Dear Readers,
New Year, 2011, is a new chance. A chance to try something new. A chance to bring a smile to someone’s face. A chance to be a part of something wonderful and exciting. A chance to remember old quotes in Italian and English and try to infuse their essence into our daily lives: “Fa male e pensaci, fa bene e scordati”.
“I expect to pass through this world but once, any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” (Attributed to E. de Grellet 1773- 1835). Make the world a bit more beautiful and better because you have been in it in 2011...
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Avanti means forward. Please play our Italian Heritage forward with the “Bambini” in your lives because never before has our Italian Heritage been so grossly distorted, via Tony Soprano type depictions, Jersey Shore Guidos and Guidette on T.V. and Mafia video games for young people.
Avanti, is not easy, especially these days, when it is uphill all the way, but please take the time to do your bit.
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Angelina, my mother-in-law, had three sons, Tony, Salvatore and Joe. One of them, Sal, had the smarts to marry a beautiful, brainy blonde named Pat Brown. After her marriage in 1963, Pat made it a priority to learn how to cook some of Sal’s favorite Italian foods, like Angelina’s ravioli. After “Nonna” Angelina left us (1908-1991), Pat continued to make Angelina’s ravioli for us all at Holiday family gatherings.
When Pat’s daughters Kristi, Robin and Michelle became teens, she passed their Nonna’s ravioli recipe onto them, along with hands on “how to” instructions, and they, in a culinary “Avanti” have passed on “Nonna” Angelina’s recipe to her grandchildren.
So, Dear Readers, as this New Year begins, take the time to make the “Bambini” in your life aware of their “Italia Heritage” so that they too can play it Avanti in 2011 and beyond...
Angelina’s Avanti Ravioli Recipe:
2-1 pounds ground beef,
2 onions,
3 egg whites,
1 bun parsley,
3/4 cups bread crumbs,
5 buns swiss chard,
salt & pepper to taste.
Cook chard and sauté meat and onion. Drain well. Mix all above ingredients in processor.
7 cups flour,
2-1/2 tbsp. oil,
2 cups warm water,
4 eggs,
1 tbsp. salt.
Make a well in flour add next 4 ingredients. Work flour and egg mixture till it come together. Knead dough.
Flour board, cut enough to work with and roll out form circle 1/8 inch thick. Put stuffing on half of dough, fold over. With a wooden ravioli press, start with straight edge, press hard to make ravioli shape. With metal cutter, cut into squares. Makes approxi- mately 500. Enjoy!
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Avanti, Italian Children’s Market. The Italian Children’s Market (1536 W. 25th Street, Ste 321, San Pedro, California 90732, tel. 310.427.2700) can be your source for Italian Culture and Language Products for chil- dren throughout the New Year and beyond.
The “abbondanza” of Italian connected products for children under one is just fantastic. They do mail orders, which are sent Priority Mail, so the “Bambini” in your life can receive any gifts you wish to send them in less then 4 or 5 days. They have toys, books, DVDs, CDs, Infant Onesies, Youth T-shirts and more available for all your gift giving needs and if you give them a call at 310-427-2700, they will mail you a free, full color catalog upon request.
Here is a small sample:
Alphabet Blocks in Italian, can help small children learn Italian the fun way with these wonderful Italian blocks. Alphabet Blocks are a generous 1 3⁄4 inch, made from basswood, brightly colored with child-safe inks, and handcrafted with attention to detail. Ages one year and up... $39.00
Books by Tomie De Paola for children are my absolute favorites. Here is his classic, Strega Nona, the tale of a friendly magical old woman who is the source for potions, cures, magic, and comfort in her Calabrian Town. When Strega Nona leaves Big Anthony with her magic pasta pot, he is determined to show the townspeople how it works! Winner of the Caldecott Honor award. Hardcover. $17.00
Also available are Merry Christmas Strega Nona and The Legend of the Old Befana.
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Teach Me Everyday Italian.
