October

Grape harvest: Schiacciata con l'uva - Pressed dough with grapes

In  October in Tuscany,  that is known for its wines,  there is the grape harvest.
During the grape gathering, farmers always left some bunches of dark grapes to use them to make the “schiacciata con l’uva” ( pressed dough with grapes).
This cake is made with  bread  dough  on which grapes,  oil and sugar are put.

Melt  yeast  in warm water with a little sugar, add flour  and knead the dough adding water and a little salt.
Pick grapes off stalk.
Put grapes in a bowl with 3 T.(tablespoon) sugar and 1 T. oil.
Cover the dough with a cloth.

Let rise  one hour.
Spread  the dough in a baking tin, put oil and grapes on it, press them on the dough, sprinkle with sugar.
Wait 15 minutes and then put the cake in oven, 180 ° for 45 minutes.
Then the “schiacciata” is ready to be  tasted!

Cantuccini alle mandorle - Almond cookies

• White flour, 500 g,
• sugar, 400 g,
• almonds, 250 g,
• 3 eggs and 2 yolks
• a beated egg,
• one bag of baking powder

Mix very well all the ingredients (except the beated egg).
Make 4 sticks by the hands and put them into a baking tin covered with oven paper.
Brush the sticks with the beated egg and dust them with some sugar.
Cook in the oven (temperature 160°) for about an hour.
Take off from the oven and cut the cookies in oblique slices.
The cookies can be preserved for several days in closed recipients.