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Author: The Refresh

Nothing Says Christmas Like an Overflowing Italian Cookie Plate

Nothing Says Christmas Like an Overflowing Italian Cookie Plate

by: Dina Di Maio While Italians have many special Christmas foods and traditions, nothing says holidays in an Italian-American household like the start of the cookie baking season. Every nonna, mama, and zia (aunt) has her specialty cookie from a safely guarded recipe written on a crinkled paper worn with time. Cookies colored red and green, powdery balls of nutty goodness, jam-filled sandwiches and more are piled high into Mount Vesuvius-like mounds atop crystal plates and serving trays. These cookie…

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Thank You: Notes

Thank You: Notes

by: Lauren Jonik Autumn is a time of harvest—of gathering up the fruits of the year’s labor. It typically is a time when we come together to acknowledge the nourishment before us. A recent conversation with a friend sparked me thinking about how closely the concept of abundance is linked to impermanence. My friend mentioned that one day, she likely would be going to her children’s homes for Thanksgiving instead of them coming to hers. It would be different. So…

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Author to Author: Jill Lightner and Ivy Manning

Author to Author: Jill Lightner and Ivy Manning

Nourishment is one of the cornerstones of well-being. Cookbook authors Ivy Manning and Jill Lightner share ways to make food preparation easier– and more sustainable. Ivy tackles questions like how long it truly takes to cook an Instant Pot meal (is it really under 10 minutes?), while Jill offers practical tips for how to approach cooking from a more sustainable perspective while re-purposing ingredients in creative ways. And, don’t forget to check out their recipe collaboration below! Jill Lightner: It’s…

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Like a Diamond: What It’s Like to Live With Autism As a Woman

Like a Diamond: What It’s Like to Live With Autism As a Woman

by: Veneranda Aguirre You ever heard the term fugazi? It’s Italian-American slang for a fake diamond. I knew words like that growing up because I was precocious since infancy. I could speak in full sentences at 18 months, but only in Spanish. I absorbed everything, apparently. Even celebrities on TV. One night my father came into my nursery after working two jobs. Since he was rarely home when I was awake, I didn’t recognize him. And I started to cry. “I’m…

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Author to Author: Marissa Price and Melissa Holbrook Pierson

Author to Author: Marissa Price and Melissa Holbrook Pierson

Writers have their own unique paths, but oftentimes, there are commonalities that impact all who endeavor to put words on the page. Australian author Marissa Price and American author Melissa Holbrook Pierson touch on some of the universal challenges of being a writer– like finding time to create and staving off “impostor syndrome.” They also discuss the particular joy of being lost– and found– in a good story, regardless of whether one is reading it or writing it. Marissa Price:…

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