Ladyfinger (biscuit)

Ladyfingers (often called with their original Italian name, savoiardi, or sponge fingers in British English) are low density, dry, egg-based and sweet sponge biscuits roughly shaped like a large finger. They are a principal ingredient in many dessert recipes, such as trifles, charlottes, as fruit or chocolate gateau linings and for tiramisu. They are typically soaked in a sugar syrup or liqueur, such as coffee for the tiramisu dessert. They are also commonly given to infants, being soft enough for teething mouths but easy to grasp and firm enough not to fall apart.

History

Ladyfingers originated in the late 15th century at the court of the Duchy of Savoy and were created to mark the occasion of a visit by the King of France. Later they were given the name Savoiardi and recognized as an "official" court biscuit. They were particularly appreciated by the young members of the court and offered to visitors as a symbol of the local cuisine.

Name

They have gained many regional names:

Biscuit

Biscuit is a term used for a variety of baked, commonly flour-based food products. The term is applied to two distinct products in North America and the Commonwealth of Nations and Europe. For a list of varieties, see the list of biscuits and cookies.

Variations in meaning

Biscuit (pottery)

Biscuit, refers to pottery that has been fired but not yet glazed. Biscuit is any pottery after the first firing and before any glaze is applied. This can be a final product such as bisque porcelain, or terracotta, or, most commonly, an intermediary stage in a glazed final product.

The porous nature of biscuit earthenware means that it readily absorbs water, while vitreous ware and bone china are almost non-porous even without glazing. The temperature of biscuit firing is usually at least 1000°C, although higher temperatures are common. The firing of the ware that results in the biscuit article causes permanent chemical and physical changes to occur. These result in a much harder and more resilient article which can still be porous, and this can ease the application of glazes.

References

Media related to Biscuit porcelain at Wikimedia Commons

Biscuit joiner

A biscuit joiner (or sometimes plate joiner) is a woodworking tool used to join two pieces of wood together. A biscuit joiner uses a small circular saw blade to cut a crescent-shaped hole (called the mouth) in the opposite edges of two pieces of wood or wood composite panels. An oval-shaped, highly dried and compressed wooden biscuit (beech or particle wood) is covered with glue, or glue is applied in the slot. The biscuit is immediately placed in the slot, and the two boards are clamped together. The wet glue expands the biscuit, further improving the bond.

History

The biscuit joining system was invented in 1956 in Liestal, Switzerland by Hermann Steiner. Steiner opened his carpenter's shop in 1944, and, in the middle of the 1950s, while looking for a simple means of joining the recently introduced chipboard, invented (almost by accident) the now world-famous Lamello joining system. In the succeeding years there followed further developments such as the circular saw and the first stationary biscuit (plate) joining machine in 1956 followed by the first portable biscuit joiner for Lamello grooves in 1968. In 1969 the family operation was incorporated by the name of Lamello AG. Lamello continues to manufacture very high-end biscuit joiners such as the Lamello Top 20.

Lady finger

Lady finger, ladyfinger, or lady's finger may refer to:

Food

Botany

Other uses

Ladyfinger (ne)

Ladyfinger (ne) is a four piece musical outfit from Omaha, Nebraska. The (ne) at the end of their name is a reference to the official abbreviation for their home state of Nebraska, as such the band's full name is typically pronounced as "Ladyfinger Nebraska". They were obligated to add it to their band name in order to avoid copyright issues.

Band Members

History

The band formed in 2004, bringing together musicians from several other groups from the Omaha independent music scene. Since their formation, they have released three albums, all of which were released by Saddle Creek Records, famous for bands such as Bright Eyes, The Faint and Cursive, and produced by Matt Bayles, famous for his work with groups such as Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Minus the Bear. The group is known for playing a decidedly fast paced, forceful style pf music, a departure from the folk inspired music that is traditionally associated with their label. The band members themselves list their greatest musical influences as 1970's classic rock and punk rock from the '80s and '90s. Their style has, however, changed slightly over time. This is most notable between the band's second and third albums, where the group took a brief hiatus before returning with slightly altered lineup, seeing bassist Ethan Jones replaced by Dan Brennan. Their newest album has been described by critics as being more precise, clearer, and even prettier than their previous albums, which were described as having a sense of "manic intensity." In addition to releasing albums, Ladyfinger (ne) has also toured extensively across North America and Europe. They have toured with bands such as Cursive, The Bronx,Little Brazil, Landing on the Moon, and Noah's Ark was a Spaceship, as well as performing at the South by Southwest music festival.