A FEAST FOR PASQUETTA

On this Easter Monday the winds [which rattled the shutters to the extent that I dreamed I was in an episode of the Adams Family last night] are still blowing but we have had less rain and I was invited to another holiday feast at Irma's.

Irma had decided to try a new recipe for a pasta sauce consisting of fresh fava beans, chopped artichokes and wild asparagus sautéed with lemon juice and grated zest plus, at the last minute, a little grated pecorino and parmesan. It was a very refined dish and, I must say, delicious:

Then there was tender lamb, served with oven-cooked potatoes in oil and rosemary:



Next there was grilled sausage and pancetta

and the traditional char-grilled artichokes. [You just tear the leaves off and suck the sublime juices.]

Irma's sister had made this fabulous pear cake. [Keep reading and you'll get to the recipe!]



Then there was fresh fruit salad:

I had made the semifreddo di marrons glacés again. [This time it turned out a little darker. I think I got a bit ingredient-happy adding the cocoa but it was all the better for that]:

A niece of Irma's had made her own scorzette [whole candied peel]:

And finally out came the traditional colomba [dove-shaped cake]. It was, as you see, beautifully wrapped but I wasn't quick enough to photograph the cake before it was scoffed!

Now here's the cake recipe:

Ortensia's Pear Cake

2 or 3 pears, peeled, sliced and left to marinate with 2 teasp sugar while you get the ingredients below ready:

2 eggs
125 gr sugar
grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon
75 gr 00 flour
75 gr coconut flour [outside Italy, from a health store, I should think]
a pinch of salt
2 dessertsp softened butter
1 medium glass milk
1 envelope yeast [Here we can get special yeast for cakes. In the UK I should think an envelope of easy-blend yeast would do.]

Mix everything together and add the pears. Pour it all onto dampened baking parchment in a fairly shallow, oblong or square tin. Bake for 40 mins at 180 C. Sprinkle with powdered cinnamon.

Grazie, Ortensia!