Salvete Omnes,

Oh how I have missed writing! I am sorry that I have written in a while, but I’m back. Today we are going to ease back into the Roman world and Latin. I am trying something new for 2016. I will be posting bucketlist post every once in a while to inform readers and followers of unique things they can do to really live up 2016!

Today, February 3, is also National Carrot Cake Day! So, I decided that today’s blog should be one about a dessert.

SO I CHALLENGE YOU…….

The following recipe is from Apicius’ De re coquinaria (“On the Subject of Cooking”)

The Apicius manuscript (ca. 900 CE) of the monastery of Fulda in Germany, which was acquired in 1929 by the New York Academy of Medicine

Patina  de piris* [ Pan/Stew/Cake of Pears; literally pan /stew/cake from pears]

Pear Mosaic

Pira elixa et purgata e medio teres** cum pipere, cumino, melle, passo, liquamine, oleo modico. Ovis missis patinam facies**, piper super aspargis**et inferes**.

Boiled pears and having been purged or cleaned from its middle (i.e seeds, pit, etc.) you will grind with pepper, cumin, honey , wine, broth, and a little oil. Having been mixed with eggs, you will make a pan/stew/cake, spread or sprinkle with pepper and serve.

*piris is an ablative as evident from de, but it could be debated the type of ablative. Ablative of origin, source, means, etc.

** Great examples of the 2nd singular future that you don’t see that often, but this make sense for a directions. It is interesting that it isn’t an imperative.

Thoughts:

Well, in all honestly, this is more like a custard or pudding made out of pears. While this recipe is very simple, but it doesn’t say anything about cooking, time, amounts, etc.. That doesn’t really work well for our modern day thinking…so I have provided everyone with a up-to-date recipe (here) with directions.