[Sca-cooks] Jam (was Medieval Questionnaire)

[Phil Troy / G. Tacitus Adamantius]

On Oct 27, 2007, at 9:59 PM, ranvaig at columbus.rr.com wrote:

>> I disagree with their equating jam with jelly.  They aren't the  
>> same.  Jam
>> is definitely a later "invention".  Or, can anyone show me a "jam"  
>> recipe?
>>
> Rumpolt Confect 23. Ungarische Pflaumen Confect / es sei weiß oder  
> braun. Nimm die sauren Weichesl / und thu die Stengel darvon / setz  
> sie in einem Kessel auf dz Feuwer oder Kolen / und laß auf sieden /  
> denn sie geben von sich selbst Saft genug. Wenn sie kalt sein / so  
> streich sie durch ein Härin Tuch / thu sie in ein uberzindten  
> Fischkessel / und setz auf Kolen / laß sieden / und rürs umb / daß  
> nicht anbrennet. Und wenns halb eingesotten ist / so nimm  
> gestossenen Zimt und Nelken darunter / machs wohl süß mit Zucker /  
> und laß darmit sieden / biß wohl dick / setz hinweg / und laß kalt  
> werden / so kanstu es aufheben / so helt sichs ein Jar oder zwei.
>
> Hungarian Plum Preserves/ be it white or brown.  Take the sour  
> cherries/ and take the stems from it/ set them in a kettle over the  
> fire or coals/ and let simmer/ until they give from themselves  
> enough juice.  When it is cold then strain it through a hair cloth/  
> put them in a tinned fishkettle/ and set on coals/ let simmer/ and  
> stir up/ that it doesn't burn.  And when it is half cooked/ then  
> take a little ground cinnamon and cloves in it/ make well sweet with  
> sugar/ and let simmer together/ until it well thickened/ take away/  
> and let cool/ so you can lift it/ and keep it in a jar or two.
>
> Ok, 1581 for Rumpolt, while period, might not be "medieval".   
> Rumpolt has recipes for a number of other fruits confects too.  This  
> came out very jam-like, although I think it was probably meant to be  
> eaten as a spoon-sweet, rather than spread on bread.

Is there any really strong evidence that it's not a sliceable  
"lechemete" like the many quince, warden, and other fruit pastes you  
see all over France and England throughout period? I note that there's  
no mention of sugar proportions, and the use of the clause "so you can  
lift it".

I mean, this could be jam, but given that there don't seem to be a lot  
of contemporary jam recipes, and there are a lot of more or less  
contemporary recipes for fruit pastes, what are the odds?

Adamantius