Sunday 20 May 2012

Ferri di Cavallo. Buona fortuna! (Horse Shoe Shaped Italian Biscuits)





 Rossana on her wedding day, in Bari, Italy








My aunts all had daughters. I was the baby in the family, the youngest of the nieces, loved and cherished by all. When my big cousins got married, I always was chosen to be the "damigella": the bridesmaid! 

 I must have been just three or four, the first time I was a bridesmaid, with my light blond hair, dressed in a tutu` I hated, white shoes, bright red lips and a shy smile. I was four when I first smelt the fragrance of a traditional, old fashioned Italian bouquet of fiori d'arancio (orange blossom) and gardenias.
In an old photo, I'm standing next to my mother, at one of these weddings. Babbo, my dad, on her left, in his dark suit and tie, very slim, lovely, lovely smile. My mother is wearing her dark blue dress with printed green roses and matching bolero, I used to wear when I thought she wasn't looking, with her high heels.
I remember walking into the restaurant: live music, laughter and all the family in one place. What more could a child want? Wedding were and still are very beautiful, in Italy. City weddings, are very sophisticated, expensive affairs. Lots of lovely food is consumed, and expensive wine and spumante.  Everyone is dressed beautifully, in a kind of understated elegance, typical of a stylish wedding.



My niece Rossana's wedding reception (first dance)


When I was a little girl, at the end of the reception, every family would receive a bomboniera (wedding favour, a gift, with confetti, sugared almonds-has to be just 5... can't be more, can't be less!) and a tray of pasticcini, little cakes.
Strange enough, last year we went to a wedding in Campania (different to the weddings we have in our city) and... we were presented with an old fashioned small tray of pasticcini, just like the ones I remembered from my childhood. Amongst the pasticcini, a couple of  " Ferri di Cavallo" delicious little horse shoe shaped biscuits, which I remembered very well, as, when I was a child, I used to love them!
By the way! In case you are wondering: the beautiful bride in the photos is Rossana, my niece. The wedding took place in Bari, but we couldn't go...  What a shame! Look at the venue! Look at the cake ( above) ... look at that dress... look at the beautiful smile! I think my mum would have been very proud of her grand daughter!



I think she looks a bit like me!

Today I made Ferri di Cavallo. I was very pleased with the result and felt very nostalgic. I could hear music and voices in my head... the past never, ever goes away...
My recipe:
Ferri di Cavallo
Ingredients
(makes about 50 biscuits)
400g (14 oz) plain flour 
100g ( 3 1/2 oz) corn flour
250 g (8 1/2 oz) butter
4 egg yolks
some vanilla extract
100g (3 1/2oz) confectioner's sugar
(icing sugar)
plus some extra icing sugar
100g (3 1/2 oz) good plain chocolate 
This is very quick and easy: weigh all the ingredients and grate or chop the butter, ready to be used.
In a small bowl, separate the eggs and have the yolks ready to be used.
This is what I did: I sifted flour and corn flour onto a board, then made a well in the middle. I grated my butter, which was very cold and quite solid, and added it, with the sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla extract.  I combined these ingredients together, very quickly, till I got a mixture which resembled crumbs.




Next, I added all my egg yolks and quickly worked them into the mixture. Mine was a little bit dry, so I added a tiny bit of milk, till I got a silky, soft dough.




In order to make my horse shoe shaped biscuits, I took small pieces of dough, rolled them, till they became about 12cm long, then placed them onto a lined baking tray, giving them the shape I was after.




My Ferri di Cavallo then went into a hot oven ( 190C, 375F, Gas 5 ) for about 15-20 minutes, till they became pale golden and were cooked.
This mixture is very "short" and crumbly, so I didn't remove my cakes, till they felt cold and solid. A few of them broke, to my disappointment, but most looked delicious and became even more delicious after I dipped both ends of each in plain chocolate 75% solid cocoa, which I melted in my microwave (should have been done in a "bagnomaria," but... it worked!)



 





A gentle sprinkling of icing sugar made my little "pasticcini" look really pretty!



                                          And here they are!
                                           FERRI DI CAVALLO!




32 comments:

  1. Ahhh, Anna! You make me sigh! Wonderful pictures, a beautiful bride and a handsome bridegroom, the setting like in a fairy tale. The ferri di cavallo look marvelous and I know that's also what they taste like. A wonderful post - for me especially as many couples here in Switzerland get married in May! - I hope the sun comes out soon to warm you and make you a little bit feel like in those times when you were a little girl in fantastico Italia! BMH&B Christa

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  2. Buonasera, Christa! I love the setting, too! I think it looks romantic and glam!
    I hope the sun comes out, too... I have kind of given up on Spring, as we are ten days away from the end of May!

    Ferri di cavallo are very good, and look very pretty. Maybe I should say "looked" as there are none left! Not guilty, though!

    CIAO!

    BMH&B

    ANNA
    xx

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  3. Dear Anna - what a lovely post. I love to hear about your life when you were young and the images that you conjure up.
    Your niece makes a gorgeous and beautiful bride, beauty obviously runs in the family.
    Are the Ferri di Cavallo a bit like a shortbread or viennese biscuit. They look so pretty done in a horseshoe shape with that touch of chocolate at the ends.
    Written with care and beautifully present Anna.
    Ciao♥

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    Replies
    1. Dear Rosemary, I think you are right about the type of pastry: it's very much like a viennese biscuit, so you can imagine how good it is!

      Yes, rossana is pretty gorgeous, isn't she? I thought she looked very fresh and young in her dress!

      Rosemary, I hope you read this: WHY IS YOUR POST ABOUT THE BRITS CONTINUALLY "ABORTED?" I WANT TO READ ALL OF IT!

      Can you post it, please?

      Grazie!

      ANNA

      xxx

      Delete
    2. Dear Anna - sorry, you are the second person to tell me that. I clicked on to Publish Post, instead of Preview by mistake. I had not actually finished the post, so had to retrieve it. I will post it on Wednesday evening, hopefully. See you then♥

      Delete
  4. The past never,ever goes away...so sweet..!!Best wishes!!

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    Replies
    1. Love your blog! Ever so stylish!

      Thanks for coming to say Ciao!

      ANNA

      Delete
  5. Dear Anna

    What a beautiful story about your childhood and the excitement surrounding Italian weddings then and now.
    Your niece and husband are very beautiful. The horseshoes, a symbol of good luck, are so appropriate at a wedding.
    Hope your week is full of sunshine

    Helenxx

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    Replies
    1. Dear Helen,

      Thank you for coming to say hello! Yes, my niece is very, very pretty and has the most gorgeous of smiles!

      I wanted to post those images with my recipe, as I remember getting a little tray of pasticcini ( amongst which ferri di cavallo) at weddings, when I was little. We are much more sophysticated now (or we think we are)

      I like the idea of horseshoes, as a symbol of luck, at weddings. I was given a mother of pearl one, with bow and ribbon, by my beste friend (EVER!) Jane, when I married my (most of the time...) darling husband.

      No sign of sunshine, yet, Helen!

      CIAO!

      ANNA
      xxx

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  6. Anna
    Very beautiful wedding and wonderful couple. You will have a great time at the reception. The biscuits you cooked show delicious and I think it will be easily the recipe. I had never heard about Chelsea Flower Show . I saw some websites and delighted. This starts tomorrow! I asked to my husband , why we went to London in April and not May? He replied: "what does it matter? In May has this event ... and the last answer .... You're awesome Olympia not enough to have your flower exhibitions in Greece and learned in London?
    I answered : Yes, dear, next time we go to London we will go for this event ....for my flowers love is a big story ...Thank you for these information my sweet Anna .
    Have a nice day
    Olympia

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  7. Olympia, it's always a great pleasure to hear from you, all the way from wonderful Greece!
    Yes, my niece's wedding was wonderful and she looked really beautiful. The dress was by some designer (MAX MARA, or something like that) and very young, not too fussy, but just right for her!

    Try my biscuits, Olympia. They are delicious! The Chelsea Flower Show will be on every day, this week! It's spectacular, isn't it? I'm pleased to know that you love London. It's a wonderful city, isn't it?

    CIAO!

    ANNA

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  8. Oh Anna I love the way you always share such a delightful story with your recipes. Thankyou so much x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lindy, for reading my blog and for your comments. I'm glad my stories don't bore you! Please let me know if I sound too nostalgic!

      CIAO!

      ANNA

      xx

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  9. What a beautiful Niece Rossana is and a very handsome husband.
    I wish them both lots of happiness. I am sure your mama would have been a very proud grandmother.
    The wedding looked like a very great affair. The setting so beautiful.
    Always love to read the stories you write with your posts Anna. simply delightful.
    I love the recipe.. must try.
    Horseshoe for good luck.
    Malto grazi Anna..
    ciao.. hugs xxx
    val

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  10. Hi Val! I'm glad you like the wedding pictures. I didn't go to the wedding, but I was told it was really good and, as you can see, stylish. I think Rossana would have looked beautiful, anyway. I was glad to be able to post pictures of a real Italian wedding, in Italy!

    You must try the recipe... the pasticcini are very delicate and truly delicious, though calorific! I read this somewhere:"I never met a calorie I didn't like!"

    CIAO!

    ANNA

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  11. What beautiful photos from the wedding. Gorgeous place actually! And thanks for your story :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Kristin! Thank you for your comment. I have not seen all the photos yet, but I'm sure their wedding album and video are quite something!

      The venue looks really fantastic! I wish I could have been there!

      CIAO!

      anna
      x

      Delete
  12. auguriiiiii sei splendida io domani ho il matrimonio di mio fratello e faccio il past complimenti per il dolce originale

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tanti cari auguri a tuo fratello e... divertiti, Giovanna!

      CIAO!

      ANNA

      Delete
  13. Really Really nice Anna!!!!!!! and you are a pretty good wedding photographer also!

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    Replies
    1. Hello Valery! Thank you for coming to say hello! It's a lovely wedding, isn't it?

      Buona domenica!

      Hugs

      ANNA

      xxx

      Delete
  14. My sweet Anna
    You create to me a permanent smile! You must be very sweet and happy person. In your question I will answer with question: has you come to Greece many times and if yes, can you tell me what parts has gone? It seems that you know a lot about life here! The moussaka should add cinnamon, but my boys do not like and I do not add. Please answer to me .
    Anyway , you make me my week !Thank you
    Olympia

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    Replies
    1. Dear olympia,

      I don't know why I know so much about life in Greece, but I do. I have been three times: Athens, Corfu` and the Islands. I feel a lot of love towards your country, as, with Rome, it was the nation which brought culture and civilization to the world (let's not forget it, only because the Euro zone is in Chrisis!)

      I have had many happy times in Greece, not connected to romance, or anything like that: just simple pleasures, like feeling free, hearing beautiful sounds (music-I love Theodorakis! And the language... the architecture... the churches! I really love it!)It is a beautiful country.

      I am always happy to communicate with you, Olympia. You are a very, very nice lady. Your moussaka looked really lovely. I do like cinnamon in mine, as it makes it taste Greek, and I like that. I'll have to make it for my husband, as he's only had the stuff they sell in Greek coffee shops, in America, which is a bad imitation of the real thing... which is delicious, Olympia.

      I support and love Southern Europe.

      CIAO!

      ANNA

      Delete
  15. Hi Anna,

    Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog! Your niece looks lovely on the photographs!

    Your cookies delicious! Wish I could try one :-)

    Happy new week!

    Madelief x

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    Replies
    1. Good morning!
      Not so sunny here, today!

      Thank you for visiting my blpg. Maybe you might like to make some ferri di cavallo, so you can try one!

      Happy week to you, too! I'm already looking forward to the long weekend (Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday, next week!)

      ANNA

      xx

      Delete
  16. Hello Anna! I just want to tell you that you don't have to give the Sunshine award to five persons, and you don't have to answer the questions, if you don't want to. I have just talked to Kittie Howard who's just come home from holiday. She was so sorry that she hadn't made it clearer, but it's not her fault, it's just me who never understand what they mean! So we can just enjoy our Sunshine award forever! The award is for everyone who spreads sunshine and this is what you are doing!

    Have a nice week-end in wonderful Italy. I hope you do not live close to the earthquake.

    Grethe ´)

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    Replies
    1. Dear Grethe,

      The earthquake has not affected my family in Italy, or our home. Thank you for your concern. Unfortunately, it has affected a lot of the wonderful people who live in Emilia-Romagna. We should count our blessing, for belonging to a different part of Italy.

      I love the Sunshine Award and hopefully, by the end of the weekend it will be on the blog! Thank you. You are very kind. I hope I'm really spreading a little bit of sunshine, Grethe. That would be very, very nice!

      CIAO and THANK YOU!

      ANNA

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  17. My sweet Anna
    How are you? I try to see the post in your recipe for risotto and writes that the post does not exist ... I wanted to thank you once again for full of life and love comments !
    Olympia

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  18. Dear Olympia,

    I am trying to post, but Google won't let me post all the images I need to include in my recipes, so I'm just trying to see a way out of this. They are asking me to pay a monthly fee, but I'm not sure I want to be the only mug who does this! So... I'll find a way, I guess, but I don't like posting a recipe with just one image! I'd rather not post, at all!

    HUGS

    ANNA

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  19. Dear Anna - I had the same problem a few months ago. You do not have to pay, all you need to do is resize the photos. You have to make them into less pixels. Preferably 800x600 which are free and you can post as much as you want. It is not difficult to do. I do it within my Apple Mac, but do not know what computer you have. You can also resize on PicMonkey. If you need any help let me know. This is a problem we all come across eventually, but you can easily get round it.
    Good luck and CIAO♥

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  20. Hi rosemary!
    I have a PC and I do use Picmonkey, so I'll try to resize and see if it helps, otherwise, I will have to join Google+, though I am not very keen, as I'm not into Facebook style stuff (I have no facebook, by choice!)

    I'll try to follow your advice, Rosemary and I will somehow sort it, as I enjoy my photography!

    Hugs and MANY THANKS!

    ANNA
    x

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  21. Anna - you do not need to go into the Facebook site on PicMonkey but go into the blue square on the left hand side where it says Edit a photo. Upload your collage and make it size 800 x 600 and blogger will let you use it♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete