Recipe: Quaresimali (Lenten Almond Biscuits) (3)

Quaresimali (Lenten Almond Biscuits)
Board: Cooking Club at Recipelink.com
From: Gay R. 12-19-1999
MSG ID: 0045550
MSG URL: Quaresimali Lenten Almond Biscuits

---

QUARESIMALI

"Sometimes the names of Italian sweets seem almost more intriguing and fascinating than the sweet itself. Such is the case with the names of many cookies. There are references in old cooking manuscripts to special cookies that were made only during the Lenten season, called quaresimali. The name comes from the word for Lent, quaresima. These cookies will last almost as long as the Lenten season."

3 cups unblanched whole almonds
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups King Arthur Unbleached, All-Purpose Flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/4teaspoons baking powder
4 tablespoons butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets.

Spread the almonds on a cookie sheet and toast them for about 8 minutes. Transfer the almonds to a bowl and let cool.

Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Reserve 2 1/4 cups of the almonds. With a sharp knife, chop the remaining 3/4 cup of almonds fine. Transfer to a bowl, add the honey, and blend well.

In a large bowl, combine all the remaining dry ingredients and mix well.

In a small bowl, beat the eggs with the softened butter until well blended. Add to the honey and almond mixture and mix well. Add to the dry ingredients, along with the reserved almonds, and mix with your hands until the dough is well blended. The dough will be stiff.

Divide the dough in half and, with floured hands, form each piece into a loaf 12 inches long by 3 to 4 inches wide. Place the loaves on the greased cookie sheets and brush the tops of each loaf with the egg wash.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Transfer the loaves to a cutting board and carefully cut each loaf on the diagonal into slices about 1/2-inch thick. Place the pieces on their sides on the cookie sheet.

Bake for 7 minutes on each side, or until well toasted and hard. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Makes about 3 1/2 dozen
Source: Ciao Italia

---

LENTEN BISCUITS (QUARESIMALI)

"The name Quaresimali derives from the word Quaresima, Lent. The biscuits called Quaresimali were traditionally made is Sicily during Lent this being the reason that these crunchy and light cookies do not contain any animal fat or butter prohibited in Lent by the religious dietary laws. At present the Quaresimali are made all year around and because they stay fresh in an air tight container, they are very popular and kept in every pantry. Best enjoyed by the young with a glass of milk 'macchiato" (a light cappuccino) or by the grown-ups with Marsala wine or a Moscato di Pantelleria or any other sweet fortified wine."

5 cups flour
4 cups sugar
8 medium eggs
1/2 teaspoon of carbonate of ammonia powder*
2 lb. whole lightly toasted almonds
1 cup diced orange peels
zest of orange
zest of lemon
1 inch cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
1 egg for egg washing
1 cup of flour for dusting or adding extra

Combine sugar with flour. Make a well and place the eggs in it. With the help of a fork whisk lightly then add powder baking ammonia, the almonds, orange peels, orange and lemon zest. Mix all ingredients well using your hands. Mixture should not be too dry but you should be able to handle it. If mixture is too dry add 1 egg, if too watery add some flour.

Prepare pan: grease and dust a cookie sheet with flour.

Dust working table with extra flour and divide the dough in 2 pieces and each pieces in 2 parts. Shape each piece into a loaf about the size of the cookie sheet. Place each into greased pans, usually 2 loaves in each pan, a few inches apart and press down to make loaf 1 inch thick.

Beat 1 egg, adding 1 tablespoon of water for the egg wash. With the help of a brush go over cookies with the egg wash.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes or until cookies are a golden color.

Cool a few minutes and using a serrated knife cut it into 1/2 inch slices. Place each piece into pans, cut side down.

Place in the oven for additional 10 minutes at 300 degrees. Cool and store in an airtight container.

*The ammonium bicarbonate also known as Hartshorne, powder baking ammonia or carbonate of ammonia can be purchased in drug store and made into a powder before using it. It can be substituted with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder.

Source: Sicillian Cooking