Make Medieval Cookies - 18th Century Cooking

[@timkowalski2166]

Here's the recipe for anyone else interested in baking these themselves: 3/4 cup butter 3/4 cup sugar 1 1/2 cup flour 3 egg yolks 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon cloves 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg or half a nutmeg (1 teaspoon if John is making these) 1/2 cup milk Dried fruit Powdered sugar Bake at 375° F for around 15-18 minutes

[@chuchulainn9275]

Thank you. 😋

[@andrea6421]

Thanks! ☺️

[@AquariusLowtide]

@@andrea6421 Thank you. xx

[@benjaminscribner7737]

Only Jon could get excited about receiving nutmeg as a gift. 😂

[@asahearts1]

I would be pretty stoked, too, tbh

[@Richard-ov6vt]

Ikr. But hey, I use nutmeg a lot more than I used to bc of this channel 😂

[@bdnightshade]

@@Richard-ov6vt same here. I had no idea how many foods nutmeg can perk up - especially pork!

[@oakmaiden2133]

Been a ‘Meg nut since childhood! Creamy egg custard with the ‘meg is a favorite alongside of fettuccine Alfredo!

[@sugarmuffin319]

My 20 year old was STOKED! I referred the grater and nutmeg from Townsend online shop. He's been putting out on everything

[@shano6613]

Lost count of how many times a good biscuit has saved my soul

[@user-ks5cg5cd7m]

Lol

[@thomasinamcnaughton7020]

My mother's family came from Shropshire, before the Industrial Revolution, and these were always known as Shropshire Soul Cakes in my house. I think there's a folk song about it, as people went "Souling" - going door to door and begging for alms (the predecessor to Trick of Treat), which is still practiced in the rural Midlands villages here in the UK.

[@CounterNerd]

Dragoo is so lovable, he's passionate about what he does and you can tell he really enjoys it by the way he talks and what his body language is like. Always a joy to see him on!

[@Alchemist009]

A Soul a soul a soul cake! Please good Missus, a Soul cake! An apple, a pear, a plum or a cherry, any good thing to make us all merry. One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all.

[@HugsXO]

Thank you for posting.

[@paveloleynikov4715]

And sung in Max's voice

[@09EvoX]

Some Sting in this comment 😁

[@paveloleynikov4715]

@@09EvoX Max Miller from tasting history also made video on soul cakes (and actually it is one of his best IMO), and he read that carol there:)

[@MountainWoman68]

Kingston Trio.

[@gunner1506]

I appreciate your hard work and commitment to authenticity in your videos. It’s very informative and entertaining.

[@DrIgnacious]

Jon in his own kitchen: "Where's a grater?" We've all been there. If you read my comments in the thread you'll find I am fully aware it is a set

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

I'm reminded of what my late mother-in-law used to say: "Other people's kitchens, NOTHING'S where it's supposed to be!"

[@DrIgnacious]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 Accurate. It's also a set so the grater may not have been where it was expected to be.

[@MikehMike01]

It’s a set not his kitchen

[@DrIgnacious]

@@MikehMike01 if you read down into the replies om this comment I do say that.

[@MikehMike01]

@@DrIgnacious it’s a set

[@robzinawarriorprincess1318]

What an interesting flour dispenser! I loved the bit with Michael's gift to Jon.

[@eriknelson7077]

I love history and I love cooking. Therefore, your channel is my favorite

[@ashmomofboys]

You should check out Tasting History with Max Miller. His channel is also fantastic for food history!

[@tdioxin2658]

A beautiful tradition. I put a few crackers by the front door on All Soul’s night, Nov. 2nd, with a candle. I will now use your recipe. Thank you for this. Love your channel, music and all! 🇨🇦

[@kareningram6093]

I like that you guys left the blooper in. It made me laugh. Hope y'all had a Merry Christmas! Wishing you all the best in 2023.

[@MalReaver]

Very similar to a shortbread cookie, is there a connection? I love how thoughtful Micheal is to bring Jon a nutmeg! 😄

[@garethaethwy]

Shortbread is just flour, butter, ground almonds, and sugar though isn't it? With a bit of water to bind? That's certainly how I make it! Be interesting to hear your receipt if you have something different?

[@Katherine_The_Okay]

@@garethaethwy My mam passed down a hand-written cookbook that she added recipes to for almost 50 years, and it had 3 shortbread recipes in it (one from each of her grandmothers and one from an aunt) and they all had some differences. Only one had almonds as I recall (the best imo) and another was spiced while the third was just flour/butter/sugar. And everyone of course insisted that theirs was the one true way to make a shortbread. I think some recipes are so simple and universal, but also so open to additions, that no one can quite agree on what the original "pure" recipe is. Which to me has always been half the fun of baking, especially from historical or old family recipes.

[@eirika2001]

I think the use of the egg yolks makes it more like what we just call a sugar cookie in my area of Canada (not sure if it is a universal name even in this country). Shortbread as I know it has just butter, flour (sometimes rice or cornflour) and superfine or powdered sugar. As someone else said there are as many 'one and true' recipes for such items as there are family traditions of making them 🙂

[@kristianwilliams441]

@@garethaethwy I've never heard of ground almonds in shortbread! When I make shortbread, I use only flour, butter, and sugar, in a 3:2:1 ratio by weight, with a pinch of salt, no other liquids needed to bind.

[@Wingedshadowwolf]

@@kristianwilliams441 That's how my grandma used to make it!

[@xrockonx911]

Being into Halloween and it’s histories and traditions, this was my first attempt at a Historical food item. Quite a few years ago I made two different recipes for an event at a Museum and they both were very well received, albeit, very unknown to everyone. Part of the reason I was very excited to find your channel (also a few years ago now) was to discover new Historical foods and recipes I could also try. Thankful for you, your crew, your business and this channel for keeping our History alive.

[@bvd7517]

Unexpected Wednesday morning Townsend's.

[@WomanTakenBytheWind]

Michael Dragoo episodes are my favorite!

[@triclopsgamer5934]

7:52 LoL You can see those souls sneeze as they're being made into cookies.

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

Soul cake's are a very old traditional dish. I love subscribing to channels like this. Tasting history just had a interesting soul cake.

[@AmandaS18]

Yay! Thank you Michael, just lovely ❤

[@lindacaldwell6251]

If it's a lb of butter, a lb of sugar, a lb of flour it's basically a shortbread. But by adding more eggs that changes it some. Very cool.

[@letshavepie]

This got me to thinking how the rise of Protestantism in England disrupted the existing traditions for caring for the poor. The extensive fast and feast days of the Catholic ecclesiastical calendar were done away with in one swoop, and continuing such a public display of piety as charity at your doorstep was likely to relieve you of your head. No wonder the state began to criminalize poverty at an increasing rate, and to see the poor as lazy. Where once the aged and disabled could be thought of as actively working by praying for the souls of the departed, official theology denied that there was any need for that and so it wasn't work. And if the poor aren't praying, and aren't receiving food in return for those prayers, then they are lazy thieves, stealing what they had once been given. And worse, they are natural enemies of the new order! No wonder so many were either executed or sold into labor in the colonies.

[@Anastas1786]

7:10 "This [nutmeg] is what I always wanted!" "I know that. And I need about half of that in there, so... go to it." "Where's the grater?" The Townsends' _Gift of the Magi_ will return after a short word from our sponsors.

[@bonniemoon6790]

I play a medieval souls like game called grim soul and they had these soul cakes, i thought it was just something the game devs made up. I love history and old things so was super suprised these soul cakes were actually a real thing. Always look forward to new videos with vintage recipes you guys post. Hope you all had a merry Christmas and i wish you all a happy new year.

[@shawnnewell4541]

Merry Christmas to you all! Thank you for all the research you do.

[@paulaneary7877]

So cute that he gave him a nutmeg, then they couldn't find the grater! TeeHee! So adorable! I like the music in this particular video. Very cheerful!

