Kitchen Adventures – .xxxxix. Sardeyneȝ - Almond Pottage (Harleian MS. 279 (ab 1430))

 Harleian MS. 279 (ab 1430) - .xxxxix. Sardeyneȝ  - Almond Pottage 

Sometime ago I posted a happy mistake for a sugared and spiced nut dish based on this set of instructions called xxxxix. Sardeyneȝ. I had planned on correcting the mistake immediately and posting the more period correct version but then the sun room construction started, life got in the way and I am late in publishing --Sardeyneȝ "the right way".

Because this recipe is found in the pottages section of Two fifteenth-century cookery-books : Harleian MS. 279 (ab 1430), & Harl. MS. 4016 (ab. 1450), with extracts from Ashmole MS. 1439, Laud MS. 553, & Douce MS. 55 by Thomas Austin, the consistency that we should be finding from a correctly interpreted recipe is that of a soft pudding, cereal or gruel. Here then is the more appropriate interpretation of this dish, which is simply delicious and highly recommended.  It would make an excellent camp breakfast dish, and I would recommend it for a pottage at any feast or luncheon you choose to make.

.xxxxix. Sardeyneȝ.—Take Almaundys, & make a gode Mylke of Flowre of Rys, Safroun, Gyngere; Canelle, Maces, Quybibeȝ; grynd hem smal on a morter, & temper hem vppe with þe Mylke; þan take a fayre vesselle, & a fayre parte of Sugre, & boyle hem wyl, & rynsche þin dysshe alle a-bowte with-ynne with Sugre or oyle, an þan serue forth.

49. Sardeyney - Take almonds, and make a good Milk of Flour of Rice, Saffron, Ginger, Cinnamon, Mace, Cubeb; grind them small on a mortar, and temper them up with the milk; than take a fair vessel, and fair part of sugar, and boil them well, and rinse your dish all about within with sugar or oil, and then serve forth.

Interpreted Recipe

1/4 cup almond flour
3/4 cup rice milk (or any nut milk, in a pinch I used almond milk)
Pinch of saffron and salt
1/2 tsp. pouder douce-sugar, ginger, cinnamon, mace (I have a powder given to me as a gift I used)
1/4 tsp. cubebs finely ground
1-2 tbsp. sugar or to taste

Bring all ingredients to a boil and then simmer until thickened.  Garnish with a sprinkling of sugar, or butter (in lieu of oil) or both, and then serve. 

This is a very comforting dish that is slightly reminiscent of cream of wheat or malt-o-meal.  If you enjoy eating these cereals you will enjoy this dish. I hope you enjoy.

Feast Budget -Or- Calculating the Costs of the Feast

You have bit the bullet. You have submitted a feast bid, and have been chosen to put together the feast! Congrats!!! Even before you were given the bid, you were probably given some numbers that included the expected budgeted funds and the number of diners you were expected to feed.  Before we go into the budget and calculating the cost of the feast, let's talk about the expected number of diners.

Many times the number of diners you are given will not be easily divisible by the number of servings per table (usually 6 or 8). This can create a potential problem when it comes to serving your food at feast.  So please be sure to find out from the individual who is hosting the event how many diner's are expected to sit "per table" before you discuss budget. Most SCA feasts will expect tables of 8 diners,so the numbers of diners  you will be expecting to feed should be easily divisible by 8.

Example: 
Budget $400
Expected number of diners: 60
Number of seats per table: 8
Cost per diner: $8.00 

Question: Does the number of expected diners include or exclude head table?  How many diners are you expecting at head table?

Using the example above, and assuming that number includes 8 seats for head table.  The expected number of tables that you will be cooking for is 7 1/2.  A half table? 😕

One of the tables that will be seated will only have four diners. This means it will only need half the amount of servings of food then the other 7 tables. To avoid this dilemma, you should ask the autocrat, or the person you are in contact with regarding the feast, to either increase -or- decrease the number of diners you are expected to serve.   By increasing or decreasing the number of diners to a number that is easily divisible by the number of seats per table, serving will be a breeze. There is no need to calculate for half a table, nor is there a need to worry about the half servings going out to the wrong table.




