Cuddura cù ll’ova
These are typical traditional Sicilian Easter pastries – variations of these are made all over Sicily. They are called cestini (Italian for baskets) or if you are Sicilian you are likely to call them cuddura cù ll’ova (there are some slight variations in what they are called in other regions of Sicily).
These baskets carry hard boiled eggs – eggs being the symbol of fertility and birth, new beginnings –It was an important part of ancient festivals to celebrate Spring and it continued to be the symbol of new beginnings when it was embraced by Christians and associated with Easter; the belief – Jesus was resurrected from death into life, he died for our sins and we were given the opportunity to to be saved… death – life.
Notice the colomba (dove) on the basket made of pastry, the symbol of peace. One cestino is sweet, the other is savory. Pleasing everybody!
The good thing is that these cestini (in the photos) are available from Dolcetti Pasticceria- Pastry shop in Melbourne). Isn’t this wonderful?
If you key in the word Dolcetti in the search box on my blog you will find many posts praising the sweets from Dolcetti.
I have fond memories of my brother and I dyeing our hard boiled eggs and my mother would plait pastry around them. I continued the egg dyeing with my children and it all seems such a long time ago.
Apart from cestini (baskets) there are different shapes that hold the hard boiled eggs.
Pecorelle Pasquali
Another particular specialty at Easter time in Sicily are the pecorelle pasquali (marzipan lambs). In Sicilian they are called agneddi (lambs)or pecuredde (small sheep) di pasta riali (marzipan). Marianna from Dolcetti tells me that she is hoping to have some marzipan Easter lambs and Marzipan eggs available at Dolcetti. And she went ahead with this.
Those of you who do not live in Melbourne and not able to visit Dolcetti may find this video very amusing.
The video, Un dolce pasquale tipico siciliano.
Persevere with the young women in the supermarket, they then go on to cook Cuddura cù ll’ova. Then watch (or enjoy if you speak Sicilian) the elderly woman and the child ….. this is the introduction of making Cuddura cù ll’ova. In brief, the elderly woman has not heard of the Simpsons that her nipote (her grandchild) is telling her about and proceeds to tell her how after fasting in Lent, Catholics look forward to eating eggs, hence Cuddura cù ll’ova!
It will give you an idea of what is possible.
No English translation is needed… the video says it all (this time it is spoken in Italian).
Farina= flour, zucchero= sugar, burro= butter,1 glass of latte (milk), orange peel, 1½ bustina di lievito = lievito is baking powder, 1 bustina packet/ envelope= 7gm).
*8 eggs, but 4 are hard boiled so that they can be wrapped in pastry.
Love it!
Do not forget Cassata -the queens and princesses of Sicilian desserts (assuming that Cannoli being masculine, are the kings and princes).
One of the many posts about Sicilian Cassata and Marzipan at Easter: