Broccoli Rising and Love Notes
Saint Valentine did not invent love. Or roses. Or chocolate. He is the patron saint of beekeepers, epileptics, and, of course, lovers. So how did he get that gig? Best we know, he was a priest known as Valentine of Rome back in the third century under the reign of Claudius II Gothicus. Claudius II had his hands full trying to beat back invading Goths and didn’t have time or patience for Christianity. Valentine did, and set about marrying Christian couples so the men didn’t have to go to war.
It got kind of culty, with young lovers flocking to Valentine for help. This did not sit well with the emperor. He needed tough soldiers, not happy husbands. He had Valentine jailed.
According to legend, from his cell, Valentine befriended the jailer’s blind daughter and somehow restored her sight. He sent her a note signed your Valentine. Even before the internet, word got out — Valentine could perform miracles.
Claudius II decided this Valentine guy was more trouble than he was worth and the whole Christianity thing was too much. But Valentine refused to denounce his faith. The emperor slated the priest for execution. Valentine’s followers and fans went nuts. Right before his death, Valentine sent them notes too, saying not to lose heart.
A millennium or so later, Geoffrey Chaucer, the 14th-century English poet, solidified Valentine’s link with love in “The Parliament of Fowls,” in which flocks of birds gather to choose their mates on “Seynt Valentynes day.”
Some say Valentine was actually two different people; others say he didn’t exist at all. So what? We made him up. His story is there to remind us that love is stronger than hate, stronger than fear, and to always take heart. Now go have some chocolate. Wishing you a happy Valentine’s Day.
Rouxbe Vegan Culinary Instructor and magnificent friend Fran Costigan shares her recipe for chocolate-dipped anything. Fellow South Florida folk, may I heartily (get it?) recommend strawberries for dipping. It’s our strawberry season, and the ones I’ve tasted are luscious, ripe, juicy and the very essence of strawberry.
Bonet, Italian sexy chocolate creme caramel. My recipe makes it vegan.
Panforte, Italy’s fruity, nutty, chocolatey confection, is usually served at Christmas, but it’s such a stellar treat, and it keeps well, so make it for Valentine’s Day and make it vegan.
It’s a safe bet Valentine didn’t get chocolate in jail, not even from the jailer’s daughter. Cacao was a New World food that wouldn’t reach Europe for decades. Grains, beans and vegetables made up most of the ancient Roman diet.
Valentine probably would have eaten polenta, also called sofkee by Native Americans, grits by Southerners, and mamaliga by Romanians. By any name it’s a comforting creamy bowl of cornmeal porridge.
One of the earliest broccoli recipes comes from de re coquinaria by Apicius. I add lentils for World Pulses Day and every day.
