SC - RE: [TY] cooking query

[Nick Sasso]

Qaylah,

my readings are also that sugar was available.  I also am curious just how it was used in the cookery of the different regions.  Loaf sugar was 'common' on noble kitchens as early as 14th century (Le Menagier).  The question arises as to whether they used it as we do for wholesale sweetening or as a finish for elegant dishes.

I have made Flathonys from "Two Fifteenth entury Cookery Books" that uses sugar a little scantly in the custard for sweetening and then strewn on the top when warm from the oven.  It is one of the recipes that use sugar as both a sweetener and a finish for a dish.  They are out there, but not so many in the middle ages.

I offer for consideration that once you get to 1475 Italy, you have moved to a new era of cookery, Rennaissance.  Very yummy and quite exciting to cook, and it is a different animal from Middle Ages technology and foods.  When you get to 1530 or so, you move into yet another Western European era of Elizabethan.  Each time frame seems to have distinct differences in foodstuffs available and the use of thoise foodstuffs...think of the introduction of new world foods into Europe late 15th century and their spread in the later 16th to 17th centuries.  It is way different from Anglo-saxon cooking in 1200 CE.  Great grist for the research and reading mill to look at this stuff; and so exciting.  Keep talking about this stuff and we'll keep feeling pushed to learn more.

Thank you.

pacem et bonum,

niccolo difrancesco


In a message dated 10/6/99, 12:35:47 PM, TY at reashelm.ce.utk.edu writes:
<<they used fruit in cakes because they didn't have sugar>>

Where are you talking about? -Mediterrean countries had cane sugar and most 
European areas had barley sugar.  One good source for the use and medieval 
processing of cane sugar is Platina, On Honest Indulgence, 1475, Italian.

- -Qaylah
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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