The Joys and Woes of Hyperfocus?

So I mentioned at the Kappellenberg meeting that we were re-designing Erminespot… this process was expected to take something like a week. Well… I got interested. Which means it’s mostly up now. While most of the content hasn’t changed from the previous Erminespot, and the gallery is still a bit… fugly, there are a few [...]

Purple Gown – Tacuinum Sanitatis

Dress in the Italian Style

 
 
What, Where, When:

This dress is based on an image from the manuscript BNF Latine 1673[1], a Tacuinum  Sanitatis that was copied and illustrated in Milan around 1390-1400.

It is an overgown, intended to be worn over a second, supportive undergown with long sleeves.

 
 
 
 
Source:
The gown is based on manuscript BNF Latine 1673, [...]

Persona Pentathlon – 2007

Because I enjoy trying new things, my favorite yearly competition is Atlantia’s Persona Pentathlon. The rules are simple – 5 items in at least 3 categories, all related to a specific persona – but the scope of putting together that many items for a single event makes it a challenge.

In 2007, my entry was inspired [...]

Redacting Period Recipes

REDACTING PERIOD RECIPES:

What do we mean by “redaction?” From the Oxford English Dictionary 1st edition in 2 volumes, vol 2, pg 293:
Redact – past participle
1. Brought together in a written form (1432)
2. Brought or reduced into (in), to a state, condition, etc, or under one’s power (1432)
3. Of material things: Reduced to or into [...]

Battle of the Oranges – 2008

Menu:
1st Course:

A platter of greens, lightly dressed with oil , vinegar and herbs and ornamented with fresh fruits – Platina
Hand-made ravioli stuffed with cheese – Martino
Cold roast chicken with a variety of savory sauces – Martino
“Stuffed” eggs, lightly fried – Martino
An assortment of candied nuts – Platina

2nd course:

Roasted pork [...]

Baronial Champions – 2006

On July 8th, 2006, I was head cook for Windmasters’ Hill Baronial Champions.  There was no particular theme for the event; so I chose to honor the Baronage by choosing a course of dishes to match each of their personas – 14th century German for His Excellency Geoffrey, and 15th century Italian for Her Excellency [...]

Cameline Sauce, Three Ways

Introduction

Cameline sauces were popular throughout the 14th and 15th century, and were found in every French cookbook of the time. Cameline sauce could even be purchased from a saucemaker by those who did not care to make their own. Though these sauces shared a name, and a signature ingredient (cinnamon) they varied in many other [...]

Golden Chicken

Introduction

This entremet is based on two recipes from Le Viandier du Taillevent.
It was part of my 2007 Atlantian Pentathlon in Persona entry at the Kingdom Arts and Sciences Festival. For sources, please see the Pentathlon Bibliography.

Original Recipes

Glazings
An entremets for a feast day or for a princely banquet on [...]

A Haricot of Lamb

Introduction

This slightly sour stew of mutton, parsley and onions is from the French cookbook Le Recuil de Riom, which dates from 1466.
It was part of my 2007 Atlantian Pentathlon in Persona entry at the Kingdom Arts and Sciences Festival. For sources, please see the Pentathlon Bibliography.

Original Recipe

Ung haricot de mouton [...]

Gilded Beef Pie

Introduction

 
The Canton of Nimenefeld holds an annual event, Cattle Raids, at which one of the competitions is “Best Celtic Use of a Cow”. This pie was entered at Celtic Cattle Raids 4, and ended up winning this category.I hadn’t originally intended to enter this competition, which is why the documentation for this entry was a [...]