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--> --> May 22: Apicius cooks for Gemini The Roman gourmet and cook book writer, Apicius, was a man who lived to eat and entertain. He gave lavish banquets for the Emperor Tiberius, and counted the Emperor's son Drusus and his advisor Sejanus as his closest friends. In fact, the Emperor once publicly chastised Drusus for eating all the braised broccoli Apicius had prepared. For Tiberius, the host created an egg dish of eggs (ova) and mele (honey). This is the Latin root for omelet. Apicius believed the zodiac affected appetites and changed with each new sing. The next sign will be Gemini, May 21 through June 20. A synopsis of the predictions of modern astrologers is quite favorable for the Geminian for 2001. This will be a year of pleasure. The Geminian is advised to take advantage of it. In March, they should have taken advantage to earn extra money. They would be wise to delay major new purchases until May of June. Keep your natural Geminian exuberance flowing in July to enhance your social life. Nothing kills romance faster than slipping into a tired routine! October is a lucky month for travel. The popularity of the Geminian soars in November. If you ever thought of running for any office, the signs are favorable. November is also a month for relocation, and emotional gains are made as the years closes out. Apicius saw the zodiac as a guide to character and personality. Gemini, the twins, is governed by the planet Mercury. They have a dual nature. Some Geminians will be serious students and researchers who can easily work in isolation. Others will need more human contact, where their quick wit and social skills make them popular. The positive attributes of those born under this sign are energy, honesty, generosity, and a sense of duty. Negative aspects of some show them improvident, changeable, skeptical, and with a biting wit. They will also have a restless and pleasure-seeking nature. Those with an urge to gamble may try to work off their excessive energy at the tables. Apicius believed the Geminian was rarely overweight as his or her boundless energy burned up extra calories. He recommended oyster, lobster, capon, and veal for their meats. For spices, he suggested fennel, sage, and marjoram. Onions, carrots, and mushrooms were the preferred vegetables. He also thought Geminians made first class cooks, particularly with pastries and sauces. Yet the Geminian can suffer from periodic bouts of laziness, brought about when the bursting Geminian energy pushes them into too many activities. Then they lose their creative instincts and return to preparing ordinary foods. The love of travel gives the dual Geminian personality a special characteristic. When they travel, they always pack a few treasured personal objects from home. The same applies when they settle in a new place. They will search for the same ingredients in the market to prepare their foods. The Geminian loves to travel, but like the snail, he likes to bring his home along. Apicius recommended Chicken Livers Tosca for Gemini. INGREDIENTS: 1 pound chicken livers 2 tablespoons butter 1 medium onion, chopped 2 tablespoons freshly-chopped sage PREPARATION: Wash and quarter livers. Saute onions in butter in skillet until golden. Add livers, stir, cook for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with sage, cook for 2 more minutes. Serve. Jeff Cheek lives in Medford Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing