[Sca-cooks] Moretum from Caid Kingdom Sciences Day

[Susan Fox-Davis]

> "Moretum" poem by Virgil, wherein a rustic husbandman lusts after his
> maidservant and makes his rustic lunch.
> <http://virgil.org/appendix/moretum.htm>
>
> How I reproduced it:
>
> 1 package Queso Freco cheese [we tested several cheeses, this had the
> "fresh" quality we liked, a bit firmer than cream cheese but very
> fine-grained and mushed easily into a paste that could be balled-up
> for transport.]
> 4 cloves garlic, peeled
> 1 handfull basil [Rue, while it makes men more, erm, virile, also
> brings on "untimely birth" in women, which we did not wish to risk.
> Basil, in the same time period, was said to cure headaches;  verily,
> also good for the love life. <g>]
> 1 handfull flat-leaf parsley [crushes better than curly, and tastes
> better too]
> 1/2 tsp Coriander Seeds [these puppies are pervasive! I may try dill
> seed next time.]
> Salt to taste [I used about 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt]
>
> Place coriander seeds and salt in a mortar and pestle them until seeds
> are well powdered. Add garlic and crush.  Add leafy herbs, pestle it
> all to a green goo.  Crumble cheese and blend until the the color is
> neither white nor green.  Oh all right you can use a food processor if
> you don't have a nice big mortar and pestle but that doesn't really
> give you that Freudian symbolism does it?  Serve with rustic bread,
> then go pursue your shepherdess amongst the trees so green.
>
> Selene Colfox, mad food scientist