than 500 varieties of lilacs and other flowers, flowering trees, and shrubs. Frederick Law Olmstead designed this park and other outdoor spaces in Rochester, NY. He is renowned as the architect/designer of Central Park in New York City.

It is a feast for the eyes, and a hike of colossal proportions, up and down hills. I guess that's why it's called HIGHland Park. 650 acres of hills, garden walkways, stairways, flowering trees, tulip and pansy beds, shrubs, carnival and street-food vendors, live music, children's entertainment, horse and buggy rides, food trucks, etc. On the two weekends of the festival, there is an arts and crafts show. That was really what I was interested to see.

I made my little venture on Saturday last - an overcast day - the best kind for walking around outdoors. After spending an hour looking for a "convenient" parking space, I parked on a residential street that was actually off limits to festival traffic but I sneaked in and found a spot at the end of the street right next to Highland Avenue and the festival.

I enjoyed browsing the vendors at the art show and seeing their wares and getting a view of what's new and trending in the art/craft market at this time.  

Horse and buggy rides

looking up at a cherry tree in flower

streets are closed to all but pedestrian traffic

Art and Craft Show section

two of the more than 500 varieties

I enjoyed my little Saturday afternoon outing and as far as seeing any art or craft that is emerging into the market, I did not. In one booth, I did see a collection of burlap tote bags of all sizes, burlap purses of all sizes and types. All of them bearing interesting, and sharp graphics. They were undoubtedly new burlap and recently stamped with bright colors in the graphics. A riff on something I sell in my etsy shop but I use repurposed/vintage 100# coffee bean bags with faded blue graphics stating the country of origin of the beans. Mine are authentic. The bags - a real conversation piece and a treasure.                              



Last week there was a Shirley Temple Memorabilia Exhibit at a local museum. I am a HUGE Shirley Temple afficionado. I believe I've seen all her movies. If I had to name a favorite, it would have to be The Little Princess.

I attended the exhibit on Friday last (May 1st). It opened on the day before (Thursday) and would close on Sunday. I didn't want to be at this museum on the weekend because it is the National Museum of Play and would be overrun with kidlets. Friday seemed the best day.

I was totally overcome with emotion when I walked in to that display. It was as if my childhood swooped down on me.  I was just a little girl who had a blond, curly headed Shirley Temple doll, that wore a white with green flowers all over it, dress. I left this sweet doll outside on a table my Mom used to fold laundry on. It rained that night and my doll was ruined. Sad, sad, sad :(

This exhibit more than made up for that trauma. I enjoyed it immensely. There was a large screen TV with her movies playing constantly, there were many, many Shirley Temple dolls as well as some of her very own toys, even her favorite: a stuffed, furry monkey. The most spectacular (to me) show stoppers in the exhibit were the costumes that she wore in her movies.

From "Baby Take A Bow"

From "Stand Up And Cheer"

 

The fact that these costumes were made by anonymous studio seamstresses just for her role in a particular movie and that she herself saved them all these years is astonishing.

From "Our Little Girl" (one for Shirley and one for the doll)

Military Costume from "Wee Willie Winkie"


 

Pink PJ's Embroidered Bunnies from "Curley Top"

 

Riding Outfit and Red Velvet Coat from "Heidi"

Green Ball Gown from "Captain January"

Taken from the programme:  "Unprecedented that the biggest star of the 1930's preserved so much from her most significant years in the public eye...........virtually all costumes, letters, documents, photos and gifts as well as dolls and toys..............for nearly 80 years! Nearly 80 outfits"

The child sized, motorized, custom made car was given her as a gift from her good friend Bill "Bojangles" Robinson which she did, indeed, drive around the studio lot, was the ultimate of the exhibit.

She called him "Uncle Billy" and he called her "Darlin". He is considered by many to be the greatest tap dancer of the 20th century. He took her under his wing as a dancer. She said that "we held hands and I learned to dance from Bill by listening, not looking at his feet. It was kind of magic between us."

This next paragraph again is taken from the programme: "This is history. A celebration of a life that raised the hopes of a nation, made a generation laugh and smile and forget troubles and, who was, above all else, a symbol of purity and goodness that is still evoked today as an example of children."

I just like these shoes and crown and a set for dolly too