Knot your average cookies

A wedding is not a wedding in Western Pennsylvania without a magnificent cookie table.

There are many types of cookies a bride and groom can include on their table; before making a final decision, it is worth sampling the locally famous Italian Knots at St. Rita Parish, Connellsville.

The parish draws hundreds of people to its annual Christmas Cookie Sale in December. Rita Pratt and more than 25 volunteers bake over 3,000 dozen cookies, in particular the Italian Knots. This tradition of 60 years was started by Pratt’s sister, Angela Ditto, the late mother of Father Anthony W. Ditto.

The sale raises money to help St. Rita Parish fund different organizations in the church and throughout the community. Pratt attributes its success to the volunteers.

“We all work together, and it feels like a big family doing things for one another. We have volunteers of all ages, and they all enjoy what they are doing because they love working for the church. We are all here for the love of our church,” Pratt said.

Italian Knots, biscotti, pizzelles and assorted cookies will be available at the sale, which is sponsored by the parish’s Christian Mothers, Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. in Bucci Hall. The sale continues until all cookies are sold out, but get there early because the Italian Knots typically sell out within the first half-hour.