The more well-to-do would enjoy spices such as pepper, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg, saffron, grains of paradise, cloves, ginger, and galangal.Their foods were more often flavored with onions, garlic, and herbs like parsley and sage that they could grow in their garden or forage for in the fields and woods. One exception was rabbits-a peasant caught poaching rabbits was subject to only a small fine. Peasants who poached game on these reserves might even be put to death if caught. The homes of the nobility often had “deer parks,” which were wooded areas where the gentry could hunt for sport and food.These birds were far more valuable as egg-producers than as meat for the table. Many households raised chickens, ducks, or geese for eggs and eventually for meat, but only after they had stopped laying.The liquid collected was used as a substitute for milk in soups, main dishes, and desserts. Instead of fresh milk, some wealthier households used nut milk- ground almonds or walnuts boiled and strained through a sieve. So milk was made into cheese that had a shelf life of several months. Fresh milk did not last long in the Middle Ages because there was no refrigeration.Manchet, or white bread made from wheat, was usually only eaten by the wealthy. The stale bread could also be cut into thick slices and used as plates called trenchers. When it got stale, it was crumbled and used to thicken soups and stews. Brown bread made from rye, barley, or oats was eaten in most homes on a regular basis.A staple food of the poor was called pottage-a stew made of oats and garden vegetables with a tiny bit of meat in it, often thickened with stale bread crumbs. In medieval times the poorest of the poor might survive on garden vegetables, including peas, onions, leeks, cabbage, beans, turnips (swedes), and parsley.As promised, today I’m going to share a few things I’ve learned about food and cooking during the Middle Ages. In last week’s blog I shared a little bit about my family history with food that was inspired by work on my second Sir Kaye book, The Lost Castle Treasure.
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