The southern italian provinces of lazio, molise, puglia, basilicata, campania, abruzzo, and calabria all share the tradition of serving tarallicrunchy, cracker-like breadswith appetizers. In the old days, drying out these crackers was a way of preserving them. Today, they are a matter of taste and tradition. In calabria, these crackers are prepared for the feast of st. Anthony. Traditional shapes for these crackers include rings, ropes, braids, sticks, and horseshoes. Wrapped in clear cellophane bags with a pretty tie, taralli make elegant gifts.