When do you calculate the cost of your feast? How do you calculate your costs, and what numbers do you need? What happens if you are over budget? Is there a way to offer the feast you want without sacrificing the menu?

Before you submit the bid it is always a good idea to do a preliminary cost analysis so that you have a rough of idea on what you will be spending. However, once you have been given the bid, you will want a much better set of numbers. Remember, at this point the menu proposed will not be the "finalized" menu.

My preference is to calculate my numbers after I have expanded the recipes and know what I need.  At this point in time my menu's are usually very fluid and are not concrete.  There are two numbers I rely on at this point to make sure I stay within budget; the cost per table and the cost per person. With these two numbers I have an easy way to check if  a specific dish will be within or out of budget.

Helpful hint:  When calculating costs, it is important to remember that approximately 25-30% of your budget will be items that are -not- food related.These items may include; serving plates, or serving ware, trash bags, first aid kits, kitchen timer's and thermometers, storage bags, aluminium foil, plastic wrap, dish washing liquid  etc.  which are not food items, but necessary to a successful feast.

At this point I have a rough idea of what I want to serve on the menu.  Menu planning is a class in and of itself so I won't be discussing it here. In order co calculate my cost per table and my cost per person, I want a detailed list of my grocery items, including non food items.  I always round up to the next available whole and I -always- calculate the cost of the items I intend to purchase at the full, not the sales, cost.

Ideally, when preparing a feast  there is at least two months lead time. Many vendors are happy to donate items to a NPO--but many require at least a six week lead time to get approval from home office.  The more lead time, the more availability of donated or discounted goods, the more you can offer on the menu.

Why do I calculate a cost per table and a cost per person? Some items, like bread, are easier to calculate on a per table basis.  I usually plan for 1 1/2 loaves of bread per table.  In our scenario above, 12 loaves of bread will be enough to feed the diners.  Other items, like meat are easier to calculate on a "per person" basis.  Roughly 4-6 ounces of meat, per course per diner is the usual allotment. To feed 64 diner's roasted pork in the second or third course, I would need roughly 16 pounds of roast pork, divided into two pound portions. 

Once I know I am within budget, I can finalize the menu, post it at least four weeks prior to the event, set clear expectations on a cut off date (usually two weeks prior to the event) for special accommodation requests, and post an allergen chart. Now the fun begins, purchasing the grocery items--take advantage of the sales, bogo's, donations and mark downs!

If you find that you are over budget and you don't want to sacrifice your menu there are ways that you can fall back into budget.  As mentioned above, sales are a good way to stay under budget, as are donations from organizations willing to donate to NPO's.  Another tip is to look within the menu for things you may have budgeted for but can make yourself.  For example, bread crumbs made from bread purchased on the mark down bin, or stocks that you make yourself. 

I often find myself planning ahead with an eye towards "the next feast".  Occasionally I have purchased items seasonally, prepared them and then served them later in the year at an event.  Examples of such items include vegetables or fruit bought in seasoned, prepared and then frozen or canned towards a future event.  A lot of dishes that are preserved get better with time. I have also purchased premium meats seasonally or on sale and kept them frozen with an eye towards the future event.

I have also donated items to an event.  I enjoy making jellies, pickles, fruit pastes, candies and comfits.  I find them relaxing past times and they make great gifts for family, friends, co-workers.  I almost always have some on hand.  I like rounding out my dessert course with a selection of sweets.

If all else fails, tweak the menu.  Remember that pork roast? There are times when pork roast can be cost prohibitive.  However, pair that pork roast (chunked or sliced) with meatballs made from ground beef, and you can use less pork per table then you expected to. Serving a high end cheese at the end of the meal, which was done in period, rather then at the beginning is also a budget saving strategy.  People will eat less of a premium item at the end of the meal then they will at the beginning. How you serve an item is as important as what you serve. Items that are pre sliced, or chunked look like there is more there then an item served uncut. Look at it--if it looks like it is enough, given it's placement in the meal, it probably is.

