SC - The truth about Green Beans Savory

[BaronessaIlaria@aol.com]

We've been serving STC (short for Savory Toasted Cheese) since rocks were soft
here in Atlantia.  The recipe has literally been passed on by oral tradition,
from one cook to another.  In fact, until I got my copy of Digby, I had no idea
where it came from!  We do use brie, which is quite tasty, and I've seen it done
with both asparagus (my personal favorite...after all, asparagus is one of the
basic food groups, isn't it???) and green beans.  However, our preferred veggie
for this purpose is broccoli...cheaper than asparagus and period.  Also, one
gentle recently actually served it as it was originally intended, as a kind of
fondue, with sippets of bread!

Kiri

Christine A Seelye-King wrote:

> The truth about Green Beans Savory
>
> For many years, there has been a dish served at Meridian events that has
> delighted many, called Green Beans Savory.  A lady from our southern
> shores, Countess Gilrean Derrilyn, served this first at one of her
> feasts, and made it with brie, butter, cream cheese, and green beans.
> The non-bean ingredients are squooshed together in ziploc bags,
> typically, and then added to just-heated green beans.  Very tasty.
> Another lady from the southern part of our kingdom, Countess Rhiannon of
> the Isle, disliked brie, and so she started making this with cheddar
> instead. (Producing a much greasier version, but loved by the populace
> nonetheless.)  The cheddar version survives to this day as an
> always-seen-item at any covered trencher occasion.  (I have been known to
> make it at home, its that pervasive.)
> The dish Savory Toasted Cheese was unknown to me or to feasts in this
> area until I started reading about it on this list some years ago.
> Tasty, I said to myself, that would be a nice change.  In teaching about
> period foods, we have been trying to get across the idea that green beans
> were not, and that Green Beans Savory notwithstanding, they were a New
> World Food. (TM)  Recently on our Baronial list, the subject of GBS came
> up (someone saw it last Sunday at a do and asked for the recipe) and
> Gilrean had the opportunity to comment on the fellow's version of the
> recipe with the cheddar, as the change had always griped her.  I made use
> of the occasion to bring up the green bean issue, including a copy of the
> original recipe from Digby, asking if this was the version she had first
> used.  When her answer came back, I was astounded to read:
>
> And just so you know, the green beans we're using aren't period, they're
>  New World.  In fact, if it is from the recipe below, the original calls
>  for asparagus.  Is this the original you used, Gil?
>  Christianna
>   >>
>
>     Actually, the version I used came from Cariadoc's mouth, rather than
> from
> the book.  While in Axemoor visiting his then-fiancee, Elizabeth, we were
>
> discussing cooking during a private dinner.  He was the one who suggested
>
> green beans, due to the high cost of asparagus, and the fact that more
> people
> seem to like green beans than asparagus.
>
>     Gilraen
>
> OH MY GOD!! GREEN BEANS SAVORY CAME FROM CARIADOC!!!
> I have to admit, I was a little shaken.  He has feet of clay, I said to
> myself.
> It was a long time ago, I add.   Tara emailed me privately and said "Can
> you believe it?".   Well, we will get over the shock, and I believe I
> will try encouraging asparagus as an alternative to green beans, and see
> how that goes over.  In the mean time, I will contemplate how casual
> comments made by myself and others can have far-reaching ripples of
> influence, and be awed.
> Christianna
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