Just In Time for Thanksgiving: A Medieval Recipe

Just In Time for Thanksgiving: A Medieval Recipe

Yesterday, while haunting the crowded aisles of a local thrift store, I was able to rescue a cookbook that struck my fancy. Lorna J. Sass' To The King's Taste, is a compilation of various medieval cookbooks that were used in the court of England's Richard II (AD 1367 - 1400). I immediately saw it was a fascinating treatise and as the thrift store is notorious for shredding books and making money from the recycled paper, I snatched it up and will be sending it to a friend who is involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA).

The cookbook contains some fascinating modern translations of various dishes that were literally fit to set before a king, comestibles with such fascinating names as Perrey of Peson (an exotic and sweetly flavored pea soup), Sawse Madame (a goose stuffed with garlic, fruit, and herbs), Tart de Brymlent (fruit and salmon pie), Aquapatys (boiled garlic), and Sambocade (elderflower cheesecake).

The work also goes into trivia about medieval meals such as Richard II's castle having a hearth big enough to roast an entire ox, and exotic spices were brought from very far corners of the world such as ginger, sandalwood, pepper, galingale, and a spice called cubeb, a small berry from Java that has a distinct flavor reminiscent of a cross between pepper and allspice.

However, for your upcoming Thanksgiving feast, or any feast in general, allow me to share with you one recipe from the book that sounds tantalizing: Connynge in Cyrip, better known as ...

I very much wish to try this dish, but I will attempt it with chicken instead of rabbit. By the bye, the 1/2 teaspoon of finely ground cubebs will most likely be difficult, if not impossible, to find. Instead, substitute 1/4 teaspoon of finely ground pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of finely ground allspice.

And for those poor souls that lack the time, finances, or expertise to tackle such an exotic dish, allow me to regale you with a medieval dish made specifically for peasants:

LOEWEN'S D*MN GOOD GRUEL

by Alan Loewen

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Imagine serving your family Loewen's D*mn Good Gruel this evening, sweeping into your dining room in a swirl of skirts and saying, "Tonight, we're all going to eat like pathetic, medieval peasants." and plopping tasty gruel into the earthenware bowls before them.

Well, this recipe is an authentic gruel recipe and is exactly how poor peasants lived under the crushing boots of their feudal overlords.

LOEWEN'S D*MN GOOD GRUEL

(serves 1 pathetic peasant)

1. Boil 1 pint of water.
2. While coming to a boil, mix 4 heaping tablespoons of the flour of your choice (wheat, rye, cornmeal) into COLD water, making a paste.
3. When the water comes to a boil, add the paste and stir.
4. Throw in a handful of raisins (we may be pathetic, but we ain't masochists)
5. Add a dash of salt to taste.
6. Reduce to simmer and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Serve with the sweetener of your choice to taste, and nutmeg and/or cinnamon. (Milk, soy milk, or rice milk is optional).

Now everybody knows that a good meal must have a good presentation, so it's best to give everybody a cue card with authentic medieval peasant conversation as follows:

• Now this is d*mn good gruel
• We (burned/hung/rode out of town on a rail) a (witch/Puritan/Popist) at (work/school) today.
• Scurvy? Let me tell you about scurvy!
• I'm so glad that gruel doesn't require teeth.
• I made 3 pence begging in front of the church today!
• You know, modern science says that demons are behind all headaches.
• Today, Old Lady Henicle turned me into a newt!
• The plague only took two of our neighbors today! 

Yes, I am a sick puppy, but the recipe does work as I've tried it and it does taste rather good, thank you very much.

RIP Fred Patten (1940-2018)

Early this morning, I received news that Fred Patten passed away at the age of 77 on Monday, November 12th. My relationship with Fred Patten was only through email correspondence, but if ever I had a personal, professional editor, it was Fred. 

I first became acquainted with Fred when I asked him if he would review Opal Wine for me and I was delighted when he said yes. The result was a wonderful review and one I am both grateful for and proud of and you can read it here.

Sometime later, he asked me to consider contributing to an anthology he was collecting and unfortunately life events prohibited any work toward his vision. However, in the ensuing anthologies, I worked with Fred on contributing three titles:

• To The Reader..., published in the anthology Gods With Fur (2016)
• The Shrine War, published in the anthology Dogs of War (2017)
• In Search of the Creators, published in the anthology Exploring New Places (2018)

It was The Shrine War that served as the biggest challenge to my career and Fred and I corresponded frequently over its creation. Throughout all the dialogues I had with him, Fred always remained professional, friendly, and polite and his recommendations for edits were always correct.

