Christmas is the perfect time to serve up a tray of struffoli, fried pastry balls covered in honey and topped with candies, sprinkles, and fruits. They arrived in the United States with immigrants from Southern Italy, but there’s more to the story of these sticky sweets.
Italian American actor and screenwriter Stanley Tucci introduces himself as “Italian on both sides” during the introduction of his CNN documentary series Searching For Italy. His memoir, Taste: My Life Through Food, is a loving testament to his Italian heritage, and a celebration of the food of Italian American culture.
From the bitter flavor of liquorice to the sweet creaminess of hazelnut spread to minty breath fresheners, sugary Italian candy has a long, rich history. Early confections were made from honey, a natural sweetener that requires no processing. Ancient Romans in particular had an affection for it and kept apiaries and imported large quantities from across the empire. Their teeth suffered from it too, with archaeologists finding cavities in Roman remains.
It’s a simple sandwich as far as sandwiches go: bell or cubanelle peppers cooked soft and combined with eggs, sandwiched on an Italian roll.
There are a few variations on this standard recipe like adding mozzarella or Parmigiano Reggiano into the eggs. The eggs can be loosely scrambled or cooked tight like an omelet. The signature element of the pepper and egg sandwich though is the lack of meat and the reason it became popular with Italians.