Strange experience the other night. I woke up thinking about the description of the cook in the Prologue to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. It was the reference to Chiknes and their bones in particular I forgot Chaucer calls them Marybones (Marrowbones). I'm sure it all means something (the dream that is).
To boille the chiknes with the marybones
And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale;
Wel koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun ale;
He koude rooste and sethe and broille and frye,
Máken mortreux and wel bake a pye.
But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me,
That on his shyne a mormal hadde he,
For blankmanger, that made he with the beste.
They had a cook with them (the pilgrims) for the occasion to boil chickens with the marrow bones and spicy merchant powder (s spice mix) and galingale (another spice). He knew a draught of London ale well. He could roast, seethe, broil and fry, make stew and bake a pie well. I thought it was a great shame, however, that he had an (oozing) sore on his chin. He was one of the best at making blancmange (a dessert).
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