SC - My anti modern cheese thing was: toys for tot feast

[AlviraMacD at aol.com]

I do not know how many small shires have broke their budget with modern 
processed yellow cheese that somebody spent valuable time cubing, that by the 
time it gets to the table is dried out and ugly to look at.
I am blessed to have been "raised up" in my SCA cooking by a now Laurel who, 
first gave me tons of books to read, (thank you Cariadoc <sp>, yours taught 
me how to think "in period"), then pointed out the folly of spending so much 
on feast that your small shire is broke.
Her apprentice is my friend and could better speak about the wondrous soft 
herbed cheeses she makes.  Unfortunately I do not have her last Queen's prize 
documentation where I can get it.  Suffice to say she did her research.
The closest I can find in the modern world, at least here, is "farmers 
cheese."  
I fear there are a large group of us that have been spoiled in our small 
corner of Calontir and moan, quietly, when we see bread, honey butter (yes I 
know it's on my feast, it was a request, and it very well may change to honey 
and butter cause it's bothering me) and rubber cheese cubes sitting on the 
table when we get to feast.
What Mistress Katrei has taught us is to plan a feast as if it were a certain 
time and area. Then to do our best to keep the menu and ingredients to that 
time and period.
I just cannot find it in me to serve yellow cheese cubes.  I prefer to serve 
my cheese in a more interesting way.  1st remove, the "cheesy bread" and 
third remove the soft cheese to spread on the bread.  Alvira