Lasagna might not be the first thing that comes to mind when most people think about Thanksgiving side dishes, but on some Italian American tables, the baked pasta is a holiday staple.
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.