Part 5/9:
To adapt Cato's recipe for today’s kitchen, careful attention is given to converting ancient measurements. A pound in Cato's era weighed significantly less than today's pound, leading to an updated need for about 1 and 1/4 cups of whole wheat or barley flour, around 3 and 1/3 cups of cheese (Cato’s cheese of choice remains unspecified), one egg, and honey to taste. The recipe also necessitates poppy seeds—a common dessert ingredient in ancient Rome, toasted for optimal flavor.