Moments after the Town Meeting was over---Sarah and Little Sage went towards the Central since Sat.u.r.day is always Yellowleaf"s Market day. The Local visiting merchants mostly sold cheap and common foodstuff since their customers can barely afford any of their luxurious commodities.
Before, they could not visit the Marketplace, because they couldn"t do so. They relied on the Citadel"s funding before they were relieved of their status as a Nonprofit organization by the current King MoSanchez. After that unfortunate event, they have only relied on charitable donations ever since. But ever since she officially became the inventor of the game called chess, she received another 500 gold from Nico as payment for the rights to sell the gameboard. Gus constantly reminded her to use the money for herself and the children because Sarah continues to refuse his money. In the end, Gus was able to convince her to accept Gus" generosity.
"Alright Little Sage, for today"s errands, we need to help Mr. Gus stock our pantry back in the kitchen. We just can"t depend on your Papa forever. Are you ready Little Sage?" asked her Elder Sister Sarah.
"Yes, elder sister!" said Little Sage as she salutes to Ms. Sarah.
The girls walked beside the busy stalls that were" selling fresh meats and vegetables. The meat seemed different since livestock was not common in the world of Circa. They were also attracted to the intoxicating smell of cooked food that filled the air.
Their market was not that fancy compared to the city, but it didn"t matter for Little Sage. It was her first time to ever visit a marketplace. She made sure to memorize and familiarize the different ingredients she has seen. There are vegetables well known today back on earth such as cuc.u.mber, chickpeas, celery, carrots, cabbage, leeks, peas, lettuce, garlic, onions, shallots, as well as familiar aromatic herbs as mint, sage, c.u.min, anise, parsley, savory, coriander.
After taking mental notes about the vegetables and spices she saw, she saw different types of meats in the market as well.
By far the most common meat, beef was regarded as coa.r.s.e and was never considered exclusive enough for the n.o.bility; but it was very popular among the lower cla.s.ses. Though more tender, veal (young cow) never surpa.s.sed beef in popularity.
Many peasant households had cows, usually only one or two, that would be slaughtered for meat once their days of giving milk had pa.s.sed. This would usually take place in the fall so that the creature would not have to be fed through the winter.
Circa"s winters were harsh and horrible. Peasants do not have the means to keep their cows alive through the winter. Also, food will be scarce. Peasants would rather slaughter the cow, and use preservation methods on the meat as additional food supplies for the coming winter season. Whatever was not consumed at a feast would be preserved for use throughout the months ahead. Most of the animal was used for food, and those parts that weren"t eaten had other purposes; the hide was made into leather, the horns (if any) might be used for drinking vessels, and the bones were occasionally used to make sewing implements, fasteners, parts of tools, weapons, or musical instruments, and a variety of other useful items.
In larger towns and cities such as Fahnzal and Tenrocks, a substantial portion of the population had no kitchens of their own, and so it was necessary for them to purchase their meals ready-made from street vendors: a kind of medieval "fast food." Beef would be used in the meat pies and other food items these vendors cooked if their customers were numerous enough to consume the product of a slaughtered cow in a matter of days.
The meat of the pig had been very popular with everyone. In Circa, pigs were everywhere. As omnivores, they could find food in the forest and city streets as well as on the farm.
Peasants raised pigs more numerous than cows. Ham and bacon lasted a long time and went a long way in the humblest peasant household. As common and inexpensive as keeping pigs was, pork was favored by the most elite members of society, as well as by city vendors in pies and other ready-made foods.
Like cows, nearly every part of the pig was used for food, right down to its hooves, which were used to make jellies. Its intestines were popular casings for sausages, and its head was sometimes served on a platter at festive occasions.
Horned Rabbits has never been domesticated, but it was hunted and eaten in Circa. So this unpopular meat is rarely seen in the market and more common to traveling adventurers. Its meat is darker and richer than that of regular rabbits, and it was frequently served in a heavily-peppered dish with a sauce made from its blood.
Minotaurs, Orcs and False c.o.c.katrice were considered a luxury since n.o.body was able to successfully domesticate these creatures for human consumption.
Little Sage took notice of the stalls that sold a certain dish that was very popular during the middle ages back on earth, and for a good reason.
