Greetings!

Welcome to Flora's occasional blog.  Most of my journal is friends-only.  The public portion is mostly a way to share recipes (or cooking misadventures), along with "ooh, shiny, must share!" (mostly SCA) stuff. 

I have special friends filters set up for SCA, Techies, Women, Masons and Eastern Stars, and Local (living in the greater Washington-Baltimore metro region).  Let me know if you want added to any of those. 

As always, please feel free to drop me a note here.  All comments on this entry are screened.

Cheers,
~Flora

Upcoming event some of  you may want to go to... Next Monday, May 12, Federal Lodge #1 will have a program on "James Hoban and the Eighteenth Century Vaulting of the White House."   James Hoban was the designer of the White House.

This is part of a series of exhibits and events in Ireland and DC commemorating the 250th anniversary of birth of White House architect, James Hoban.   Federal Lodge has a special connection with James Hoban, since he founded the lodge in 1793 and was its first Master.  The lodge has had a series of monthly programs on architecture-related topics in Hoban's honor, all open to the public.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Dinner is at 6:30.  The program will start sometime after 7:30.  Guests are welcome at no charge. 

The location is the Scottish Rite Temple, 2800 16th Street, NW in DC a few blocks from the Columbia Heights metro stop.  Parking in the temple lot is free.  Directions are on the Federal Lodge web site.

Report from Tournament of Chivalry, Storvik, April 19 2008.

I arrived in the afternoon, apparently just shortly after the kitchen had opened.  Tirzah and orlacarey put me to work chopping apples and I did that for maybe an hour?  I replaced a sweet lady whose name I forget eridun who had cut her finger.  Tirzah had improvised a "finger condom" for her, a latex glove to go over her gauze-wrapped wound, but it was still threatening.  So Dierdre O'Bardon and her lord came over to join me in finely chopping apples.  After they were all chopped I just set a timer (a very practical thank-you gift for helping) and monitored the apples and waited, and waited...  The apples roasted in the oven for half hour per batch until they softened at all, and even then they couldn't be mashed - they had to be pureed a bit in a food processor.  The roasting really brought out the flavor though.  Hot, freshly-roasted Granny Smith apple chunks are delicious!  Saw a bunch of other folks too, including spikywheel who delivered her homemade onion pies, freshly baked off-site.  Vitha was doing pretty much everything; cooking, plating, even helping with cleanup long after feast was over... she just didn't sit still!

There was enough help in the kitchen at that point, so I ducked out and joined the musicians for the (very small) court on the field.  Seriously, there were maybe only a half-dozen people in the audience, plus about that many musicians; rather disappointing for a "major" fighting event.  I'm not sure why.  The Baron & Baroness processed in with a beautiful, loud bugle call so you'd think people would have heard it. Anyway,luscious_purple heralded the court, and telerib and other musicians provided lovely background music; I just banged on my tamborine, the only instrument I had with me.  I especially liked the sly "Imperial March" (Darth Vader theme) the harps slipped in as the autocrat's husband was called into court.  There are times for formality and pageantry in the SCA, but for this informal field court it was nice to have a little fun.  Also recognized were hardworking folks Ascelina le Dragon (baronial courtesy award?) and someone from House Wulfshaven who was inducted into the order of the Golden Dolphin (James Griffin (I recognized him but I'm blanking on the name?).  Finally they called on luscious_purple herself and recognized her with the Lozulet (Storvik baronial service award).

Graciela (Grace?) was the hall steward and supervised the servers.  It was good to have a capable, designated authority.  Per her request, we servers put questions to Grace to ask Orla to answer or relay to Tirzah and then all the way back again.  That was a good tactic to minimize hassling the kitchen staff.   Grace and Orla also serenaded us with the "servers song," which I understand Grace had learned less than a half-hour before.   We actually had sufficient servers for once, so that was nice.

Unfortunately we ended up having a relatively lot of empty seats at feast, the first time I've seen that happen for one of Tirzah's feasts.  The servings were all for tables of 8, and many of the tables had far fewer feasters.  So the carefully planned portion control didn't apply to many of the diners, and later dishes like the lamb and asparagus weren't eaten much mainly because people were too full.  Also, the feast itself started a little late.  This was amazingly not because the site opened the kitchen hours late.  Tirzah and Orla and their crew had caught up!  No, some of the fighters wanted to shower.  People-wrangling is tough sometimes.

Everybody who was there really liked the food.  Towards the end, they applauded the kitchen and Tirzah/Orla in particular.  Unfortunately the kitchen staff were busy plating the last course at the time and I don't think they heard it.

Comments from the feasters:

"Is there any more gnocchi? Pleeease?"  (I say I don't know, I will ask.)  "No, that's OK, I'll go get some... hang on..."  At that point, the lady got up, ran to the kitchen with a bowl and returned with a bowl of gnocchi. That *second* batch of gnocchi was inhaled. It lasted maybe 5 minutes or however long it was to serve it.

