Ingredients:

6 satsuma oranges
8 ounces strawberries, hulled
1 pint raspberries
1 (750mL) bottle of chilled champagne, as dry or sweet as you’d like it
6 ounces Grand Marnier liqueur
4 ounces club soda
2 ounces cherry brandy
fresh mint for garnish

Directions:

Serves 4, Takes 5 minutes to Prep and 2 to serve!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 Cup of cocoa powder
• 3/4 Cup of white sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 1/3 Cup of boiling water
• 3 1/2 Cups of milk
• 3/4 Vanilla abstract
• 1/2 Cup of cream

 Directions:

1. Combine the cocoa, sugar, and pinch of salt in a saucepan
2. Blend in the boiling water, bring mixture to an easy boil while you stir; let simmer and stir for about 2 minutes
3. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot (not boiling hot)
4. Remove heart and add vanilla

Divide between 4 mugs, add cream to mugs – cooling it down to drink.

Looking for the perfect fun mug to serve your hot cocoa in? Click here!

Zeppole is a fried fluffy Italian desert, an easy to make crowd-pleasing appetizer!

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

2 quarts of vegetable oil (for frying)

1 cup of all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1 pinch salt

1 1/2 teaspoons of white sugar

2 eggs (beaten)

1 cup ricotta cheese

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar (for dusting)

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F
2. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a medium-sized sauce pan.
3. Stir in the eggs, ricotta cheese and vanilla. Mix gently over low heat until combined. Batter will be sticky.
4. Drop by tablespoons into the hot oil a few at a time. Zeppole will turn over by themselves. Fry until golden brown, about 3 or 4 minutes.
5. Drain in a paper sack and dust with confectioners’ sugar.
6. Serve warm. Looking for the right plate to serve your extraordinary appetizers on? Click here

Each of us is a unique individual. And each relationship we have is unlike any other.

Our artisan crafted treasures, made one at a time, have been touched by the spirit of their creators, who delight in knowing that the world of their hands are bringing joy to others.

Thank you for considering Uno Alla Volta for the special gifts for those you treasure in your life. Together we are honoring the individual, while strengthening the bonds that connect us all.

In gratitude,

Terri S. Alpert
Founder & CEO
T.alpert@unoallavolta.com

One of our graphic designers, Erynn shares a little bit about her family’s Polish Christmas Traditions:

Ever year for the past 12 years I have looked forward to Wigilia. I was born an American, with very American holiday traditions.  When I married into a wonderful Polish family, I discovered a whole new world of traditions!  

Christmas Eve is the biggest and most holy religious holiday to the Polish Roman Catholics, and Wigilia, Christmas Eve supper, a most anticipated event. As a child, I was always interested in foreign cultures and traditions, so when I was invited to my first Wigilia, I was in for a wonderful surprise. 

The evening begins with greeting loved ones while waiting for gwiazdka, the first star, to appear in the sky. This is when the festivities start.  One member of the family reads a small verse from the bible, and a prayer is shared. Then we share the oplatek, breaking this traditional bread wafer and sharing our wishes and blessings for each other in the coming year. These are shared with smiles, joy, and tears of love. 

The Wigilia supper table is an experience in its own right.  Hay is usually placed on the tablecloth, recalling Jesus’ birth in a stable. An extra place setting is added in memory of those who are not able to join the family. Supper consists of 12 meatless dishes, usually starting with borscht & ‘little ears’ dumpling soup, and a bean soup.  Other dishes include perogi, kapusta (cabbage), ryba (fish),  golabki (stuffed cabbage), potatoes, and more recently, a few American dishes to represent our blended family traditions. The traditional beverage of Wiglia is dried fruit compote.  Prunes, among other dried fruit, are soaked throughout the day.  It’s very sweet, and a little earthy in flavor.  I will admit, it took me a little to get used to, and my very first Wigilia I chose to drink water.  Now I love it. 

After dinner, our family gathers around choinka, the Christmas tree, and open gifts while listening to Polish Christmas carols.  Right before midnight, we dress for the pasterka, the Shepard’s mass.

I hope to one day experience Wigilia in Poland.  It is an amazingly beautiful and family centric tradition.  It reminds me of what the holidays are really about; family, friends, and the celebration of life.

Many Blessings and Happy Holidays!

Erynn

Join me for a little taste of Wigilia! Here’s a recipe for Vegetarian Golabki

The holidays can be overwhelming, from the party planning down to the present shopping; this warm and heartfelt time of the year can become stressful. We did some research and asked our employees to help us come up with some tips and tricks to de-stress, making your holiday the way it’s supposed to be- enjoyable.

1. Do things “Uno Alla Volta.” Among the long and overwhelming list of things you may have to do during the holidays, we advise you to slow down and do things one at a time or uno alla volta. Zoning in on one holiday activity allows you to enjoy and live in the moment, making amazing holiday memories!
2. Get active! Exercise is scientifically proven to release endorphins and clear the head, ridding you of all your stress. During the holidays, a walk in the winter wonderland outside may not only relieve you of stress, but allow you to treasure the beauty of this time of year.
3. Prepare meals ahead of time. This is a good idea for busy weeks all year long; take one day to plan out and cook. You can freeze these meals and heat them up throughout the week, allowing you more time for your holiday priorities.
4. Get cozy and indulge in a hobby at least once a week. Whether you’re a book worm or a movie buff, allow yourself one day a week to cozy up on the couch, with a favorite snack or holiday drink (like hot cocoa). Take the time to indulge in something that comforts you, allowing yourself to forget about all the things on your to-do list and just appreciate the movie you’re watching, book you’re reading or music you’re enjoying.
5. Laughter is one of the healthiest ways to create endorphins and let go of stress. Find the humor in moments, good or bad.
6. Music. No one knows why, but music is something that everyone enjoys. So when your mind is racking up a list of things to do on your drive to go pick up the kids from practice, turn up the tunes! Whether it’s holiday music or one of your favorite artists, singing along and jamming out to a song of your choice is a guaranteed way to relieve stress.
7. Get sleep! Holiday stress can build up, affecting the amount of sleep you get- which in turn, only adds to your stress. Getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep each night is a great way to rid you of some of that holiday stress. Having trouble falling asleep? Do some breathing exercises which you can find here or go over the events that happened in your day.
8. Get organized! It has been proven to help reduce stress, whether it means color-coding your closet or cleaning out your car- being productive and making sense out of chaos will help rid you of all that holiday stress!
9. Remember: You are perfectly imperfect. Sometimes things fall apart and don’t always go as planned. Take 15 seconds to breathe, re-group and find a simple, easy solution.  You’re only human, no one expects you to be perfect!
10. Take Pictures. Do you have any special family holiday traditions? Take pictures! Pictures are a great way to capture memories, making each moment special… Whether it’s on your phone or using an actual camera, you’re guaranteed a smile every time you find those fun and happy moments from the holidays.