- Lady Finger (cookie)
Ladyfingers (called "Savoiardi" in Italian, meaning "from
Savoy "), or in French 'Biscuits à la cuillère.They are a principal ingredient in many French desert recipes . These cookies are light, crispy and sweetsponge cake s roughly shaped like a large finger. They should not be confused with the Lady's Finger, another name for the vegetableokra .Today, their most common usage is in
trifle s, charlottes, andtiramisu . They are typically soaked in a sugar syrup or liqueur, such as coffee for the tiramisu dessert.In the UK they may also be called sponge-fingers, trifle sponges or boudouir biscuits.
Preparation
Ladyfingers contain no chemical leavening agent, and rely on air incorporated into the eggs for their "sponge" texture. The egg whites and egg yolks mixed with sugar are typically beaten separately and folded together with flour. They contain more flour than the average sponge cake. The mixture is piped through a
pastry bag in short lines onto sheets, giving the cookies their notable shape.Before baking,
powdered sugar is usually sifted over the top to give a soft crust. The final ladyfingers are usually layered into a final dessert.History
Ladyfingers originated in the late
15th century at the court of theDuchy of Savoy , and were created to mark the occasion of a visit of the King ofFrance .Later they were given the name "Savoiardi" and recognised as an "official" court
biscuit . They were particularly appreciated by the young members of the court and offered to visitors as a symbol of the local cuisine.Later, due to their leavening-free nature, the Lady Finger treats became a popular Passover staple for Orthodox Jews who do not use any leavening agent (yeast, baking soda, or baking powder) except for whipped egg whites during Passover.
Today the name 'Lady Fingers' has been dropped by some Kosher bakeries from the Kosher for Passover Orthodox-Jewish version of the leavening-free treat. The treats have been renamed to either 'Baby Fingers', 'L Fingers' or just plain 'Fingers', depending on the manufacturer. Some say the reason for this name change is due to the association between the treat and the female gender which, according to Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is immodest.
External links
Ladyfingers Recipe & Photo [http://www.joyofbaking.com/Ladyfingers.html]
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