[@louanneasley413]

I am going to make this recipe today! Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@Diddley_Squat]

Merry Christmas

[@UnpronounceabIeName]

This is my introduction to Michael and though I can tell he has some trouble speaking in front of a camera, there's just something about the way he talks that makes it really great to listen to. Very fun video!

[@kapitankrunch3]

the nutmeg present was so funny 😂 always love your videos, and always love when michael comes on!

[@leoniesableblanc]

Tasting history with Max Miller has a whole episode on soul cakes and their history. He also has one on funeral biscuits and sin eaters.

[@orepurifier]

This used to be my favorite cookie when I was a kid. Every sari sari store in the Philippines used to sell one. I'm surprised to hear about its western roots. To me it had always been a simple filipino treat.

[@stupidmangoz]

These are beautiful, still lovely and honest work as always

[@lostscotsman]

I am genuinely surprised Jon doesn't have a nutmeg grater on a keychain or something similar that is always with him.

[@randy-9842]

I wish I had the cooking skill. Jon, you and Michael Dragoo look so natural in that kitchen and in your period clothing. Happy New Year to you both, to your families and your entire crew and THANK YOU!

[@LindaCasey]

Soul, soul, soul cake, please good missus a soul cake .. an apple a pear a plumb a cherry .. any good thing to make us all merry (Peter, Paul and Mary)

[@chrismusix5669]

Raziel's favorite cake! "The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. " ~Ezekiel 18:20

[@nordicson2835]

Interesting recipie and story behind the food. Thank you.

[@jorenbosmans8065]

I was wondering why Michael looked kind of nervous to me. Then the gift bit came and I assume it was because of that. You people are just wonderfull to have on KZbin. A version of these soul cakes will end up in my oven one of these days.

[@debbralehrman5957]

This was very interesting. Thanks for sharing this one with us Michael. Happy New Year.🎉

[@ulrikereinwald7054]

Have a nice christmastime and A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023 ! ❤️

[@kringhetto]

I must have missed this one. Always great to see Michael. Thanks for the video.

[@joeyhardin1288]

Thank you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you in the New Year. God Bless and stay safe.

[@jamesvatter5729]

Interesting. I had heard the term "soul cakes" before, but had no idea what they were. "It has the nutmeg in it...I mean, you gotta have that!" LOL!!!

[@j.robertsergertson4513]

I love these historic cooking/ baking videos. I can't wait to see a video on when 18th century people discovered chocolate

[@uhhuhsure]

Ashen one, to be Unkindled is to be a vessel for souls. Sovereignless souls will become thy strength.

[@Wububub]

I can't find or remember the source anymore, but somewhere it was said that soulcakes evolved into gingerbread cookies.

[@j2kerrigan]

Soul cakes. Sounds like a food in a role-playing game lol

[@Rouverius]

🎵Love and joy come to you, And to you your wassail too; And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year

[@bobjohnston8316]

Make those cookies a lot thicker and fill them up with sweet red bean paste or maybe crushed pineapple and you have Chinese Moon Cakes. Oh, instead of the cross go with the double happiness characters. You give them as gifts to friends during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Maybe somebody who is actually Chinese can give more info. I just know that having spent the festival in Taiwan everybody was giving me Moon Cakes. I couldn’t carry them all.

[@lukasmakarios4998]

When John opened his gift, I immediately went to the website to see if they have a grater for sale. So pretty. I'll have to get a new one.

[@frankklive3921]

The merriest of Christmases to all!

[@onvogmasaj]

Merry Christmas!

[@1TakoyakiStore]

My favorite song off of Sting's Winter album. 🤤

[@orionrobinette2691]

This guys videos when they come up in my recommended are always a treat. Thanks so much.

[@janecornell4890]

Saving souls one cookie at a time!

[@agimagi2158]

Super interesting to see a more cookie like version! Also the holiday vibes were perfect in this video. I wish everyone at Townsends a "guten Rutsch" (roughly translates to a good transitioning into the new year) ans a happy new year!

