What is "crescentina"

Crescentina is a bread in Italian cuisine from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. It is prepared using flour, water and lard as primary ingredients. Cracklings are sometimes used in its preparation. In Emilia-Romagna, it is typically sliced into diamond shapes and then fried, and may be accompanied with cheese and salumi. When it is fried, the bread puffs up. Versions prepared with milk are softer than those prepared with water, and it may include yeast or baking soda to leaven it. It may be served as an appetizer or as a main dish. In Italy, crescentina is sometimes referred to as a kind of gnocchi, although it is not technically gnocchi. In Emilia-Romagna, crescentina is referred to as gnocco fritto.