Good evening, welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: February 12th, 2022. It’s National Biscotti Day and David brought some home last night from the Airport for Chalie and me to snack on. If you will excuse me, I’m going to get us a glass of Milk and our Biscotti, then we are going to watch a movie. Would you like to join us?
National Biscotti Day– #BiscottiDay #NationalBiscottiDay
Five Facts about Biscotti:
- The origin of the word, Biscotti which is the plural form of “Biscotto, is from the Medieval Latin word Biscoctus, meaning “twice-cooked/baked.”
2. In Italian, the word “Biscotto” means “one biscuit” or “cookie.” Thus, Biscotti is the plural: two or more cookies.
3. Biscotti traces back to the Ancient Rome when Roman Biscotti was the most convenient food for travelers and the Roman Legion.
4. Because Biscotti are twice baked, this results in a hard and dry texture, but with a very long shelf life.
5. The first documented recipe for Biscotti (Biscotti of Genoa) is a Centuries-old manuscript discovered by 18th Century scholar Amadio Baldanzi.
Chocolate Hazelnut, Honey Pistachio, Almond and Dried Cherry and Almond Biscotti, are just a few samples of the rainbow of flavors you can get Biscotti in. All of them are the perfect accompaniment to your favorite Coffee or a Tea. National Biscotti Day celebrates these treats and reminds you to try a new flavor.
History of National Biscotti Day
Biscotti are Almond Biscuits that originate in Prato Italy. Biscotti are the result of a process that leaves them delicious and crunchy, twice-baking. Biscotti firm crispy texture is one of the reasons they’re traditionally served in Vin Santo, a sweet white dessert Wine. Biscotti were the result of a process that was used to help preserve food for a long time, and thus twice-baked foods were often taken on long journeys and Wars by Roman Legions. Since then, Biscotti has been a popular part of the Dietary Culture of Italy, and eventually spread across the world finding a home in Coffee Shops.
The cooking process starts with a barely wet dough of Flour, Sugar, Eggs, and unskinned/unroasted Almonds, without any form of Yeast or Fat. This Dough is baked once in a slab the shape of the Biscotti, and then baked again after being sliced into the signature shape known to the end customer. While the traditional recipe involves Almonds, as mentioned above, Biscotti can also be made with Pine Nuts, Walnuts, Dry Fruits like Raisins, or any low-moisture ingredient you can conceive of.
How to celebrate National Biscotti Day
The best way to celebrate National Biscotti Day is by putting together your own recipe for Biscotti and seeing what new recipe you can come up with.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
