Little ‘chestnuts’ that are really almond cookies

Mariangela and I first met on Instagram through a discussion of wonderful travel experiences to Iran. She had been there a few years previously and had returned to Rome laden with goodies (many of which ended up as props for the photos in this book), bagfuls of barberries, Iranian black pepper (don’t ask me why; I’ve never known Iranian black pepper to be special in any way), and even the seeds of a Persian melon (Odessa melon) now planted in her lush organic garden.

This recipe for