San Giuseppe, (Saint Joseph) was the husband of Mary, the Mother of God and is the patron saint of the family.
On March 19, in celebration of the Feast of San Giuseppe, elaborate altars will be filled with food all over Sicily and New Orleans.
This tradition commemorates the relief Saint Joseph provided during a famine in Sicily. In addition to the elaborate altars, many families pay tribute to the Sicilian carpenter saint by sprinkling this flavorful bread-crumb “sawdust” over pasta.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup white bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
- 2 tablespoons currants or raisins
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch oregano
- Pinch of salt
- In a food processor, add all of the ingredients and pulse 4-5 times until mixture is well combined.
- In a small saute pan, warm the bread-crumb mixture (don’t walk away from the pan, it burns easily).
- Serve over pasta.
