Nocino

Every country family in Emilia Romagna has its special nocino recipe, and they all begin with soft green walnuts that have not yet developed their shells. They are picked on the Feast of San Giovanni, June 24, after they have been bathed by the dew of the previous evening. The number of walnuts infusing the liquore varies from recipe to recipe but it usually has some ritual significance. This one has 21, a particularly powerful number since 3 is the number of the Trinity an