Vaboomer -- Baby Boomer Views & News

Medieval Christmas Recipe: Almond Milk

In the Middle Ages, animal milk was, not refrigerated, and fresh milk did not stay fresh for long. Most cooks simply did not use much milk as the short shelf-life of the product made it a difficult ingredient to depend upon. 

Rather than animal milk, Medieval cooks turned to something they could depend upon, and that was the milky liquid produced by grinding almonds or walnuts. 

Almond milk was used extensively in period; all existing cookbooks call for it, and it must have been found in literally every Medieval kitchen. It's the prime ingredient in many, many recipes, and the modern cook recreating Medieval food will have to learn its production in order to prepare the most common of dishes. Fortunately, it's easily made. 

• 1 cup ground almonds
• 2 cups boiling water

Combine almonds and water. Steep for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sieve the mixture to remove coarse grains OR (preferably) blend mixture in electric blender until grains are absorbed. Yield - 2 cups almond milk.

Gruyau - Barley & Almond Gruel

 http://www.godecookery.com/goderec/grec65.htm

Sauce Sarcenes - Red Almond Milk Sauce

http://www.godecookery.com/goderec/grec50.htm

U.S. Pizza Goes to Asia? Rising Cost of Cheese

Have you noticed how expensive a slice of Pizza is? Food prices are sky-rocketing.  It's a real crisis.

COST OF CHEESE:  I did some research on the cost of cheese, which has driven cost of pizza high.  I was surprised at the reason.

U.S. Exports Most Cheese to Asia

A major cause is the growing demand for pizza and fast-food in emerging markets in Asian nations.  The U.S. exports huge amounts of cheese overseas!!  Huh?

Asia's growing appetite for pizza and cheeseburgers means the U.S. is exporting the most cheese  ever.  The U.S. shipped more than twice as much to Asia in the first four months of 2011 as a year earlier, U.S. Dairy Export Council data show. 

Yikes.

 

How Israelis Responded to Cheese Crisis

Israelis launched a huge Facebook protest of rising cottage cheese prices.  Read more:   Israeli Cheese Protest 

Question:  Why aren't  there more dairy farms in Asia??

 

 

Bone Health and Nettles

Susun Weed, that long time guru herbalist writes in this article about the connection between bone health and nettles. Nettles Article.

There is no reason that women should worry about disintregrating bones with the right nutrition and exercise. Stinging nettles can help as well as oat straw and other herbs and foods such as sea veggies--which are yummy as well. I love to make a cold salad from Arame and light sweet vinagers.