SC - Re: Scotch eggs w/ question

[Decker, Terry D.]

In a message dated 1/16/98 9:15:34 AM Eastern Standard Time, liontamr at ptd.net
writes:

<< Small, round, red and hard (not to mention hardy).  Less sweet (see large
 amounts of sugar added to them for preservation). As for substitutes, I'd go
 for the bags of cooking macs, ida reds or some such, which are smaller, have
 better flavor than the enormous ones, and more closely mimic a period sized
 apple.  >>

Pippins are the fruit grown from an apple tree grown from an apple seed as
opposed to those grown from sports or other grafted stock.  They are, indeed,
smaller and less sweet than most currently available commercial so-called
apples.

I would suggest adding to your list of varieties that might be tried Northern
Spyes or, if possible, crab apples specifically grown for juice if you want to
come closest to a period-like flavor.  Almost all commercial varieties of
apple have been bred to make the taste less complex, less acidic, sweeter and
unobjectionable to the majority of people, thereby producing insipid,
flavorless ghosts of good tasting apples.  And there are varieties of apples
still grown now that were grown during the middle ages.  These would of course
be the best to use and though not generally found for sale commercially are
readily available as saplings from some specialty plant growers.

If buying commercially, most reputable supermarkets will allow you to taste
test your apple before buying it.  Look for a balance between acid and sweet,
tangy, pineapple, strawberry, clove taste with a complex variety of flavors
underneath, crispness, refreshing and lingering finish.

If you have a piece of land and web access, a search engine of apple  should
get you started in your search for period apple trees. :-)

Ras
============================================================================

To be removed from the SCA-Cooks mailing list, please send a message to
Majordomo at Ansteorra.ORG with the message body of "unsubscribe SCA-Cooks".

============================================================================