Happy Saint Joseph's Day!

byFrankB-1

5.7K followers

Updated 1 year ago

Hi, WA Friends!

Did you know that today is Saint Joseph's Day? If you're Italian, Italian American, or have any Italian friends, you're probably well aware of the holiday!

It comes two days after Saint Patrick's day, so it's sort of the "eating pig-out, part-2!"

What is Saint Joseph's Day?

I won't bore you with the entire chatGPT dump of its historical value, so here it is, short and sweet.

It's a Christian holiday that's celebrated every March 19 to honor Saint Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ. Saint Joseph was the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ.

The origins of the holiday can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Europe. However, it became more widely celebrated in the 17th century after a famine struck Sicily, and the locals prayed to Saint Joseph for relief.

How About The Food?!

Now on to my favorite part, what we eat to celebrate it! Italians call it "la Tavola di San Giuseppe," which means Saint Joseph's table.

I sampled Saint Joesph's Day cuisine from Florence, Rome, and Sicily when I lived in Italy. The food is traditionally light on meat and more pasta-centered since the holiday falls in the "Lent" season, which many regard as a time to abstain from eating meat.

Somehow, Italians don't consider fish a "meat," so what they really mean is a "red meat," although opinions will vary in different parts of Italy.

Of course, Italians eat two full meals in every sitting and call it one (god, I loved living there!). So a Piatto Primo (plate one) of pasta or polenta AND a Piatto Secondo (second plate) of meat, plus everything else you can think of to eat and drink before, during, and after.

So in Florence and Rome, the Saint Joseph's Piatto Primo is typically a meatless pasta with a Piatto Secondo of chicken. In Southern Italy, it's pasta with fish and then a fish secondo.

The Food List!

Here's a list of the Saint Joseph Day "traditional menu," courtesy of ChatGPT:

1. Pasta con le sarde: A pasta dish made with sardines, anchovies, fennel, raisins, and pine nuts.
2. Minestrone: A hearty vegetable soup that is typically made with beans, potatoes, carrots, celery, and tomatoes.
3. Zeppole: A pastry that is similar to a donut, but it is filled with sweetened ricotta cheese and topped with powdered sugar.
4. St. Joseph's Bread: A traditional bread that is shaped like a cross or a staff, and it is often decorated with sesame seeds.
5. Frittelle di riso: Sweet rice fritters that are fried and served with honey.
6. Cucidati: A type of Sicilian cookie that is filled with figs, dates, and nuts.
7. Baccalà: Salted cod that is typically served with potatoes and onions.

And after a request to add more:

1. Sfinge: A type of Sicilian pastry that is fried and filled with sweetened ricotta cheese.
2. Pignolata: A sweet Sicilian pastry made of fried dough balls covered in honey.
3. Cassata: A Sicilian dessert made of sponge cake layered with ricotta cheese and candied fruit.
4. Caponata: A Sicilian dish made of eggplant, celery, capers, olives, and tomatoes that are cooked and served cold as a salad or appetizer.
5. Arancini: Deep-fried rice balls that are usually filled with cheese, peas, and meat.
6. Struffoli: Small balls of dough that are fried and covered in honey and sprinkles.
7. Caciocavallo cheese: A type of cheese made from sheep's milk that is often served on Saint Joseph's Day with bread and olives.

We usually have the baccala for the "fish dinner" on Christmas Eve and the Cassata on Easter. The Pignolata, a diabetic's nightmare, is good anytime!

The Star Of The Show!

Of course, even with a crazy amount of food, the Zeppole is the star of the show! Here's what ChatGPT has to say about the origins of this delicious treat!

The origins of zeppole can be traced back to ancient Roman times, when they were known as "scriblita". These were small fried dough balls that were served with honey and poppy seeds.

Over time, the recipe for scriblita evolved and was adapted by different cultures throughout Italy. In the Naples region, a type of zeppole called "zeppola di San Giuseppe" became popular during the celebration of Saint Joseph's Day. These zeppole were made with a choux pastry dough and filled with sweetened ricotta cheese, which is still the most popular version of zeppole today.

