CUISINE Ciao Itali a™ with Mary Ann Esposito Viva La Befana ! by Mary Ann Esposito La Befana vien di notte On Jan. 6, Italians continue their cel - Torta di Befana Con le scarpe tutte rotte ebration of the new year (Capodanno) New Year’s Cake Col vestito alla romana with good food, including Befana cake, Viva, Viva La Befana! which in keeping with tradition contains 1-1/4 cups raisins a fava bean. Whoever is fortunate enough 1/2 cup diced, candied lemon peel The Befana comes by night to get the slice of cake with the bean is With her shoes all tattered and torn 1/2 cup diced, candied orange peel She comes dressed in the Roman way 1/4 cup brandy (optional) Long life to the Befana! 1 package active dry yeast 1/2 cup warm water (110-115 degrees) Truth be told, Christmas is not over 5 cups plus 2 tablespoons unbleached in Italy until La Befana makes her yearly all-purpose flour rounds the night before the Feast of the 1/2 cup sugar Epiphany on Jan. 6. For Italians, this is not only a day to commemorate the visit 1/2 teaspoon salt of the Three Kings to Bethlehem, it is for 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest children a holiday much bigger than 1 stick unsalted butter cut into pieces, Christmas because of the much-antici - softened pated visit from a kindly old witch 2 large eggs dressed in tattered clothes whose name 1/2 cup warm milk is derived from epifania, the Italian word 1/2 cup chopped almonds for epiphany. There are countless stories as to how 1 dried fava or other large dried bean the Befana became part of Italy’s Christ - 1egg yolk mas tradition. Many believe her legend 2 tablespoons coarse brown sugar dates back to ancient Rome. According to Photos by Matthew Rosso oral tradition, she rides around on her crowned king or queen for the day and Put raisins in a bowl, cover with broomstick delivering candy and toys to will be the recipient of good luck in the warm water and set aside. In another good little boys and girls because of a re - year ahead. Lentils — another symbol of bowl, mix the citrus peels with the grettable decision she made. good luck because they resemble small brandy and set aside. It seems that the Magi stopped at her coins — are also served on this day, In a medium-sized bowl, dissolve the neat-as-a-pin house, asking her to join along with zampone (pork sausage). yeast in warm water. Add one cup of the them in finding the newborn king, but In the past, countless Italians em - flour and mix until a ball of dough is she was too busy sweeping her cottage to braced the new year by literally getting formed. Fill a large bowl two-thirds full go with them. That is why she is always rid of the old, throwing furniture, cloth - with warm water. Place the ball of dough depicted with a broom. ing, etc., out the windows onto the in the water, cover the bowl with plastic Regretting that decision, she is still streets below, where it all succumbed to wrap and let the “sponge” rise in a warm flying around trying to find the Christ a bonfire, signaling the passing of the old place until doubled, about 20 minutes. Child, and her visits to Italian children and the arrival of the new. In a food processor, combine four are an attempt to locate him. Buon Capodanno! Continues on page 58 …

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