04/11/2026
As someone with Italian ancestry, it is in my soul to be passionate about food. The traditions that have been passed down generations live on as seen in my last post. Fiadoni (cowjunes) are an Easter-time staple. Growing up, my father's sister Lucy (Aunt Lou) was the one who made the fiadoni. My siblings and I were lucky to get a bite of one. Why is that you ask? It wasn't that Aunt Lou did not share, but that the ones she gave to my father would happen to "disappear" on the 5 minute car ride back home. There may have been three left to split between the 5 of us by the time he walked into the door. Never-the-less, they were a special treat and if you could get a taste - you were in heaven for a few moments.
After Aunt Lou passed. There was a time when our special golden treats were not made. Not until my siblings started making them did we once again get to enjoy the savory cheese biscuit from our youth. Alas - once a year during Easter.
In 2003 I had the opportunity to visit my ancestral home. This trip - worthy of a post of its own, was a very special time in which I met famiglia I never knew. Not growing up with grandparents was an unfortunate thing. But meeting my Italian family filled a void in my heart. I bonded with my father's cousin Leonia, with whom I felt a grandmother/grandaughter connection. After our visit with her it was time to head to our next destination on the itinerary. Leonia gave me a bag of "goodies" to enjoy on the rest of my trip.
I decided to wait until the plane ride home to sample what she had made. Sometime along the 7 hour flight, I reached into the bag and pulled out a familiar looking calzone-type treat. I bit into it and immediately grabbed my sister's arm and cried, "It's a cowjuuuuune!" As I savored the flavor in my mouth, I began to cry. I may even be tearing up a bit as I type. You see, the love that goes into anything homemade plus the tradition and memories it brings can move one to tears. This on top of the emotional visit and connecting to my roots culminated into a beautiful moment that I will treasure forever.
Cara Leonia, thank you for filling my heart with pieces it was missing and reminding me that I can always have my ancestors with me as I enjoy our family recipes.
