[Sca-cooks] Sugar production

Mon Jul 31 11:33:09 PDT 2006

A couple of questions about sugar:

Has anyone read of how sugar was produced from cane written/described by someone (in period) in a letter somewhere?

Has anyone tried to grow or otherwise produce their own sugar using period methods to acertain how close the various sugars available to us modernly are to period sugars?

Have you seen any paintings or drawings by artists in period which might show the production of sugar?

Thank you for any help.  
Kateryn de Develyn
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> Today's Topics: 
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> 1. Re: Cooking contest (Sue Clemenger) 
> 2. Re: Summer foods...including Gumbo recipe (Sue Clemenger) 
> 3. The Wooden Spoon ... was cooking competition (Georgia Foster) 
> 4. Re: straw bales at Pennsic (Stephanie Ross) 
> 5. Re: filet powder (Stephanie Ross) 
> 6. Re: filet powder (ranvaig at columbus.rr.com) 
> 7. Re: filet powder (ranvaig at columbus.rr.com) 
> 8. Re: filet powder (Stephanie Ross) 
> 9. have more fun at pennsic, was Pennsic question 
> (Kirsten Houseknecht) 
> 10. pennsci hay (Kirsten Houseknecht) 
> 
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> 
> Message: 1 
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 06:53:43 -0600 
> From: "Sue Clemenger" 
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Cooking contest 
> To: "Cooks within the SCA" 
> Message-ID: <000401c6b4a0$5c3ff420$15bfa6d8 at pavilion> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" 
> 
> There's also a purely informal, old "award" dating back to our days as a 
> principality, which was called the "Wooden Spoon." (award, not 
> principality) They were given out for a while by the prince and/or princess 
> as a sort of ataboy for really good feasts. I have two. 
> In Artemisia, our kingdom-wide competitions are all still largely predicated 
> on the format in place when we were still part of Atenveldt. We don't have 
> principalities at this time, so those aren't applicable. Local competitions 
> and special competitions vary more widely. 
> --Maire 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Sharron Albert" 
> To: "Cooks within the SCA" 
> Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2006 10:12 PM 
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Cooking contest 
> 
> 
> > >Here in the West, our A&S competitions have specific themes and 
> > >usually, although not always, a specific skill. Rarely to we get as 
> > >general a topic as one coming up soon: Viking ornamentation (any 
> > >technique). Usually there are more focused - (to be completely 
> > >random, oh, say, 14th century woodworking). 
> > > 
> > >snippage 
> > 
> > >I continue to do this as Silver Spoon, and it is done at the Kingdom 
> > >level in both A&S and Wooden Spoon, because our A&S and our cooking 
> > >competitions often have so few entries. 
> > > 
> > >We also have cooking competitions in our Principalities - Silver 
> > >Spoon for the Mists, Copper Spoon for Cynagua, the Silver Ulu for 
> > >Oertha. 
> > >-- 
> > >Urtatim (that's err-tah-TEEM) 
> > >the persona formerly known as Anahita 
> > 
> > Actually, the Silver Ulu in Oertha is not a cooking competition 
> > award, but rather an award to someone who has a certain level of 
> > knowledge of period cooking. They often have planned and executed 
> > feasts at local and principality level, and share their knowledge 
> > both formally and informally. 
> > 
> > I am by no means as expert as many of you on this list, but was an 
> > early recipient of a Silver Ulu, for fostering period cooking when we 
> > just learning about it, back in the dark days before emai lists (G). 
> > 
> > Morgana yr Oerfa 
> > Baroness Winter's Gate 
> > _______________________________________________ 
> > Sca-cooks mailing list 
> > Sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org 
> > http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/sca-cooks-ansteorra.org 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------ 
> 
> Message: 2 
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 06:56:34 -0600 
> From: "Sue Clemenger" 
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Summer foods...including Gumbo recipe 
> To: "Cooks within the SCA" 
> Message-ID: <000d01c6b4a0$c16003e0$15bfa6d8 at pavilion> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" 
> 
> Oh, probably. Possibly. At multiple times the cost, and not nearly as 
> fresh. It'd depend on the grocery store. Butterfly Herbs is just 
> easier--things available in bulk, plus they've got the best coffee in town. 
