Cato the Elder’s campaigns against Carthage, the Greek influence, and women, and one of his recipes for an ancient Roman cheesecake

Professional fancy man Petronius and his literary work the Satyricon, which included the extravagant feasts of Trimalchio, and a Roman recipe for stuffed pig fit for any feast

The tumultuous Year of the Four Emperors and a recipe named after Emperor Number Three

How to feed a Roman army and two recipes for what they would have eaten

Myths from the Poetic Edda that involve eating hearts, and a recipe for a roasted heart basted with honey

The food of sailors and pirates, and recipes for seafaring staples: hardtack and grog

Where the word “eggnog” comes from and how the Washingtons celebrated Christmas, and a delicious eggnog recipe that could have been drunk at Mount Vernon

The origins and variations of gingerbread and a 14th century recipe for a candy-like version

The ancient Roman December festival of Saturnalia, and a recipe for a sweet fried treat they might have celebrated with

The history of Christmas puddings and a Victorian recipe for a boiled Christmas pudding with raisins

The history of pumpkins and pumpkin pie, and a 17th century recipe for a super delicious non-custard pumpkin pie

Controlling the quality of ale in Elizabethan England, and a late 16th century recipe for real buttered beer