Here’s a recipe that will whisk you away to Old World Italy. Its star ingredient is an underappreciated spirit that is making a comeback in modern society, grappa. The recipe, Roast Chicken with Grappa, is warm, rich and full of Italian goodness, but first we need to learn a bit about the grappa that makes it unique. Continue reading
Tag Archives: ancient food
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Roast Chicken With Ancient Grappa
Posted in Bon Appetit Wednesday, Culinary, Culture
Tagged ancient food, ancient recipes, ancient spirits, AntiquityNOW, Bon Appetit Wednesday, grappa, pomace
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Ancient Ricotta and a Simply Delicious Tart
Ricotta. Image credit: Fugzu on Flickr
Did you know that soft, delicious ricotta cheese isn’t really a cheese at all? It’s actually a by-product of cheese-making. We’ve assembled some facts about the history of this extremely versatile “cheese,” along with a simple recipe for a ricotta tart that combined with any seasonal fruit makes for a treat of sweet perfection.
So, ricotta isn’t a cheese. It’s actually a creamy curd that has been cooked twice. The excess whey leftover when making cheese is skimmed off and then recooked, at which point the albumin in the whey solidifies and becomes the ricotta cheese we know and love. Of course, something this delicious has many potential origins, but it almost certainly evolved, as so many ancient foods did, out of necessity. It came from “peasant thrift, dairy farmyard recycling and domestic frugality.”[1] There are a few things we know for certain about ricotta’s past. Continue reading
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Ancient Celtic Woodruff Spiced Wine
May Day was last Friday, but it’s not too late to celebrate the fresh and breezy month of May and the ushering in of a warm and beautiful spring! The Celts loved the change in seasons and they celebrated with the Beltane festival. There was plenty of food and drink, of course. But like other ancient cultures, the seasonal festival reflected the Celts’ deep spiritual intertwining with the natural world around them. Continue reading
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Mung Bean Quinoa Soup
The mung bean. The name doesn’t inspire thoughts of deliciousness, the tongue doesn’t begin to water with anticipation of scrumptiousness, but maybe it should. Perhaps the rest of the world needs to get on board with a fact that India and China have known for centuries: Mung beans are fabulous. Today we’re bringing you a recipe for Mung Bean and Quinoa Soup (learn about the ancient grain quinoa in our post here). It is packed with healthy goodness and is a perfect comfort food. Continue reading
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Xtabentún: Earth Day and the Spirit of the Ancient Mayas
Today is Earth Day. For the Maya, living harmoniously with nature and being good stewards of the land rendered every day a celebration of the Earth and its bounty. So let’s get in the spirit of our modern Earth Day with a Maya concoction sure to please.
It’s such a lovely time of year for a dinner party, but how do you set your gathering apart? How do you make your fiesta better than the rest? Serve an ancient cocktail with a haunting and seductive history. We are coming to your rescue with a recipe for Jaltun Ha, a refreshing sweet and sour cocktail using the ancient Mexican spirit called xtabentún. But before you begin preparations for the dinner party of the season, you’ll want to make sure you can dazzle your guests with the ancient history behind their drink. Continue reading
Happy St. Patrick’s Day From AntiquityNOW!
It’s time to put on your green and celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick! Whether you plan on traditional festivities harkening back to the original religious holiday of the 17th century, or you want to party USA style by enjoying some corned beef and cabbage and green beer, at Antiquity NOW we say, “Éirinn go Brách!” Here are some links to help you celebrate the green isle: Continue reading
Newly Discovered Cheese Isn’t Just Aged, It’s Ancient!
Image credit: Wang da Gang
A recent discovery has uncovered new, hard – or in this case, semi-soft – evidence of the history behind one of our very favorite foods. Whether the scent is described as floral or nutty or even malodorous to the nose, the smooth taste of cheese is nonetheless an enduring delight to the palate. It is believed that cheese has been enjoyed by humans since before recorded history. There are several theories as to its exact origin, but all of these theories are speculation based on evidence of cheese production, not of any cheese itself. Well, now we have some ancient cheese of our very own to study. Continue reading
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Ezekiel Bread
Did you know that at least one ancient recipe is being made and marketed and sold in your local grocery store? You may have seen Ezekiel bread in the freezers where you shop and wondered, “What is this strange bread with a Bible verse on it?” It is actually a recipe taken straight out of the ancient Hebrew Bible. However, you don’t have to buy it at the store. You can make it yourself and it is delicious and healthy. It’s a great family activity and a way to share the ancient past with your kids. Put some peanut butter and jelly on your freshly made Ezekiel bread and you’re truly connecting the ancient and the modern! Continue reading
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Ancient Hamantaschen for Purim
Purim begins this evening and we’re bringing you a recipe that is synonymous with the holiday, Hamantaschen. They are pockets of perfection filled with sweet fruit and stories of the past. You may have had these little filled cookies even if you’re not Jewish, but you may not know they have a deep meaning and ancient roots. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Bon Appetit Wednesday, Culinary, Culture, Holidays, Public Life
Tagged ancient food, ancient history, ancient recipes, AntiquityNOW, Bon Appetit Wednesday, Esther, Haman, Hamantaschen, Mordecai, Purim
5 Ways to Celebrate an Ancient Valentine’s Day, Courtesy of AntiquityNOW
It’s the most romantic day of the year and you’re not quite sure how to show your one true love that you’ll love him or her for a thousand years…. We have the answer. Give a Valentine’s Day inspired by the ancient past and remind your one and only that no matter how many years pass, your love is as timeless as the Mona Lisa and as enduring as the pyramids. Continue reading
Posted in Art, Blog, Culinary, Culture, Holidays, Literature, Public Life
Tagged ancient food, ancient history, ancient love, AntiquityNOW, valentine's day
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