The Story
This is what is special about these biscuits. Although they are often ordered from local trusted bakeries (I made this after two generations of purchased Mostacciuoli), they are one of the staples of a Neapolitan Christmas. Two senses are involved in bringing me back home when making these biscuits: the spices’ aroma and the look of them: Imagine these rhomboid-shaped black and white biscuits being laid on a Christmas big plate along with nuts, dry fruit and other typical biscuits. That big platter would be the centrepiece of the dining table for almost a month. That platter is almost as important as the actual Nativity scene called Presepe (in image below: a Neapolitan Presepio from Carnegie Museum of Art - Pittsburgh), warming up the days ahead of the 24th and 25th, extending the magic to almost a whole month of Natale (Holy Nativity Christmas).