jendobyns

Truly good music, the Irish Rovers. I had to laugh when I got to "Donald Where's Your Trousers". That guy ranks up there with the buckskinner who bent over and his breechclout went sideways at this year's Market Fair. And a good lesson for the young 'un who wants to wear a kilt *G*

Having re-read this, I still have doubts about the source of the info quoted. I have not been able to find a reference for any work by Robert May called "The Good Huswives Treasure" beyond online dictionary entries which all seem to be the same version of the Wikipedia entry, which is not a reliable source. A similar receipt to the one credited to him under salmagundy in the online dictionary entries does show up in his work entitled " The Accomplisht Cook", the existence of which I can verify. This is available online through Project Gutenberg, and is listed as "To make a grand Sallet of divers Compounds". I am still looking through the May book on Project Gutenberg for specific mention of Salamagundy, but it's a very long piece of reading and I have other responsibilities at the moment. Wonderful stuff, though, including sauces for all sorts of interesting foods. And it's a great illustration of how they would eat everything but the squeak *G* I suspect there has been some error in the online dictionary entry, whatever it's origin, and I'm still investigating. The interpreter/historian/researcher/educator in me finds misinformation really frustrating. And the internet seems to be one of the worst when it comes to spreading misinformation. Mistress Dobyns NAI CIG For the curious, here's the link for Robert May's "The Accomplisht Cook" on Project Gutenberg. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/22790

I've found some other recipes on the internet as well. They're all different! http://www.bigoven.c...ndi-recipe.html http://www.celtnet.o...eliz-salmagundi http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/salmagundi http://www.recipe-co...undi/14771.html http://www.cookadvic...4633-recipe.htm http://www.allbritis.../salmagundi.php

Town? State?

Well, if you walk into a nest of pirates, surrounded is bound to happen, eh? But they were the nicest folks, in spite of the red coats our lads were wearing. They are Maryland Loyalists, the folks the King was happy to have guarding the baggage train and army's cattle, and fighting the Spanish.

Thanks, and no worries about the Scappi spit. I'll eventually round up one of my technical helpers to scan and post a pic, but it's been like herding cats lately *g*

Thanks everyone! It's nice to be here. Looks like if I remember the chocolate, I might be forgiven for forgetting the rum once in a while? *G* Haven't found a receipt for rum and chocolate in period, yet, but here's one for Wine Chocolate from William Salmon, The Family Dictionary, London, 1696. This particular receipt is listed as 1711, so probably a later edition of the work: Take Water, three quarters of a pint, choice red port, or rather choice sherry, half a pint; sugar chocolate (most likely chocolate which has been processed with sugar added during the grinding) a quarter pound, or something better, fine flour, or white starch, a quarter of an ounce, and a little salt; mix, dissolve and boil, and in about 12 minutes it will be done. But if you make it with chocolate without sugar, the proportion to the former water and wine, will be of chocolate, 2 ounces and a quarter, double refined sugar 3 ounces, fine flour or white starch, a quarter of an ounce, etc., as before. This is from Ivan Day's book Cooking in Euripe 1650-1850, which has a modern redaction. He uses quality dark chocolate, and corn starch, and boil means something more like simmer in period, so it would be hot enough to dissolve and heat the ingredients together. He also mentions that the Spanish consumed an iced whip of chocolate called Espuma De Chocolate which was popular during summer months, and it was introduced into Naples during the 17C, where it developed into a frozen sorbet. Yum. I can see some experiments for summer *g* Mistress Dobyns

Hi, I'm new here, and figured I'd better introduce myself (doing things backwards, as I've posted a couple of times already ;-). I go by Mistress Dobyns most of the time, as I'm the wife of a Redcoat Captain in our RevWar unit (we're Loyalists who fought the Spanish at Pensacola). If you were at Fells Point Privateer Day, those were the guys in red marching 'round the town giving you grief *G* While I am not technically proficient in the 21st Century sense (as some of you might have figured out already), I can handle period skills just fine--spinning, dyeing, cooking, sewing, riding, dancing, etc. You probably won't find me in front of the crowd brandishing a sword, yet (fencing is on my to-do list), but by the fire making dinner, spinning, or interpreting for the public. My newest skill is learning to make chocolate from the un-roasted cocoa beans, but finding the right period equipment is proving a challenge, so that demo will be a while in coming. I'm looking forward to getting to know the folks here, so we won't be total strangers next time I find myself surrounded by Pirates! *G* Yhs, Mistress (Jen) Dobyns

