[Sca-cooks] Challenge of the Heart Feast

[Hank]

My congratulations for all noting that there are several decidedly Jewish
elements to this meal.  Now the explanation:
The cook, yours truly, is a captured Jewish merchant with training in
cooking.  The one who took me, is Islamic and the one in charge of the
warrior forces in the area.  The crusaders have asked for a truce as part of
a desire to observe Easter.  A quick look at the calendar will show that
Passover is also at this time.  The cook frankly can't stand either of the
them, crusader or Muslim, but since my life depends on doing the job well, I
have made several editorial comments as part of the feast.  Look at the menu
and you will find the lamb in the first course stew, herbs throughout and
flat bread made in a way that is compatible with Passover.  Each dish is
uniquely kosher, yet the combinations are not.  There is no pork.  The
charosets is a reminder of the burden of captivity, and I am reflecting this
in my feast.

The critical comments are welcome, and show a discerning eye, but it was no
accident.  The flavours picked are decidedly middle eastern and balanced.
The kugel, while possibly OOP is the very last dessert in the last course
and occurs shortly before the company must return to the modern world.
Again, there are no accidents.

The recipes are from period Islamic sources and I was aided by the support
of the Forigium, (thanks Stefan).

Yours in Service
Muirghen AKA Hannech ben Yussel, ha Cohen (English does not do the Hebrew
good)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pixel, Goddess and Queen" <pixel at hundred-acre-wood.com>
To: <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>
Sent: Monday, April 07, 2003 9:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Challenge of the Heart Feast


>
> I knew I shouldn't have skimmed that message...
>
> > From: "Hank" <steinfeld at tqci.net>
> > >The theme is middle eastern and is to celebrate a temporary
> > >truce between the crusaders and the local Islamic power.
> >
> > >The menu is as follows:
> > >2nd course:
> > >Charoset
> >
> > Charoset is a Jewish ritual food, served only at Pesach/Passover
> > dinner as one of the required symbolic foods, along with the bitter
> > herbs, lamb shank, boiled egg, spring greens, etc Pesach is probably
> > the second holiest major Jewish holy day, after Yom Kippur. Charoset
> > is not eaten alone, but with the bitter herbs, and it isn't generally
> > served at other times of the year, only within the context of the
> > Passover dinner.
> >
> > Charoset doesn't seem like a food likely to be served at a meal
> > between Christian Crusaders and local Muslims...
> >
> > >3rd course:
> > >Koogle
> >
> > To the best of my knowledge, kugel is a Anshkenazi Jewish dish - the
> > Ashkenazim are/were primarily from Eastern Europe. And while there
> > are a number of "period" pasta and cheese dishes - most kugels i've
> > had were noodles and cottage cheese (and some other stuff, like dried
> > fruit) - i am doubtful that the versions i've had were "period"...
> >
> > Anahita
>
> What she said. Additionally, the Crusaders would be highly unlikely to
> have willingly partaken of something known to be Jewish, given the
> sentiments of the time about Jews.
>
> The word 'kugel' is Yiddish, and means a pudding (noodle, potato,
> etc.) so for Crusaders it's really OOP (aside from the initial problem of
> it being Jewish to start with).
>
> Margaret
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sca-cooks mailing list
> Sca-cooks at ansteorra.org
> http://www.ansteorra.org/mailman/listinfo/sca-cooks
> ---
> [This E-mail was scanned for viruses at tqci.net]
>
>

---
[This E-mail was scanned for viruses at tqci.net]