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The susamielli are Christmas sweets in the shape of "s" typical Neapolitan. They are never missing on Neapolitan tables during the festive season. They are also known as "sapienze" because they were already prepared in 1600 by the Poor Clares nuns of the Convent of Santa Maria della Sapienza (located in the historical centre of Naples) who acquired primacy of their production in a variant of elliptical shape. According to the humanist and philologist Antonio Altamura, the cake was made in the shape of "s"s" for the first time in honour of Luigi Settembri, Neapolitan writer and patriot who lived in the first half of the 19th century. The origins of the recipe go back, instead, to Ancient Greece, to the ritual biscuits prepared in honour of the gods of the Mysteries Eleusini, Demeter and Core. These sweets, made with sesame and honey, were brought in homage to the great sanctuary as a symbol of the "aidoion muliebre". Their name, from the Greek "sesamun+mel" (sesame and honey). Like every traditional recipe there are different variations; think that in ancient times there were 3 versions: the Susamielli "dello zampognaro", with citrus peels and other leftovers; destined to the pipers who went to the houses to play and to the servants. Those "del buon cammino", filled with cherry jam, destined for priests and pilgrims. Finally, the Susamielli of the nobles, reserved for gentlemen, prepared with refined flour; the latter is the best known and most widespread version in Naples! and it is the one I give you today, the original recipe of Neapolitan Susamielli! extrapolated from a Neapolitan pastry manual! It is an easy and quick preparation! everything is combined in a bowl, the biscuits are formed and baked! the secret is a short baking. Not to be missed on Christmas Eve to offer during buffets and Christmas dinners, they are excellent to serve with excellent mulled wine.
