Eternal Sky Series – Bansh, Mongolian Dumplings

“After a hand of days or so, Temur took up his new bow to bring food back to those fires–marmots, mostly , and the odd zeren gazelle, because he could not range widely enough or draw the bow strongly enough to bring down larger game. But whatever he brought was accepted gratefully, and in return the others shared with him what they had– dumplings, clarified mutton fat, salted butter, airag — fermented mare’s milk– from the bags that hung over the flanks of the cattle when the herds were on the move.” -Range of Ghosts

If you haven’t read any of Elizabeth Bear’s series, you should really fix that. She’s so ridiculously prolific a writer that there’s bound to be one in a genre you like. This one is a sprawling fantasy epic of… I’ll call it parallel history. The story takes place just after the peak of the Mongol empire, but there’s magic and skies that change depending on who rules under them, and a whole lot of other super cool stuff. But for me, it’s her descriptive writing and clever worldbuilding that most appeals. She even makes marmots sound tasty… mostly. And you know how I love my fictional food!

Temur, one of the main characters in the series, even names his horse Bansh – “dumpling”. It’s a somewhat ignominious name for what turns out to be an extraordinary horse, but in a way, it also fits. Dumplings such as this would have been a staple food item in Mongolian eating, essential for survival, just as it turns out the horse is.

I recently met someone who has been studying cheese around the world (I know, right?! Crazy cool.), including among the still nomadic Mongols. She told me how their cheese is dried on the outside of their tents until it is rock hard, and can only be sucked on or dissolved into tea. That tartness would pair so well with these dumplings, which are a bit greasy, but in the best way, richly flavorful. I made up a batch and fed them to my horse-mad husband along with some rice after a long day working outside. They were just what we didn’t know we needed.

Recipe for Bansh Dumplings

Cook’s note: caraway is a common ingredient in many recipes for bansh, but I didn’t have any on hand when I tackled this dish. Instead, I added a small amount of curry powder to give it that slightly other-than-expected flavor. It’s fantastic with lamb, but the beef version is pretty good, too.

For some awesome pairings, consider picking up some Ayran from your nearest Middle Eastern food store, or make up some Milk Tea. We also played some Mongolian throat-singing music to really complete the mood. ;)

Dough Ingredients:

2 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
about 1 cup water
oil for frying

Filling:

1 lb. ground lamb or beef
1 small onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt, red pepper, curry powder, to taste
water

Mix up the dough by combining the flour and salt in a small bowl, then adding in just enough water to make a smooth dough. Knead for several minutes until it’s soft and pliable. Set aside to rest for about 15 minutes while you make up the filling.

Combine the lamb or beef, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and curry powder in a bowl. Add just enough water to make it into a smooth paste.

Start heating your oil in a pan over medium heat, and begin making the dumplings. Divide the dough into 12 small pieces, and roll each into a bowl. Roll each ball flat and thin, no more than 1/8″ thick. Add a dollop of the filling, then fold over and crimp.

Full disclaimer: it turns out I’m just awful at crimping dumplings. I tried a few different styles, but settled on the basic potsticker approach as the easiest to do. There are numerous video tutorials on the subject, and I heartily recommend them.

Once the oil is hot and the dumplings are wrapped, set a few at a time in the hot oil. Mine started to hiss and spit a fair amount, so I covered the pan while they cooked some, which I’m guessing also helped steam them a bit. Flip occasionally so the dumplings are evenly brown, then remove to a plate lined with paper towel to drain.

They can also be boiled, but I love the crispy outside of a fried dumpling, so that’s what I went with. Extra tasty with some soy sauce for dipping.

Elder Scrolls – Kwama Egg Quiche

You voted, and I cooked!

In my (relatively) recent Twitter poll, I asked which of several fictional worlds had recipes that you’d like to make in real life. We got a good response and with many more folks weighing in on Facebook, the clear winner was Elder Scrolls, with Star Wars not too far behind. I’ve got some Star Wars recipes coming up as well, because I just couldn’t help myself, but in the meantime, here’s the first of the Elder Scrolls recipes!

Now I have to preface this by confessing that I’m generally not a quiche person. It’s something about the texture, and with the occasional addition of wilted spinach or some other leafy green, I just can’t do it. This one, though, was pretty darn tasty, and for the first time probably in my life, I had a second helping of quiche. And as an added bonus, the ingredients are all from an in-game recipe that can be found in Elder Scrolls Online. Here’s hoping this is the first of many successful and tasty dishes from Tamriel – check out the list of other contenders on the new ES page!

Kwama Egg Quiche

Ingredients

1 cup flour
pinch of salt
1/4 cup olive oil
cold water, enough for dough
1 Tbs. salted butter
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium tomatoes, 1 chopped, 2 sliced, divided
one medium kwama egg, or 4 chicken eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions

Start off by making up the dough- Whisk the salt and olive oil into the flour, then gradually add just enough water to bring the mixture together.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Roll out the pie dough to about 1/8″ thickness, and gently drape over a tart or pie pan. Press into the bottom and sides, and trim off any excess. Prick the bottom of the pastry with a fork to prevent it from bubbling up.

Melt the butter in medium skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for several minutes, until slightly browned. Add the tomatoes and cook for another few minutes, until the tomatoes are soft, but not yet falling apart.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cheese and salt. Pour this mixture into the pastry shell, then top evenly with the tomatoes. Bake for about an hour, or until the top is golden and puffy. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

“Colonial” Thanksgiving, 2016

So as you may have seen in previous years (2014, 2015), our family has started doing a “colonial” Thanksgiving celebration. I use the quotes because it’s far from strictly colonial in terms of preparation and authentic recipes, but we do try to keep things mostly historical, and then we use only candles and oil lamps once it gets dark. I also have grand ambitions to grow everything we eat. Maybe if I really get the vegetable garden sorted out next year! In the meantime, we’ll settle for locally grown.

This year, my mother is gung ho to make a stew outside over a cookfire, which I think will really take the whole thing to the next wacky level. Our house was built in 1795, but due to some remodels and a fire, doesn’t have that classic brick kitchen oven setup, or you could bet your breeches I’d be using that.

The biggest change this year is that we won’t have a turkey. I made many, many tasty turkeys during the WoW Cookbook process, so it turns out that nobody in the family is quite ready to eat any more just yet. I think there’s still some in the freezer, waiting to be made into soup. But that’s actually pretty traditional. Just take for example this account from 1748 New Hampshire:

“Our bay is full of lobsters all the summer and affordeth variety of other fish; in September we can take a hogshead of eels in a night, with small labor, and can dig them out of their beds all the winter. We have mussels … at our doors. Oysters we have none near, but we can have them brought by the Indians when we will; all the spring-time the earth sendeth forth naturally very good sallet herbs. Here are grapes, white and red, and very sweet and strong also. Strawberries, gooseberries, raspas, etc. Plums of tree sorts, with black and red, being almost as good as a damson; abundance of roses, white, red, and damask; single, but very sweet indeed… These things I thought good to let you understand, being the truth of things as near as I could experimentally take knowledge of, and that you might on our behalf give God thanks who hath dealt so favorably with us.” -William Haywood’s journal, Charlestown, NH

Or this account, from 1779 Connecticut:

“Of course we could have no roast beef. None of us have tasted beef this three years back as it all must go to the army, & too little they get, poor fellows. But, Nayquittymaw’s hunters were able to get us a fine red deer, so that we had a good haunch of venison on each table. These were balanced by huge chines of roast pork at the other ends of the tables. Then there was on one a big roast turkey & on the other a goose, & two big pigeon pasties. Then there was an abundance of good vegetables of all the old sorts & one that I do not believe you have yet seen. Uncle Simeon had imported the seed from England just before the war began & only this year was there enough for table use. It is called sellery & you eat it without cooking. It is very good and served with meats. Next year Uncle Simeon says he will be able to raise enough to give us all some. It has to be taken up, roots & all & buried in earth in the cellar through the winter & only pulling up some when you want it to use. Our mince pies were good, although we had to use dried cherries as I told you, & the meat was shoulder of venison instead of beef. The pumpkin pies, apple tarts & big Indian puddings lacked for nothing save appetite by the time we had got around to them.”