Cost per table: Budget/# of tables

Cost per person: Budget/# of diners 

Number of tables: Diners/Number of seats  

Number of servings: Number of Tables + Kitchen + Servers + head table 

Number of Diners should be divisible by Number of Seats per Table  

Spice Conversions --Ounces to Tablespoons, Conversions and Substitutes

Wondering how many tablespoons are in an ounce of cinnamon, nutmeg, or clove? This spice conversion chart uses tested densities to help you accurately measure bulk spices in historical and modern recipes. Perfect for feast planning, SCA cooking, or practical pantry math.

One of the most useful tables for measuring I have found.  I cannot claim this as my work. I keep misplacing it however so thought I would place it here.  Please take a moment to visit the website where this came from.  It is full of useful information, how to's and video's.  Additionally, they sell meat processing supplies including hog casings and seasonings.

Need this chart on your fridge?
This handy tablespoon-to-ounce spice conversion guide is available as a printable download on Ko-fi!

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Spice Conversions 

Additional information courtesy of The Cook's Thesaurus

Spice	Conversion	Substitute
Allspice, Whole	1 ounce = 4 Tbsp. 5 whole berries yield 1 tsp ground	equal parts cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, all ground or, equal parts cinnamon and cloves, all ground or, equal parts cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper, all ground
Allspice, Ground
Angelica		lovage (This also tastes like celery, and the stems can be candied like angelica.) or tarragon
Anise, Ground	1 ounce =4 tbsp.	fennel seed (This has a milder flavor and is sweeter than anise.) , or, star anise (stronger flavor; 1 crushed star anise = 1/2 tsp crushed anise seed) or caraway seed or tarragon
Apple Pie Spice		1 tsp = 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/8 tsp cardamom, and 1/8 tsp ground allspice To make your own:  4 parts cinnamon + 2 parts nutmeg + 1 part cardamom, all ground
Basil Leaves	1 ounce = 8 Tbsp.	oregano, thyme or Italian seasoning, tarragon, summer savory, or  equal parts parsley and celery leaves
Bay Leaf, Whole	1 fresh = 2 Dry	¼ tsp. dried thyme or oregano 1 Dry = ¼ tsp. crushed 1 Fresh = ½ tsp. crushd
Bay Leaf, Ground	1 ounce = 5 Tbsp
Borage		spinach, escarole or burnet
Bouquet Garni		To make your own:  Tie together with a string or wrap securely in cheesecloth: 4 sprigs fresh parsley or chervil, 1 sprig fresh thyme, and 1 bay leaf. Variations if you're using cheesecloth: Add one or more of the following: orange peel, cloves, peppercorns, marjoram, fennel leaves, celery leaves Substitutes: equal parts parsley, thyme, and crushed bay leaf OR equal parts chervil, thyme, and crushed bay leaf OR equal parts basil, marjoram, and summer savory
British Pudding Spices		To make your own:  Grind together 1 small cinnamon stick and 1 tbsp each cloves, mace, ground nutmeg, coriander seeds, and allspice berries   Substitutes:   pumpkin pie spice, allspice
Caraway Seed	1 ounce =3 tbsp.	Dill seed (milder),  anise seed or cumin seed
Caraway, Ground	1 ounce = 5 tbs
Cardamom,Ground	1 ounce = 5 tbsp Approximately 12 pods, dehusked = 1 tsp ground cardamom One pod yields 1/6 tsp cardamom.	equal parts ground nutmeg and cinnamon, or equal parts ground cloves and cinnamon , or, nutmeg or cinnamon
Celery Seed		celery (One tsp = 2 tbsps minced celery tops),  dill seed or celery salt (reduce the salt elsewhere in the recipe)
Chervil		parsley + tarragon, or fennel leaves + parsley, fines herbs or dill
Chives		Green onion tops
