I am looking for a recipe from either Italy or Poland for a dessert of flaky dough topped with honey ?

Question

My great Grandmother (Polish) made a dessert of a flaky dough that she dusted with powdered suger and drizzled with honey. I don't know if it's fried or baked. My Grandfather was Italian and they usually only ate Italian food. My family called them "gristal"s (rhymes with crystal). Any help would be greatly appreciated. I was too young to realize that they wouldn't be around forever to ask.

Answer 1

well I am polish and my step dad is italian... the one i know in italian is called S'finges, it is made in sicily... probably similiar, most things are the same just with a different name depending on the region. these were pieces of fried dough, they puffed up and were sprinkled with honey and powdered sugar, i use to add a little cinn. if you think this sounds familiar, you can email me and i will send you the recipe.

Answer 2

Hmm they sound kind of like my mother's recipe for Polish Bows.
8 servings

9 Egg yolks
3 tb Sour cream
1 tb Rum
1 ts Vanilla
1 Confectioners sugar
3 c Flour (sifted)
1/2 ts Baking powder
1/2 ts Salt
3 tb Sugar
1 Oil for deep frying
Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until well combined. Add sour cream, rum and vanilla and mix until smooth. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt and add it to egg yolk mixture, a little at a time. On a heavily floured surface knead the dough vigorously, punching and squeezing as much flour into it as it will take until the dough is no longer sticky (1/2 hour). Separate dough into several portions and roll very thin. Turn the dough and loosen often when rolling. The dough should look like parchment paper that you can see through. Cut dough into strips approx. 1 1/2 inches wide, 4 inches long. Make slit closer to one end and bring the longer end through the slit. Heat oil to 375 degrees and fry quickly (only a few seconds) until golden not brown. Turn only once. Drain on paper towels. Dust with confectioners sugar. Makes 8 dozen.

Or they could be honey cookies ( I got this recipe from my bf's mother):
12 servings

4 c Unbleached flour (all-purpose)
1 t Ground Cinnamon
1/2 ts Ground Cloves
1/2 ts Ground Ginger
1/2 ts Ground Nutmeg
1 c Powdered Sugar
2 ts Baking Powder
2 Extra Large Eggs
1 c Honey
2 tb Chopped Orange Peel
1 lg Egg - beaten with a little water for glazing
20 Blanched Almonds
Coarse sugar crystals (optional)

Sift the flour, spices, sugar, and baking powder together, blending well. Add the eggs, honey, and orange peel to make a soft dough. On a floured work surface, roll out the dough to about 1/2-inch thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters, and place on a lightly greased or non-stick cookie sheet, brushing each one with the egg wash glaze. Place 1/2 of an almond in the top center of each cookie and sprinkle with the sugar crystals. Bake in a preheated 350 Degree F. oven until done, about 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks and store in airtight tins.

Hope you are able to find what you are looking for. I sure wish I had more of my family recipes. Holidays don't seem the same without them.

Answer 3

Baklava is something that springs to mind... But thats Greek...

I think it's called:- Kruschicki (Chrushciki)

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Kruschicki/Detail.aspx
http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=recipe1126
http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/ethnic-recipes/polish/bow-knots.htm


However I have found the following websites that might be of some use to you in finding your special dessert.... I hope it helps....

Answer 4

I think what you may be looking for is Struffoli.

Here's a link and a photo along with the recipe.

http://www.rubyvalley.com/recipes/struffoli.html

Answer 5

Greek,Baklava ??