ZITA'S FEAST

Miracle of Saint Zita by Bernardo Strozzi

Today 27th April is Saint Zita's Feast Day. She is the patron saint of maids and domestic servants and she is appealed to in order to find lost keys. She went into service at the age of twelve and by all  accounts led the life of a Cinderella before the ball. She spent her entire life in the house of the Fratinelli family in the village of Monsagrati, not far from Lucca in Tuscany.  She was canonised in 1696. Her body is appearently on display for public veneration in the Basilica di San Frediano in Lucca.

She was chief cook and bottle washer for the Fratinelli. An anecdote relates that whilst she was out doing good works, the Fratenelli checked in the kitchen and found angels doing her chores and baking bread for her. To this day she is honoured by people baking the odd loaf on her behalf.

There is even a recipe from The Cook's Blessings, The by Demetria Taylor.

St. Zita's Bread

Best not to depend on angels to bake your bread, as with St. Zita, but meet the challenge yourself, and bake a loaf in honor of the "Little Cook" on April 27.

 INGREDIENTS

1-1/2 cups boiling water

6 Tablespoons soft shortening

1-1/2 cup honey

1 Tablespoon salt

2 packages active dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water (105-115°)

2 eggs

1 cup wheat germ

      5-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS

Combine boiling water, shortening, honey, and salt; stir until shortening melts. Cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add yeast, eggs, wheat germ, and half the flour to lukewarm mixture. Beat 2 minutes on medium speed with electric mixer or 300 vigorous strokes with a spoon. Blend in remaining flour with a spoon. Dough will be sticky. Spread dough evenly in 2 well-greased loaf pans, 9 x 5 x 3 inches. Smooth tops by flouring hand and patting into shape. Let rise in warm place until 1 inch from top of pans. Bake at 375° for 45 to 50 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Crust will be dark brown. Remove from pans at once; brush tops with melted butter or margarine; cool on racks before cutting. Makes 2 loaves.

It was also on the 27th April 1992 that the House of Commons elected a woman to the post of Speaker for the first time in its 700 year history, which began around 1272 when Saint Zita died (27th April 1272) and Edward I came to the throne. It was during his reign that the role of Parliament began to rise.  The servants of the Crown had finally found a voice. Could that have been one of Zita's parting miracles? So perhaps Betty Boothroyd might do a bit a baking in honour of Saint Zita.