Eat like a Crusader

[Lawdog Dago Dom]

Crusades Recipe: Panforte – “Strong Bread” – Eats History

[Subdeacon Joe]

Good stuff, Maynard! I've made versions of this when I played in the SCA. A little goes a long way. Pairs well with port or single malt.

[Sedalia Dave]

I wonder how Panforte devolved into fruit cake.

[Subdeacon Joe]

37 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

I wonder how Panforte devolved into fruit cake.

 

 

Well.....the Egyptians had a fruitcake ca. 2,000 BC.  Greeks had a fruit & cheese bread in antiquity.  Romans had something like a cross between fruitcake and panforte.  Those all seem to have been offerings in religious rites. 

Around AD 600 the English had "plum cake" which was a sweet, dense cake with dried fruits, nuts, and some spices.  Associated with Christmas.  

So, I don't think it's so much that panforte "devolved" into modern fruitcake, but it developed as a type of fruitcake that was suitable for travelers.  

[watab kid]

ok , this sounds terrific to me , im all in , .............im also fond of christmas fruit cakes 

[Pat Riot]

I love fruit cake LOVE IT! It doesn’t love me. Dried fruit sets off my asthma. Dangit!

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

Danged thing won't let me see the recipe... er... "receipt," Joe! - unless I download and install some odd application I've never heard of.  

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

1 hour ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

Danged thing won't let me see the recipe... er... "receipt," Joe! - unless I download and install some odd application I've never heard of.  

 

Don't "click" on that recipe link box on the linked post...scroll down further for a list of ingredients and prep instructions.

 

Sent PM
 

 

[Subdeacon Joe]

@Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967

Sign here:  X_____________________________

 

Ingredients

  

1/2 cup dried figs chopped

1/2 cup dried dates chopped

1/2 cup almonds toasted

1/2 cup walnuts chopped

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup sugar

1 tbsp butter

Zest of 1 orange

Optional: thin orange slices for garnish

 

Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a small round baking tin with parchment paper.

In a bowl, combine figs, dates, nuts, flour, and all the spices including orange zest.

In a saucepan, gently heat butter, honey, and sugar until the sugar dissolves and the mixture bubbles slightly.

Pour the honey mixture into the dry mix and stir to form a thick, sticky dough.

Press the dough into the prepared pan and flatten evenly.

Bake for 30–35 minutes, then let cool completely before slicing into wedges.

Top with orange slices for garnish (optional)

 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

With my Grandmother's fruitcake for people who don't like fruitcake, real homemade jerky or better yet, pemmican, and a decent supply of drinking water a person could survive almost forever in the woods. 

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

Thankee, @Subdeacon Joe