2019 reading challenge: A book with SALTY, SWEET, BITTER, or SPICY in the title

[baronessekat]

Bitter Almonds: Recollections and Recipes from a Sicilian Girlhood by Mary Taylor Simeti

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a sweet book - in several definitions. First, set mostly in the 40's and 50's, the story of Maria Grammatico who at the age of 7, after her father died, with her younger sister were sent to live at the orphanage of San Carlo in sicily because her mother could not afford to care for all the children. The orphanage was run by nuns and the way they supported themselves was through the making and selling of pastries and sweets made with almonds. Mary Taylor Simeti met Maria decades later, after she left San Carlo and had started her own little bakery. Ms. Simeti did not want the precious recipes to be lost so she interviewed Maria and got her lift story AND many of the recipes.

The second part are the actual recipes. I have read through those recipes and found my mouth watering and I hope to try them at some point.

This was a quick read and I would recommend it.



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