Savillum (Ancient Roman Cheesecake) For Lupercalia by Aidann Greenwolfe

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

   Lupercalia

 

   Lupercalia was a celebration of the god Lupercus, the Roman god of wolves and the forest. It was also a time to welcome in the coming spring. A time to celebrate fertility and the awakening earth.  The founding brothers of Rome, Remus and Romulus, were said to have been raised by a she-wolf, and so the festival began, celebrated on February 15.^th

   The men would traditionally dress in wolf skins and run around looking for indiscriminate sexual partners. Anyone would do. Libations overflowed to celebrate fertility and the Roman origin. Feasts of aphrodisiacs, wines, and honeyed sweets abounded. Lupercalia was one of the rarities in daily Roman life, in which slaves and aristocrats could comingle.

  The Catholic Church, wanting to step away from the blatant sexual nature of this celebration, later turned it into a day to celebrate platonic love, St. Valentine’s Day. There is no archeological evidence to support that such a person, St. valentine, actually existed. Instead, he is the embodiment of romantic love. (Like the church turning Eros, the god of love and passion, into Cupid, a child with his bow and arrows of love.)

   So celebrate, this day of love, pleasure, and fertility as you see fit! And may your spring be blessed with abundance and growth.

                                                                                    -Aidann Greenwolfe 2010

 

So since most of us celebrate this as a day of love from ancient Rome, what better than a a honeyed Cheesecake from Ancient Rome.  *Origionally published by Namaste Mama on:  www.allrecipes.com.* This sounded like the perfect desert. I havent tried it. But I am going to this year. It got 4.5 stars and the reveiwes were pretty good. If anyone else tries it, let me know!how it worked for you! It just sounds like sex in a cake. LOL

 

 

                                Savillum (Ancient Roman Cheesecake)

 

 

Ingredients

• 15 bay leaves
• 3 eggs
• 8 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Pour some water into a small, oven proof bowl, and place into the oven. Arrange the bay leaves over the bottom of the springform pan to cover.
2. Beat the eggs in a mixing bowl, then mix in ricotta cheese, honey, orange zest, and lemon juice. Sprinkle in the flour, and stir until evenly combined. Gently pour the batter over the bay leaves, being careful not to disturb them too much.

Bake in the preheated oven until browned, about 35 to 40 minutes. Run the tip of a paring knife around the edges of the pan, and release from the springform pan. Invert onto a serving plate, and serve warm or chilled.