History tells us that on August 16, 1300, to commemorate the abolition the "Jus Primae Noctis" (the barbaric law which required young brides to spend the wedding night with the lord of the county), the women of the country decided to create a cake that reminded posterity the barbaric practice. Mixing the flour with eggs, sugar and oil creating various forms of sweets, until one of the women, the most cunning spotted in one of the shapes of pasta an obvious allusion to the female sex and said: this is what we want, we'll call it " michetta ". Prepared the dough and cooked, they rushed out along the streets shouting:" men, now michetta we give to whom we want . " And so on August 16th it was proclaimed the day of the Feast of Michetta and even today, after 700 years, the boys of Dolceacqua turn along the narrow streets accompanied by the band, to keep alive this tradition.
[Credits cakeyourlife]
Recipe
Ingredients: (for six people)
- 1 kg of wheat flour
- 100 g of yeast
- 4 eggs
- 350 g sugar
- 250 g butter
- the grated zest of one lemon
- salt
- warm water (some also add the marsala ).
Preparation:
- Dissolve the yeast in warm water and add to the flour, add the eggs, sugar, butter, grated lemon, a pinch of salt and marsala.
- Leave the dough rise for about an hour, then knead and form many little breads, elliptical or knots.
- Put the michette on an oiled baking pan and bake in the oven, moistening the top with water and sprinkle with sugar.
Judit Neuberger
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