io_ and _sturio_, which is similar to
_tursio_ (cf. _styrio_ in the vocabulary). The fish in
question therefore may have been sturgeon for which the
Black Sea is famous.

[4] List., G.-V. _ovis obligabis_--tie with
eggs--certainly preferable to the Tor. version.

[5] Tor. thyme.

The above is an excellent way of making fish balls, it
being taken for granted, of course, that the salt fish
be thoroughly soaked and cooked in milk before shaping
into balls. The many spices should be used very
moderately, some to be omitted entirely. We read between
the lines of the old formula that the _Tursio_ had a
long journey from Pontus to Rome; fish however dry
acquires a notorious flavor upon such journeys which
must be offset by herbs and spices.

It is quite possible that the ancients made a
_reduction_ of the herbs and spices mentioned in this
formula; in fact, the presence of vinegar leads us to
believe this, in which case this formula would be
nothing but a very modern sauce. The herbs and spices in
a _reduction_ are crushed and boiled down in vinegar and
wine, and strained off, they leave their finest flavor
in the sauce.

[146] VEGETABLE DINNER
_PATELLA EX OLISATRO_ [1]

[Any kind of vegetables or herbs] BLANCHED OFF IN WATER WITH [a
little] SODA; SQUEEZE [out the water] ARRANGE IN A SAUCEPAN. GRIND
PEPPER, LOVAGE, CORIANDER, SATURY, ONION WITH WINE, BROTH, VINEGAR AND
OIL; ADD [this] TO THE VEGETABLES, STEW [all until nearly done] AND
TIE WITH ROUX. SPRINKLE WITH THYME, FINELY GROUND PEPPER AND SERVE.
ANY KIND OF VEGETABLE [2] MAY BE PREPARED IN THE ABOVE MANNER, IF YOU
WISH.

[1] Wanting in Tac. and Tor. G.-V. _patellam ex
holisatro_.

[2] It is worth noting that Tor. and Tac. omit this
recipe entirely and that Tor. concludes the preceding
formula with the last sentence of the above formula,
except for the difference in one word. Tor. _et de
quacunque libra_ [List. _et al._ _herba_] _si volueris
facies ut demonstratum est supra_. This might mean that
it is optional (in the preceding formula) to shape the
fish into one pound loaves instead of the small fish
balls, which is often done in the case of forcemeats, as
in veal, beef, ham loaves, or fish pie.

We are inclined to accept the reading of Torinus, for
the above way of preparing "any kind of vegetables