Welcome to 2020! What better way to start this new year and new decade than wishing a happy birthday to our founder and my grandfather, Angelo Caputo!
88 years ago today in the little town of Mola di Bari, Angelo was born. I want to take this opportunity to share some words.
My grandfather is one of the strongest men I know. As you may recall from some of the stories I previously shared about his life, he did not always have it easy. His life was full of obstacles and his ability to overcome them is a true testament to his character. He made great sacrifices in order to give his wife and children the best life possible. He worked tirelessly to provide for his family and never complained because that is the kind of man he is.
Most everything he does, he does with his family in mind. His family has since grown to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Nothing makes him happier than seeing the smiles on his family’s faces (though drinking an espressino or eating allievi come close).
I am so blessed to have him as my nonno, may God bless him always!
We hope you and your family have a safe and happy New Year!
If you walk into an Italian house during Christmas, the odds that you’ll see a round, dome shaped bread is pretty high. That bread is panettone!
Panettone is a sweet bread like cake with an airy, soft inside that is usually enjoyed during major holidays like Christmas and Easter. Traditional panettone is made with dried fruits. Now, there are multiple different flavors and varieties of panettone to appeal to everyone- including some with chocolate.
There are many different stories regarding the origin of panettone, some dating back to the 15th century. One story states that a nobleman fell in love with a baker’s daughter, so he disguised himself as a baker to win her over. When the nobleman was working as a baker, he invented this sweet bread and added citrus and fruit to it.
Another legend states that the chef for the Sforza family burned the bread for the big Christmas Eve feast. A man named Toni offered up some yeast he had been saving for Christmas day. They kneaded the yeast into the bread and added some zest and fruit. The bread was a huge hit and they called it “il pan di Toni.”
Another legend dates back to Milan in the 1500s. Bakers were allowed to bake a wheat bread for their customers as a gift of appreciation during the holidays.
Just as there are numerous legends about Panettone, there are many ways to enjoy it. Some people toast it and have it with coffee, some make it into a french toast, and some just eat it as it is as a dessert. A new way to eat it created by Rossella Rago of Cooking with Nonna is to make a Panettone Trifle! The recipe is easy to follow and will help you wow your guests with fun twist on this traditional item.
Here’s what you need:
1 large Panettone cut into chunks
4 cups of my Easy Custard Cream cooled to room temp (Custard Recipe Below)
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups Marsala wine (you can use more or less depending on how strong you like it)
Hello! My name is Michelle, from the Fruitful Yield family. You may have noticed our new Fruitful Yield store inside Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets in Carol Stream. We may love Angelo Caputo’s fresh produce, but we also love how they are a family business—just like we are! To us, being family-owned means being able to prioritize our customers in a way that is rare at larger operations. It also means spending time together. And of course, it means spreading the love of our families to our communities and beyond.
As smaller, family-owned operations, Fruitful Yield and Angelo Caputo’s are able to put their customers first! At Fruitful Yield, we take great pride in making decisions that are good for our customers. It’s not just business to us—it’s personal. We know a great deal of friends and family who shop at our stores depend on us to make choices that will be best for them.
Members of the Fruitful Yield family and Caputo’s family
Therefore, we work hard to get the best prices possible for a small chain. We also think about what our friends and family use and want to buy. Online, we respond to questions and concerns individually. There are no bots, because we know how we would want to be treated. (We love to follow the Golden Rule!) This personal service can also be found at Angelo Caputo’s, where friendly associates can help you find all of your grocery needs.
Being a family-owned business also means that we’re good at spending time together. Elwood Richard was Fruitful Yield’s founder; you can find his family working for Fruitful Yield and its sister company, NOW Health Group. I’m a grandkid, working for Fruitful Yield Marketing, where I can pop upstairs at any time to visit my mom or uncle. His great nephews, the Pecenka boys, can be found working at Fruitful Yield Elmwood Park. In fact, many of Elwood’s grandkids have worked summers at Fruitful Yield in Bloomingdale and Lombard. We also meet as a family to discuss decisions and changes in the company. This is also true of Angelo Caputo’s family who can be found together at various events in their stores, and in upper management.
While we enjoy spending time together, what’s even better is that we use the time to share our family’s love. This is one of the most important parts. We are passionate about what we do, and we show love to our communities. Providing health products at great values brings us joy. When you buy a Fruitful Yield product, we want you to be sure that product is effective and of the highest quality. In addition, we try to show our gratitude through free health educational events at our stores, and by partnering with various charities to make the world a healthier place. Angelo Caputo’s spreads the love through friendly service, community events, and tons of in-store family-friendly fun.
Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets and we at Fruitful Yield are proudly family-owned and operated. This means we can make our customer experience personal, spend time together, and spread the love in our communities. If you’re new to either Angelo Caputo’s or Fruitful Yield, visit Fruitful Yield inside Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets of Carol Stream to experience two family-owned companies with a passion for helping people live happier and healthier lives.