I don’t know about you, but those descriptions definitely set my mouth watering!

Here’s the current plan, which always changes at the last minute. I’ll hopefully be posting any new recipes that turn out well:

Flair

Hand washing water – (also makes the house smell nice)
Beeswax and bayberry candles
Pewter, linen, antler, and assorted other period dishware

Appetizers

Pemmican – traditional
Indian slapjacks, with acorn and cornmeal – 1796
assorted local cheeses

Main

Venison Stew – traditional, 1749
Cod in Coals – traditional

Sides

Cranberry Chutney – 1767, with some tweaks
Blueberry Chutney – ad lib, homegrown
Roasted Squash with homemade maple syrup
Cabbage, onions, and bacon

Dessert

Pumpkin Pie – 1653
Mother McCann’s Lemon Pie – pre-1891, from a family cookbook
Cider Cake – 1881
Apple Tansy – 1754
Gooseberry Hops – 1792

Drinks

Birch Wine – 1691
Elderberry Wine – 1861
Syllabubs – 1796

Sources used:

The First American Cookbook, Amelia Simmons, 1796
The Compleat Housewife: or, Accomplished Gentlewoman’s Companion by E. Smith, 1754
Vinetum Britannicum, J. Worlidge, 1691
Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management, Mrs. Beeton, 1861
The Way to a Man’s Heart, various authors, pre-1891
Dr. Chase’s Receipt Book, Dr. Chase, 1887
Martha Washington’s Booke of Cookery, Karen Hess, 1749

The Verdict?

As my mother put it, “Why would anyone settle for turkey when they could do this?!” We had an absolute blast, and the extra smoky flavors from cooking over the fire put everything right over the top. From shaking up cream to make our own butter, to toting that giant cod to and from the firepit, it was a holiday to remember. My mother prepped the cod by wrapping it in cabbage leaves and clay (8 lb turned out to be a lot of fish), and baked some bread in her woodstove. The star of the day, the venison stew, was rich and hearty, with chunks of meat, sausage, and root vegetables swimming in a flavorful broth. The handwashing water was a big hit, and while the lemon pie didn’t quite set right, it was tasty enough to perfect- more on that later. We concluded the evening, as always, with dramatic readings in the livingroom, by candlelight.

The thing I love most, perhaps, about approaching a holiday like this is that it takes away so much of the pressure that can do in what should be a festive time. Nobody was worried about the turkey prep, or whether their cranberry sauce would hold up to Aunt Mabel’s scrutiny. Instead, it’s about the adventure of the cooking, and having fun together. And because we try to make the dinner with all local or homegrown ingredients, it gives us a proper appreciation for the effort that goes into growing and preparing the food. Looking back in time, it’s easy to marvel at the amount of hard work that went into keeping a family alive and fed. Here’s to all the hunters and housewives that have gotten us to where we are today!

And speaking of that, I’m thankful for the years you all have spent here at The Inn with me, and I hope you’ll join me for many more to come!

Lakeside Pasties – American Gods

“Shadow had no idea what a pasty was, but he said that would be fine, and in a few moments Mabel returned with a plate with what looked like a folded-over pie on it. The lower half was wrapped in a paper napkin. Shadow picked it up with the napkin and bit into it: it was warm and filled with meat, potatoes, carrots, onions. ‘First pasty I’ve ever had,’ he said. ‘It’s real good.'”

-American Gods, by Neil Gaiman

Thoughts:

Rich, savory meat and vegetables wrapped up in pastry. What’s not to love? Pasties are a traditional fare in the UK, where they feature a variety of fillings. Mine is a basic version, although I swapped in some buffalo meat in place of regular beef, and couldn’t be happier with the choice. Each bite has a combination of meat, veg, and flaky pastry just lightly coated with a flavorful gravy.

