The Poldi-Pezzoli Museum contains a rich collection bequeathed to the city of Milan in 1881 by the nobleman Giacomo Poldi-Pezzoli. It’s a pleasure wandering the two floors of this old mansion, which are filled with collections of jewellery, porcelain, sundials, tapestries, ancient armaments, period furniture and paintings. Of the latter (most of the first floor), you’ll find contributions from Tiepolo, Botticelli, Giovanni e Jacopo Bellini, Piero della Francesca, Mantegna, Crivelli, Lorenzo Lotto, Il Pinturicchio, Filippo Lippi and others.

For 6-8 servings:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 6 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) whole unblanched almonds
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cookie sheets or jelly roll pans covered with parchment or foil

Set a rack in the middle level of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. In a bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon; stir well to mix. Stir in the almonds. In another bowl, whisk the eggs with the vanilla then use a rubber spatula to stir into ... continue