Domina's Delights
Homemade Biscotti and Treats
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The Legend of Domina's Biscotti
Domina's biscotti began its humble, but delicious roots in Italy. A young bakeress so enchanted a nobleman with her beauty and baking skills that the nobleman was determined to marry the young woman just to taste her wonderful treats. The attention lavished on the young bakeress by the nobleman caused jealousy among other women in the land. One woman, Lucretia, was so determined to prevent the bakeress from marrying the young nobleman, that she stole the cookies and the recipe from the bakeress. The evil Lucretia traveled far to Pompeii, where she hid the cookies and the recipe in a clay jar. Lucretia intended to bake the wonderful treats, pass them off as her own, and thereby stealing the heart of the young nobleman.
The roman god Vulcan was so angered at the evil Lucretia's actions, that he caused Mount Vesuvius to explode. The volcanic eruption prevented the evil Lucretia from recreating the wonderful treats and passing them off as her own. The eruption also completely covered Pompeii in ash so that no one knew of its existence for many years to come.
The bakeress continued to make her special treats and did marry the young nobleman. As the nobleman's wife, she was always greeted with the respectful title "La Domina". The lady of the house.
Because of the actions of the evil Lucretia, "La Domina" refused to write down her recipe for fear others would try to steal it. The recipe was passed down orally from one generation to the next. After many years, the recipe was lost and "La Domina's" cookies ceased to exist. The world was so saddened by the loss of such delicious treats that a darkness spread throughout the land. These times have come to be know as the "Dark Ages".
Then, a ray of hope appeared. Archeologists found the city of Pompeii. And among the ruins they found a clay jar, perfectly preserved. When it was opened, they discovered the greatest treasure of Pompeii. La Domina's recipe and a jar full of La Domina's cookies.
However, the volcanic eruption had changed the cookies. The heat caused the clay jar to act like a kiln, and the cookies were baked a second time. Thus biscotti (or twice baked) was born.
The recipe was secured by monks and kept safe at the Monastery.
However, during World War II the monks were fearful that the recipe would again be destroyed. A young local bakeress, Lucia, had married a young American GI. The monks gave the recipe to Lucia to keep safe. When she and the GI moved to Brooklyn, NY., she brought "La Domina's" recipe with her. Lucia baked the biscotti, but it was never quite the same as the legend. Until....
Lucia's granddaughter began baking. It was said that she could bake anything. And the biscotti were good. But when she moved out into the desert in the Southwestern US, something truly amazing occurred. The biscotti baked like they were in a volcanic kiln and tasted better than ever.
It was said that La Domina smiled upon her. And that is how "La Domina's Delights" were born.
Domina's biscotti began its humble, but delicious roots in Italy. A young bakeress so enchanted a nobleman with her beauty and baking skills that the nobleman was determined to marry the young woman just to taste her wonderful treats. The attention lavished on the young bakeress by the nobleman caused jealousy among other women in the land. One woman, Lucretia, was so determined to prevent the bakeress from marrying the young nobleman, that she stole the cookies and the recipe from the bakeress. The evil Lucretia traveled far to Pompeii, where she hid the cookies and the recipe in a clay jar. Lucretia intended to bake the wonderful treats, pass them off as her own, and thereby stealing the heart of the young nobleman.
The roman god Vulcan was so angered at the evil Lucretia's actions, that he caused Mount Vesuvius to explode. The volcanic eruption prevented the evil Lucretia from recreating the wonderful treats and passing them off as her own. The eruption also completely covered Pompeii in ash so that no one knew of its existence for many years to come.
The bakeress continued to make her special treats and did marry the young nobleman. As the nobleman's wife, she was always greeted with the respectful title "La Domina". The lady of the house.
Because of the actions of the evil Lucretia, "La Domina" refused to write down her recipe for fear others would try to steal it. The recipe was passed down orally from one generation to the next. After many years, the recipe was lost and "La Domina's" cookies ceased to exist. The world was so saddened by the loss of such delicious treats that a darkness spread throughout the land. These times have come to be know as the "Dark Ages".
Then, a ray of hope appeared. Archeologists found the city of Pompeii. And among the ruins they found a clay jar, perfectly preserved. When it was opened, they discovered the greatest treasure of Pompeii. La Domina's recipe and a jar full of La Domina's cookies.
However, the volcanic eruption had changed the cookies. The heat caused the clay jar to act like a kiln, and the cookies were baked a second time. Thus biscotti (or twice baked) was born.
The recipe was secured by monks and kept safe at the Monastery.
However, during World War II the monks were fearful that the recipe would again be destroyed. A young local bakeress, Lucia, had married a young American GI. The monks gave the recipe to Lucia to keep safe. When she and the GI moved to Brooklyn, NY., she brought "La Domina's" recipe with her. Lucia baked the biscotti, but it was never quite the same as the legend. Until....
Lucia's granddaughter began baking. It was said that she could bake anything. And the biscotti were good. But when she moved out into the desert in the Southwestern US, something truly amazing occurred. The biscotti baked like they were in a volcanic kiln and tasted better than ever.
It was said that La Domina smiled upon her. And that is how "La Domina's Delights" were born.
It has been said that the famous painting by Raphael "La Fornarina" also known as "The Bakeress" was a tribute to La Domina.
