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Yes from the year 1475. Platina mentions several odd fishes not usually used today as food, such as cuttlefish, scorpions, lampreys and sea-lion. But most of his fish are still favorites-eels, lobsters, crabs, oysters, sturgeon and sturgeon eggs (which he calls caviar), salmon, sole, etc., and he gives a recipe for a Squid Dish for Days of Abstinence. Although squid is eaten today in the South of France and Greece, and can be found in special fish shops here, I would prefer salmon or halibut. But if you hanker for squid, just go ahead with it if you can find some, and be sure to have the fish man prepare it for you by removing the black liquid from the backbone.

Cool and refreshing, this is just perfect when it is too hot to cook, and cucumbers are running wild.

Pisnyi borsch is a meatless Ukrainian beet soup with dried boletus mushrooms, beet kvas, root vegetables, and fresh dill. A clear, jewel-toned broth served over vushka dumplings for a traditional Lenten meal.

Dead-simple homemade bread with just 5 ingredients: flour, water, yeast, salt, and honey. No kneading required. Mix it, ignore it, bake it. Fresh bread for people who think they can't bake bread.

Oysters au champagne is a classic French appetizer: fresh oysters poached in champagne and oyster liquor with garlic butter, plated over a bed of wilted spinach, and cloaked in a silky roux sauce.

Homemade hummus from scratch using dried chickpeas, a pound of tahini, fresh lemon, and a freeze-to-soften trick for ultra-creamy texture. Middle Eastern dip that puts store-bought tubs to shame.

Old-fashioned strawberry cake made from scratch with fresh crushed berries folded into the batter and a warm cooked strawberry sauce spooned over every slice. No box mix, no gelatin, just real strawberries.

Grilled marinated pork chops with lime juice, chili powder, and garlic, served with fresh salsa. A simple Southwestern-style pork chop recipe for the grill with a quick marinade and a cool topping.

Mild fish pickle with tuna, white wine, vinegar, mustard seeds, and fresh herbs. A no-cook condiment or spread that keeps in the fridge for two weeks and brightens any cracker or toast.

Cream cheese shortbread cookies crowned with a fresh strawberry half. Buttery, tender rounds with a jammy ruby center that bakes right into the dough. Pretty enough for tea, easy enough for a weeknight.

Lemon barbecued meat loaves: 6 individual beef chuck loaves basted with a tangy ketchup sauce spiced with allspice, cloves, and dry mustard, each topped with a fresh lemon slice. Ready in 1 hour.

Half-whole-wheat apple nut cookies with diced fresh apples, walnuts, raisins, and warm spices. Cake-like, soft-textured drop cookies that taste like apple pie filling baked into a cookie. Makes 48.

A tender from-scratch yellow cake layered with chopped fresh strawberries and sweetened whipped cream, then frosted all over with more cream and garnished with whole berries. Classic, beautiful, and gone in minutes.

Lemon feather cakes - airy lemon pancakes made with sour cream, beaten egg whites, and fresh lemon zest. Served with warm blueberry sauce and whipped cream for a weekend brunch worth waking up for.

A buttery almond frangipane filling baked in a flaky shell, topped with fresh raspberries and mandarin segments in a striking yin-yang pattern. Brushed with passion fruit glaze for a show-stopping finish.

Hearty apple cookies made with whole wheat flour, chopped fresh apples, raisins, and nuts, topped with a crunchy oat-brown sugar-cinnamon streusel. A wholesome drop cookie with real fruit baked right in.