Cinnamon, Whole (preferably Ceylon Cinnamon)	1 3” stick = ½ tsp. Ground Most of the cinnamon that's sold in America is cassia, which is cheaper and more bitter than the choice Ceylon cinnamon	1/2 tsp cinnamon  (creates different flavor profile)  = 1/4 to 1/2 tsp ground allspice, or ¼ to ½ tsp. Nutmeg or, equal amounts pumpkin pie spice
Cinnamon, Ground	1 ounce = 4 tbsp.
Cloves, Whole	3 whole = ¼ tsp. ground	can substitute equal amounts of allspice
Cloves, Ground	1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
Coriander Seed	1 ounce. = 5 Tbs. 1 tsp coriander seeds = 1 1 /4 tsp ground coriander	equal amounts cumin, caraway,  or garam masala
Coriander Ground	1 ounce. = 5 Tbs.
Cubeb, Whole	1 ounce. = 3 Tbs. 1 tsp. Whole = ~1 ½ tsp. ground	equal parts allspice and black pepper, or quatre epices or schezuan peppercorns
Cumin Ground	1 oz. = 4 tbsps ground = 4 1/2 tbsps whole seed. 1 tsp. cumin seeds = 1 1/4 tsp. ground cumin	half amount the recipe calls for of caraway, coriander, chili powder, garam masala, curry or taco seasoning
Curry Powder		To make your own:  Combine equal parts ground coriander, ground cumin, ground pepper, turmeric, and ground ginger or 4 parts ground coriander + 2 parts ground cumin + 2 parts ground tumeric + 1 part ground ginger
Dill Seed		dill leaves, caraway seed or celery seed
Dill, fresh		tarragon (especially in sauces that accompany fish or eggs), fennel leaves (as a garnish; looks very similar)
Fennel Seed Whole	1 ounce. = 3 Tbs. 1 tsp fennel seeds = 1 1/4 tsp ground fennel	equal amounts of anise, cumin, caraway  or dill
Fennel Seed Ground	1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
Five Spice Powder		To make your own:  Combine equal parts Szechwan (or black) pepper, star anise (or anise), cinnamon, cloves, and fennel, all ground
Galingale	1 ½ tsp. Powder is equal to 1 tbsp. chopped fresh	equal amounts of ginger with a pinch of cinnamon added
Garam Masala		To make your own:  2 parts ground cardamom + 5 parts ground coriander + 4 parts ground cumin + 2 parts ground black pepper + 1 part ground cloves + 1 part ground cinnamon + 1 part ground nutmeg Substitutes:  equals parts cumin, pepper, cloves, and nutmeg, all ground OR curry powder (spicier, different flavor)
Garlic	A head or bulb of garlic usually contains about 10 cloves. 1 clove = 1 tsp chopped garlic = 1/2 tsp minced garlic = 1/8 tsp garlic powder = 1/2 tsp garlic flakes = 1/4 tsp granulated garlic = 1/2 tsp garlic juice	can substitute onion, shallot or garlic chives
Garlic Powder	1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
Garlic Granulated	1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
Gelatin	1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
Ginger Ground	1 ounce. = 4 Tbs. 1 tbsp fresh = ¼ tsp ground	crystallized ginger (Substitute 1/2 cup minced crystallized ginger for every 1 tsp ground ginger called for in recipe. Rinse sugar off ginger first. This is an excellent substitution in many baked goods.),  ginger root (Substitute 2 tbsps grated ginger root for every tsp ground ginger called for in recipe. For best results, substitute only half the ground ginger in recipe with fresh ginger.), cardamom, allspice, cinnamon , mace or nutmeg
Grains of Paradise		cardamom, black peppercorns
Herbes de Provence		To make your own:  Combine four parts thyme plus four parts summer savory, two parts lavender, and one part rosemary.
Hyssop		sage
Long Pepper		black pepper (milder)  or crushed red pepper
Lovage		equal parts parsley and celery leaves, parsley or chervil
Mace	1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.	nutmeg (sweeter and milder than mace) , allspice, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon or ginger
Marjoram Whole	1 ounce. = 8 Tbs. 1 tbsp. fresh = 1 tsp. dried	oregano (This is very similar, but not as sweet and mild as marjoram. Substitute two parts of oregano for three parts of marjoram.) or thyme or sage or basil or summer savory
