Jacoba, dochter van Holland by Simone van der Vlugt

Around the time when Eastern European Jews immigrated to the US, the macaroon scene shifted towards coconut. To this day, Sephardic Jews from Syria and Egypt make their Passover macaroons without coconut, using ground pistachios, almonds, and cashews. Coconut Macaroons caught on, especially in the Italian Jewish community, who savored these flourless treats during Passover. By the 13th century, Sicily was a famous center of pasta and almond-paste and rosewater sweets like marzipan (marzapane) and macaroons.

This light and eggy Italian Easter Bread, Pane di Pasqua, bread is slightly sweet and bursting with the flavors of citrus and anise Italian Easter bread is braided with eggs, which also hold incredible Easter significance as signs from nature of new life, just as we are celebrating new life in the risen Christ.ĭue to the ending of the fast of Lent, where households would traditionally refrain from rich and sweet dishes, Easter breads are often rich, eggy breads that can range in sweetness, and sometimes are studded with dried fruit, which at one time was a luxury item.Īlmond macaroons were first made by Sicilians, who learned the trade from Arab troops from Tunisia who captured Sicily in 827. The beautifully colored eggs and the lovely golden loaf are the perfect recipe for an Easter table centerpiece. The recipe for sweetened or 'honey-leavened' bread may date back as far as the Homeric Greek period based on anecdotal evidence from classical texts that mention this type of special food. Traditionally the practice of eating Easter bread or sweetened 'communion' bread traces its origin back to Byzantium and the Orthodox Christian church. In many European countries, there are various traditions surrounding the use of bread during the Easter holidays. DESSERT OF THE MONTH = Polish Easter babka, Italian Easter Egg Bread, & Almond Macaroons for Passoverīabka (bread), a sweet leavened bread made with a rich dough (often containing raisins), which is made for Easter Sunday to celebrate the rising of Christ.

Jacoba, dochter van Holland by Simone van der Vlugt