Vol.1 Bring language alive through brilliant illustrations as you listen, learn, and sing along with classic songs for children. Presented in a new dual language format, children can easily follow the songs and story as they learn a new language. This new edition of Teach Me Italian features full color illustrations and is expanded to 32 pages with hardcover binding and companion audio. Hardcover & CD... $19.95
Italian For Children
Along with its charming visuals and lively activities, the series now provides in CD format the stimulating sounds of language to entice preschoolers through primary graders into learning a second language. Cute, catchy songs and the humorous, serial adventures of SuperCat are sure to captivate the imagination and foster language acquisition. Each set in the series contains an 80-page full color activity book coordinated with two 60 minute CDs as well as an Instructor guide packed with helpful hints... $29.95
Italian Dictionary for Beginners
A colorful dictionary with over 2000 words and phrases illustrated with amusing pictures of busy everyday scenes.
Arranged thematically so words appear in context with topics on “Buying Food”, “At Work” and “In The Countryside” and more... $12.99
Brown Bear Giovanni sings and speaks in Italian. It’s never too early or too late for a child to learn about his or her heritage. And by simply holding close this cuddly bear, the adventure begins.
Press his furry paw, and in Italian he greets you, inviting you to respond.
Join him when he counts to ten, and when he sings “Giro, Giro Tondo” and “La Bella
Lavanderina”. Listen while Giovanni teaches you “Good Night” and “Good Bye” with the promise of seeing you again. Giovanni speaks only Italian and comes with a translation guide. Giovanni’s sweater bears the Italian colors, and on the bottom of his left foot, a miniature Italian flag. 15’’, from head to foot. Requires 3 AA batteries (Included)... $34.95
Bilingual Baby
Italian Language DVD
Your child will not only hear Italian on this video. Italian words appear on the screen to help reinforce what they see and hear.
Small on-screen words appear in English so parents and older siblings can learn, too! Ages 0-5 ... $24.99
C is Ciao, an Italy Alphabet Book
By Elissa Grodin and Governor Mario Cuomo
Illustrated by Marco Ventura
From its unparalleled achievements in art and architecture (Sistine Chapel), science and exploration (Galileo Galilei), music and literature (Stradivarius and Dante), the country of Italy has had a lasting and profound impact on the world. In C is for Ciao: an Italian Alphabet, young readers are invited to explore Italy’s rich history, diverse geography, and many traditions.
Recommended for children ages 8+
Hardcover... $17.95
CD of Italian Music This music CD includes songs
that teach in both Italian and English.
Songs in Italian: The Alphabet Song, Let’s Eat! Number to twenty, Learning Colors, My Family is Special, The Days of the Week, Name the Animals, The Hello Song, Five Day Weather Forecast.
By just singing along with this CD, your child will learn 100+ words and phrases in Italian!... $16.95
First Thousand Words in Italian
An usborne book, by Heather Amery
This bright and entertaining book provides a wealth of opportunities for vocabulary building and conversation practice, for beginning Italian learners of all ages. Delightful pictures encourage direct association of the Italian word with the object to ensure effective long-term learning. The Usborne Quicklinks website allows your child to hear the pronunciation of every Italian word in this book by listening to a native speaker.
Hardcover, ages 3-12 ... $12.99
Italian Picture Dictionary By Marlene Goodman Created by leading educators,
this colorful large-size dictionary introduces the beginning Italian Language learner to more than 1,500 commonly taught basic words. The book contains 30 delightful two-page spreads that vividly illustrate the meanings of the words. Featured words are set off with individual illustration and definitions to help learners at various levels build vocabulary. Includes an index and glossary of all the individually illustrated words. An ideal selection of first words for parents and teachers who want to encourage Italian language acquisition.
Hardcover, ages 3-12... $18.95
The Authentic Story of Pinocchio of Tuscany
By Carlo Collodi & Illustrated by Roberto Ciabani
This new edition of the original Italian classic is the only English edition in print approved by the National Foundation of Carlo Collodi in Tuscany. It is translated from the original Italian text by the well-known American Poet M. L. Rosenthal and printed in Italy on patina paper. The illustrations in this edition are reproductions of paintings created for the centennial of Pinocchio of Tuscany by Roberto Ciabani, celebrated Florentine painter who was des- ignated magnificent master of Florence, Italy, for his artistic work. The book was created in Tuscany. Suitable for ages 10+... $19.95
Wooden Pinocchio Toys
Made in Italy
Pinocchio toys have delighted children around the world for more than 60 years.
From the workshop of Italy’s Mastro Geppetto, where skilled craftsmen create with local wood and non-toxic paint, come these bright, cheery products sure to warm the hearts of children of all ages.
