Do you recognize this confection?
I've been wracking my brains for years and I need to come to you, gentle Internet Reader.
My grandmother (who was Italian, Roman I believe, and lived in Brooklyn, NY) used to get this pastry for the holidays; I'm thinking Easter. It was dozens of mini pastry puff-ish balls, about the size of marbles, maybe a little larger, arranged in a conical fashion. It would be smothered in honey, and decorated with pastels (not jimmies, not sprinkles, but the little hard pastel colored confections that are found on non pareils.) You'd pull off each pastry puff and eat it as a nibble during fruit and dessert. Does anybody know if this is a real dessert of some sort!?? Please post it in the comments. Thanks in advance!
It's called "Croc En Bouche" (sp?). Pronounced "Crock Un Boosh". I only know the Quebecois variety, but back when I got married in Feb 1991, it was our wedding cake. If you want more info on it and how to make it, you know where to find me. :)
Posted by: Corey Tamas | 06 January 2004 at 01:58 AM
Don't listen to that Tamas character. He is a blankety blank.
To switch to a non-confectionary topic, have you seen this Blog Design Showcase? I assume you like this sort of stuff at least as much as I do.
Posted by: Michael | 06 January 2004 at 07:50 AM
Yes, it does exist! My grandmother still makes it but I don't know the proper name for it. I'll try to get the recipe from her and forward it to you.
Have you ever had "cazzadelle", pronounced caza-deal? I'm guessing at the spelling. It's a bread/cake flavored with orange zest made at Easter time. It's pretty dry and after a day or so it's hard as biscotti. I know it takes a few days to make it because it has to rise and double several times.
Posted by: K-Roz | 06 January 2004 at 06:30 PM
I don't think I have had cazzadelle, or if I ever did I certainly don't remember it. If your gramda wouldn't mind passing along the recipe, I'd be honored!
Posted by: one | 07 January 2004 at 10:41 AM
It is the traditional French wedding cake when you stack a bunch of them on a tiered wedding cake stand. Looks really pretty and original and you can randomly stick flowers in amongst them etc to decorate.
Posted by: Amanda | 21 October 2004 at 12:32 PM