[Sca-cooks] Earth Apples?

[Terry Decker]

Based on a discussion with Thomas Gloning, Rumpolt's Erdapfel translates 
into Latin as melopepone, which is indicative of a round, ribbed cucurbit. 
Leonard Fuchs' Herbal of 1545 shows a roughly globular cucurbit that is 
probably a New World squash and would meet the definition.

Slightly later German sources that I am familiar with use some form of 
Kartoffel to identify white potates and the common or Spanish potato (sweet 
potato) uses some form of batata in most European countries.

Other things to consider:  the climate in Germany does not lend itself to 
sweet potato cultivation; the evidence for the white potato in northern 
Europe begins with a scientific sample delivered to Clusius in 1587; further 
documentation suggests white potatoes were still experimental at the turn of 
the century; maize, chili peppers, and squash appear to have been introduced 
into Central Europe via Hungary by the Turks in the mid-16th Century.

Based on what I have found, I'd say Rumpolt's Erdapfel is a winter squash of 
some kind.

Are you going to serve turkey at the feast?

Bear

> I'm working up a Feast menu from Rumpolt and have a question about the 
> Earth Apples recipe. Were these sweet potatoes or squash? I'm a stickler 
> for documentation and if it is Sweet Potatoes are there any other sources 
> I can use to document them except this vague reference.
>
> Thanks,
> Lady Ljufvina "Lavender" Bjornsdottir
> (LOO-Vee-Nah) for the Norse Challenged
> Barony of Tir-y-Don, Atlantia