The Seigne of Urynes- what your urine said about your health in the 16th century, part.1

This is a transcription of the first half of a printed text from 1522. There is a second half that I'll work on later. 

I used this as part of my research into what medieval physicians had as part of their knowledge base for diagnosis and prognosis (understanding what disease and the course it would take).

Parsnip cake with orange frosting

What is more quintessentially winter than parsnips? Don't like parsnips, perhaps? But, do you like cake?

This is an interesting twist on carrot cake.


Ingredients

• 5 eggs
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup maple syrup

• 2 1/2 cups baking flour of your choice (gluten free, or whatever)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp baking soda
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 cup raisins
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts 
• 2 1/2 cups freshly grated parsnips (they brown quickly, so do it right before you put them in the recipe

Eggnog panna cotta with cranberry sauce

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 1 3/4 cups eggnog (home made or store bought)
• 1 Tbsp gelatin
• Nutmeg, to taste
• 1 cup cranberries
• 2 Tbsp- 1/4 cup honey (as you like it for sweetness)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup orange juice

Directions

Pumpkin and carrot muffins

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs at room temperature
• 4 medium carrots, grated and squeezed of juice (final volume: 1½ cups shredded carrots)
• 1½ cups almond flour, spooned and leveled
• 1½ teaspoons five spice powder (or pumpkin pie spice blend)
• 1 teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ¾ cup pumpkin purée (canned or fresh-cooked from pie pumpkins)
• ½ cup local honey
• 2 tablespoons almond butter
• 1 teaspoon melted coconut oil, and a bit extra for greasing the muffin tin if not using paper liners
• 1 tablespoon sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon toasted pumpkin seeds

Steps:

-Heat oven to 350°F with the rack in the middle position

-Sprinkle sliced almonds and toasted pumpkin seeds on top before placing the muffins in the oven.

-Bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick, when inserted all the way comes back out without wet bits clinging to it. The tops should be firm.

Hot spiced cider

Hot Spiced Cider

• One small apple (optional)
• 1/2c brown sugar or dark honey
• 8c apple juice or local cider
• 1tsp whole allspice (I never have it around, but it's yummy if you do)
• 1tsp whole cloves
• 4-6 whole cinnamon sticks

Rhubarb crumble

I have waaaay too much rhubarb in the freezer and it needs to get used up.

Rhubarb Crumble

• Enough roughly chopped rhubarb to cover the bottom of your baking dish to a depth that makes you happy (but not too thick or it's going to be quite sour- unless you like that)
• 1/3c unsalted butter or butter substitute (unless you have salted on hand- no biggie)
• 3/4c ground almonds
• 1/3c honey, preferably local (non-store-bought has more flavour) or use a syrup of your choosing for the vegan option
• 1tsp vanilla extract (optional unless you have something gf)
• 1tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2c flaked almonds (if you can find unbleached all the better)

Apple peel chips and apple cider vinegar

Apple Peel Chips

• Some apple peels
• Cinnamon and sugar to taste
• 1/2 Tbsp melted butter or other neutral oil
• Pinch of salt

Eggless tea cake (literally- tea)

Another British recipe from WWII. I love that this one uses tea, although since it also uses wheat flour I'll never be eating it. I may try to find a way to substitute in for the wheat somehow. Kitchen experiment time.

Eggless Fruit Cake

• 1.5 cups self raising flour (or plain flour with 3 teaspoons of baking powder added)
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 1 level teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
• pinch salt
• 1/2 cup of black tea (cold)
• 5 Tbsp butter
• 5 Tbsp sugar
• 1/3 cup dried fruit