Originally, the English back on Earth, called the dish "coffins," not in a morbid way, the word literally means "box." The word "Pie" evolved from "Pye", which referred to Magpies, not because they used the bird as filling, but because they are known to collect random odds and ends for their nests, not unlike how a cook could throw in whatever they had handy. The outside pastry crust was made so thick that it could withstand several hours of baking over a fire, so wasn"t made to be eaten, but as more of an early bread bowl. Not only did the crust act as a perfect vessel for cooking, it also helped keep the food inside fresher longer, a major bonus in a time without refrigeration and as anyone who has eaten at Medieval Times: Dinner and Tournament can tell you, this was also an era without utensils, making the hard pie crust a perfect built-in food delivery system. The thick crust was so st.u.r.dy it had to be cracked open to get to the filling. This may also be the reason why early recipes focus on the filling over the surrounding case, with this development leading to the use of reusable earthenware pie cases which reduced the use of expensive flour. Medieval pie crusts were often baked first, to create a "pot" of baked dough with a removable top crust, hence the expression "pot pie"
"Interested in pies little girl? The fillings I made are special today!" said the stout lady vendor.
"Um, What"s in it then?" asked Little Sage.
It is the first time she has ever seen a pie, so she couldn"t help but ask what it is. Little Sage didn"t fail to notice that the stout lady mentioned something about its special filling.
"Well! I used fresh Chicken today! only 2 silvers each!" The stout lady brought out a pie from Its circular in diameter, and as tall as a water gla.s.s. it is sealed with a layer of thick flour crust on top that is shaped to look like a castle tower.
"Can we buy it please Elder Sister?" asked Little Sage with sparkling eyes.
"Then we"ll buy one," said Sarah.
Sarah didn"t hesitate to treat Little Sage in the Market for the very first time. It is usually rare for her to take an interest in food. Before she encountered Gus, books were all she ever cared about.
Little Sage was about to bite the pie, but the Stout lady immediately stopped her.
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"Ah! you don"t eat the pie crust, little Missy! That will break your little teeth! Here, I"ll break it open for ya!"
The lady cracked open the top of the pie, exposing the chicken dish inside, still piping hot.
Normally they would"ve used their hands or use the pie crust as a makeshift spoon to eat the filling, but fortunately, Little Sage used her Iron spoon from her backpack to eat the chicken filling. After one bite, she gave the rest to her Elder sister Sarah so she can have a taste as well.
"Mmm... Auntie, Is there Onions, Eggs and Bacon, in your pie? I can taste some spices, but I do not know what it is." said Little Sage.
The Stout lady vendor was surprised that this little, young girl was already very familiar with some of the ingredients she did use.
"Wow! You"re pretty good Missy! I like ya! so dun" go and tell anybody else, okay? The spices I used are c.u.min and Black Pepper!" said the Stout lady.
"What other fillings do you have?" asked Little Sage.
"Well! Good for you to ask! I also have Minced Beef Pie for 3 silvers and 5 coppers each, and plain Onion and Egg Pie for just 1 silver."
"Then we"ll buy them as well. We can share these with your Papa and the rest of your siblings," said Sarah.
"Since your my first customer for the day and I like ya, so ill give that Onion and Egg pie for free! But just this time, you hear? Please do come back again to buy some pies from this Lady Oren!" said the Lady Vendor. She packed their pies with paper made from cheap linen rags. Sarah then graciously accepted her offer and placed the pies in her Basket.
"Oh! Thank you so much for the pies Ms. Oren, They were delicious. We"ll be coming back again." said Sarah.
"Yay! Thank you, Ms. Oren! You"re kind!" Little Sage placed her iron spoon back in her backpack and took out a piece of chocolate creampuff which was supposed to be her snack.
"You can have this because I like you too Ms. Oren! And you can eat the crust too, so you don"t hafta worry about breaking your teeth!" Little Sage offered her Chocolate Creampuff to the baffled Ms. Oren. This was her first time seeing a "pie" such as this.
Sarah bowed to Ms. Oren, before taking Little Sage"s hand. Little Sage waved her hands at her new friend Ms. Oren as she slowly faded into the bustling crowd with Ms. Sarah.
"What a sweet kid!" said Ms. Oren. She looked back at the creampuff that was given to her. It was soft to the touch, and it also seems to have a filling inside. Oren couldn"t figure out what the brown thing on the top was, but she admits that its smell was very pleasing and appetizing. She followed the little girl"s advice and took a bite of the creampuff.
With one single bite, she almost dropped the creampuff in her hands. She couldn"t describe the contrast of flavors that were blasting away in her mouth. The mild salt, and bland flavor of the pate" a choux and chocolate, perfectly balances out with the sweetness of the vanilla custard filling. This is the first time she has ever appreciated the crust of a pie to compliment the whole dish.
"What is this?! And is this... Sugar?!" said the dumbfounded Lady Oren.
She raced out of her stall to see if she can still find Ms. Sarah and the sweet mysterious little girl. Only to have realized they were already gone among the busy, bustling crowd.
"What"s wrong Ms. Oren? It looks like you"ve seen a ghost!" said her stall neighbor.
"Its its... Nothing. By the way, do you know who they are?" asked Oren.