In other regions of Italy, zeppole are made with different types of dough and fillings. For example, in Calabria, zeppole are made with a potato-based dough and are typically filled with anchovy, capers, and olives. In Sicily, they are made with a brioche-like dough and are often filled with sweetened ricotta cheese or pastry cream.

Today, zeppole are enjoyed in many different countries around the world, and they continue to be a beloved treat for special occasions and holidays.

AND, here is a list from ChatGPT of various types of traditional zeppoles:

1. Zeppole di San Giuseppe: These are the most traditional type of zeppole and are typically eaten on Saint Joseph's Day. They are made with a choux pastry dough and are filled with sweetened ricotta cheese and topped with powdered sugar.
2. Zeppole di Natale: These are a type of zeppole that is typically served during the Christmas season. They are made with the same choux pastry dough as the Saint Joseph's Day zeppole, but they are usually filled with custard or chocolate.
3. Zeppole fritte: These are a type of zeppole that is fried instead of baked. They are often made with a simple dough that is rolled into balls and then fried until golden brown. They can be dusted with powdered sugar or served with a dipping sauce.
4. Zeppole al forno: These are a type of zeppole that is baked instead of fried. They are made with a similar dough as the fried zeppole, but they are baked in the oven until golden brown.
5. Zeppole salate: These are a savory type of zeppole that is often filled with cheese, herbs, or other savory ingredients instead of the sweet ricotta filling. They can be served as a snack or appetizer.

I have to say I've had every type of zeppole on this list, except the zeppole salate. So. now I have something new to try, which Stacy will gladly make since she can't resist cooking something new!

What Is The Zeppole Shuffle?

Ahhh, you don't know about the Italian "zeppole shuffle?" No, it's not a song or a dance. It's more like "food management!"

In my family, Saint Joseph's day is a time for visiting, and no self-respecting Italian would dare to come without a dozen zeppoles in hand! As the pastry boxes build up, it would take a small army to eat them all, so we call friends and neighbors to come and partake of our Italian feast. Then, after they've eaten themselves into sweet oblivion, we send them home with a pastry box of zeppoles!

Haha, after they've stuffed themselves and experienced that GI-shunt of blood away from their brain, the "zeppole doggy bag" seems to make sense!

I remember the zeppole shuffle from my earliest childhood days, and it takes a lot of savvy not to end up with an overload of this delicious creamy treat that gets soggy after a day and tastes terrible if you freeze them!

My Question For You

What are you going to eat to commemorate Saint Joseph's Day? I've given you plenty to choose from!

The least you can do is have a zeppole or two! In the "old days," you had to go to the Italian specialty store to get a zeppole or make them from scratch. My grandmothers and mother always made them, along with the rest of the meal.

These days, you can get one in most supermarkets, so what are you waiting for? Grab a few in your favorite flavors (ChatGPT):

1. Chocolate-filled zeppoles: These are zeppoles that are filled with chocolate cream or chocolate ganache, making them a rich and decadent treat.
2. Vanilla-filled zeppoles: Vanilla cream or custard-filled zeppoles are a classic flavor that is often found in supermarkets.
3. Strawberry-filled zeppoles: Zeppoles filled with strawberry cream or jam are a fruity and refreshing option.
4. Cinnamon-sugar zeppoles: These are plain zeppoles that are coated in cinnamon-sugar, giving them a warm and comforting flavor.
5. Lemon-filled zeppoles: Lemon cream-filled zeppoles are a tangy and bright flavor option that is perfect for spring and summer.
6. Pumpkin spice zeppoles: During the fall season, supermarkets may offer pumpkin spice zeppoles, which are flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and other warm spices.
7. Raspberry-filled zeppoles: Raspberry-filled zeppoles are a sweet and slightly tart flavor option that is perfect for berry lovers.

Rock On (with a zeppole)! 🤘
Frank 🎸