Regional pastries abound throughout the city and during Christmas three desserts in particular can be seen in pasticcerie everywhere: Struffoli, Mostacciuoli, and Rococo.
The guru of neapolitan desserts, Luciano Pignataro, has written a fabulous and comprehensive book I dolci napoletani where he reveals the secrets of these Christmas treats. For English speakers, he has translated the Christmas page of the book at his website with a bit of the history of the three treats as well as recipes for each.
Here, I'll only give a brief history of the treats as well as pictures:
Struffoli: Once prepared by nuns in Naples and given as a gift to noble families at Christmas, this dessert consists of fried balls flavored with honey and decorated with multi-colored candied almond balls.
Mostacciuoli: Are said to bring good luck.
Rococo: Nuns prepared this treat all the way back in 1320. They are hard biscuits that are then soaked in vermouth or wine.
Buon Natale!
3 comments:
I hope this is not too late to comment with those lovely pastries. Those biscuits look like a donut. Is it just for Christmas holidays? I've seen the recipe and I think it won't be hard to make. By the way been planning to travel in Italy so any recommendations in Naples? Thank you!
This makes me way to hungry.
Random but just incase you're into Italian music, you should take a listen to Biagio Antonacci. He has a new album out, "Sapessi Dire No"...maybe you'll enjoy it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWP8jHB_pHg
Ciao Barbara,
Thanks for leaving a comment on my site - HistoryandWomen.com. I have been a long time visitor to your site too. My favourite article was the one about how to make espresso sugar foam - one of my favourite tastes in the entire world.
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