Soft Torrone with Hazelnuts and Almonds by Antica Torroneria Piemontese
<P>Torrone, a confection originating in ancient Rome, is said to have been used as an offering to the gods. In Cremona, the historic city in northern Italy's Lombardy Region, there is also a story of how torrone came to be. To celebrate the wedding of Bianca Maria Visconti and Francesco Sforza, and hence the inception of a new dynasty, a great feast was given in honor of the happy couple. For dessert, a talented pastry chef created a reproduction of the 12th-century campanile of Cremona's cathedral, the Torrazzo, the highest in all of Italy. This dessert became known as Torrone.</P><P>Torrone, also known as nougat, is made with honey, well-whipped egg whites, vanilla, roasted nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, pistachios or hazelnuts) and sometimes chopped candied fruit and is either soft and chewy or hard. It has come to be known as a holiday treat in Italy. Although it is available and enjoyed all year-round, it is closely identified with Christmas, just as our own Christmas cookies and other confections have become synonymous with the holiday.</P><P>Antica Torroneria Piemontese's headquarters are located in the heart of the Langhe, where the unique flavor of hazelnuts has been the inspiration for the production of delicate but delightful sweets. Prime Piedmont hazelnuts and almonds are skillfully and carefully mixed with sugar, honey, egg whites, gelatin and vanilla according to ancient tradition. As a result of the usage of simple and high quality ingredients and painstaking
Available from Amazon
Price: $12.50
Updated on 7-31-2008.
Back To Top |
|
|
