[Sca-cooks] OOP(?): Fragrant Candle Cookies
Sandragood at aol.com
Sandragood at aol.com
Wed Dec 13 10:08:41 PST 2006
Once again my comments on historical links to modern foods has raised
eyebrows. ;-)
I guess for most I should have stated it "may have" medieval ties. In doing
my research for various projects, I have found many surprising and some not
so surprising similarities in foods and preparation techniques throughout
cuisine of the Mongol, Asian, and Arabic lands as well as European. This has
even become the basis for my next Arts & Sciences project.
I have most enjoyed finding similarities to modern foods that "could have"
origins dating back to medieval times. When creating my menu for event
breakfast, I use the period terms for scramble eggs, french toast, etc.
My "being Thai" comment had more to do with the region, not the country.
Thailand is in a region that was bordered by two very dominant cultures. The
Mongol/Chinese and the Muslim/Arabic. Most automatically assume China, with
the second assumption being India. Neither one is truly wrong, however, I
find these assumptions are usually based on modern relations. History takes it
deeper than that.
My connection to the medieval reference stems from my previous research.
Smoking as a flavoring agent has been used in Asian and Arabic cuisine. I do
not have "factual" references for the Asian "period" references, but I do for
the Arabic.
Cuisine is one of those things in daily life that is easily adapted changed
or influenced by the happenings of the world around. New conquests (or even
marriage alliances) would bring new ingredients, tools, and methods of
preparation that would be easily integrated into the current cuisine of a region.
This was the basis of a recent class I taught on the Arabic influences on
regional cuisine throughout Europe.
Throughout the history of Muslim conquests, they held lands throughout most
of the Mediterranean area (southern Europe, Turkey, The Levant, Arabian
Peninsula, and northern Africa) as well as into southern Asia and modern day
India. Most often these conquests lasted decades. On another note, most of the
Mongol expansion into western lands happened after the eastern expansion of
the Muslims. Even at the time of Mughal (Mongol) rule during the 1500's, the
rulers were adherents of Islam.
Please keep in mind I did say medieval ties, not historical proof. The jump
from a flatbread to a cookie would need to be found. The preparation of
smoking a "bread" was an Arabic practice. Whether or not they sweetened a
flatbread that would work for this preparation, I would have to research further.
Finding other similar preparation references in other cuisine would also
help. The use of incense smoke as a flavoring agent would also need to be
researched.
Liz
(still loving the period sources for spiced lemonade and funnel cakes)
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