> ;o) 
> --Maire, definitely partial to their House Blend coffee....mmmm.... 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Stefan li Rous" 
> To: "SCA-Cooks maillist SCA-Cooks" 
> Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2006 11:13 PM 
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Summer foods...including Gumbo recipe 
> 
> 
> > Mairie commented: 
> > <<< Hmmm....that looks like it might be good for our next guild 
> > night. Does it 
> > reheat okay? >>> 
> > 
> > More or less. The okra tends to get squishy-ier. But then I prefer my 
> > okra that way compared to crunchy. 
> > 
> > <<< I've heard about gumbo, but never really actually eaten it. We 
> > have a tiny little restaurant in town that does cajun and creole 
> > stuff, but I haven't been in in years. >>> 
> > 
> > Gumbo can be found frozen and canned in the stores, although it isn't 
> > is good as fresh. 
> > 
> > <<< They're in the back of this dive bar, and 
> > there's an awful lot of cigarette smoke.... >>> 
> > 
> > Yes, I was rather happy when Austin eliminated the smoking from bars 
> > and such as well as the restaurants. There's a bar here, Texas Chili 
> > Parlor, which serves excellent chili and chili enchiladas and such, 
> > but I didn't like the smoke and it was pretty impossible for my wife. 
> > So, now we can go there again. 
> > 
> > <<< --Maire, who can get file powder at her local herb store 
> > (Butterfly-- 
> > same place I buy my coffee, cubebs, and grains of paradise....) >>> 
> > 
> > It's not available with the other spices in your local grocery store? 
> > I guess we're closer to Louisiana, although we are still five hours 
> > away. What else is file powder used in? Gumbo is about all I can 
> > think of, right now. 
> > 
> > Stefan 
> > -------- 
> > THLord Stefan li Rous Barony of Bryn Gwlad Kingdom of Ansteorra 
> > Mark S. Harris Austin, Texas 
> > StefanliRous at austin.rr.com 
> > **** See Stefan's Florilegium files at: http://www.florilegium.org **** 
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________ 
> > Sca-cooks mailing list 
> > Sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org 
> > http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/sca-cooks-ansteorra.org 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------ 
> 
> Message: 3 
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 08:47:09 -0600 
> From: "Georgia Foster" 
> Subject: [Sca-cooks] The Wooden Spoon ... was cooking competition 
> To: sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org 
> Message-ID: 
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed 
> 
> We have an informal award called the Wooden Spoon ... but it is for 
> something entirely different. Our wooden spoon is given to one who stirs up 
> .... something else. 
> 
> Yep ... I have one. 
> 
> Cheers 
> 
> Malkin 
> 
> 
> 
> Jo (Georgia L.) Foster 
> jo_foster81 at hotmail.com 
> 
> Never knock on death's door........ Ring the doorbell and run. He hates 
> that. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------ 
> 
> Message: 4 
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 11:05:15 -0400 
> From: "Stephanie Ross" 
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] straw bales at Pennsic 
> To: "SCA-Cooks" 
> Message-ID: <410-22006713115515218 at earthlink.net> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII 
> 
> <> bed, I sewed up a tablecloth into a bag, bought the straw bale when I 
> got there, broke it up and stuffed the bag with that for my mattress. 
> Smaller than an air mattress and no distressing "hisssssss." in the 
> middle of some night at Pennsic.>> 
> 
> I bought two hay bales and slept on them intact at Pennsic. I loved it 
> actually. The bales kept me dry and up off the ground and weren't terribly 
> uncomfortable. Once again, I can only imagine the cleanup after several 
> hundred hay bales were used. (Maybe they should have used them to fill in 
> the hot-tub hole. :P Peoples' stupidity never ceases to amaze me, the 
> hot-tub hole diggers I mean). Speaking of Pennsic, my lord said that he 
> thinks the Coopers hold a biker rally right after Pennsic that actually has 
> more attendees than we do. It must be quite a scramble to clean up after us 
> in time for the rally! 
