[Sca-cooks] Not bagels, pretzels

[Gretchen Beck]

FWIW, here's what the OED says about the etymology of the word pretzel, 
which encompasses both words and definitions used here. It sounds like the 
argument is "what is the nearest modern equivalent" rather than "what is 
this thing really":

[< German Bretzel kind of bread roll, made from a thin length of dough 
twisted into a knot and coated with brine before baking (now usu. Brezel; 
Old High German as brzila, Middle High German brzel, przel, przile) < 
post-classical Latin bracellus kind of cake or biscuit (12th cent.), 
shortened < an unattested post-classical Latin form *brachiatellus (cf. 
post-classical Latin bracidelli (plural) bakery items (in an undated 
glossary)) < classical Latin brachitus, bracchitus BRACHIATE adj. (cf. 
post-classical Latin braciatus (noun) kind of cake eaten on monastic 
holidays (11th cent.)) + -ellus -ELLUS suffix; so called on account of the 
resemblance to folded arms. Cf. Italian bracciello a kind of cake, simnel, 
or biscuit (1598 in Florio).
  Cf. (< post-classical Latin *brachiatellus) Old High German brzitella, 
Old Occitan bressadel, brassadel kind of ring-shaped cake (1480; Occitan 
braçadèl type of cake made with eggs, cake in the shape of a braid), 
Italian bracciatello kind of ring-shaped cake (second half of the 15th 
cent., also as bracciatella).
  The English form with initial p- prob. represents a perception of the 
unaspirated pronunciation of b- in regional German (south.).]

toodles, margaret

--On Thursday, May 03, 2007 3:50 PM -0400 Mairi Ceilidh 
<jjterlouw at earthlink.net> wrote:

> With all due respect to His Grace, Master Cariadoc, I must, as I did when
> we had this discussion at Pennsic two years ago, disagree with his
> interpretation of the translation of this recipe.  I am not the person who
> taught the class referenced here, but I have translated, researched,
> interpreted and prepared this recipe.  I did an Art/Sci entry based on it
> some years ago.
>
> My main concern is the necessity to leave the language in which to recipe
> was originally written, and go elsewhere to stretch an association of
> words.
>
> In the 1611 edition of John Florio's Italian/English dictionary, which
> uses Messisbugo's Libre Novo (the book in which thich recipe is
> published) as a word source, we find a reference to the word brazzetto
> which sends us to the alternates spelling braccietto.  Braccietto
> translates to "a little arm" or "bracer".  The OED tells us that a bracer
> is something that goes around the arm as a protector (loosely interpreted
> from multiple references).  The circular form of a bagel is much more
> likely to match this definition than the multi-twist form of a pretzel.
> Extend the search to other forms of the word in Florio's dictionary and
> we find Bracciatillo, a kind of roule or bisket bread, we call them round
> simnels.
>
> It seems obvious that it is not necessary to go outside the Italian
> language to discern what Messisbugo is making in this recipe.  Rolls
> formed in a circle.  Maybe not bagels, but certainly not pretzels.
>
> Actually, it doesn't matter what you call the things.  They are good, and
> well worth the effort to make.  Here is my interpretation of the recipe:
>
> Brazzatelle Di Latte, E Zuccaro
>
> Modern Redaction (as I interpreted the translation and prepared the
> recipe)
>
> 4 pounds bread flour
> 1 ½ T. rose water
> 1C. milk
> ¾ C. sugar
> 6 large eggs
> 2T. butter
> 2 t. salt
> 1 T. active dry yeast
> 1C. warm water
> Several pinches anise seeds (optional)
>
> Dissolve yeast in 1 C. warm water and set aside.
> Scald the milk in a small saucepan, add the butter and allow to melt, 	add
> the rosewater and cool.
> In a large bowl, beat the eggs well.  Add the yeast and milk mixtures and
> stir well.
> Add about 4 cups of flour and the salt to the liquid mixture.  Stir until
> roughly combined; continue adding flour, about a cup at the time until it
> is difficult to stir.  Turn onto a floured surface and knead until the
> dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, adding flour if needed.
> Leave the dough to rise, punch down.  Cut dough into 4 ounce pieces.
> Shape each piece as you like; preferably roll into a rope about 12 inches
> long, joining the ends to make a ring.  Place the rolls on an oiled
> baking sheet and allow to rise for 45 minutes, or until about double in
> size. Preheat the oven to 400 F.  Heat a large pot fill with water to a
> simmer. Boil the rolls, four to six at the time (do not let them be
> crowded in the pot) for about five minutes on each side, or until they
> are well puffed and float.  Place the boiled rolls on an oiled baking
> sheet, sprinkle with anise seeds, if desired.  Bake for 40 minutes, or
> until golden brown.
>
> If anyone would like a copy of my documentation, which is four years old
> and possibly not as detailed as it might be were I writing it today,
> please contact me with your email address.  It is in a word document
> which I can send as an attachment.
>
> Mairi Ceilidh
>
>
>
> Messibugio has a recipe which I originally encountered in a class at
> Pennsic some years ago, with the title translated as "Bagels of milk
> and sugar." The italian original is "Brazzatelle di latte, e
> zuccaro." When we tried the recipe, it occurred to me that the
> process--boil then bake--could describe either bagels or pretzels, as
> would the implication of some specific (but not stated) shape. And
> the name could be related to "bracelets" for bagels, or to "pretzel."
>
> It finally occurred to me to check the etymology of "pretzel."
>
> "[German Brezel, Pretzel, from Middle High German bremacr.gifzel,
> premacr.gifzel, from Old High German brezitella, ...
>
> I think that's close enough to establish a strong presumption that
> it's a pretzel recipe.
> --
> David/Cariadoc
> www.daviddfriedman.com
>
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