Marjoram Powdered	1 ounce. = 8 Tbs.
Mastic		frankincense Tears, Guar Gum, Locust Bean Gum, Xanthan Gum and Gum Arabic Powder
Mint		fresh parsley + pinch of dried mint , or basil
Mustard Seed Whole	1 ounce. = 3 Tbs. 1 tsp mustard seeds = 1 1/2 tsp ground mustard	wasabi powder, or horseradish
Mustard Seed Ground	1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
Nutmeg Ground	1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.. 1/2 nutmeg = 1 tsp ground nutmeg	mace,  allspice, cinnamon, ginger
Onion Powder	1 ounce. = 3 Tbs. 5 medium onions = 1 pound = 2 cups chopped = 3 cups sliced 1 small onion = 1/3 cup = 1 tsp onion powder = 1 tbsp dried onion flakes	white bulbs of leeks, shallots,  green onions
Onion Salt	1 ounce. = 2 Tbs.
Oregano Leaf	1 ounce. = 9 Tbs.	marjoram (This is very similar, but milder and sweeter.  Substitute two parts of oregano for three parts of marjoram.) or thyme or basil or summer savory
Paprika Ground	1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
Parsley		chervil or celery tops or cilantro
Pepper Coarse	1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
Pepper Black	1 ounce. = 4 Tbs. 1 tsp. peppercorns = 1 1/2 tsp. ground pepper
Pepper White	1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
Pepper Whole	1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.	coriander seeds
Pepper Red Leaf	1 ounce. = 5 Tbs.
Pepper Cayenne	1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
Pickling Spice	1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.	To make your own:   Combine 1/4 C each mustard seeds, dill seeds, and coriander seeds, 2 tbsps each crushed chili peppers and bay leaves, and 1 tbsp each celery seeds and white peppercorns.
Pumpkin Pie Spice		To make your own:  Combine 4 parts cinnamon + 2 parts ginger + 1 part allspice + 1 part nutmeg, all ground OR equal parts cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, mace, and cloves, all ground
Quatre Epices		To make your own:  Combine 1 part ground nutmeg + 1 part ground ginger + 1 part ground cloves + 2 parts ground white pepper Substitutes:   Chinese five-spice powder (especially in pates) OR nutmeg
Ras Al Hanout		To make your own:  Grind together 4 tsps each cumin seed and ground ginger, 5 tsps coriander seeds, 2 tbsps each black peppercorns and ground cinnamon, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 16 whole cloves, and 20 allspice berries
Rosemary		sage or savory or thyme
Saffron	1 tsp threads = 1/8 tsp powder	turmeric (for color, not flavor; use 4 times as much), safflower (use 8 times as much; less expensive and imparts similar color, but taste is decidedly inferior),  marigold blossoms (for color, not flavor; use twice as much), annatto seeds (Steep 1 tsp annatto seeds in 1/4 cup of boiling water for 30 minutes, discard seeds. Reduce liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup.) or red and yellow food coloring
Sage	1 ounce. = 8 Tbs.	poultry seasoning or rosemary or thyme
Saunders/Red Sandalwood
Seasoned Salt		To make your own:  Combine 1 C salt, 2 1/2 tsps paprika, 2 tsps dry mustard, 1 1/2 tsps dried oregano, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp onion powder
Sugar Brown	1 ounce. = 1-1/2 Tbs.
Sugar	1 ounce. = 1-1/2 Tbs.
Sumac		lemon zest + salt or (in salads) lemon juice or (in salads) vinegar
Tarragon		dill or basil or marjoram or fennel seed or anise seed or angelica
Thyme	1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.	omit from recipe or herbes de Provence (This blend contains thyme.) or poultry seasoning (This blend contains thyme.) or Italian seasoning (This blend contains thyme.) or savory or marjoram or oregano
Turmeric		turmeric (1 piece fresh turmeric = 1 tsp ground turmeric) or mustard powder or mustard powder + pinch of saffron