How to Make Snail Bread, 1685
Joachim Camerarius, Symbolorum et Emblematum 4(1604)
A sort of Bread, of which a Mouthful can maintain a Man eight daies, without eating any thing else. Take a quantity of Snails, and make them void their sliminess; then dry and reduce them to fine Powder, of which make a Loaf, with a Mouthful of which a Man may be eight days without eating.
Nicolas Lémery, Modern Curiosities of Art & Nature
One bite of this special bread and the idea of eating anything at all will nauseate you for eight days! The only problem: to learn how to make snails void their sliminess, you’ll have to consult a different manual.
What, you've not heard of feeding snails on corn meal for several days prior to preparation?
Powdered snail. Wow.
No, it's cram!!
So that's how the elves made Lembas bread!