They are even better with a little sharp cheddar and/or sauce, such as chutney or ketchup.

Lakeside Pasties Recipe

Prep time: 45 minutes Makes: ~10 pasties

Ingredients:

pastry dough for 2 pie crusts
5 slices bacon
2 carrots, chopped small
1 medium potato, chopped small
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 tsp. salt
1 lb. meat (good beef, bison, venison, or lamb are all great)
2 Tbs. butter, divided
1 Tbs. flour
1/2 cup beef broth
1 egg, beaten, for wash

Fry the bacon in a large pan until just crispy. Remove the bacon, leaving the grease. Add the vegetables to the grease and cook for around two minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour in about 1/2 cup of water, cover, and allow to simmer for another few minutes, until the potatoes and carrots can be easily pierced with a fork. Scoop out the vegetables, leaving as much of the liquid behind as possible.

Into the liquid, melt a Tbs. of butter. Sprinkle in a Tbs. of flour, stirring all the while. When this mixture begins to thicken, add the broth and continue to mix until the whole is one relatively smooth consistency. Pour into a separate bowl with the bacon and veggies.

Season meat with a generous pinch of salt. Melt another Tbs. butter in the pan, and brown the meat. Pour the gravy-veggie mixture back into the pan with the browned meat. Stir around to mix up completely.

Roll out the dough to a little under 1/4″ thick, and cut out 8″ circles. Fill with a heaping serving of the filling. Brush the edge with beaten egg, fold the dough over, and seal with a fork.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350F.

Freshwater Trout – Vlad Taltos series

“’Freshwater trout,’ announced Mihi, ‘from the Adrilankha River, stuffed with carrot slivers, fresh rosemary, salt, crushed black pepper, a sprinkling of powdered Eastern red pepper, minced garlic, and sliced lemon wedges. Accompanied by fresh goslingroot, quick-steamed in lemon butter.’ Then, wielding the serving spoons like tongs, he reverently delivered some fish and vegetable onto our plates…

I can’t tell you a lot about the trout, other than what Mihi said, except that Mr. Valabar had once let slip that it was double-wrapped in a heat-resistant parchment so that it was steam that actually cooked it. If I knew more, I’d make it myself, as best I could. A great deal of the art of Valabar’s, of course, consisted in putting astonishing amounts of effort into making sure that each ingredient was the freshest, most per-fect that could be found. It’s all in the details, just like assassination. Though with a good fish, more is at stake.“

–Dzur, by Steven Brust

Thoughts:

Delicious. Sometimes elaborate words fail me when a dish is just so wonderfully good, and this is no exception.

The fish cooks to perfection in the parchment, ending rich and tender, with not a hint of dryness. The inclusion of carrots in the stuffing threw me at first, but as usual, Brust knows his business. They, along with the rosemary, gave a bit of a textural counterpoint to the tenderness of the fish, while the lemon soaked into the whole thing, perfecting the combination of flavors. I, for one, can’t imagine a better way to enjoy trout (unless it’s wrapped in bacon…).

Recipe for Freshwater Trout

Cook’s Notes: Author Steven Brust said that he was thinking of asparagus when writing about goslingroot, so that’s what I’ve included here. I used white asparagus for the Goslingroot, since it was available, and is more visually interesting than the regular green variety (which is also tasty).

Ingredients:

2 whole trout
2 medium carrots, shredded
1 tsp. fresh rosemary, minced
generous pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. Aleppo pepper, or paprika
1 lemon, sliced thin
1 bunch asparagus
2 Tbs. butter
juice of 1 lemon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut 2 sheets of parchment paper large enough to completely cover both fish.

In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the filling except the lemon. Divide equally between the two fish, and place the lemon slices on top of the filling. Wrap the fish up: bring the ends of the parchment up over and parallel to the fish. Roll the two ends together, toward the fish, then tuck the ends underneath the packaged fish. Repeat with the second sheet of parchment, wrapping it around the first parchment. Place the wrapped fish on a baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes.

