SC - In need of a documented Rant on "highly spided spoiled food "

[LrdRas@aol.com]

In a message dated 4/27/01 11:26:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
lilinah at earthlink.net writes:

<< Did most people actually buy spices primarily by the 
 pound (or regional-temporal equivalent) in the Medieval and 
 Renaissance periods,  >>

I see no reason they would not have. i regularly buy black pepper, cubeb 
berries and grains of paradise by the pound. They last for years if kept in a 
cool, dark, dry place. Given an average household of 20 (including main 
family members, servants, etc.), a pound would not seem exorbitant. Remember 
going to town every day was not an option for  most folks then and those that 
lived in town had ready access to apothecaries for the  few they would need 
considering the strict regulations  regarding cooking in the main town areas.

Ras