Page 96 - BBC History - September 2017

Miscellany

SAMANTHA’S
RECIPE CORNER

Every issue, picture editor
Samantha Nott brings you a
recipe from the past. This month
it’s a mouth-watering honey cake
from the 14th century

Czech medovnik

Late summer is honey until desired colour and
season and what better consistency. Set to one
way to use this golden side to cool.
liquid – considered the Mix butter, icing sugar,
food of the gods in ancient egg, honey and cream in a
times – than a delicious bain marie for five minutes.
medovnik (honey cake)? Then mix flour, baking
Honey cakes exist in soda and cocoa powder
many forms, but this recipe in a separate bowl.
is believed to have its roots Combine wet and dry
in 14th-century Bohemia, ingredients, mix and cover
although Russia, Slovenia for 15 minutes or until it’s a
and Slovakia are among cookie dough consistency An allegorical image from c1532 depicting Henry VIII trampling on
Pope Clement VII, who refused to annul the king’s first marriage
other countries that claim and not too sticky.
it as their own. Roll the dough into
8-inch circles (I drew Q Would the English Reformation
INGREDIENTS these on parchment paper
450g plain flour first), using 160g for each. have happened without Henry VIII’s
180g icing sugar Bake each circle for seven
180g unsalted butter minutes at 180°C and marital woes?
1 egg allow to cool. Meanwhile, John Cope, West Yorkshire
1! tsp baking soda blend the caramelised
6 tbsp honey condensed milk with 200g
4 tbsp cream butter until creamy. France and Spain both neighbour would England
1 tsp cocoa powder Brush the sides of each A play a big part in answer- have resembled more? Of
1 can of condensed milk circle with rum water, ing this question. Alongside course, we can never be sure.
200g unsalted butter then layer with cream and England, these were the England lacked a powerful
100g roughly chopped chopped nuts. Place in leading monarchies of Inquisition like Spain’s, and
pecans or walnuts fridge to set for at least western Europe. In both, Protestantism was growing
1! tbsp sugar four hours.
150ml water Protestant ideas advanced in even before Henry broke with
50ml rum VERDICT the middle of the 16th century, Rome. On the other hand,
“A real treat, without being and in both – unlike England England was more centralised
METHOD too sweet” – the monarchy remained than France, and English
To make the caramel, heat loyal to Rome. nobles had little incentive to
the condensed milk in a Difficulty: 7/10 In Spain, the crown worked espouse Protestantism in
bain marie over a medium Time: 2 hours baking closely with the church to defiance of the king.
heat. Stir occasionally and cookies and assembling crush Protestant dissent, and The most we can say is that
simmer for 1.5–2 hours Based on a recipe from before 1560 it had effectively almost everywhere in Europe
czechinthekitchen.com
disappeared. In France, the religion backed by state
Protestantism spread among authority ultimately won the
nobles as well as townspeople, day. The most prominent
and after 1562 the country exceptions to this rule
experienced decades of civil (Scotland and Ireland) lay very
war. The Protestants eventu- close at hand – make of that
ally lost, but it was touch- what you will!
and-go.
If Henry VIII had remained Peter Marshall, professor of GETTY IMAGES
content with Catherine of history at the University of
Aragon, which European Warwick
Czech honey cake:
nectar from the gods

96 BBC History Magazine