In Chapter Five of Olive Branches Don’t Grow on Trees, Cosmo surprises Silvia with some delicious homemade ricotta cookies. Enjoy the following scene and recipe below courtesy of the New York Times.

As Silvia got off the old, rusty elevator in Cosmo’s building and began walking down the hallway, she smelled something baking, and the aroma was intoxicating. Tired and hungry after a long workday, she was delighted when Cosmo came to the door with a plate full of fresh baked ricotta cookies. They looked amazing, but then again, whatever Cosmo did, he did great. He said that the tree bark cookies she’d brought over to his apartment previously inspired him. She bit into one of his cookies, to find that they were even more delicious than they smelled.

“These are fucking amazing! Is there anything you can’t do, Cosmo?” she said, buttering him up. She was determined, during this visit, to get him to agree to go to the reunion and to possibly get him to agree to drive with her to Portland.  

He smiled and stood tall releasing, for a second, the hunch that had become a part of his body. He then walked into the kitchen to get the teakettle that was screaming on the stove. 

“Tea?” he asked, getting out a box of Earl Grey. 

 

  • 2 sticks (1 cup) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
  • 425 grams sugar (about 2 cups)
  • 1 ž cups ricotta cheese (15 ounces), preferably fresh
  •  Finely grated zest of 1/2 lemon
  • 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 480 grams all-purpose flour (about 4 cups)
  • 10 grams baking soda (2 teaspoons)
  • 4 grams fine sea salt (about 3/4 teaspoon)
  • 450 grams confectioners’ sugar (about 4 cups)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Ÿ cup to 1/2 cup milk, as needed
  • PREPARATION
  1. Using an electric mixer, cream 2 sticks butter with sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add ricotta, lemon zest and 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and beat well. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Scrape the sides of the bowl down with a rubber spatula, then beat in flour, baking soda and salt. Cover dough and chill for at least 2 hours and up to a week.
  2. Heat oven to 350 degrees and line several cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick liners. Shape tablespoons of dough into balls. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets and bake until pale golden on the bottom, about 15 minutes. Let cool on wire racks.
  3. Melt remaining tablespoon butter. Whisk confectioners’ sugar to break up any large lumps, then whisk in melted butter, lemon juice, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and enough milk to make a spreadable icing. Spread icing on cooled cookies, then let set for at least 20 minutes before serving.
 

This post is from my blog series on the traditional Italian food recipes from the family drama book, “Olive Branches Don’t Grow on Trees.”

Grace Mattioli is the author of the Greco Family Trilogy books, including Olive Branches Don’t Grow on Trees, Discovery of an Eagle, and The Bird that Sang in Color. These books are available from all major online book sellers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.