i is for italian pastries

listen

i know yesterday was a big day

for the irish

and the color green

and corned beef and cabbage

and shamrock shakes

but hear me and hear me now

tomorrow

is the day 

everyone should cheer

pull out your italian flag

fire up the stove 

pull out all your big pots

open a bottle of wine

yell 

prego, prego

at the top of your lungs

and you will be ready

for

st. joseph's day

or

as it is called in our house

the feast

of

san giussep

and here is the best part

not only is there amazing food

at the St. Joseph Table

there are desserts

amazing

delicious

desserts

the best being

zeppole

which we only eat

this time of year

and the other best

are

cannolli

which i eat 

all too often

and another best is

pasta chote

which is not how they are spelled
but
how it sounds
in a
 complete and total dialect

i think may actually be

pasta croce

but i don't know

because this is what we call it

and when i say we

i mean everyone i have ever known

who has ordered, made, or eaten

pasta chote

and today

as my offering to you

and your st. joseph's table

i pass to you

the secret

to fabulous italian pastries

find a really good

italian bakery

and spend your time

making friends