[@dDoven-gl4uf]

I made them. They have so much flavour. 10/10. I did have difficulty’s with calculating cups to grams. But i guess i did it right! Thank you.

[@minibin01]

I always love it when Michael is on! He always has such fun and exciting recipes :)

[@John.117]

Very nice… Thank you for sharing… happy holidays… Best to you and yours.

[@sirmaxfreese6827]

Thank you for another wonderful recipe from times of past! Great way to reconnect and great conversation starters!

[@mstuartjones7800]

Just another great video you two, Jon Happy New Year to you and all the folks and frindse of JAS Townsends...

[@anarchoutis]

It's so interesting how these switched from an All-Staints tradition to a Christmas tradition. Folk traditions are funny like that.

[@RanaCh5]

Amazing video. 👏 and great concept. Very warm reason to make this cookie. Merry Christmas

[@pmryam]

Michael's intro clicked in a memory from the past. There's a song by Peter, Paul & Mary called "A' Soalin'". It's about people going "a' soalin". They do a lot of harmonizing in it which they were always great at. It start out with a comic bit that's pretty funny and then get into the song. This is the link to the song on KZbin - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXnCg2SVqbBgibc

[@wendyhutchins945]

My favorite recipe from you guys. Happy Holidays!

[@VermisTerrae]

loved the nutmeg "blooper" you included in the video 😄What a neat recipe! There's an egg shortage where I live, so I might try this without the 2 yolks, as I haven't been able to get any eggs for weeks. Very, very cool to feature a recipe that dates back to the druids!!

[@gregphillips.1312]

I do enjoy this Channel, I live in England, Wiltshire and not far from Stonehenge and Avebury etc. There are Ley Lines here and People still gather for Pagan Festivals at Stonehenge and Woodhenge a few miles away, the Landscape is littered with Longbarrows where the Dead were Laid. Also there is Silbury Hill, a huge man made mound assumed to have been completed around 2400 B.C. Yet it contains no burial.

[@thelastknight8794]

Thank you for all the memories

[@TheDungeonMinister]

My family and I make soul cakes for All Souls day every year!

[@kingdavidapple]

2 tsp of spices to 1 1/2 cups of flour, et. al. got to be an assault to the taste buddies! On the other hand, when deriving a recipe from several sources, who's to say that is too much? Happy holidays to ye & the lass with the really long braid!

[@jarredisatio2915]

You both are an inspiration to me. This is the greatest cooking show series I have ever seen. Keep it up and thank-you. Much respect! Happy newyears!

[@christopherklene1411]

Awesome! Thank you for the great content!!! :)

[@zuzuspetals38]

Always love seeing John in the kitchen, Michael is a great bonus🌟🌟🌟

[@anissaferringer4965]

This is very Catholic, my guess is colonial sources aren't talking about it because of the protestant majority (especially Puritan and Quaker influence).

[@kyrieeleison2793]

Yes, precisely.

[@marsh4104]

This was such a fun video, I love the nutmeg reaction!

[@RolloTonéBrownTown]

Remarkable! A topic that TH covered before Townsends did... Both great episodes!!!!

[@anne-droid7739]

You might be interested in another old recipe: 1-2-3-4 cakes. 1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups flour, 4 eggs. Baked in little muffin trays. They're usually a bit dense, but nice. My Great-great grandmother liked these back in the middle of the 19th century. Personally, I think pound cake is much better! 😄 We always quartered the recipe, though, so perhaps it's best when one does it properly. 😉

[@stevecaldwell7514]

Great episode.

[@larchlarch9851]

The man doesn't prefer raisins. Gotta respect that....

[@scooper405]

I'm not a fan either. Usually opt for other dried fruits like chopped dates or cranberries.

[@stauffap]

What a wonderful atmosphere you mangage to create in your videos!

[@toddposton869]

Great job, Jon and Michael! Merry Christmas!

