Recipes From The Wooden Spoon

Cous Cous is to Turkey as rice is to Asia. Long have they used cous cous, as it is easy to pick up and eat with the hands, and holds flavor well; it is also less expensive than rice (being a pasta).  According to the anonymous thirteenth-century Hispano-Muslim cookery book "Kitab al-tabikh fi al-Maghrib wa'l-Andalus, “Cous cous is a staple food in the Maghrib that requires very little in the way of utensils for its preparation. It is an ideal food for both nomadic and agricultural peoples. The preparation of couscous is one that symbolizes "happiness and abundance…" * This recipe is based off a traditional Moroccan recipe (sans the nuts) and a chicken cous cous dish that I grew up with.

Tavuk Cous Cous ile Sebze (Chicken couscous with vegetables)

1 c French couscous

3-4 thighs, de-boned and cut into bite-sized pieces

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 carrots minced

½ c chopped spinach, (if using frozen) thawed and drained

½ c sweet peas

1 small onion, minced

2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped

½ c golden raisins

½ chopped dried apricots

Spices = ¼ to ½ tsp each to taste

            Grains of paradise, ground

Cinnamon, ground

            Celery seed, ground

            Caraway seed (opt) ground

Lemon rind, julienne (opt)

Chicken stock/broth, about 2 cups

Salt and pepper, to taste

Olive oil

Heat a dutch oven and add 1 Tbsp olive oil and quickly sauté onions, garlic, carrots and a pinch of salt until lightly browned. Remove and set aside. Add 2 Tbsps olive oil and reduce heat to medium. Meanwhile mix the spices, salt and pepper with the chicken and brown the pieces in the dutch oven. Remove and add about ½ cup of the stock to deglaze the pan, then return the chicken, chickpeas, peas, spinach, ½ the golden raisins, ½ the apricots and the onion mixture. Stir to combine, cook 10 minutes and add 1 cup of chicken stock (or broth). Bring to a boil and pour cous cous over the top of the mixture as well as the remaining raisins and apricots. Cover tightly and reduce head to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes (no peeking). Cous cous is done when it is puffed up (about double it’s original size). Fluff the cous cous and serve. Grilled pita goes well with this.

What Brought You In?

Now that I've had a chance to sit down and hash some things out, I surely hope the new face of the Quill is as appealing as it was before if not even moreso.  Times have changed and while a good deal of most posting happens on the Facebook pages,  That aside, I rather enjoy having a place where they can all go together without too much hassle of being drowned out in the various posts that happen on the Baronial or Canton pages.  Be honest, sometimes it's hard trying to find that thing that someone sent you.  That's what this is for.  To find that thing that they sent to you, and a rather nice collection of things it is.

That being said, I'm going to take your time a bit longer and give a question to ask yourself:  Why'd you join up with the SCA?  It's one of the questions for the Persona of the Month column and sometimes a very common question to be asked by Newcomers or new friends.  I myself ask it every now and then, which usually ends up with some fascinating stories proving that there's never a dull moment in what we do.

There's an upcoming event towards the end of August that's going to be riddled with Newcomers and I expect to have a good number of questions asked and answered.  What we do seems new and strange to the mundanes and it's up to us to show that the SCA isn't just some silly game of dress-up and fighting.  There's plenty to do, from heraldry and fiber arts to wood-burning and metal casting. There is literally something for everyone in what we do.  And the worst thing you could do is not try it.  So if you plan on going to Flight of the Falcon, I hope to see you there.  And think about those stories that always start out with "Seriously, there I was..."  Because it was stories like that that brought me into the SCA

In Service,
Tristan The Wanderer

Letters to the Populace

Konnichiwa & Greetings to the Populace,

As of the end of June, we will have a NEW Baronial Seneschal, Dame Morwenna.  We thank Lord Olaf for his Service over the last three years as Seneschal.

In other news, Nottinghill Coill is one of the four Principle Baronies for WoW X!  We are allied with Hidden Mountain against Black Diamond & Highland Forde.  Please plan to attend and support the activities at WoW X.

M'Lady Kaete McDavid [Kathleen Harris] is Our Baronial Land Agent this year.  Please register soon and watch for activities and ideas to enhance our Baronial Camp.

As always, We remain,
In Service to the Dream
Takeda & Ariel
Baron & Baroness of Nottinghill Coill

Changing of the Pen

To the Populace of Nottinghill Coill does Tristan the Wanderer bring Peace and Greeting!

As some of you may know, the Barony has a monthly newsletter called the Quill.  And as such, I will be stepping up to the position of Baronial Chronicler.  While I will embrace this new office like a cuddly baby goat that I did not steal, I cannot fulfill my duties to their greatest without your help.  If you have a story, a poem, something for sale, or words of praise and recognition for someone please send me a message through Facebook or by email at daterr2i87[at]gmail.com with "Nottinghill Quill" in the subject line.

I ask you, the Populace, to assist me in praising others, sending word out about events or get-togethers, war stories, anything.  Keep in mind that all submissions and such must reach me no later than the 25th of each month to ensure it gets put into that issue of the Quill

In Service to the Dream, The Kingdom, and the Barony
Tristan the Wanderer
mka David Terry

Greetings to the Populace

As stated at Baronial Birthday on Saturday 2/21/2015, We will be stepping down as Baronage at Baronial Birthday 2016. We thank you for the opportunity and the honor of serving the Barony, especially being able to recognize all the good works and talents of the populace.

In the upcoming months look for announcements from the Baronial Seneschal about the polling for a NEW Baronage.

As always, We remain,
In Service to the Dream,
Takeda & Ariel Baron & Baroness, Nottinghill Coill