It was a delight working with Fred. He taught me a lot and I am very grateful that he was the one who inspired me to write The Shrine War. Up until now, Coventry House that was published in my Opal Wine collection has always been my best-known work. I believe that if my extended version of The Shrine War is ever published, that is the novel that will make my career and it will be dedicated to Fred Patten's memory.

In closing, a jaw-dropping list of his accomplishments is found here. 

#WIPJOY #31

What is my main character's favorite treat and her best trick?

Easy! Sen, being a kitsune and a servant of Inari Ōkami has, like all spirit foxes, an incredible weakness for rice.

Kitsune udon is udon with a fried tofu topping and their other favorite food is Inarizushi, fried tofu pockets stuffed with sushi rice. If ever you are visited by a kitsune, offer her these delectable treats and she may stay for awhile.

As far as a trick? In my story, all kitsune are able to cast illusions to fool the human mind. Case in point:

Quickly, (Christopher) snapped pictures barely taking thought to register what he pointed the lens at, but he snapped off several pictures in quick succession, capturing his hostess in a few of the shots. After taking fifty pictures, he scanned through them on the camera display when he came upon a photograph that centered on his host. 

Christopher felt the blood run from his face and a wave of fear and vertigo as he stared at the picture on the LCD. 

He looked up and saw Sen staring at him with a puzzled expression. “Are you well?” she asked. 

Christopher stared at the woman before him and then looked back down at the LCD on his camera. He flipped forward a few more pictures to where the shrine maiden again stood within the frame of the photograph. 

“All is well,” he stammered. “Arigatou gozaimasu, thank you so very much for allowing me to visit your shrine, but I must allow you to prepare for your special guests. You have been so kind.” 

He bowed and the miko bowed in return. He backed away a few steps before turning and walking out of the oratory, the LCD on his camera showing an anthropomorphic female fox clad in the garb of a shrine maiden, her nine tails sprouting prominently from behind.

The Trials of Being a Counselor to Lycanthropes

For the month of October, 2018, I gave myself a challenge: could I come up with a joke for every day in October centered on the theme of what it must be like to be a counselor for those poor shapeshifters who must put up with all sorts of indignities? Surely, they can use the help of a licensed counselor, no?

I will leave you as judge, jury, and executioner to judge how well I did.

#WIPJOY #30

So what would my characters in The Shrine War think about pumpkin spice?

Seriously, I do not think they would care for it. Traditionally, Japanese do not like very sweet foods and for those who have had their mochi and their ice cream would attest to this.

Even their Rabbit in the Moon Higashi (Wagashi Sugar) is mixed with soybean flour to kill the sweetness.

#WIPJOY #29

What does my main character think about the season of autumn?

Sen is a kitsune, intimately tuned into the seasons. I suppose she would love autumn just as much as the other seasons.

This is a kitsune who has watched the sunrise every morning, if the weather allowed, for the past 500 years. I think I portrayed very well she loves nature.

#WIPJOY #27/28

Today's challenge is to post a line about darkness or hope.

In the final section of The Shrine War entitled Incident at a Japanese Inn, the principals from the first two stories gather together to deal with a common problem. 

In the first section, I introduce Christopher Andrews, an American studying in Japan, and Liana, his kitsune housekeeper that eventually becomes his wife.

Before the events in Incident at a Japanese Inn become deadly, I introduce the couple who have come to the inn and put them into an idyllic scene to hint of hope after the terrible incidents that follow:

As Hoso emptied the luggage, Liana walked to the far wall and slid aside another paper door. 

The scene took Christopher’s breath away. A wooden platform served as a small porch that stood over a small steaming pond. Boulders partially covered in flowering vines lined the shore. 

In the middle of the pond, a large rock rose above the water. A small bonsai tree, its branches artistically trimmed and shaped, grew from its rocky support. 

“Isn’t the hot spring lovely?” Liana exclaimed. 

Christopher stared at the scene. Liana, standing with her three tails spread out behind her, added to the exquisite beauty of the view. 

This is the Japan that I have sought, Christopher thought, his heart suddenly aching from the vision before him. This is why I left my home to travel halfway across the world. This is what Lewis called the numinous. This is what I have always longed for. 

Liana turned and held out her hand. “Come, husband,” she said. “Come and share this with me.” 

Christopher smiled and taking Liana’s hand, drank in the conjoined enchantment of the spring and his exotic bride.