"...And the way the applesauce went with the pork.  That was perfect!"

Me: "My lord, are you done with the beef soup?"
Fighter: "Noooo. You're not taking my meat away from me." 

Me: "This is sushi-grade tuna in a ginger-saffron sauce...."
Fighter, eyes lighting up: "You brought me more meat!"

Same Fighter, for the fennel salad: "There's no meat in this!" 
Me: "Try it!"
(Later: the bowl was half gone.  That table had only four people. Hmm...)

Feaster: "The asparagus in cream sauce was very good. I just don't have any room!"
Me: "But I hope you'll have room for the pistachio cream for dessert?"
Feaster: "Oh yes."

Entire Table, seeing the dessert tray: "PISTACHIO CREAM!!!"

Feaster, just before tossing back her pistachio cream:  "It's like doing shots!"

Feaster (pointing to an empty seat next to him) "And one for my friend here..." (wanting more Pistachio Cream)

Too Many People to Count: "Mmmmm, pass me more gnocchi!"

Too Many People to Count: "Is there any pistachio cream left?"

I served two tables, one full eight and one that started with two people and somehow grew to four over the course of the meal.  Duke Ragnarr was at the small table.  He is notorious for only ever eating hot dogs and Ho-Hos and macaroni and cheese.  We cooks love him anyway, because he helps with cleanup and appreciates the work that goes into a feast.  I'd made a show of placing the gnocchi right in front of him with a flourish, but unbeknownst to me the kitchen soon after presented him with his own bowl of Gnocchi!  And *gasp* he even ate it! 

So people were fed into submission.  Yay!

Friday was Pi day (3/14, get it?)  Our longtime gaming friend and his better half hosted a Pi Day party for lots of their friends on Saturday (a large approximation of pi).  It was great to meet so many nifty people and game as only nerds can do.  The games were as good as the company.  Also, Sweetie brought his vintage Apple IIc and lots of folks played Oregon Trail.  I learned two new games, "Rise of the Galaxy" (similar to Puerto Rico, with cards like Citadels) and "To Court the King" (a dice manipulation game, Yahtzee on crack).

This was a potluck, with an invitation to bring pie or a Pi-themed dish.  There were pineapple wedges, key lime pie (Sweetie ate half of himself), pine nuts, pink lady apples, a couple Squared Pies, a yummy peach-strawberry pie, apple and several other fruit pies, and a cute minimalist pie (a baked plain pie crust). I did my usual potluck strategy, trying medieval-style food on unsuspecting people.  Made a custard pie (tart of cream) and some "cubed roots" (roasted root vegetables, cut into cubes).  There were over a dozen assorted gamer geeks, and at least one or two SCA folks I didn't know yet.  Almost all the attendees are on LJ.  (I haven't friended you all yet, but I recognize several people I know who are your friends or friends of friends.)

The recipes, by request...



I also attempted a Pie of Paris (meatloaf pie) but that didn't turn out as well.  I was rushed for time due to some last-minute mundane business that interrupted just when I pre-heated the oven.  *sigh*  Life happens.  But it was a great party!  I hope to game with some of you again soon.

    Federal Lodge on Monday held an event toasting the wives and significant others of famous masons.  As I wrote in a previous post, my husband went in character as James Hoban, architect of the White House and supervisor of the U.S. Capitol.  Hoban also founded Federal Lodge #1.  I played Hoban's wife, Susanna Sewell.  We both attended in circa-1800 costume.  About three hours before the event, Sweetie called me, rather irritated - it seems the event organizer hadn't found enough background information on her life to properly toast her.  Well we weren't getting all dressed up for nothing!  So I jumped headfirst into teh interwebz and dug up enough info to justify our outfits.  I discovered they had used a different spelling for her first and last names, so I did find information on Susanna and her family.   So here's a short biography of Susanna Sewall, aka Susannah or Susana Sewall, aka Mrs. James Hoban. 


Demanding a proper kitchen before she'd marry? Susanna was a lady after my own heart.  :-)

Quote of the day, from the Bright Hills Cooks Guild:

"Feeding the little ones is a public safety issue, truth be told.  We feed nearly anyone who comes into the kitchen. If it's chewing we're less likely to try to peel it, steam it or throw it  into the oven."

-- Lord Bruce the Robert, responding to a mother's thanks for giving her four-year-old a snack before the feast on Saturday.

Sweetie's lodge had a thank-you dinner Monday in honor of "spouses, partners, and significant others" who support their men.  Throughout the evening brothers toasted specific notable companions and gave a brief history of their accomplishments.  Examples included Eleanor Roosevelt, the wives of several famous masons, and the long-time partners/companions of J. Edgar Hoover and Oscar Wilde.  Sweetie delivered his toast in character, as White House architect James Hoban toasting his wife Susanna Sewell.  Sweetie learned this one week ago.  He had a costume; I borrowed one from chargirlgenius.  I also pulled together a brief history of Susanna and her family at the last minute, posted in another entry.

