Italian Fig Cookies

My Nana used to make these every year during the holidays. I didn't appreciate them much when I was a kid but as I got older I came to appreciate them. My Nana has been gone for nearly twenty years but every once in a while I get the urge to carry on the tradition and make these cookies. Plus, my Dad is in town for Christmas this year and he loves the fig cookies.

I didn't use my Nana's recipe completely because she had the luxury of having a fig tree in her backyard (in Queens!) so she used fresh figs. I have to rely on dried figs so I took some inspiration from this recipe that I found on the Food Network's website.

Merry Christmas!

Peppermint Layer Cookies

Yesterday, Ryan and I made Christmas cookies. I let him pick what he wanted to make. That will teach me! I am very pleased with the way these Peppermint Layer Cookies from Sunset Magazine turned out although making them was a several hour affair.

Next up, Italian Fig Cookies! These were a staple when I was growing up, my great-grandmother made them every year at the holidays.

The Lights on My Tree...

...I wish you could see. It's the first full-size tree that I've put up in eight years. Pretty, don't you think?