SC - Homemade
LrdRas at aol.com
LrdRas at aol.com
Fri Jun 2 15:18:53 PDT 2000
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
More information about the Sca-cooks
mailing list