When I was a little girl I loved to help my mother cook, especially at Christmas. One of our family favorites is fruitcake—yes, my family really does like fruitcake. This recipe is from my grandmother, Myrtle Waits Jesse (1884–1963).
Grandma was a fantastic cook, and every year at Christmas, she made this cake as a special treat for the family.
Every year, Granny would pull this handwritten mustard pickle recipe out on a morning when the foothills of the Canadian Rockies outside her door were ablaze with autumn color. She’d be in a hurry—the hard killing frost was always so unpredictable. She had to get to her garden.
My grandmother Francesca Calandra arrived at Ellis Island on 16 April 1912 from Palermo, Italy, and eventually settled in St. Louis. Like many Italian immigrants, Francesca brought with her traditions—including food. And, most importantly, a recipe that has evolved into a special holiday dish my family calls spedini.