December | 2021 | AntiquityNOW

Monthly Archives: December 2021

Bon Appetit Wednesday! A Christmas Feast

Posted on December 22, 2021 | Leave a comment

Posted on December 16, 2015 | Leave a comment | Edit

Christmas is fast approaching, and dinner with family and friends is often the centerpiece of celebrations. AntiquityNOW is pleased to offer a few recipes with a past that will tickle the taste buds and fill your feast with historic meaning. Each of the dishes below has a fascinating history you can share with your family and friends. And the foods are from all over the world, so you’ll be serving a truly international and timeless meal!

Roman Garlic Pesto (Moretum)– Enjoy an ancient Roman appetizer!
Butternut Squash Soup with Maple Roasted Chickpeas– Yummy enough to serve as the main dish, this rich soup can be served in smaller portions as an amuse–bouche.
Roast Chicken with Ancient Grappa– In place of the more traditional holiday ham or Christmas turkey, try this delectable chicken that will whisk you away to Old World Italy.
Roasted Leeks and Apples– These two ancient ingredients pair beautifully to create a dish that will warm the heart and fill the belly.
Amaranth Fritters– These golden brown, fried fritters are delicious! And they feature an ancient and nutritious leafy green.
Christmas Pudding– No Christmas feast is complete without this classic treat. Did you know that the tradition of lighting the pudding on fire before serving it comes from the tradition of the ancient Celtic Druids who lit great bonfires at the winter solstice meant to give power to the dying sun and to hold back the approaching dark?
Christmas Cookies– Don’t forget to leave cookies for Santa!

Throwback Bon Appetit Wednesday! Celebrating a Sephardic Hanukkah with Sfenj

Posted on December 1, 2021 | Leave a comment

We at AntiquityNOW are always on the prowl for ancient and modern connections that prove the past is never really behind us. So it is the case with food and the many different cuisines that have stood the test of time.

It’s Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, a holiday of remembrance and a symbol of Jewish identity, history, resistance and freedom. Celebrated around the world, the holiday also has its own cultural variations, especially in foods.

Today we’re bringing you once again a recipe for a traditional Sephardic Hanukkah food, sfenj. This yeast doughnut, often dipped in sugar or honey, originated with Sephardic Jews, particularly those who trace their roots back to Morocco. The “Moroccan doughnut” is often eaten for Hanukkah for a very special reason: Sfenj are fried in oil, which commemorates the Hanukkah miracle where the oil that was supposed to light the lamp in the Temple in Jerusalem for one day endured for eight.

Sfenj are a delectable way of celebrating the miracle of this Jewish holiday. Whatever our background or religion, doughnut lovers can learn more about sfenj and enjoy making this festive recipe here.