Air Pie and Windy Pudding

On a recent trip to Italy we were served some gnocco fritto/panne fritta (fried bread). It is literally crispy air filled pillows of deliciousness. Watch out though as traditional versions are made using lard although they can be made with sunflower oil.

A friend from Essex said that when he was a boy and asked what was for tea, the answer he got from his mother was "air pie and windy pudding" which meant "nothing!" This description fitted the food perfectly.

A similar old saying is "wind custard and air pie" or "air custard and wind pie." It possibly comes from the Great Depression or War Years when there was, literally, nothing to eat and the cupboard was bare.