[Sca-cooks] Re: Sugar Plate/Paste; Stained Glass Sugar

[johnna holloway]

I think that Her Highness Alys Katharine would
agree that you ought to see about borrowing or
buying (after seeing it) a copy of Peter
Brears All the King's Cooks. The Tudor
Kitchens of King Henry VIII at Hampton Court
Palace. 1999. There is a paperback available.
It has recipes, sources, illustrations, and photos of
recreated sugar-plates based on wooden molds that
are colored. It's just great. Ivan Day's Eat, Drink
and Be Merry. The British at Table 1600-2000 is
another that has photos of sugarworks and
sweetmeats that have been recreated and photographed.

Johnnae llyn Lewis  Johnna Holloway


> Anahita wrote:
> >So I am toying with the idea of making one or two Sugar Plate
> >sotilties for a feast i'll be cooking in September. One would be
> the
> >arms of the Principality of the Mists which will need to be white
> (no
> >problem), green (not hard), blue (a little tougher with natural
> >vegetable products - i'll see if i can find dried cornflowers aka
> >batchelors buttons). The other, a musical instrument (a hammer
> >dulcimer - for specific reasons - i'll simplify it).
>
> Question to you:  Are you planning on having folk eat these?  If
> not, you can use illuminator's/limner's colors.  That was what was
> done in period.  Hint: Lay a ground of white first, even though the
> plate is white.  Otherwise the sugar absorbs too much of the paint
> and is wasteful.
>
> >Any suggestions for natural blue coloring besides cornflowers? I
> >don't care if it isn't exactly heraldic blue.
>
> Maybe Cindy Renfrow will pop in here.  Do you have the C.A. that we
> did on period food colorings?  (Mine's not handy.)  We listed what
> was cited as used.  However, for sugar paste, the period thing would
> have been to paint on it.  I would suggest using slightly liquified
> modern food paste colors.  They are edible and are a safer
> substitute than what the period person would have painted with.
>
> >I'm also intrigued by the "stained glass" sugar, but i'm only
> finding
> >scattered mentions in the Florilegium. Anyone here have any
> >experience? (seems many are made of melted "Life Savers") I might
> >make the device of the guest of honor instead of the musical
> >instrument...
>
> There is a boiled sugar recipe in Curye on Inglysche (again, it was
> painted on), which would make a period "stained glass".  If you need
> the recipe I might be able to find it tomorrow.  Melted Life Savers
> might be easier.  Don't try to do melted Life Savers next to sugar
> paste, though.  You'll melt the paste!
>
> >Realistically, how far ahead of time can i make these?
>
> I think "stained glass" might suck up moisture in the air, so it
> might last only a few days.  Sugar paste can be made well ahead of
> time, and is probably better done that way so it has time to
> thoroughly dry.  I think the Florilegium has a whole bunch of my
> "helpful" comments on working with sugar paste.  What is your
> opinion of painting on top these items?  It's period...
>
> Alys Katharine
>
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