Grandma taught us many things, but above all strength, never giving up.

Grandma always said that when a woman was sad she had to do a braid to her hair, so as to trap the pain in her hair preventing it from reaching the rest of the body. We absolutely must not allow this to happen, to prevent sadness from invading his whole body. Sadness should not be allowed to reach their eyes, because it would make them cry. Sadness should not have reached the mouth, because it would have forced us to say things that are not true. It didn't have to get in the hand so as not to ruin the work that was being done. "Granny, it is like that also for these sweets?" "Yes, my dear" - she replied - "the knot holds back the sadness and lets only love arrive." 
In the Aeolian dialect, these sweets are called paste squaddate. Yet for us, they have an immense emotional value and we have given them our own name: knots of love. 
Here are the recipe and the procedure: 1 cup of water, 1 pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 heaping tablespoon of EVO oil, a sprig of rosemary, the peel of one lemon. 
Let them all boil in a pan. Take a cup of flour and quickly pour it into the boiling water and then pour it quickly onto the marble or onto a washable surface. Work with a wooden spoon (because it is hot), then continue with your hands so that the dough becomes smooth and silky. 
Shape long sticks and knot them and let them rest on a cloth for 1h or 2h. 
Fry in hot oil and dip them still hot in sugar and cinnamon.

Credits to Francesca Cincotta - Al Belvedere Salina