Embroidery, part 1

These are Edwin's collar and cuffs for the Crown outfits, fully pearled. The brooch is a commission piece from Gaukler Medieval Wares in BC.

The embroidery is done in split stitch with two strands of white silk embroidery floss on dark blue linen and ~4mm button pearls sewn with silk thread. The pattern is from a 12th century German altar frontal--the cuffs have it as-is, the collar is adapted for the shape.

Cheese biscuits, take 1...

The original, from the Dutch cookery manuscript "Wel ende edelike spijse", dated to approximately 1484.



1.21. Dough to make "pipes".
Take cheese from Gouda and eggs. Grind together with white flour. Lay it on dry flour and make small biscuits of it.

The other recipes are quite detailed about what one is supposed to do, then there's this one. What do they exactly mean by "make small biscuits," anyway? So this first attempt they will be drop biscuits.


2 eggs
1/2 c flour
1 cup finely grated Gouda cheese

Combine eggs and cheese, add flour gradually to make a sticky dough. Line a pan with parchment, sprinkle with an even coating of flour. Drop dough by spoonsful, flatten to 1/4" thick. Bake 15 mins at 350F.

Edwin thought they were too rubbery, but Edwin is notoriously picky. Edwin also thinks they should have salt in them. They are also bright yellow due to the notably intense yellow-orange yolks (from free-range chicken eggs) and the pale yellow cheese.

Next attempt: subject cheese and egg to the blender to better approximate grinding and then mix in the flour. I'm also thinking about trying them as more like a cracker than a biscuit. One could also reduce the amount of cheese, but one change at a time.

I have a thing!!

"a glutton for books"

That's what the title means. If you've seen my library you know from whence I speak. Anyway, this is meant to be an actual project diary and repository, since my project LJ has turned into a really fancy to-do list.