Well Thank You, Ma'am. It's nice to be here. Continuing on with what was started earlier, here's a picture of a house I could be happy with: And I'd be a gentlewoman who's fallen on hard times, perhaps, and makes her living renting rooms, running a coffee/tea/chocolate house, and cooking for her guests. That way I have an excuse for knowing the rudiments of baroque dance and horseback riding. *S*

Hi, Could you please provide the source of the quoted period recipe? Thanks! Mistress (Jen) Dobyns I've found some other recipes on the internet as well. They're all different! http://www.bigoven.c...ndi-recipe.html http://www.celtnet.o...eliz-salmagundi http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/salmagundi http://www.recipe-co...undi/14771.html http://www.cookadvic...4633-recipe.htm http://www.allbritis.../salmagundi.php

HI, I'm new to this forum, so jumping on this bandwagon _very_ late. This painting and several of the Watteau paintings and the subject of "jumps" have been discussed deeply by the 18C community in other forums. Some of the Watteau paintings appear to have been a form of "cheesecake". Not intended for public consumption drawing room at the time, but for more private viewing. So you get these ladies showing their garters in a state of semi-undress. Also the paintings of "shepherdesses" in what look like jumps, shifts loosely draped, etc. Not all paintings were serious and formal at the time. There was fantasy art back then, too. And a fair amount of what we might call adult material. Much of it has been lost, but was created by the same artists who did serious painting. It all depended on what the market (person who commissioned the art) wanted. And there was even a trend for having portraits in "antique" or exotic clothing. So you can't take what is in paintings as gospel. You are on the right track with what you're planning to do for jumps. One of their purposes was as an extra layer of warmth, so forming them over your stays is approprite. And that will also give them the right shape for the occasions when you decide to wear them for comfort instead of stays. *S* quote name='LadyBrower' date='12 August 2009 - 11:36 PM' timestamp='1250138176' post='366194'] hahaha! I think it's part artistic lisence, part the fact the are not tightened... But yea... I'm so tempted to make jumps based on the few waistcoat pictures available. I want to make them quilted but lace or tie in the front. I'm thinking that if I create waistcoat pattern on a form with my stays on it, it will have a similar shape, and then I can flare it out at the hips there.... get the idea? Just a though. Period or no I think it would look super cute with low rise jeans for fall with a cute peasant top and some nice knitted mitts....

Ah, lad, we could get you in to volunteer, though. I know a redcoat captain or two (sea and land) who will be along when Lord Cornwallis takes over the town. And the officer's mess could always use a hand or two. Mistress Dobyns one of the newbies to the forum

You can download a copy of the Young Clerk's Assistant from Google Books. Capt Black Oh, cool, they also have Dr. Johnson's dictionary! Thank you for that source! Jen

That's a pretty interesting web site. They have some useful tips. I'd like to add that if you want to use an OED as a reference source, go for the earliest version you can find. The OED is changed every so many years and they drop unused words in favor of making room for new ones (just think of all the new words we have that weren't around 20 years ago!) Samuel Johnson's Dictionary is also useful. His was published before the OED, but iirc, he also notes his opinions of meaning at times, instead of what might be common usage. I haven't looked at Project Gutenberg to see if he's listed there, but it might be worth checking. New reprints of his work get mixed reviews, and are only selections. But they are a start. *s* Also, an earlier source for understanding and learning penmanship is George Bickham's "Pennmanship Made Easy (Young Clerk's Assistant)", originally published in 1733. It's available as a reprint from Dover. OK, I'll shut up now. My English Major button got pushed ;-)

There is a company called Walden Fonts, where you can get period fonts for your computer. Their explanation for the long s and ligature is provided in the "downloads" section under "minuteman printshop manual". I was going to cut and paste the quote, giving them credit, but it's not possible. So you have to go to their website to see it here: http://www.waldenfont.com/ It's worth checking out, as they give a fairly decent overview of the subject. They even provide sample downloads. And the clip art in the Minuteman Printshop package is worth a look. This subject was turned into a dead horse and beaten to a bloody pulp in another forum when this computerized font was first made available, the general consensus was that it was a reliable set of "rules", based on other research that was available at the time. Hope this helps. Jen

Have you done any fire irons? I'm looking for someone to make a Scappi type spit (kind of looks like a metal swing set with hooks down the uprights to hold the spit). Ooh, and the 18C strikers are gorgeous!