Tag: pastry
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Sicilian Pastry Shaped Like A Breast: Minna di Sant’Agata
One of the iconic elements of the feast of Sant’Agata–and lighter ones too–is the Minna di Sant’Agata (or Minna di Sant’Aita in Sicilian), or Saint Agatha’s Breast, a pastry that you’ll find this time of year made and eaten in honor of the saint. I ate this sweet ricotta-filled pastry covered with layers of marzipan…
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Usher In Spring With Saint Joseph’s Day In New York City
Yesterday, I ate this splendid sfinge di San Giuseppe on Staten Island. It was so good! St. Joseph’s Day, celebrated annually on March 19, will be here before we know it! Please join me to celebrate the guardian-father of Jesus and the protector of carpenters, toiling workers, and of course, fathers. Let’s usher in spring…
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Cassatelle, The Other Sicilian Pastry
How is it that I’ve never written about this delectable Sicilian dessert: cassatelle di ricotta!? Cassatelle are turnovers (or sweet calzones) stuffed with a mixture of fresh ricotta, confectioners’ sugar, and chocolate chips. They are fried and upon being served, are dusted with confectioners’ sugar. When eaten still warm from the fryer, they are out…
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Saint Agatha’s Breasts
Make no mistake, these pastry are created to look like breasts. And, I will say also, that it is a celebration of them! I’m preparing you for the big feast in Catania. From February 3 to 5, Eastern Sicily’s largest city (and the second largest in Sicily) is alive with passionate fervor as devotees celebrate…
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Saint Martin’s Sweets in Palermo
In Palermo in observance of the Feast of Saint Martin, who is the patron saint of vintners, soldiers, the poor, wool-weavers, geese, and France, not only do they eat hard biscuits that are meant to be dipped in Marsala or moscato wine, but they also enjoy these beautiful decorated pastry. They won’t be around long…
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Sambuca di Sicilia’s Virgin’s Breasts
Last week in Sambuca di Sicilia I encountered these “Minna di Virgini,” or Breasts of the Virgin, pastry. When I saw them, I immediately knew this was something special. The Sambucese proudly confirmed that these breast-shaped, baked pastry with a well-pronounced nipple were created by the nuns of the Collegio di Maria in 1725 in…
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Keeping You Abreast
From February 3 to 5 the city of Catania is alive with passionate fervor as devotees celebrate their patron, Saint Agatha. These ricotta-filled pastry, pictured, called “minna di Sant’Aita” or Saint Agatha’s Breast represent Agatha, who is the patron saint of martyrs, bakers, earthquakes, wet nurses, and breast cancer patients. Her story starts in early…
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If you thought this pastry looked like a breast, you were right. It’s called a “minna di St. Aita” or Saint Agatha’s Breast, and during the Feast of Saint Agatha that takes place annually in these first days of February, these are eaten with fervor in the city of Catania in honor of its patron…