SC - Re: Food for Children

[ChannonM at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/29/00 10:23:29 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
owner-sca-cooks at ansteorra.org writes:

<< Now I'd hope to see us start discussing creative and interesting period 
food 
 stuffs that might be appealing to even the most fussy and picky eater. Some 
 of us are thinking about developing a children's event with a Toys for Tots 
 style tourney, Page school classes and just for fun activities including 
 cooking classes, with a Tavern theme feast. So I'm looking for easy kid 
 friendly preparation (ages 10-16) that will be a delight to kids and 
grownups.
  >>


I must say that this is the response I had hoped to get with my comments 
about the Happy Meal syndrome, let's follow the lead.

How's about Dulcia Domestica, a Roman date stuffed with nuts, my kids love em 
and eat them like candy,

Here is the recipe, very "Child Do-able"

Original Recipe #294 Flower and Rosenbaum edition of Apicius
Little home confections(which are called dulciaria) are made thus: little 
palms or (as they are ordinarily called) dates are struffed- after the seeds 
have been removed- with a nut or with nuts and ground pepper, sprinkled with 
salt on the outside and are candied in honey and served.

Redacted Recipe
3 ½ oz walnut halves
13 oz pitted dried dates
1 tsp fresh ground long pepper
¾ cup honey plus ½ cup water
¼ tsp salt

Roast the walnuts on a baking sheet in a hot over(425 degrees) for 5 minutes. 
Prepare the dates by gently prying open and inserting  walnut piece 
(approximately ¼ walnut). Close and set aside. When complete, sprinkle salt 
over dates. 
In a heavy skillet combine honey/water and pepper. Heat to a boil and reduce 
to a low simmer. 
Place the dates into the honey and cook about 3-5 minutes or until just soft. 
Remove dates and set aside to cool. Can be stored in a cool dry place. Makes 
about 80 treats.
 
I would remove the honey from the hot pan and put into a measuring cup for 
the children to pour over the dates, mix them up and place on waxed paper to 
cool. Yum.

Hauviette