My Favara Lamb 

I present to you the Favara-style Easter lamb I made under the direction of Annalisa Pompeo of GoSicily. Sicilian Cooking Experience during our Stirring Sicily hands-on cooking experience last September. The lamb is one of the most prominent symbols of Easter. In Christianity, it symbolizes purity and sacrifice – two qualities associated with Jesus Christ….

Happy Easter!

Because the statue-scenes from Trapani’s Procession of the Mysteries (that represent the Stations of the Cross) are so emotive and powerful, I thought I’d include today a close-up of one that captures the sentiment of this season. Happy Easter!

Favara Easter Lamb by GoSicily

The lamb is one of the most prominent symbols of Easter. In Christianity, it symbolizes purity and sacrifice – two qualities associated with Jesus Christ. The citizens of Favara, Sicily (near Agrigento) are renowned for the tradition of creating beautifully decorated marzipan lambs with pistachio filling for Easter. The basic form of the lamb is…

The Bread Arches of San Biagio Platani

In the mountain town of San Biagio Platani (Agrigento), they are currently celebrating their Easter feast, “Archi di Pane,” or “Bread Arches.” Annually during this feast, which started on Easter Sunday and lasts until May 3, 2015, artisans and townspeople create elaborate archways using river reeds, willow, asparagus, bay leaf, rosemary, cereals, dates, and bread…

Here Comes the Cassata

There is much debate about the origins of cassata cake, but one thing is clear: it is as elaborate as the Baroque architecture one finds throughout Sicily–and it is as decadent. So much so, that until the mid-20th century, cassata was only eaten by the masses on Easter Sunday. Cassata is made up of sponge…