Back in the saddle again

Okay, not a horseman, which I’m sure relieves a number of equines out there, but the saying holds true. I put this blog on hold for a while because of the fire we had in Paradise, CA, where I live. And yeah, like most of the town, it got my home too. But we got out okay, got our animals, and things have been moving apace since that day. Thanks for asking! And yes, in short, the house will be rebuilt, and we have a decent place to stay while waiting for the cleanup and rebuilding happens.

But on with the show. You’re here because you are interested in assorted arts and sciences, especially medieval ones, and especially medieval cooking. Because that’s what I do. I just haven’t done it much of late (let’s be honest, living in a 24′ RV trailer does not lend itself well to medieval cookery. But that’s over with now.)

So here’s what I’m thinking about. What’s do I need to rebuild my period kitchen? And yes, I know, I could do a creditable job of just using pots and pans out of a modern normal kitchen, and it would be “fine”, but…where’s the challenge in that? First, cookbooks! I will say that thanks to friends, family, insurance, and the modern miracle of online booksellers, I have rebuilt a LOT of my period cookbook collection. It really helps to know what’s worth spending money on, and what isn’t.

So, recipes…check. Next up, a cooking surface. I’m not going to get around to building a cooking hearth for a while. I think the landlord would object to my piling up lots of bricks on my balcony or out on the lawn. Fortunately, this particular apartment complex has some permanent barbecues and picnic tables for the residents. Eventually, I want to get a fire table, to take camping and the like (an example: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZZPHNV1/?coliid=I1PVIGAD7GXMFC&colid=1URQMZEFK4TJY&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it. )

Yes, I love my heavy duty firebox, and it survived the fire, kind of, but the odds are pretty good it picked up some contaminants from the fire. It also weighed a TON. The fire table above can handle 3-4 pipkins, or fewer with a small grill, it has a windscreen, and they make storage bags for them too. It’s also a good height for standing and cooking. So, put that on the list.

So, cookware. I know I’m entirely capable of collecting the entire output of several potters, but I need to remain sensible of the need to store this stuff, as well as getting to the places I’m going to cook with it. I think one large pot (say, about two or three quarts or liters), and maybe two smaller pipkins about one and a half quarts/liters. Those are the sizes I use most often, and lend themselves well to the recipes I recreate, as well as serving up enough food for everyone to have some. If they don’t have legs, I need metal trivets for them (I think the big one works best with a trivet). All of those need lids, possibly wooden. I’d add a small flattish baking dish, like the Spanish cazuela, and a small ceramic frying pan, maybe 8 inches across. A small 9″X9″ grill, raised on legs a couple inches high is essential. I already have a small cast iron cauldron-style pot with wooden lid. Yes, I know, cast iron. But until I can get cast bronze…you use what you have to. And I really, really want a riveted cauldron. I know an amazing blacksmith who can make one, maybe a gallon in size, but it won’t be cheap–it’s a lot of effort on his part to shape those bits so they don’t leak.

On to utensils and tools. A cook isn’t a cook without a knife. At least at first, I’ll be able to use my SCA belt knife, but eventually I’ll want some larger and more specialized cutlery. Of course, I might come across what I’m looking for at some event merchant, but if not, the knives (and some of the other utensils) that you can get at https://www.townsends.us/collections/utensils are pretty nice, and a reasonably period style. for other things, like a skimmer, I’ll probably see a blacksmith or two I know. So, yes, a chef’s knife, paring knife, a heavy chopper…and then a skimmer, ladle, a few spoons, flesh hook and a flattish wooden spatula. As large a cutting board as I can fit into my storage space (probably the bag for the fire table), a few wooden mixing bowls, a mortar and pestle (or two). Oh, and a few ceramic cups. My friend Wulfric already has given me some small ceramic bowls with measurements on them (useful when redacting recipes for later use). Flour sack towels have 101 uses around the kitchen, and heavy leather gloves for moving hot stuff around. Tongs and a poker for the coals. A thick wooden dowel to roll out dough. And I’m thinking about how I’d have to modify that fire table to hold removable brackets to hold a small spit, because there are some recipes…now I’m drooling.

Under modern necessities, dish soap, a few scrubbers, a bus tub (to wash dishes in) and, of course, a few more towels. Maybe a small vial of bleach. A small wire brush and small ash brush. Because you should always be ready to wash up.

Last as I bring this to a close…something to put it all in, that will fit into whatever I end up using to store this between uses, and on the way to and from camping events.

It’s nice to be back. Anything you all can think of that I forgot?