Preparation

In his agricultural treatise De Agri Cultura, Cato the Elder provided one of the oldest written recipes in Western history: libum, small cheesecakes offered to Roman household gods during religious ceremonies. After the ritual, families would enjoy these treats themselves, making them perhaps history's first sacred dessert.

Preparation

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. If using fresh ricotta, place it in a cheesecloth-lined strainer over a bowl and refrigerate for 2 hours to remove excess moisture.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the drained ricotta, flour, egg, and honey. Mix until smooth and well combined.
4. Oil a baking sheet lightly and arrange bay leaves on it in a single layer, spacing them apart.
5. Form the cheese mixture into small rounds about 3 inches across and ½ inch thick. Place each round directly on top of a bay leaf.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cakes are golden and slightly puffed.
7. Remove from the oven and immediately drizzle with additional honey while hot.
8. Sprinkle with poppy seeds and allow to cool slightly before serving.

The bay leaves impart a subtle, mysterious flavor and prevent sticking—a clever ancient technique. These are best enjoyed warm, as Romans would have eaten them fresh from the oven in their villa courtyards.