First Century Foods

I have discovered a wonderful book: Food at the Time of the Bible, by Miriam Feinberg Vamosh. I use it as I write, of course, because I can’t have my first-century characters sit down to eat something that didn’t exist in their part of the world . . . or I can’t have observant Jewish characters eating something that was forbidden. (I was once taken to task for having Samson eat wild rabbits, but he wasn’t exactly observant, was he? He wasn’t supposed to marry Gentile women or touch dead bodies, and he didn’t seem to mind doing those things.)

I’m writing about the first century Romans now, and on their tables you might find sow’s udder, stuffed with kidneys; dormice (yes, the kind that squeak) smothered in honey and poppy seeds; snails and urchins; a roasted pig, standing on his feet, stuffed with sausages and fruit; very expensive fetuses of rabbits; or a roasted wild boar into which live birds had been inserted . . . they would escape when the boar was cut open. Oy! (Those recipes are NOT in Miriam’s book!)

Anyway–I thought I’d give you a Jewish recipe you can make for your family–and know that it was something Jesus and his family could have eaten. This comes from Miriam Vamosh’s work, so if you want more recipes and information, you can get the book on Amazon. Enjoy!

Joanna’s Semolina Cake with Almonds

1 cup butter

1/2 cup honey

1 cup ground almonds

2 Tbs. yogurt

1/2 cup blanched almonds, halved

1 cup milk

2 cups semolina

SYRUP:

2/3 cup honey

1/3 cup water

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Grease an 8 inch square baking pan. Place ingredients for the syrup in a pot and bring to a boil. Simmer five minutes.

Heat the butter, milk, and honey till boiling and remove from the heat. Add the semolina, almonds and yogurt and mix well. Fold in the blanched almonds. Pour into baking pan and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and immediately pour syrup over the cake. Cut into squares and serve warm . . . or cold. 🙂

Does this sound like something your family would enjoy? Or would you prefer Roman food, like a baked dormouse? (Aside: Did you know the passages below the seats of an amphitheater were called the vomitorium? Apparently they would overindulge in the Coliseum and . . . ugh. Though I am not surprised, considering their menu . . . )

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Angela Hunt

Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who expect the unexpected in novels. With over five million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 165 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to non-fiction books, to novels.

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