SC - SC-OT-For Cooking Laurels/Pelicans

[Lorix]

Stefan li Rous wrote:
> 
> Also, there is evidence that trenchers were not made of the best bread.

Agreed, according to prevailing standards of the period. However,

> A denser bread may have lessened the chance of juices seeping through the
> trencher as well as being cheaper to produce.

Regarding cheapness of a denser, coarser loaf, this may have been the
case until the nineteenth century or so, but is not so now, I'd think.
Bear in mind that of two loaves the same size, the denser one will
require more flour than the light one, and if you're using something
like stone-ground whole wheat flour, or some kind of mixed meal with
bran, or whatever, it's likely to be more expensive than the boring
chemical-filled Brand X white flour, because of the demand schedule,
factors like a shorter shelf-life, etc. Not to mention the dreaded
appellation, Health Food, which usually is good for a price increase of
at least 20% over processed, preserved, cholesterol- and salt-filled counterparts.

I think some cooks in the SCA came to the conclusion early on that since
most people don't actually eat their trenchers (most people who did in
the middle ages were either receiving alms or were considered gluttons,
generally), and since therefore they contribute no food value to the
feast, can't be donated to most homeless shelters in period fashion, and
require extra effort to produce, as well as money, they're not generally
used. They _are_ a nice touch, though. I've made and used them once or
twice, but I usually just carry a wooden one with me on those occasions
when I actually sit and eat the feast. Most people I know do the same.  

Adamantius
- -- 
Phil & Susan Troy

troy at asan.com
============================================================================

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".

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