Candelaus from Sardinia (image courtesy ItalianTourism.com)
“Learn Something New Everyday”. Martha Stewart
Even though the holiday technically dedicated to giving thanks passed by a couple of weeks ago, I am assembling my own bucket-load of thankfulnesses for the Christmas Season.
One of my most prominent thankfulnesses has to do with my obsession of dreaming of being in Italy and eating all of the food that they have made an entire culture out of celebrating on a daily basis. They are keen on having a festival dedicated to virtually every individual food item imaginable, if you take a look and see.
What I especially love is to find that there are actually other people out there like me, who do indeed obsess over this very same list of passions and, I in fact, find it at least somewhat reaffirming that I am not the only crazy person in the world who could and does spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about and trying to learn about each and every item, its origin, preparation and significance down through the ages.
This morning I stumbled upon this document that someone prepared as a little encyclopedia of Regional Italian Dolci. While I have a collection of books right to the left of where I am sitting that I could pull down and thumb through, yet again, I was heartened to see this document alive and well on the internet for perusal and a quick enlightenment.
My guess is that many an expert would debate the completeness and accuracy of this list, as Italians are known to do. But, if you are like me and want a quick and easy introduction and a source of inspiration on “gee, what do I want to make today?” you may begin here: http://www.italiantourism.com/dolci3.html Who would have ever thought that we would so very quickly become such a “.doc” society? I, for one, would have never, ever guessed, nor been so appreciative for all I would learn from here (thankfulnesses again)!
Isn’t it nice that someone has taken the time to assemble this? I found the item shown above, Candelaus, from Sardinia, especially intriguing. (But, do take a look at them all!) I don’t think I have ever seen these before and so, off I go in trying to learn all I can about these almost too-beautiful-to-eat treats. Being that this name sounds German, I am immediately intrigued as to their origin – and then how they arrived in Sardinia (not to mention finding out who else holds claim to these treats). Of course we know of all the overlaps in the region/continents, but I can’t wait to find out the whole story anyway!
Every culture has its own sweet treats and I am especially enamored of the European-oriented delicacies. And, yes, in my simpleton head, I even consider little pieces of simple dough tossed into a hot vat of fat and dusted in sugar a delicacy! Lest you not agree, just whip up a batch yourself and at the same time research all the cultures who have an iteration of this – one which has been valued down through the ages. This week in particular, I have been ogling all the jelly donuts of Hannukah! Yum!
So, if you have a little time today, go off and search some sweetness and goodness for Christmas. You might like to start here, courtesy of italiantourism.com. Notice, as I do, that range of artwork applied across the spheres of cultures. Some are among the simplest of nuggets to enjoy and some, like the Candelaus from above, employ a great dedication and devotion to making.
Now, I am going off to research sweets from Sardinia. Here’s a little Primer:
http://www.babbonyc.com/dolci/copulettas/http://www.babbonyc.com/dolci/copulettas/
http://www.experiencesardinia.com/italian-cookies.htmlhttp://www.experiencesardinia.com/italian-cookies.html
http://www.elizabethminchilliinrome.com/2014/09/seadas-sardinian-cheese-honey-pastry/http://www.elizabethminchilliinrome.com/2014/09/seadas-sardinian-cheese-honey-pastry/
http://www.honeytraveler.com/honey-gastronomy/seadas-sebadas-traditional-sardinian-pastry-with-honey/http://www.honeytraveler.com/honey-gastronomy/seadas-sebadas-traditional-sardinian-pastry-with-honey/
http://www.experiencesardinia.com/italian-cakes.htmlhttp://www.experiencesardinia.com/italian-cakes.html
http://w11.zetaboards.com/Sardinian_People/topic/8309156/2/http://w11.zetaboards.com/Sardinian_People/topic/8309156/2/
http://www.italyrevisited.org/recipe/X_X_Lists_of_Italian_Dishes_and_Desserts_by_Region/672http://www.italyrevisited.org/recipe/X_X_Lists_of_Italian_Dishes_and_Desserts_by_Region/672
Wishing you a lovely mid-December day. Only nine days till Solstice!