"A family tree can wither if nobody tends its roots."

Aug29th2014

“C” Is For Ciolli

by  Phyllis Zeck

Pizzelle Recipe Card FBarbara has graceously shared Charles Ciolli’s Pizzelle pastry recipe.  The recipe is not Charles’ original recipe, but it’s pretty close.  Barbara made the cookies this year at Easter. Carmino (Charles) Ciolli is Barbara’s grandfather and is the brother of my great grandmother Elvira.  You can read a blog post about Charles by clicking here or by clicking on his name in the category section on the right side of the page.  Barbara sent me the photo below of Charles’ press and it’s handle.  The press was used over an open flame on a gas stove.  Barbara said “it weighs a ton and dates back to 1923”.  Click on recipe card above or the photo below to see enlargements.

Press_Final_edited-1The following is some information I found about these cookies. Pizzelle pastries were originally made in Ortona, in the Abruzzo region of south central Italy.  The name comes from the Italian word for “round” and “flat”. The Pizzelle iron was held by hand over a hot burner on the stove top.  The iron stamps a snowflake pattern onto both sides of the thin golden brown cookie.  Pizzelle are popular during Christmas and Easter and are often found at Italian weddings.  It is also common for two pizzelle’s to be sandwiched with cannoli cream (ricotta blended with sugar) or hazelnut spread.  Pizzelle can also be rolled while still warm using a wooden dowel to create cannoli shells.

So I ordered a Pizzelle Press.  It does not have my initials in it and does not weight a ton and it plugs into the wall.  I bought it on Amazon.com.  Yesterday Ashley, Abby, and I made our own Pizzelle cookie memories and started a new tradition.  Next up – Ashley wants to make Cannolis.

Barbara also shared photos of the Lamb cake that she made at Easter.  The mold is her mother’s and is at least 60 years old.  I love that Barbara continues these family memories with her children and grandchildren.  Thank you for sharing with us Barb!

 

5 Responses to “C” Is For Ciolli

  1. 9 years ago by Valerie Ciolli Stockmar

    Wonderful to hear about Barbara’s traditions!


  2. 9 years ago by Kathleen Ciolli Gleaves

    I’m a Ciolli too. We live in the Seattle, Washington area now. My grandfather, Carlo Ciolli immigrated to the USA in about 1924. I’m headed to the Italian Consulate this week to reclaim my Italian Citizenship – should be an adventure. I have a Pizelle iron that I found at a flea market, dated 1927 with the initials T.C. My family iron is with my cousin. I’d love to connect up with some Ciolli relatives!!


  3. 9 years ago by Valerie Ciolli Stockmar

    Kathleen, this is great! Sorry to be so ignorant, is the Italian Consulate in Italy. Washington DC or where???

    My grandfather was Henry Ciolli from Chicago.


    • 9 years ago by kathy

      There is an Italian Consulate in San Francisco for residents in the western half of the US, and one in Washington DC for the east coast of the US.


  4. 9 years ago by Ciera

    My grandmother was a zeck. Her father was named Francis Scott Zeck I believe. His parents came from Italy and he always told my grandmother the name derived from Zechinini (spelling?) anyhow, cool site.


 

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