[Sca-cooks] Parsnips

[Terry Decker]

I've checked a series of herbals, including Gerard and Culpepper and there 
is no reference to parsnips being used as sweetener.  However, Gerard gives 
a pointer to Hugh Plat.  I think Gerard is referencing Plat's work on how to 
alleviate hunger among the poor, but Plat also provides this:

60. Sweet Cakes without either spice or sugar.

Scrape and wash your Parsnips clean, slice them thin, dry them upon Canvas 
or network frames, beat them to powder mixing one third thereof with two 
thirds of fine wheat flour, make up your paste into coats, and you shall 
find them very sweet and delicate.

Hugh Plat, Delights for Ladies, 1609

I assume “coats” in this context means a thin layer making this a type of 
cookie recipe.  Not exactly a recipe for a general purpose sweetener.

Thank you for checking the reference in Hartley.

Bear



Note that Hartley says those puddings were sweetened with honey, not
parsnips, although their sweet flavor might have contributed when used
as a base for the plum and marrowfat puddings. Might this have been what
was referred to?

Alys K.