issue 7 | page 5 16. march 2008 AD
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In a Medieval Kitchen...
Smoke Kitchen

The nickname for many Medieval Kitchens was quite literately a Smoke Kitchen.

Houses would only have a small hole in the roof, which could be covered when needed to prevent rain from falling straight through, however this also meant any smoke wasn't forced up a single location and often spread throughout the entire room.

Heat was controlled by adjusting the pot's position on top of the fire, obviously the further away it was the lower the heat, and the closer, the greater the heat.

However this also further lead to problems with smoke, as a higher heat meant the smoke was more likely to spread over the room close to the ground increasing the risk of fire as well, but a lower heat meant it was just spreading out throughout the room at a head-height, often causing people to choke, or bump into things because they couldn't see.

Both often lead to the fire since people may have also bumped into where they were cooking, thus their clothes starting to burn and the fire to spread.

It wasn't until much later that Chimneys were invented, and fireplaces moved to a particular corner of a room then sealed around so the smoke was physically forced to move up into the chimney and out, although this also lead to problems of a lack of heat for the homes, since for many cooking also meant warmth, which would also be trapped in the smoke keeping the whole home warm even overnight.

In some ways we could say the homeless had a far safer life, they would cook their food over an open fire in the middle of a clearing, or close to a river; much like we do today when camping.

The advantage was that there was very little, or nothing around that could catch fire, thus greatly reducing that risk, and any smoke would just be blown away by the wind.
The warmth from the fire would have kept them warm even in a cold gust, and it would safely burn out over night.

The real downside of such however is the lack of protection from the elements, not to mention wild animals .. an untamed wilderness. Many would also be arrested by city guards for sleeping on land that was deemed to be owned as well.


This Day in Medieval History
16th February

1072: Death of Adalbert

Ambitious and zealous, Adalbert served as the archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen guardian and tutor to Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV.


Quotations in History

"Was this the face that launched a thousand ships?"

Christopher Marlowe, 1593





"Sowpys Dorry"
Onion Soup with Toast

Serves 4 Persons

● 4 Medium onions
● ½ Olive oil
● 3 Cups dry white wine
1/3rd Cup ground almonds
2 Slices white bread
● 3 Cups water
A stock mixture can also be used, and really brings out flavour.

Optional

● Grated cheese (any)
● 2 Tablespoons flour
● Salt to taste
 


Preparation & Cooking:

Begin by adding the ground onions into one cup of wine, and leave to soak.

Peel and chop the onions thinly into rings, then separate.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the newly chopped onions, cooking over a low heat for 20 minutes, or until golden and soft.

Optional: Pour the flour onto the onions, and stir to coat.
Not called for in the original recipe, but more modern adaptations use this to bring out the flavour in the onion.

Transfer the onions from the saucepan to a pot, including the oil, then add the remaining two cups of Wine, and either Water or Stock mixture.

Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce heat and cover, leaving to simmer for 20 minutes.

After about 10 minutes bring out four small bowls and set to one side. Place the bread slices under a grill to lightly toast on both sides, halve and set to one side.

Optional: If desired before cutting the toast add grated cheese and return to the grill to melt the cheese before cutting in half, then set to one side.

With the toast complete it should now be time to check on the cooking Pan. Add in Almond mixture and a small pinch of Salt (if desired), and bring to a boil again.

Turn down the heat to simmer for a further 5 minutes.
Once completed spoon out the mixture into the four bowls, and add one piece of the toasted bread on top of the soup mixture.

It may not sound particularly appealing but is actually quite a tasty dish, one you can also find in certain French restaurants.
Those who like Onion Soup are recommended to try this recipe.

 

Source: fooddownunder
Image Source: 'myvegetableblog'


If you have cooked one of the medieval dishes shown here in the Regnum Journal then we would like to know your opinions and thoughts on the recipes!
Just send in your thoughts and comments, links to pictures are also welcome, to the Journal with the subject Recipe Feedback.
Please state the recipe name, and journal edition within the message.

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