Article by Sean O’Keefe
Photography by Provided
Originally published in Johns Creek City Lifestyle
For Denise Poole of Johns Creek, her family’s Northern Italian heritage have driven the Christmas menu for as long as she can remember.
The long holiday table was filled with antipasto, salami, and prosciutto that her grandmother would bring with her from New York. Next up was spinach ricotta ravioli that the family all made together in the morning after enjoying a gift exchange and brunch casserole. Keeping the family traditions alive is very important for Denise and, just as in years past, her ravioli are served on a huge oval platter swimming in melted butter.
Denise is CEO at AMI Group based in Alpharetta, providing food and beverage solutions for the travel industry and helping relief agencies in the battle against food insecurity. She is a proud member of the Les Dames d’Escoffier International – Atlanta Chapter.
The holidays speak to tradition and generations of tried and true family recipes.
For the grown-ups, there was always a pitcher of Manhattans on the table and for dessert, her aunt’s pineapple cheesecake, date nut bars, zuppa anglaise made from her grandmother’s recipe and a square bakery box of Italian cookies from her grandmother’s local bakery.
Date Nut Bars
Beat until light: 3 eggs
Gradually add: 1 cup sugar, continue beating until very light
Add: 2 cups chopped dates
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 tsp vanilla
Sift together: I cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/8th tsp salt. ¼ tsp cloves, 1/4tsp cinnamon
Add the sifted ingredients to the egg mixture
Beat until well blended, pour into a greased 9×13 in pan
Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes
Cool and cut not bars and roll in confectioners’ sugar.