> 
> ~Aislinn~ 
> Et si omnes ego non. 
> 
> "The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the 
> first and only legitimate object of good government." --Thomas Jefferson to 
> Maryland Republicans, 1809. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------ 
> 
> Message: 5 
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 11:07:53 -0400 
> From: "Stephanie Ross" 
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] filet powder 
> To: "SCA-Cooks" 
> Message-ID: <410-22006713115753500 at earthlink.net> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII 
> 
> Aislinn asked: 
> <<< Does anyone know exactly what is in filet powder? It shouldn't be 
> hard to make our own.>>> 
> 
> Dried fish and meat? :-) 
> 
> er, Stefan 
> 
> To the rock with you!!, sternly pointing and tapping her foot. 
> 
> LOL 
> ~Aislinn~ 
> Et si omnes ego non. 
> 
> "The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the 
> first and only legitimate object of good government." --Thomas Jefferson to 
> Maryland Republicans, 1809. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------ 
> 
> Message: 6 
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:00:23 -0400 
> From: ranvaig at columbus.rr.com 
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] filet powder 
> To: Cooks within the SCA 
> Message-ID: 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" 
> 
> >Aislinn asked: 
> > <<< Does anyone know exactly what is in filet powder? It shouldn't be 
> >hard to make our own.>>> 
> > 
> >Dried fish and meat? :-) 
> > 
> Powdered lace?? 
> 
> Ranvaig 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------ 
> 
> Message: 7 
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:03:12 -0400 
> From: ranvaig at columbus.rr.com 
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] filet powder 
> To: hlaislinn at earthlink.net, Cooks within the SCA 
> 
> Message-ID: 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" 
> 
> >Aislinn asked: 
> ><<< Does anyone know exactly what is in filet powder? It shouldn't be 
> >hard to make our own.>>> 
> > 
> >Dried fish and meat? :-) 
> > 
> >er, Stefan 
> > 
> >To the rock with you!!, sternly pointing and tapping her foot. 
> 
> Heading to the rock, myself.. but sticking out my tongue 
> 
> Ranvaig 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------ 
> 
> Message: 8 
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:36:18 -0400 
> From: "Stephanie Ross" 
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] filet powder 
> To: "ranvaig at columbus.rr.com" , "SCA-Cooks" 
> 
> Message-ID: <410-220067131163618921 at earthlink.net> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII 
> 
> Now why are you heading for the rock? Is there a party on that I didn't 
> know about? Are they serving steak and fish filets? It's lunch time and I'm 
> hungry... 
> 
> Aislinn 
> 
> 
> > >Aislinn asked: 
> > ><<< Does anyone know exactly what is in filet powder? It shouldn't be 
> > >hard to make our own.>>> 
> > > 
> > >Dried fish and meat? :-) 
> > > 
> > >er, Stefan 
> > > 
> > >To the rock with you!!, sternly pointing and tapping her foot. 
> > 
> > Heading to the rock, myself.. but sticking out my tongue 
> > 
> > Ranvaig 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------ 
> 
> Message: 9 
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:03:43 -0400 
> From: "Kirsten Houseknecht" 
> Subject: [Sca-cooks] have more fun at pennsic, was Pennsic question 
> To: , "Cooks within the SCA" 
> 
> Message-ID: <00a301c6b4c3$e88cc5c0$7b603cd1 at netaxs.com> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" 
> 
> i get crowd phobic as well, and have lethal allergies to cigarette smoke..so 
> any large event is a bit stressful for me. 
> that said......(in no order) 
> 
> 1. try to have a car or ride available. one trip into town per week for 
> fresh food and air conditioning can make a big difference in your mood. 
