A death by crucifixion seems to include all that pain and death can have of the horrible and ghastly – dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, shame, publicity of shame, long continuous torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of intended wounds – all intensified just up to the point at which they can be endured at all, but all stopping just short of the point which would give to the sufferer the relief of unconsciousness. The unnatural position made every movement painful; the lacerated veins and crushed tendons throbbed with incessant anguish; the wounds, inflamed by exposure, gradually gangrene; the arteries – especially at the head and stomach – became swollen and oppressed with surcharged blood, and while each variety of misery went on gradually increasing, there was added to them the intolerable pang of a burning and raging thirst, and all these physical complications caused an internal excitement and anxiety, which made the prospect of death itself – of death, the unknown enemy, at whose approach man usually shudders most – bear the aspect of a delicious and exquisite release. One thing is clear. The 1st century executions were not like the modern ones, for they did not seek a quick, painless death or the preservation of any measure of dignity for the criminal. On the contrary, they sought an agonizing torture which completely humiliated him. And it is important that we understand this, for it helps us realize the agony of Christ's death.

Frederick Farrar

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Grains	Dutch	December 19	1	servings

INGREDIENTS

1/4	c	Unsalted butter; melted (1/2 stick)
1 1/2	c	Hazelnuts; (about 7 1/2 ounces)
1	c	Whole unblanched almonds; (about 5 ounces)
1 1/2	c	Lightly packed chopped dried Calimyrna; (about 9ounces)
		; figs
1 1/2	c	Lightly packed chopped dried apricots; (about 9 ounces)
1	c	Diced candied citron; (about 5 ounces)
2	tb	Grated orange peel
1	tb	Grated lemon peel
3/4	c	Unblanched all purpose flour
3/4	c	Unsweetened cocoa powder; (preferably
		; Dutch-process)
1 1/2	ts	Ground cinnamon
1	ts	Ground nutmeg
1	ts	Ground coriander
1/4	ts	Pepper
1/4	ts	Ground cloves
1	c	Plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1	c	Plus 2 tablespoons honey
6	oz	Bittersweet; (not unsweetened) or
		; semisweet
		; chocolate,melted
		Additional unsweetened cocoa powder

INSTRUCTIONS

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400F. Brush two
8-inch-diameter cake pans with melted butter. Line bottoms with
parchment paper. Brush parchment generously with butter. Reserving
remaining butter.
Place hazelnuts on small cookie sheet; place almonds on another small
cookie sheet. Toast in oven until nuts are brown and fragrant,
stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes for almonds and 14 minutes
for hazelnuts. Cool. Gather hazelnuts in dish towels. Rub in towel to
remove husks. Transfer hazelnuts and almonds to large bowl. Reduce
oven temperature to 300F.
Add figs, apricots, citron, orange and lemon peels to nuts in large
bowl. Combine flour, 3/4 cup cocoa powder and spices in small bowl.
Add to nuts.
Combine sugar, honey and remaining melted butter in heavy medium
saucepan. Stir over medium heat until mixture is smooth and sugar is
mostly dissolved, about 5 minutes. Bring to boil. Continue cooking
until candy thermometer registers 248F. (firm-ball stage).
Immediately pour over mixture. Stir to combine thoroughly.
Divide batter between prepared pans, using back of buttered spoon to
spread evenly. Bake until tops and edges just begin to brown and tops
feel dry, about 1 1/4 hours. Cool slightly on wire rack. Run small
sharp knife around edges of pans to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out onto
work surface; peel off parchment. Cool cakes completely.
Arrange cakes top sides up on 8-inch cardboard rounds. Spread half of
chocolate over each. Refrigerate until chocolate is set, about 1 hour.
Brush tops of cakes with cocoa powder. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap,
then wrap decoratively with colored cellophane. Tie ribbon with gift
tag around cellophane to secure. (Panforte can be prepared up to 1
month ahead. Store at cool room temperature.)
Makes 2.
Bon Appetit December 1990
Converted by MC_Buster.
Converted by MM_Buster v2.0l.

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