Ingredients:
- 1 Jolly Gentlemen & His Wife
- 1 Snowy-White Beard
- 1 Red Velvet Suit
- A Pinch of Mischief
Add:
- 2 Kind Hearts
- Boundless Generosity
- A Heaping Cup of Holiday Spirit
Preparation: Jolly gentleman grows a beard from September to December
Yield: A Village Brimming with Christmas Joy
Ossining’s Vittorio and Bea Fantini embrace the roles of Santa and Mrs. Claus like a favorite holiday recipe. Bea told River Journal, “It started in September, a little more than three years ago, when my husband, Vittorio, grew a beard.” Two women searching for someone to assume a local Santa Claus role, spotted the Fantinis in the Ossining Recreation Center pool. Bea said, “One woman asked the other to check out the man in the pool with the beard, and they both decided he was the Santa they’d been looking for.” After contemplating whether they should ask the bearded gentleman if he’d consider stepping into the Santa role, they took a leap of faith. “Vittorio was thrilled at the idea of becoming Santa, and every year since, Ossining’s Santa and Mrs. Claus attend community events where we provide holiday cheer and goodie bags to young children and senior citizens.”
Born and raised in the alpine village of Armeno, province of Novara in the Piedmont region of Italy, Vittorio developed an interest in cooking and baking as a young boy. At 14 years old, he became an apprentice to a cook. He went on to serve as a private cook for the officer’s mess on an Italian Naval cruiser when he served in the military, becoming a chef at age 19. He brought his love for cooking to America where he owned a restaurant in Somers and met Bea. They’ve been married for 51 years.
Bea is a lifelong Ossining resident. She said she had a career in nursing as well as substitute teaching in the Ossining public schools for grades Pre-K through fifth. She loves baking and creates delicious desserts for family and friends. “One of my favorites is Bea’s Buttery Finger Cookies. It’s my mother’s recipe. When I first made it, I didn’t do it quite right, but everyone loved how the cookies turned out. They asked me to keep making them my way.”
BEA’S BUTTERY FINGER COOKIES
Ingredients:
- 1 box (16 oz.) powdered sugar
- 1 oz. extract, any flavor
- ½ lb. (2 sticks) butter
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chopped nuts of your choice
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325
- Combine all ingredients except powdered sugar. Roll into small finger shapes
- Bake on center rack for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.
- When done, immediately roll in powdered sugar.
Store uncovered in single layer
Santa and Mrs. Claus are preparing for another busy holiday season.
“Vittorio and I love hearing the squeals of excitement and seeing delight in the children’s eyes,” said Bea. “That’s why we do it.”
Old Traditions, New Beginnings is a compilation of stories 250-1000 words per submission from those 60 years and older. Those interested in contributing their own writing or volunteering to help others share their contributions are encouraged to email district95@nyassembly.gov.