Cut open the parchment and serve the fish immediately.

For the asparagus: fill a large sautee pan halfway with water. Turn up to a simmer, and blanch the asparagus for about 2-3 minutes. Drain, then melt the 2 Tbs. butter in the pan. Add the asparagus back into the pan, and toss with the butter. Continue to cook gently for several more minutes until the asparagus is tender. Sprinkle with lemon juice, and serve.

Watercress Sandwiches with Pea & Cabbage Soup – Redwall Series

“Tiria and Lycian took the birds to the buffet table, allowing them to choose what they liked. Brantalis opted for soft cheese and watercress sandwiches, which he immersed in a bowl of pea and cabbage soup and gobbled down with evident relish.”

–High Rhulain, by Brian Jacques

What an ideal light lunch!

The sandwiches are fresh and inviting, soft crusts giving way to the crunch of cucumber and watercress. The soup has a hearty warmth unusual in vegetarian dishes, but you may want to encourage guests to add salt and pepper to taste. I would encourage you to eat three or four bites before adding anything though- the flavors develop as you go. If the flavors are too mild for you, consider adding a little (very un-Redwallian) diced ham.

Recipes for Watercress Sandwiches and Pea & Cabbage Soup

Makes enough for 4 sandwiches, and soup for 6

Ingredients for 4 Sandwiches:

2 Tbs. softened butter
4 oz. soft cheese of your choice (thinly sliced cheddar is also delicious)
1 cup watercress leaves & thin stems, rinsed and rung out in a tea towel
1 Cucumber, sliced thin
8 slices wheat bread

Spread the butter in a thin layer on half the pieces of bread (if using cheddar, butter both sides). Follow with a layer of cheese, then a layer of cucumber, and finishing with a layer of watercress. Place the top slice on the sandwich.

Using a long, sharp knife, trim off the crusts, and cut into triangles. Serve with soup below.

Ingredients for soup:

1 cup dried split green peas (you can use yellow if you prefer)
7 cups of water
2 Tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1/2 sweet onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 large carrot, chopped
2 cups vegetable or meat broth
2 russet potatoes, roughly chopped
salt and ground pepper
1/2 head cabbage (green, red or savoy) chopped into bite-sized pieces (about 7 cups)

Pour peas and seven cups of water in large pot and bring to a boil. Cook for about 20 minutes.

In a skillet heat 2 Tablespoons of oil over medium to medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Then add the garlic and cook for 5 additional minutes, stirring often.

To the onions and garlic, add the carrots and cook another 5-10 minutes, stirring often.

To the peas, add the potatoes and continue to boil another 10 minutes. Then add the onion mixture to the pot containing the peas and add 4 cups of broth and bring to temperature.

Blend the ingredients using an immersion blender. Add the cabbage to the pot and allow to cook over medium heat, for 15 minutes or so until the cabbage is wilted.

Poultry ala Sunbird – Fragile Things

Thoughts:

This plate is full of exotic, old world flavors. The chicken is soft and tender, and the meat falls from the bone, gently infused with the ingredients in the cider can. Flavors from the herbs are just barely present, but there, and the lavender mostly fades to the background, except for a hint of aroma.

The sauce is out of this world. Vanilla bean might seem counter-intuitive but it blends with the other flavors surprisingly well. I wondered how the garlic and the sweeter flavors would meld, but the whole thing came together wonderfully. The grains of paradise, which were my own addition, give the sauce a little bit of a kick. The final squeeze of citrus in the sauce gives the whole a little zip, and helps to round out the feeling of the sauce on the tongue.

I’d love to try this same recipe with a pheasant, but until one happens my way, I’ll be more than happy to enjoy this with chicken again and again.

