Subsistence cooking equipment

ariarnia

well, the pudding could have gone worse, I'm not sure what the problem was, but other than the whole thing being very hot and damp when I was lifting it out, it seems to be cooked.

rachbc

It don't think it needs to be a particular type of cloth - a clean cotton tea towel or similar...

Optimisticpair

ceridwen wrote: »

Right - I've put out a call then as to what type of cloth used to be used/is still used by some for steaming puddings:)

Muslin cloth. Haven't used it myself for steamed puds though. I use it for straining curds from whey for baking curd tarts. Used in soft cheesemaking.

ceridwen wrote: »

I think its little bits of "knowledge" like this about cooking that are in danger of being lost - certainly I'm in the Baby Boomer generation and I dont know myself - so its time to ask those who still retain "the Knowledge" as to specifics as to how to do these things:)

I agree. I think historians are fast becoming the custodians of the "old ways" and we should hang onto "the knowledge" to use or pass on on at least.

There are lots of modern things that make life easier, and I'm not saying we should ditch them all, but there's often less sense of satisfaction and connection to what you make and do when you have a gadget do it for you.

ceridwen wrote: »

While this topic is "on my mind" - is there any other knowledge/techniques we are in danger of losing and that Bob and Shirley might well find useful please?:)

I've not seen the start of this thread yet.

ceridwen

Reet - clean teatowel or muslin cloth....thats the verdict so far.

Any other comments on this from anyone please? I'm thinking that muslin cloths are more difficult to get than teatowels for instance.

When I was looking for muslin cloth recently - it was a bit of a palaver. But - teatowels are easy to get (and could presumably be used also for their "intended purpose":)).

So - what does everyone think? Would teatowels do the trick then?

thriftlady_2

Muslin squares available from Lakeland. Also useful for preserving purposes if Bob and Shirley feel the urge to make marmalade.

A bit of a worn out shirt would do too.

ceridwen

Okays...further on this:

I've had a PM (thank you:)) from a poster. I dont know whether they wish to be anonymous - or no - so havent quoted their "name".

They say:
If pudding is put in a pudding basin - then the top needs to be covered. She usually uses a square of greaseproof and a square of foil tied round the top of basin.

She further suggests we could cover with a square of muslin or cotton (eg an old hankie or worn-out shirt). She reminds us that we would need to flour the side in contact with - and make sure its pleated to allow for expansion. Further - its possible to make roly-poly type puddings wrapped in a teacloth - but that greaseproof is better (as it doesnt stick).

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From that - I'm deducing that maybe we need to add greaseproof paper to the Kit List and keep some old cotton cloth to hand as well for experimenting with what is the best combination (could be old teatowel/old cotton shirt/old hankie - depending on what is available). What does everyone think?

thriftlady_2

ceridwen wrote: »

I think its little bits of "knowledge" like this about cooking that are in danger of being lost - certainly I'm in the Baby Boomer generation and I dont know myself - so its time to ask those who still retain "the Knowledge" as to specifics as to how to do these things:)

I don't think it's a question of age. I'm 44 but know this sort of stuff 'cos I read it in books

ceridwen

thriftlady wrote: »

Muslin squares available from Lakeland. Also useful for preserving purposes if Bob and Shirley feel the urge to make marmalade.

A bit of a worn out shirt would do too.

Presumably its not that important what material this old shirt is made from then? Does it matter if its partly/wholly synthetic material - rather than being 100% cotton iyswim?

Edinburghlass_2

thriftlady wrote: »

A bit of cloth. Isn't that how all puddings were steamed before foil etc?

Absolutely and hence the name clootie (cloth) dumpling.

http://www.scottishrecipes.co.uk/clootiedumpling.htm

ceridwen

Edinburghlass wrote: »

Absolutely and hence the name clootie (cloth) dumpling.

http://www.scottishrecipes.co.uk/clootiedumpling.htm

Hmmm...goes off to look at Nykmedia's clootie dumpling recipe........:)