Ever feel like a Goose?

[hummingwolf]

In A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman has this quote about eighteenth century culinary habits:

"Dr. William Kitchiner, in The Cook's Oracle, cites a grotesque recipe, by a cook named Mizald, for preparing and eating a goose while it is still alive:

"Take a goose, or a Duck, or some such lively creature pull off all her feathers, only the head and neck must be spared: then make a fire round about her, not too close to her, that the smoke do not choke her, and that the fire may not burn her too soon; not too far off, that she may not escape free: within the circle of the fire let there be set small cups and pots of water, wherein salt and honey are mingled; and let there be set also chargers full of sodden Apples, cut into small pieces in the dish. The Goose must be all larded, and basted over with butter: put then fire about her, but do not make too much haste, when as you see her begin to roast; for by walking about and flying here and there, being cooped in by the fire that stops her way out the unwearied Goose is kept in; she will fall to drink the water to quench her thirst, and cool her heart, and all her body, and the Apple sauce will make her dung and cleanse and empty her. And when she roasteth, and consumes inwardly, always wet her head and heart with a wet sponge; and when you see her giddy with running, and begin to stumble, her heart wants moisture, and she is roasted enough. Take her up and set her before your guests and she will cry as you cut off any part from her and will be almost eaten up before she be dead: it is mighty pleasant to behold!"

That whole passage is just begging to be made into a metaphor.

On a different note, here's a bit about chocolate:

"What food do you crave? Ask the question with enough smoldering emphasis on the last word, and the answer is bound to be chocolate. It was first used by the Indians of Central and South America. The Aztecs called it xocoatl ("chocolate"), declared it a gift from their white-bearded god of wisdom and knowledge, Quetzalcoatl, and served it as a drink to members of the court--only rulers and soldiers could be trusted with the power it conveyed. The Toltecs honored the divine drink by staging rituals in which they sacrificed chocolate-colored dogs. Itzá human-sacrifice victims were sometimes given a mug of chocolate to sanctify their journey."

Right then. I shall now go in search of the wisdom of chocolate. If I am a goose, let it be a sanctified Goose!

Comments

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

Gee, half roasted goose. No thanks.

All the flapping and crapping will surely put my party guests off their feed.

Unwilly

[skygypsy.livejournal.com]

wooo, wisdom of chocolate!!

YUM!!!

*twitch*
(now i want chocolate! *gah*)

;)

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Yes, a powerful sacred drink from the god of wisdom and knowledge. Lovely way to raise your brainpower, isn't it?

And are you trying to tell me that you *didn't* already want chocolate before you read the post?

[skygypsy.livejournal.com]

*giggle*

edit post:
now i *still* want chocolate!

;)

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

But torturing the animal is the way to make its meat healthy and tasty, or so it was believed. And the applesauce should make it crap out before it's all cooked.

Yeah, some culinary practices are enough to make me a vegetarian for a while.

[chastmastr.livejournal.com]

I do want to eat goose someday.

Not, however, like that.

Current Mood: Ewwwww

Chocolate, however, is Quite All Right Right.

Current Mood: Perky

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

I've eaten goose. It wasn't bad, though I certainly wouldn't say it was as good as chocolate.

That is one angry-looking Powderpuff boy.

[chastmastr.livejournal.com]

Here's a happy one! :)