2018... Visiting wonderful friends in Verona... Pierangelo Costa and his parents... his mother taught me this recipe; rather: taught us to embrace life!

Here’s a delicious Italian dessert I learned in the kitchen of Teresa Costa, mother of my friend Pierangelo Costa, from Casaleone, Italy.   Teresa, who's an expert home chef, included this with an astounding Italian meal she served my wife and me:  tortellini soup, an exquisite salad, and amaretti al mascarpone for dessert.   After dinner, we all sang Domenico Modugno’s hit song, Volare  (“Nel blu, di pinto di blu”).  In Italian.  It was a magic moment that I will hold in my heart forever. 

Buy a package of Italian Amaretti… these are crunchy small cookies flavored with an almond liqueur.  They’re called “Biscotti Amaretti.”
Soak them for exactly one minute in cold coffee, then dry them on a paper towel.  Make little mascarpone sandwiches out of pairs of the biscotti.  
Add a sprinkle of cocoa powder, a dash of confectioner’s sugar, and a sprinkle of "It’s Delish" grated coconut to each little sandwich.  
Serve at room temperature.