SC - Egils news and a question

[allilyn@juno.com]

In a message dated 6/2/00 10:28:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
TerryD at Health.State.OK.US writes:

<< Three of the four known period
 bread recipes use barm for the yeast.
 
 Bear >>

This makes total sense since most commercial bakeries in the middle ages were 
directly connected to commercial breweries. I think where we most oftentimes 
make our mistake in regard to what was actually done in the home and what was 
purchased ready made stems directly from our immediate 'colonial' history. We 
tend to forget that such self dependence was a fluke in history and was 
necessitated by being in a land devoid of culture and industry. 

To all intent and purposes, most folks in the middle ages would not have made 
their own sauces, breads, pasties, roasts, sweets, spice mixtures, dyes, 
inks, etc. These were all readily available at apothecaries, bakers, 
butcherers, pastry shops, breweries, etc., at a cost which proportionately 
was not much different from today. There was the added advantage of 
'bartering' and exchange as viable alternatives to actual cash money which 
has, for the most part, disappeared in the modern world.

It is a given that people in the modern world rarely make their own ketchup 
for example but who really cares when it is so readily available 
inexpensively? For intense, I make my own ketchup but ounce per ounce it is 
much more expensive than simply buying it pre-made. My sole reason for doing 
so is that the flavor of the homemade product is far superior to anything 
commercially available. That reason in itself has never been a reason for the 
masses to self produce articles that are cheaply available.

Also, we must continuously keep in mind that actual home cooking and baking 
in the home in an urban setting throughout the middle ages was illegal for 
safety reasons. You bought your raw ingredients at one place and took them to 
the community ovens for cooking or else bought food already cooked for you. 
Only in the manor houses and castles was there any degree of self sustenance. 
Even there, spice grinders, tinkers, knife sharpeners, etc., made their 
semiannual/annual rounds.

In the interest of, accuracy, perhaps a list of activities, normally 
purchased as manufactured items, etc., would be a good project. What is your 
thoughts?

Ras