Traci Andrighetti's Rosolio Recipe

Welcome to Fresh Fiction's Holiday Potluck! Some of your favorite authors are bringing scrumptious treats to this virtual gathering, and they are even offering their recipes so you can make these goodies at home and share them with friends and family this season.

As you may have guessed from the titles of my Franki Amato mysteries (LIMONCELLO YELLOW and PROSECCO PINK), I like Italian liqueurs and wine. In keeping with my alcohol+color title theme, I wrote a short story called Rosolio Red for Gemma Halliday Publishing’s December anthology COZY CHRISTMAS CAPERS.

If you’re unfamiliar with rosolio, it’s an Italian liqueur made from rose petals, which explains the rosy red color. Some say the name comes from the Latin ros solis “dew of the sun” because the drink used to be made from the sundew herb. But others believe it’s from the Latin rosae olium or the Italian olio di rose, both of which mean “rose oil.”

Rosolio is popular in Piedmont and throughout the Italian South, but it’s most common in Sicily. Sicilians have been making it since the 16th century (so you know it’s good). In recent years, they’ve developed new flavors like alloro (bay leaves), basilico (basil), cannella (cinnamon), menta (mint), mora (blackberry), and fichi d’india (prickly pear). And at Christmas, Sicilians make a blood orange variety (Hallelujah!).

But the best thing about rosolio might be the significance behind it. Sicilians serve rosolio to honored houseguests as a sign of buon augurio, which means “good luck.”

By now, you’re probably wondering what role rosolio plays in my story. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you because it has something to do with the mystery. It also has something to do with Franki’s future with her banker beau, Bradley.

Now that you know the backstory on rosolio, be sure to read “Rosolio Red” when COZY CHRISTMAS CAPERS comes out December 1. While you're at it, read the other stories in the collection too. GHP has some amazing authors!

Visit Gemma Halliday Publishing for a complete list of the purchase links for COZY CHRISTMAS CAPERS!

ROSOLIO

2 ounces rose petals (about 50 petals)

1 quart 190-proof alcohol

1 vanilla bean

1 pound sugar

3 ¼ cups water

Place the rose petals, alcohol and vanilla bean in a large, sealable jar and let sit for two weeks. Boil the water and sugar until it forms a syrup. Strain the alcohol, discarding the rose petals and vanilla bean. Mix the alcohol with the syrup and then pour in the large jar. Let sit for another two weeks. Filter and bottle or serve. Cin cin!