Thanksgiving is next week, and for those of us who love to cook, this is one of the absolute best times of year. And ever since I decided to explore medieval cuisine, I have been wanting to try new dishes, and so I have been collecting books on the subject (and not just Chelsea and Sariann’s awesome Game of Thrones cookbook). Thank goodness for ABE Books, or else I would never have been able to find many of these, or afford them once I did find them.
Tag: food
Happy Anniversary
Today is our 2nd wedding anniversary. Over the past week or so we’ve received cards, emails, voice mails, texts, and calls from family and friends wishing us a happy anniversary.
I suspect that some portion of this has to do with the fact that 1) Geoff was recently hospitalized and 2) our wedding is on Veteran’s Day weekend. Be that as it may, I’ll take it.
A quick note on history and food in ASOIAF
As I mentioned before, I have been doing a lot of experimenting with medieval recipes in recent years. And this includes trying many of the delicious-sounding foods from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. Thanks to the diligent work of Chelsea and Sariann, we ASOIAF fans have a fantastic resource to explore our foodie sides. Everything I have made from their website and their book has been delicious, so seriously, try making some of their recipes.
Recently, I noticed something about George’s books that I had not noticed before: an utter lack of potatoes, Irish or sweet. Now, at first glance this would seem to make sense, because they are both “New World” foods that would have been unknown to medieval Europe, which is the historical basis of much of Martin’s writing. Potatoes would not be introduced to Europe until the 16th century, when the Spanish brought them over. So no potatoes in Westeros, right? Makes sense, right?
Yes, it would… except that there are plenty of examples of other New World foods that are present in Westeros. So why include them but not potatoes?
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More things you should be reading right now
Geoff and I have been dealing with a pile of bureaucratic red tape so high that 1) we’re tired and 2) I know now how to spell bureaucratic without looking it up or using spell check. So, in lieu of real content I present you with More things you should be reading right now. All links are, as always, SFW.
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If you need clarification, just ask
In this day and age of food allergies and intolerances, you’d think that being a vegetarian would be pretty straightforward. Apparently, it’s still not. I’ve been a vegetarian for 25 years now and I still get people who are completely confused by what it means or who make assumptions about what I eat or don’t eat. Some of this is cultural, some of this is just dumb, and some of this is people who just aren’t thinking.
So, for those of you who are so inclined, I’ve written up a handy reference chart. Keep it where you keep the lists you consult when you’re trying to figure out what to make for the kosher vegan with the nut allergy when he comes over to visit. It’ll make life easier, I promise.
Trip to Newport, RI
My Uncle Paul and Aunt Pauline had their 50th Anniversary party this past weekend at the same place where they were married all those years ago. The name of the venue has changed, but the place is still there: OceanCliff.
It was the first time that I had been to Newport since high school, I think. And Kelly had not been there herself in at least a dozen years. So we both managed to get the day off in advance so we could go.
Cooking is too much fun.
I have been cooking historical recipes for many years, mostly stuff from 18th and 19th century America. I like cooking anyway, and as a historian I find that sort of thing interesting on several levels. More recently I have been trying to make medieval recipes, and so for the last few years I have started picking up some medieval cookbooks and reading some stuff online about it. It seems a lot more difficult, I think. And although I have managed to successfully make a few things (this spinach tart turned out really well, I think), I have just not found a lot of medieval recipes that really made me want to try them.
Until a few weeks ago, when Kelly got me A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook.
***42 emails and counting***
That was the title of the email I sent to Petflow.com yesterday morning at 7:45am when I realized that my inbox was inundated and it wasn’t showing signs of stopping.
Before I go on I should probably warn you, this is not one of my rants. This is a story about customer service. Good customer service.
Office supplies, a racist casserole dish, and Teri
Last week Teri and I found ourselves in the position of needing some things for the office. I made a shopping list and on Monday she did the ordering. Buying office supplies is one of the things I’ve never minded about the various administrative jobs I’ve had, it’s shopping with someone else’s money.
Anyway, who was more surprised than the two of us when we discovered that one of our usual vendors, the one that happened to have the best prices this time, was having a rather odd Gift With Purchase. A casserole dish.
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Singing Stones Jewelry this weekend!
I’m participating in two jewelry shows this weekend, please come and see me!
Saturday I’ll be a part of Somerville Open Studios at location #15. This is as a part of the Somerville Local Artists Market at The Burren in Davis Square. I’ll have my jewelry for sale and would love to see you there.
On Sunday I’ll be vending as a part of Harvard Square Mayfair. I’ll be on Church Street under a red tent near the bead store and Border Cafe. Please come and check out my cool new setup. There will be great food, vendors, music, and entertainment for the whole family.
The weather will be absolutely beautiful this weekend so please come out and enjoy all that Cambridge and Somerville have to offer. The hours both days are 12-6.
I hope to see you there.
~Kelly
The Books are Taking Over... 