 This was considered less of a problem in a time of back-breaking toil, famine, and a greater acceptance—even desirability—of plumpness; only the poor or sick, and devout ascetics, were thin.Fruit was readily combined with meat, fish and eggs.The recipe for "Tart de brymlent", a fish pie from the recipe collection "Forme of Cury", includes a mix of figs, raisins, apples and pears with fish (salmon, codling or haddock) and pitted damson plums under the top crust.