Kamala and Neil Patrick Harris.
Harris — Harris / 2020
The Burtka-Harris family is amazingly cute.
I wish to state now, and for the record, that this post has nothing to do with my sampling my chocolate cordial that I have been sampling.
Basically, it is the oldest known European recipe for chocolate with less water than the original recipe, and Mt. Gay Eclipse rum (and maybe some Everclear).
Very nice.
The essay with the recipe, written by Antonio Colmenero of Ledesma in 1631, and translated into English by Captain James Wadsworth 1652.
The full treatise can be found on Project Gutenberg:
To every 100. Cacaos, you must put two cods ofthe*Chiles long redPepper, of which I have spoken before, and are called in the IndianTongue, Chilparlagua; and in stead of those of the Indies,you may take those of Spaine which are broadest, & least hot. One handfull of Annis-seed Orejuelas, which are otherwise called Pinacaxlidos: and two of the flowers, called Mechasuchil, if the Belly be bound. Butin stead of this, in Spaine, we put in six Roses of Alexandria beat to Powder: One Cod of Campeche, or Logwood: Two Drams of Cinamon; Almons, and Hasle-Nuts, of each one Dozen: Of white Sugar, halfe a pound: of Achiote enough to give it the colour. And if you cannot have those things, which come from the Indies, you may make it with the rest.
The author notes that this drink, “It vehemently Incites to Venus, and causeth Conception in women, hastens and facilitates their Delivery.”
Chocolate still works that way.
Here is the recipe for the non-alcoholic drink below:
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups of cacao nibs.
- About 2 small sticks cinnamon.
- 2 tbsp Cayenne pepper.
- Anise seed, 1 TBSP (Star anise is VERY different, stronger and harsher)
- 12 almonds
- 12 hazel nuts (Remember to remove the shells, don’t ask me how I know that)
- ¼ cup of rose water. Use the stuff from a Middle Eastern or Asian market unless you know an organic florist personally. most roses are grown with nasty stuff.
- ½ cup white sugar
- One vanilla bean, scraped into the mixture.
- ¾ tsp Achiote (Annatto)
Toast the nuts on a cookie sheet for 15 minutes at 350°F, then add everything else but the vanilla and peppers.
Remove from oven and grind finely, and chop the peppers as finely as you can.
Add everything to 9-12 cups of boiling water and it should be done in 20-30 minutes, and then taste until it is strong enough for your palate.
Drink recipes below please.
