SC - Re: A question of re-creation

[Decker, Terry D.]

> DeSevyngy at aol.com 
> 
> <<
>   You see, I'm judging from the standpoint of 
> "Is this bread 
> a good representation of a period loaf of bread?" not "Is 
> this artist a good 
> representation of a period baker?"
> >>
> 
> Having just attended the Kingdom A&S competiton for Calontir 
> last weekend, this really strikes a chord with me.  One of 
> the entrants, had ground her own flour and ground or powdered 
> the ingredients also - in her best approximation of period 
> manner.  She then made a loaf of bread with these 
> ingredients.  She went a step further and made a loaf using 
> all modern ingredients (ie: easily available in the grocery) 
> using the same measurements.  The medieval approximation loaf 
> had more texture, and more flavor (IMO - Hmmm Hmmm Good!).   
> So, the judges could see for themselves the difference 
> between swhat store bought ingredients will give you and what 
> medieval hand-ground, or stone-ground, milled flour willl 
> give you.  And she included a very nice presentation of all 
> the hand-ground ingredients so that we could see for 
> ourselves the work she had done.  Truly impressive work.  She 
> received the Judges Award.  
> 
> 
> Kateryn de Develyn
 

Baking is a subject of which I have a little knowledge, and while the effort
is impressive and worthy of note, there are some questions I would have
asked.

How many boltings were done to the flour?  

What class of bread is this, cocket, wastel, manchet, etc.?  Is the
difference between the bread made to approximate medieval bread and the
bread made with modern ingredients, the difference between the ingredients
or the difference between classes of bread?

What method of leavening was used?

What recipe was used?  What ingredients were used in the loaf, and how many
fall outside of the known recipes?

The answers to these questions mark the difference between a great period
recreation and a great loaf of bread and the difference between objective
abd subjective judging.

Bear