[@shadodragonette]

Only Townsends could make me want a cookie. I'm not a fan of sweet treats, but now I do want a cookie. I'll probably make do with an apple sprinkled with nutmeg, I am not going out to buy stuff for cookies. Is there flour in the house? Anywhere? Freezer? Nope, and it's single digits out there, not going shopping today. Only three apples might be a problem... Guess I won't tell anyone else about spicy apples?

[@gackerman99]

this looks great I'll have to make some for new years. Happy holidays guys

[@theturquoisedream9244]

Most excellent.

[@tempo529]

Nutmeg makes a "grate" gift!

[@Listenclearly1979]

🤦‍♀️😂

[@kinjiru731]

Funny how some of the simplest things can be so enjoyable.

[@gatorgotme]

Merry Christmas Jon and company

[@Johnem-Love]

Love these food related shows, very facinating indeed - keep going guys, and thank you 😊

[@MilesDissinger]

Merry Christmas Gents! Well done as always!

[@brokenglassshimmerlikestar3407]

Now you've given me the sugar craving... I gotta get me some COOKIIIIIIIIIIIES!!

[@allisonharranmua8193]

The lack of recipes could also be because the people who were wealthy enough to give would have had kitchen staff making these things and it would have been expected that the staff know how. The people working in the kitchens of the manor houses were not necessarily literate. That is not to say that every house had illiterate staff, but that a lot of them did because these positions were often handed down through generations of families and the focus for teaching young kids was on the work not traditional schooling. Also, there was a pervasive idea in elite society at the time that if you educated staff (often you would have them in your care from young ages) they would leave or become disobedient. So, if you grew up as a staff members child on the grounds of a manor house you would likely not receive a good education unless your own family could afford to pay for it...and most servants at the time made little money and worked mostly for room and bord.

[@dontdeletemeyoutube6689]

God bless you dudes at townsends

[@alishahird897]

I make soul cakes for Halloween every year. I can't hand them out to trick or treaters (not allowed) but family and friends who come over get one. I've never done them for Christmas.

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

Who is going to stop you from handing them out? I did not realize Halloween police were actually a thing.

[@alishahird897]

@@dimesonhiseyes9134 in my area you're not aloud to hand out home made cookies, homemade candy, or overall baked goods. I think it's ridiculous. Every one is worried someone might poison their kids. Words gets around (kids call friends to say whats at each house) and parents won't take their kids to your house when they find out. At least that's what I've been told, when I asked some parents during trick or treating.

[@shirleyannconfer9651]

I’m not a fan of raisins, either! I’ve substituted dried cherries in my bread pudding, with amazing results.

[@oakmaiden2133]

Try steamy hot milk with a bit of sugar and several dashes of nutmeg, yummy winter mug of sleepy cozy comfort 😊

[@margaretbarclay-laughton2086]

If we were over tired or fretful when recovering from being unwell mum would warm a cup of milk and stir in a spoonfull of honey then grate nutmeg on top warm and comforting

[@richardjohnson7019]

Nutmeg and cloves are very very healthy maybe they knew things we need to know 👍👍

[@tdioxin2658]

Yes! There’s a medieval saying : 1 nutmeg will cure you, 2 nutmegs will make you sick, and 3 nutmegs will kill you. 😊

[@EXARCWithGrandpop]

Question, If soul cakes began with the droids, when was the cross added to them? When all souls day was introduced or did the always have a cross?

[@Ater_Draco]

Cross cakes were made to honour Eostre. The "cross" simply represented the four seasons, rather than being a cross in the Christian sense

[@scrappybobbarker5224]

At the beginning of the clone wars

[@scrappybobbarker5224]

Thus likely before the command if Oom9

[@mrmicro22]

These are not the droids you are looking for......

[@EXARCWithGrandpop]

@@mrmicro22 lol

[@everything.for.everyone]

Perfect biscuits. I love how they look. :)

[@margiemasih1073]

Those look so good..

[@mccoolfriend6818]

Micheal would make an amazing Santa. Making Soul cakes for the soul

[@BethRitterGuth]

I make these for Samhuinn. They are quite tasty!!!!

[@annasahlstrom6109]

I love having Michael Dragoo!