Poultry ala Sunbird Recipe

Ingredients:

1 chicken
1 can of cider, 1/3 filled
1 sprig rosemary
1 sprig sage
1/2 tsp. dried lavender
1 tsp. cardamom
1/2 tsp. coriander seed

Fill the can of cider with the spices and herbs. Place the can inside the chicken, and stand it up in a pot. Cover with aluminium foil, and cook for around 1 hour. While it’s cooking, make the sauce (below).

Remove the chicken from the oven, and let rest for 15 minutes.

Discard the can and carve the bird. Drizzle with sauce, and serve hot.

Sauce:

Cook’s Notes: Of all the quirky ingredients that went into the description of this dish, patchouli was the only one I didn’t have on hand. Feel free to improvise according to what’s in your own pantry!

1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, minced
2/3 can cider
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tbs. honey
1/2 tsp. red sandalwood powder
1/2 tsp. ground grains of paradise
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
pinch of cloves
pinch of nutmeg
1 vanilla bean
1 Tbs. molasses
1 Tbs. worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs. fresh orange or lemon juice

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add the garlic and sautee until soft. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for around 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it has thickened. Turn off the heat, add the citrus juice, and stir to incorporate. Serve immediately.

Roasted Capon w/ garlic, onions, grapes & figs

“So Locke scuttled about, embarrassment and relief mingled on his face. The meal was roasted capon stuffed with garlic and onions, with grapes and figs scalded in a hot wine sauce on the side. Father Chains poured all of his usual toasts, dedicating the last to ‘Jean Tannen, who lost one family but came to another soon enough.'”

–The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch

Thoughts:

Delicious. It’s a dish that would be warm and comforting to a newly orphaned boy, yet different enough to showcase the culinary skills of the Sanza brothers and to take a reader into the world of Camorr.

The sauce, for me, was part of what made this dish sound so appealing. I’d been keeping an eye out for fresh figs, and when I finally found some, I knew I had to make this recipe asap. The final dish is a fascinating combination of sweets and savories. The onions and garlic infuse the chicken from the inside out, leaving the tender meat savory with flavor.

I wasn’t sure that the flavors of the stuffing would pair well with the sauce, but it actually works quite well. On its own, the chicken tastes of the stuffing, but with the sauce, and a bit of fruit, it becomes a sweet bite, all but overpowering the more savory elements.

Now I just need to sort out the Rock Eel smothered in a Caramel-Brandy Sauce… :)

Recipe for Capon with Grapes & Figs

Cook’s Notes: Capon, while different from chicken in flavor and texture, is not essential to the enjoyment of this recipe. Feel free to substitute a chicken!

Main Ingredients:

1 capon, or chicken
small onions, such as cippolini, pearl, or boiler, peeled
1 head of garlic, separated and peeled
2 Tbs. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Sauce Ingredients:

1 cup seedless grapes
2 Tbs olive oil
6 fresh figs, sliced in quarters
1 cup red wine
pinch of grains of paradise, or black pepper
pinch of ground cloves
pinch of mahlep (optional, but tasty)
1 Tbs. honey
2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. red wine vinegar

Preheat the oven to 400F. Stuff the bird with the small onions and the garlic, then rub down the outside of the bird with olive oil, followed by a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper, which crisps up the skin. Roast in the oven for around an hour, or until the juice runs clear.

For the sauce, drizzle your olive oil in a medium sized frying pan, over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the grapes. Cook, stirring for several minutes, until the grapes appear slightly wrinkled and cooked. Add the figs, and continue to stir for another minute more, but stopping before the figs start to fall apart.

To the roasted fruits, add the wine, spices, honey, and vinegar. Simmer this mixture until the sauce begins to thicken a bit, about 30 minutes or more. Serve as an accompaniment to the roast chicken/capon.

Like this recipe? Check out the other recipes from the Gentlemen Bastards series!

Boeuf en Daube – To The Lighthouse

“An exquisite scent of olives and oil and juice rose from the great brown dish as Marthe, with a little flourish took the cover off. The cook had spent three days over that dish and she must take great care, Mrs. Ramsay thought, diving into the soft mass to choose an especially tender piece for William Bankes.And she peered into the dish, with its shiny walls and its confusion of savory brown and yellow meats, and its bay leaves and its wine and thought, This will celebrate the occasion…”

–To the Lighthouse, by Virginia Woolf

That above quote, mouthwatering in the extreme, is like an appetizer unto itself. As soon as I read it, I knew I had another dish to make.

This recipe makes a wonderful, hearty beef stew that is just perfect for the coming chill of late fall and winter. The olives provide an unlooked for earthiness that is sometimes lacking in other stews, while the orange zest lightens the whole dish. The meat is meltingly tender, having been both marinated and slow cooked. The broth was not as thick as I would have liked, but a simple roux would fix that easily enough. I simmered mine most of the day in a crock pot, which gradually gave the whole house a rich, enticing aroma.

I recommend pairing the stew with a nice loaf of rustic bread, some cheese, and either a hefty salad or a couple of sides, like potatoes and green beans.

Recipe for Boeuf en Daube

Prep: marinate overnight Stewing: 6 hours

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

2 lbs stew beef, cubed
4 shallots, sliced thin
3-5 garlic cloves, minced
small bunch fresh thyme
1 -2 bay leaves
1 bottle inexpensive red wine
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 strips smoked bacon, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup dried mushrooms, chopped small
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 tablespoon soft brown sugar
1/2 cup olives, pitted and cut into slices
zest of half an orange
1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
Salt and Pepper to taste
splash of cognac (optional)

Marinade the beef with the herbs, shallots & garlic overnight in half of the red wine.

The next day, drain the meat, pouring the wine into your stewpot or crockpot.

In a large skillet, cook the bacon until it is somewhat crispy, and the fat has run from it. Remove the bacon and add to your main pot. Working in batches, add the seasoned beef to the bacon fat and cook until just browned on each side. Remove the meat to the pot, but keep the garlic and shallots cooking in the frying pan until they are soft and fragrant. Pour this mixture into the main pot, adding also the thyme, bay leaves, tomatoes, carrots, sugar, olives, zest, and remaining wine.

Cook on low for at least six hours, at which point the meat should be very tender. If you like, add a splash of cognac near the end of cooking.

Meatrolls – Dragonriders of Pern

“Menolly had detoured to the Lower Caverns and shared with him the handful of meatrolls she’d cadged from the cooks.”

–Dragonriders of Pern, by Anne McCaffrey

Thoughts:

These are terrible. A curse, in that, so-easy-to-make addictive sort of way.

I made a single batch, and they were gone in minutes. I couldn’t make out all the words around the mouthfuls, but from the wild gesticulations, and later exhortations to please make them again, they seemed to be a great success with the test subjects.

You can use whatever variety of sausage you like. I happened to have some wild boar sausages handy, and they suited the recipe admirably. If you can get game sausage of any kind, it’s definitely worth a try, as they help defamiliarize the experience. In any case, the resulting combination of puff pastry (how could you go wrong?) and juicy sausage is a long tried and much loved pairing. The outer pastry shell stays flaky, while the inside soaks up some of the flavorful juices from the meat.

This recipe also has the added appeal of making small enough meatrolls that they would be snitchable from the kitchens of castle, fortress, or cottage, as Menolly proved in the books. Double win!

Pernese Meatroll Recipe

Prep: 5 minutes Baking: 20 minutes

Makes 12 rolls (it won’t be enough!)

Ingredients

1 lb. package pork sausagemeat
1 (17.25 ounce) package frozen puff pastry sheet, thawed
1 beaten egg
poppy or sesame seeds (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Unfold the sheets of puff pastry, and cut lengthwise down the middle. Make five more cuts width-wise so you have 12 long pieces total. Divide the sausage meat evenly between the strips of dough, then seal the ends together with a swipe of egg.

Arrange the sausage rolls on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with egg, and sprinkle with seeds. Bake for around 20 minutes, or until they’re puffed up and a nice golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving.