Lazzaroni Amaretti di Saronno

[jgm]

I've had a passion for these things since the first time I tasted them nearly 30 years ago. We had a local "gourmet" grocery, Larcher's, that would sell them in the two-cookie wrapper. They knew what they were doing; people who wouldn't spring for a whole tin, would buy the singles...and then they were hopelessly hooked.

About 10 years ago, I actually found large, cylindrical tins of these for $3 (yes, three dollars) each at Sam's. Each time I go in there, I head for that area of the store, hoping to find them again, but I haven't since that magical day. Must be a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

It seems to me that with all the advanced cooking techniques we're using these days, we ought to be able to duplicate them at home. They're basically a meringue cookie, but with that interesting ingredient: apricot kernels. Any of you ever try to do this? Any ideas about how it might be done?

Anybody up for moving to Italy, getting a job in their operation, and stealing their secrets?

[Fat Guy]

The distinctive square red-and-orange tins accumulated and my mother put them to good use: each one received a label and became the storage vessel for "string," "buttons," "pencils," you name it. To this day, there are probably a hundred of those tins in my mother's apartment, even though she hasn't bought the cookies in about 13 years.

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During the last kitchen repainting, my mother painted all the cans white. They're still in use to this day.

[jaynesb]

My local Crate and Barrel is selling the 1 pound tins for a discounted $14.95 (original price $29.95)

 

Jayne