Category Archives: history

Autumn is icumen in

I know that’s not how the song (poem?) goes, but for me, the gradual creeping-in of autumn is as eagerly anticipated as the advent of spring is for most. My basil has gone to flower, the leaves getting less lush and more spindly in the heat; everything outside is done to the accompaniment of the buzz of cicadas. Everything is starting to look less fresh and lush and more weary and uncomfortably hot. Much like I feel. Summer’s last hurrah.

Today is cooler; it’s one of those delightful, grey, drizzly reprieves in August where the outside temperature only gets up to about 72F/22C. Not cool by any means, but so much more tolerable than the usual 95F/35C of August in Pennsylvania. We’ve got all of the downstairs air conditioners off and fresh air wafting through the house. And all of this makes me feel inside like it’s time to make things.

Continue reading →

Ancient Roman bread

I used a reverse-engineered recipe from a carbonized loaf of bread from Herculaneum to make a loaf of bread. It’s so interesting to see what bread was like 2000 years ago! It turns out it was extremely heavy and a bit sour-tasting (no doubt from the biga acida). My husband and sons love it, but it’s a bit much for me for everyday.

This is a pretty accurate image of the crumb. It’s very dense!

Tarte Owt of Lente

I’m taking a food history class right now (five weeks, just for funsies) and this week’s assignment was Tarte Owt of Lente from Gentyllmanly Cokere (c.1500). This is the first self-standing pie/tart I’ve ever made! My only complaint is that the vent I cut in the lid sealed, so it puffed a bit.

I need to up my self-standing pie game. Think I need to learn hot water crust, because shortcrust really was not firm enough for this.