Cristoforo Munari, Still-life with Porcelain Vases, Flute, Books, and Oranges (1706-1713)

The late-Baroque, Italian painter, Cristoforno Munari worked predominantly in still life. The standards of Baroque art were encouraged by the Roman Catholic church and embodied iconography and monarchy though an intensely precise handling of paint. Munari was an official court painter for the Medici family, the predominant sponsor of all Renaissance art in Florence. The disarray of the subject matter, the overturned bowl, curled pages, and precariously place instrument were characteristic of Munari’s compositions. He often suggested the jovial glut of the court through carefully composed chaos (1).

Originally made by Pepperidge Farm, the Milano cookie was invented through the failure of the Naples cookie. Much like the Milano, the Naples was made of a wafer-like cookie with a rich chocolate topping. However, in warmer climates the cookies would stick together prompting Pepperidge Farm to turn them into a sandwich cookie. The Milano was part of the ‘European’ series the company rolled out and were marketed to adults as an indulgence sweet rather than a treat for children (2).

Milano Cookies

adapted from the Food Network (recipe by Gale Gand)
makes about a baker’s dozen

6 TB butter
1 1/4 cups icing sugar
3 egg whites
1 TB vanilla extract
1 TB lemon zest
3/4 cup flour

Filling:
1/4 cup double cream
3/4 cup chocolate chips
1 TB orange zest

Cream the butter and the sugar together. Gradually add the egg whites and the vanilla extract and lemon zest. Add the flour and mix until just combined. With a small tip, pipe 1-inch sections of batter onto parchment paper on a baking tray. Space the batter two inches apart (they will spread while baking).

Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C and bake for 10 minutes until the edges are golden. Let cool.

Heat the double cream in a small saucepan until scalded. Pour over the chocolate and whisk. Add the orange zest and continue to whisk until well combined. Let cool. Sandwich the filling between the flat sides of two cookies.