World building and theories of Engage
The dishes of Brodia come in these categories:
Celebratory dishes - Sour cream congee
Cheap recipes which can use leftovers or cheap ingredients - meat pie.
Preserving recipes - oatmeal
Exotic dishes - chicken tomato curry.
Crisp bread - Crispbread can also be known as 'Glasgow morning rolls' or 'Scottish rolls'. They are very light and airy, and very, very crispy on the outside. Some people prefer almost black and in very odd differing shapes. The lifespan of these rolls is 24 hours so they must be eaten fresh. Some people eat them for breakfast while others make sandwiches with them. They are not the healthiest dining option but they are a well loved Scottish tradition. People make hot filled rolls with them which can include: square sausage, black pudding, bacon, potato scone or egg. Sometimes they are eaten with a very thick layer of butter. They can be made easily and cheaply which makes them perfect common folk food.
Sour cream congee - Congee is normally made with rice so I believe that this recipe is closer to rommegrot rather than congee. Rommegrot is a traditional Norwegian recipe meaning 'sour cream porridge '. Romme means 'sour cream' and grit means 'porridge'. It has a thick consistency and is often eaten with butter, cinnamon, sugar or cured meats. Traditionally it was eaten at celebrations including weddings and births, however it was not uncommon for peasant families to eat a plain version several days a week as a staple part of their diet.
Crepe pancakes - The recipe is very similar to Scotch pancakes. In some parts of Scotland they are known as 'dropped scones'. They are different to French and English crepes because they are smaller, thicker and slightly risen. Traditionally they were eaten before lent to use up ingredients to avoid waste. The common folk would make them to use up ingredients before they spoil.
Jam cake - This recipe seems to be based on Albert cake. This came has a short crust pastry base, jam and a light and fluffy sponge. It was a cake created in the Victorian era and made after Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert.
Tree cake - This recipe is for Sakotis ('Tree cake) which is a layered cake made on a spit. It is a celebration cake which takes a lot of time to make. It is often decorated with sugar iced flowers or chocolate. This is not an everyday cake in Brodia, unlike jam cake and crepe pancakes.
Fish Dango - Dango is a species of fish but the recipe doesn't suggest that it is a recipe solely for this species. The recipe suggests this is battered fish, a popular dish and chip shop meal. You will find a fish and chip shop in every high street in the UK. The original recipe comes from Spanish and Portuguese Jews. In the 15th century Judaism was outlawed in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. The Jews fled to Portugal. In 1496 King Manuel I mandated the expulsion or baptizing of Jews. The Jews fled to the UK where they introduced their version of fried fish. The Jews preferred their battered fish cold. It is a way to preserve fish.
Cheese wedge - This is just a big slice of cheese. Random cheese fact; the British are the most lactose persistent population in the world. Cheese was an important source of animal protein in the diet of mediaeval commoners, for people who could not afford meat, it was the only source. The byproduct of a cheese wedge could be used to make whey cheeses.
Oatmeal - This is a porridge recipe. Oats have been grown in Scotland since late medieval times. There was no way to preserve oats, so they were turned into a paste and stored in a wooden drawer. The paste porridge would be eaten for a few days until it hardened, then it was eaten in thick slices.
Baked potato - Potatoes, also known as 'earth apples' changed from being an exotic ingredient only nobles sampled in the 16th century to a household staple in the 18th century. Generally it was recommended to serve them with butter or cream.
Nut compote - Candied nuts could be an alternate name for this dish. Compote comes from the Latin word 'compositus', meaning 'mixture'. In medieval medicine it was believed that sugar syrup balanced out the effects of humidity on the body. At a feast compote would be served at the beginning of the last course of a feast.
Traveler's egg - This is a recipe for Scotch egg. There is debate about the origins of the Scotch egg, Yorkshire and India are two of the potential origins. From the name 'Traveler's why's I gather the origin of choice is that it was created by luxury food sellers Fortnum & Mason in 1738 as a quick and convenient snack for city folk travelling to their country homes.
Chicken tomato curry - This dish could be a reference to Chicken Tikka Masala. The origin of the dish is debated, but it is believed that spiced recipes were developed in both England and India thanks to the spice routes. In medieval times, spices helped make aging meat more palatable. In medieval Europe spices were considered an exotic ingredient purchased by the affluent, likewise in Brodia, spices would be a luxury traded commodity from Solm.
Haggis - Medieval manuscript calls it 'hagese'. When cattle drivers were taking their cattle to market, rations were made from any available ingredients and stored inside a sheep's stomach. When an animal was slaughtered, the nobleman would let the butcher keep the offal. I can imagine haggis being taken down mines when mining operations would take several days.
Crumble cake -This recipe can also be called 'crumb cake'. Fruit cakes were popular because they could be kept for many months.
Marinated herring - Herring was a very important fish in Medieval Europe. Great Yarmouth, the port of Copenhagen and development of Amsterdam were founded due to herring fishing. The marinate would help but fermented and spoilt fish palatable.
Meat pie - This recipe is a reference to 'Scotch pie'. In medieval times ours were known as 'pyes'. In royal courts they were used to entertain, an example of this can of merriment is live birds hidden in a crust that fly out when the pie is cut into. For the commoner, pies were a way of using and preserving meat and vegetables
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