> 
> 2. try to find a way to pack a "treat" of some kind. In my case its sugar 
> free sweets. For others its fresh bread.. for some folks its clean sheets. 
> whatever. 
> 
> 3. bring clothes enough for any weather, and bring enough under things that 
> you dont *have* to do laundry. you can wear the same outerwear every day 
> and still feel ok if you have clean under things, chemises, and etc. I try 
> to never do laundry at Pennsic. those little hand crank washers do work for 
> undies and stuff...... 
> 
> 4. beg, borrow, buy a *large* tent, preferably a period one. and get a rain 
> fly for it if you can. they are loads more comfie than any modern tent. 
> but even a modern tent is better if you have one whole room that becomes 
> your "dressing" room. 
> I camped for years in a two room tent where each side had room for a queen 
> bed. one side was the "bedroom" and the other was the "living room" where i 
> kept my clothes, and a chair, and my stuff. 
> 
> 5. ditch the kids, or pool resources with another bunch of parents so you 
> all get time off. also dont forget the kids area of Pennsic. 
> (if you take kids, keep them well hydrated. dehydration makes kids even 
> whinier!) 
> 
> 6. pack everything in plastic tubs, that way you dont stress if it rains. 
> 
> 7. keep dry clothes in the car, or seperate from your main stuff. 
> 
> 8. offer to work at a merchant booth that you like. people come to *you* 
> and you have a table between you and them most times. (this is one reason i 
> merchant. i stay in my comfort zone in familar environs, and my friends come 
> see ME) 
> 
> 9. lemon drink. its a good thing. they will make you a lime one if you 
> bring them the lime. they will make it with your own sweetener if you bring 
> it too! 
> 
> 10. watch your health. you will not have a good time if your health is 
> suffering. 
> 
> 
> and remember, you *always* hear more complaints than compliments about 
> anything. check out how many people go back every year.. look at how many 
> people travel how far to go every year..... 
> Kirsten Houseknecht 
> Fabric Dragon 
> kirsten at fabricdragon.com 
> www.fabricdragon.com 
> http://fabricdragon.livejournal.com/ 
> 
> Philadelphia, PA USA 
> Trims, Amber, Jet, Jewelry, and more... 
> 
> Before you leave the house: hat, water, medication if needed 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------ 
> 
> Message: 10 
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:24:07 -0400 
> From: "Kirsten Houseknecht" 
> Subject: [Sca-cooks] pennsci hay 
> To: 
> Message-ID: <00ff01c6b4c6$bc312720$7b603cd1 at netaxs.com> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" 
> 
> sorry if this is a bit odd, the cat is trying to help me type... 
> 
> two things about hay, since *most* sites do not allow outside hay to be 
> brought in... 
> 
> 1. its a pain to clean up, and takes ages to rot unless it si properly 
> composted. you really want to know exactly who has hay in their camp. 
> 
> 2.hay, firewood, etc. can harbor dangerous bugs. at one of the camps i go 
> to in indiana, they refuse to let any firewood in or out. the reason is 
> some wood beetle that is devatstating forests. they dont allow hay from 
> outside either since it can harbor bad bugs too.... by saying you can only 
> buy this from *us* and we want to know your camp, they can destroy any of 
> the leftover, as well as ensure it comes from a clean source. 
> 
> by the by, given the beetle problem, i expect to see a firewood restriction 
> soon, and it wont be the "coopers" fault.. it will be to protect their 
> trees. 
> Kirsten Houseknecht 
> Fabric Dragon 
> kirsten at fabricdragon.com 
> www.fabricdragon.com 
> http://fabricdragon.livejournal.com/ 
> 
> Philadelphia, PA USA 
> Trims, Amber, Jet, Jewelry, and more... 
> 
> Before you leave the house: hat, water, medication if needed 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------ 
> 
> _______________________________________________ 
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> 
> End of Sca-cooks Digest, Vol 3, Issue 81 
> **************************************** 