Here's a picture of the two of us in circa-1800 garb.

THANK YOU to chargirlgenius for lending me this terrific dress, and to you and isabelladangelo for your excellent advice.  You are amazing!

A few additional photos are here.

On Saturday, Bright Hills had its "Feast of Fools."  It was a joyous day!  I still can't stop grinning.  I will try to get around to a feast review later.  Photos of the event are posted here.  Feel free to share!

Big News: Three of our very own Bright Hills Cooks Guild members were inducted into the Order of the Pelican!

• Chagan Khulan Baghsi (Baghsi, pronounced "Bog she", is the Mongolian title meaning Teacher).  She had a short vigil since she, like usual, was the event autocrat.
  
• Mistress Cordelia FitzRobert of York.  Cordelia turned almost as purple as her famous Berry Pudding; the Queen had to remind her to breathe.  Fortunately, Cordelia recovered and accepted.
  
• Mistress Jeanne Tenneur de Bec.  She was speechless!  I personally had always assumed Mistress Bec was a Pelican already, she has done so much for Atlantia and many other kingdoms.  I am absolutely delighted that she's officially a double-peer now!

All three were completely surprised.  They had even cooked food for each other's vigils, not knowing that they were to be called up.  In fitting, the vigil tent was set up directly outside the feast kitchen.

Also, our head cook Lord Bruce received his Coral Branch (Atlantian arts and sciences AoA-level award).  Baroness Martelle, aka martelvonc, also gave Bruce some plush Carrots of Doom.  She authorized him to fling them at her if Court ran too long, so the Feast would not be delayed.  (Fortunately this was not necessary!)

Dame Olwen the Odd was recognized with a Silver Nautilus (Atlantian special arts award).

And 'bella, who has been working in SCA kitchens for eleven years, finally was recognized with her Award of Arms!  We've been trying for years and we finally got her.  Vivat!

Vivant to all the awardees!

Edit: Apparently this weekend over in Ansteorra, count_gunthar also received his Laurel in cooking!  Vivat to you too Papa Gunthar!

<jaw drops>
German garb and coral beads and closeups and embroidery and details galore! 
KHM (Austrian museum) photos posted on flickr  - and she has other museum photos too!
Posted by racaire, a SCAdian in Drachenwald.

Thanks bunnyjadwiga for the initial link.

Saturday did not start out well... I slept in due to Benadryl and left later than originally planned. Then it took about three hours to get to the site - twice as long as it should have - due to a bad accident on I-66. So I missed the Coronation ceremony and arrived right at the end of lunch; but fortunately just in time for the Paternoster class. Then I joined the busy kitchen crew for the rest of the day. I did catch a glimpse of our new Queen Ro (aka bronx_baroness) at evening Court. She was magnificent in her gorgeous Mongolian garb, with a radiant expression to match. It's nice when your Majesty is actually Majestic! She takes this role to heart, and I know she will be a Good Queen.

The food was lip-smacking. (Menu previously posted). The site was the biggest, nicest, best-equipped site kitchen I've ever seen. The only part that wasn't perfect was a few mix-ups with the serving and timing of courses; a couple times we had to scramble and portion out platters for tables that had been accidentally missed entirely. But there was plenty of food - if anyone went home hungry, it was their own fault. There were even extras for the kitchen staff, for everything except the beef in the first course.

We had LOTS of help. The Cooks Guild was there in force. The Bright Hills folks pitched in, including martelvonc on the dishes. Dame Olwen's neighbor m'lady 'bella had a knack of showing up exactly when anyone needed an extra hand to lift heavy things or panicked about the plating. Lady Ananda of the-long-name-ending-in-Firenze worked all day and finally sat down for the first time, sometime between the second and third courses when there was actually nothing to do. For my part, I worked with a Stierbach lady named Morgan and we made the spinach tart casserole and it turned out decently yummy: spinach and sour cream with a touch of sugar and salt. From defrosting the bricks of frozen spinach to portioning out the finished product took over two hours, with most of that time just waiting and waiting for the spinach to boil. And then squeezing and squeezing and squeezing the spinach to get the water out. I also did lots of plating. For some reason the guild always makes two or three times as much couscous as the populace can possibly eat...

It was a good day for beads too. There were some jaw-dropping beautiful beads in the A&S competition, later auctioned off to support breast cancer research. Lady Elena from Highland Foorde also taught an excellent class on beaded Paternosters. I kept messing up on the knots that act as spacers/buffers between the beads - I think maybe my thread was too thin for the largish holes in the beads. I will probably re-do my Paternoster at some point, and maybe even document it and enter in an A&S competition sometime. Oh wait, that violates telerib's guidance against back-documenting... yes, Teleri, I have actually been reading your articles on Research.

At about 10:30 I figured I should return home before Sweetie started worrying about me. Turned out he only arrived home himself 20 minutes before I did; he'd been biking through the abandoned Pennsylvania turnpike tunnels. He said they really do look post-apocalyptic. Oh well. He missed a good feast!