Hominis Aevum

NOSTRADAMUS’ CHERRY JELLY

Most people don’t know that Nostradamus’ first book was not about the future but spoke of the secrets of making jams and jellies.

His «EXCELLENT & USEFUL Treatise to all Needed who want Knowledge of Several Exquisite Recipes … Newly Composed by Master Michel de Nostredame, Doctor of Medicine in the city of Salon de Craux en Provence.» was published in 1555.

As he explains in the introduction, the book is intended «…to satisfy the Will and Affection of several Nice Characters, even of the Female Sex, who are greedy of knowing and understanding novel things».

« Take Cherryes the most Beautiful & most Rype that can be found, in the quantity you wish, and remove the Foot […] if the Cherryes are not Rype, that they are Green even a Bit, they will be so Sour that they will cause Stupefaction to your Teeth ..»
«Take Sugar that is Nice & put it in coarse Powder & place in a Pan & it should have weight of two Pounds, & take Cherryes that you have removed the Foot, the Weight of Six or Seven Pounds, and Grate and Rub them Coarseley with Clean Hands »
« Place in the Pan where the Sugar is and Place on the Fire to Boil until Half, moving with a clean Stick and when they have so Boiled you will Pour them through a Clean and Tight Cloth and Press them»
When all has been well pressed and that only the Bones & Bark remains take what will have come out & will Boil it in another Pan on low fire Watching all the Time if it is Cooked : because it will Reduce much & taking Always with the Paddle or Silver Spoon to see if it is Cookes. »
« Keep away from giving it too much fire as it would go over or burn itself: as it is better for the Jelly to be a little Green than too Cooked: because when Stored its Sugar makes it Dry …»
« When you will see that it is Cooked, that is a drop put on Marble, the drop remains tight and Round without Falling neither here nore there, or placed on a piece of tin or on a Knife or Glass the drop will be as Vermillion as a perfect Claret Wine: »
«When it is Cooked you will put it in little Jars of Glass or Wood like you would Quince Jelly. And when your Jelly will be Colde and Tight, you will have a Mode and Type of Jelly that you can’t have Better Jelly of Cherryes, nor more Excellent in Beauty and Goodness; »
«You will place it in Glass Jars not too Deep: & leave it cool down, and if afterwards you look through the Sun’s light you will find it as Beautiful as a Ruby. You have to show or give to some great Prince or high Lord when they will be angry with the Heat or otherwise altered they will find the Jam hearty & Delicious & Without Defects. And if you do it like I have put on Paper, undoubtedly you will do a Jelly in all Perfection. »

Source: fxcuisine.com