[Northkeep] OK, here is a Lenten question...maybe Talana?

[Jennifer Carlson]

Lampreys are vertebrates.  Most species are freshwater critters.  Eels are of two disctinct varieties, ocean eels and river eels; but even the river eels spend a period of time in the ocean, then swim upstream to live out their lives in fresh water.  During that transition, they are called "elvers," and jellied elvers is a Cockney delicacy (if you can call it that) to this day.
 
Henry I of England died of a surfeit of eels.  That's a fancy way of saying he died from eating too much eel. I always thought that was stupid, until the first time I tried smoked eel at a sushi restaurant and fell in love.  It is delicious.  It is also extremely rich.  I could easily have eaten enough to make myself sick.  Lady Sabine from Mooneschadowe made a Lenten fish tart for Kingdom A&S last year.  Since butter, eggs, and milk could not be used in it, almond milk provided creaminess, and eel provided the fat content.
 
If you're looking at kosher food rules, a fish must have gills, scales, and fins in order to be permitted.  That means no lampreys, eels, catfish, oysters, clams, shrimp, etc.  For Orthodox (and which Orthodox are we talking about - ancient, modern, Eastern, Greek, Russian?) purposes, I don't know if crustaceans, mollusks, or scaleless ichthyoids are permitted.
 
Talana

 
> Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:17:22 -0500
> From: kiamichikate at gmail.com
> To: northkeep at lists.ansteorra.org
> Subject: Re: [Northkeep] OK, here is a Lenten question...maybe Talana?
> 
> In the "no scales" rule, would shrimp, crab, and mussels be OK, then?
> English meals sometimes included lamprey, which I believe is a fresh water
> eel; is that creature's anatomy spineless? And, didn't one of the Henrys
> die of improperly prepared lamprey?
> 
> Franziska
> 
> On Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 8:16 AM, Dana Schuman <annais60 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> > I am finding this conversation fascinating and highly entertaining.
> >
> > Here are a few items of note regarding the differences of the Eastern and
> > Western Christian Churches:
> >
> > 1. Wine and olive oil is still a "no-no" on most days for Eastern Orthodox
> > Christians during Lent. The exception being Sundays and other days where
> > the
> > Literagy is celebrated with communion. Since wine and olive oil were
> > traditionally stored in animal skins, this makes sense. After the schism
> > in
> > the 1060's, the See of Rome changed many things, this is just one of them.
> > Any
> > other type of vegatable oil is acceptable.
> >
> > 2. Anything with scales and/or a backbone (or from those types of
> > creatures) is
> > off-limits during Lent for the Eastern Orthodox. No chicken, no fish, cow,
> > no
> > goat, no pig, etc. So it was pretty much a "California" diet, all fruits
> > and
> > nuts. This year, like most, there are only two days that fish is allowed
> > during Lent, The Feast of the Annuciation (Friday, March 25) and Palm
> > Sunday
> > (Sunday, April 17)
> >
> > 3. Insects don't have scales or backbones, so they are fair game. Ergo,
> > the
> > "Wandering the Desert" diet of locusts and honey. Mmmm, yum!
> >
> > 4. St. John Chrysostom reminds Christians that Lent just isn't about
> > fasting
> > with food during Lent, but they should fast will all the senses, mind,
> > body, and
> > spirit. The eyes should not look with lust or desire, the ears should not
> > hear
> > ill of others, the mouth should not speak with curses or disparity, the
> > body and
> > mind should refrain from anything that would harm others or ourselves with
> > thoughts or deeds, and Christians should make peace with our enemies and
> > truly
> > focus on acting according to Jesus' techings in the scriptures.
> >
> > 5. Following the Great Lenten Fast really makes you think about what you
> > are
> > eating and can really stretch your imagination when grocery shopping or
> > eating
> > out.
> >
> >
> >
> > Annais
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Remember this: that there is a proper dignity and proportion to be observed
> in the performance of every act of life. --Marcus Aurelius
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