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ysabetwordsmithThese are the content notes for "Food and Cheer and Song."
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit (1937)
The Mathom-house was a museum-like building in Michel Delving where the Hobbits collected and displayed "mathoms": items and trinkets for which they had no particular use. It was known to contain a store of weapons,[1] and for a time also (between T.A. 2941 and T.A. 3001) it held Bilbo Baggins' mithril coat.
T-shirt Orc
The back reads, "Do you know how the Orcs first came to being? They were Elves once, taken by the dark powers, tortured and mutilated. A ruined and terrible form of life. And now, perfected."
—Saruman
This is the motto of the White Hand, a controversial support group for veterans with post-traumatic stress. They believe that although war wreaked havoc on them, even making them monstrous, they can still take pride in their survival and ferocity.
Nature weaving, flower crowns, and tussie-mussies are all fun crafts. You can also braid flowers into a horse's mane and tail. As hobbits love flowers, it seems likely for their ponies to go about bedecked in flowers.
See Dr. Infanta's hobbit festival dress. It's fancier than the everyday costumes for the swamp halflings.
This produce calendar for Colorado shows what is in season during September.
Foraging in Colorado offers a smorgasbord of fall finds.
This particular festival has separated smokeables and alcohol into individual areas, so that people who want them can find them easily and everyone else can avoid them without worrying what might be mixed into something else or floating around the public air.
Popular hobbit varieties of pipe-weed soon included Longbottom Leaf, Old Toby (named after Tobold Hornblower and revered by Bilbo Baggins), Southern Star, and Southlinch, which was grown in Bree.
One advantage to smoking blends over simples is that they offer a much wider range of plants and thus effects, spanning most of what can be accomplished with herbs: stimulating, relaxing, painkilling, enlightening, and so on. Here are some sample recipes with tobacco and cannabis. People who do not wish to smoke cigarettes, a pipe, hookah, etc. may use similar blends as looseleaf incense or smudges instead.
The Green Dragon was a popular inn of Bywater, frequented by Hobbits from Bywater itself and the neighboring settlement of Hobbiton.
Tolkien's work mentions an assortment of beer, ale, and porter. Given the context, these would likely include "old ale" designed to store without refrigeration. The hobbit affinity for nature would probably make them adept at capturing wild yeast with diverse and exciting flavors, each brewer likely having their own secret recipe for catching just the right yeast for a desired result. These historic recipes for wine and related spirits draw on similar principles. A simulation of famously potent elvish wine, like Dorwinion, is a deep purple burgundy made with grapes and berries, plus cannabis. Conversely, hobbits probably make nonalcoholic soda and cider as well as alcoholic beverages. In Terramagne-America, small brewers and homebrewing are both quite popular, often featured at events like this Hobbit Day festival. It comes from their greater interest in local production and handmade goods, but also from a much wider awareness of science. Combine artistry and science, and you get some truly excellent brews.
Read about hobbit foods and mealtimes.
Honeygums are honey-flavored gelatin candies, similar to gummy bears. They can be made with any flavor of fruit juice or herbal tea for various benefits.
Hobbit recipes are among the favorites of Middle-Earth, with delights such as seedcakes. There are actually many variations of seedcakes around the world, but with hobbits in mind, presumably the inspiration was the British style with seeds on top.
While this landrace is adapted to a very different habitat than the Shire, it is typical of a diverse landrace that makes a nice pot of mixed beans.
Enjoy a recipe for Candied Pumpkin.
Waxcloth food wraps offer traditional alternatives to plastic wrap.
Traditional Hand-Raised Pork Pie Recipe
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
827 Calories, 36g Fat, 89g Carbs, 34g Protein
These can be made with cute pig faces to identify the filling.
Twice-Baked Honey Cakes
Nutrition Information: Yield: 12, Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 180, Total Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g,
Trans Fat: 0g, Unsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 33mg
Sodium: 183mg, Carbohydrates: 39g, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 24g, Protein: 4g
These can be made with honeycomb or bee designs to identify the flavor.
This page has many links for historic cooking, including over a campfire. Here is a generous selection of campfire cooking equipment.
Because the Shire is described as a rich green land, most of the milk probably comes from cows. Just as hobbits prefer ponies to horses, they must keep small or miniature breeds of cattle, probably chosen for friendly personality and best milk flavor. Think Belted Galloway, Highland, or Jersey instead of huge Holsteins. Families living at the borders, near shrubby or otherwise poorer forage, may keep sheep or goats instead. Both butter and cheese are explicitly mentioned in Tolkien's writing; fresh milk and yogurt are logical extrapolations. Butter is easy to churn, and flavored butters are decadent. Traditional yogurt making requires no electricity or commercial culture. Hobbits likely make things similar to British cheeses such as cheddar, Derby, or brie and fresh cheeses like cream cheese, cottage cheese, or farmer's cheese. Historic recipes like this farmhouse cheddar relied on fresh raw milk and natural rennet. Modern ones like this sage Derby typically use pasteurized milk, commercial culture, and synthetic rennet. Artisan or hobby cheesemakers can go either way, and a food festival often includes samples and presentations for both.
Sourdough is an active yeast colony customarily used to make bread, but it can also be turned into scones, pancakes, and many other baked goods. There are allergy-friendly, gluten-free, vegan, and other special dietary options. Wild yeast offers a wider array of flavors than domesticated yeast. There are many methods for capturing wild yeasts; hobbits would likely use different grain blends for a sourdough starter or add a small quantity of fruit. This fruit and nut sourdough bread is perfect for a walking holiday, and this multigrain sourdough bread is ideal for sandwiches. You can even make sourdough dinner rolls.
Nuts, corn, and honey are all canonical from Tolkien. Descriptions suggest that hobbits could source other sweeteners and spices as well. This makes candied nuts such as walnuts a likely festival snack, presented here with allergy-friendly alternatives like roasted chickpeas and corn nuts.
Hobbits likely play simple board games from history such as Fox and Geese or Nine Mens Morris. Other cultures probably have one or more complex strategy games such as the Tafl family.
Bilbo Baggins claims to have skill at conkers, a game that relies on crafting and dexterity, in which people string horse chestnuts and swing them together. Hobbits are said to have excellent aim in throwing rocks, so challenges involving aim should be common. These also make good carnival games, such as ring toss or bottle knockdown. Hobbits probably enjoy other games and toys based on dexterity toys like the historic cup-and-ball or the later kendama, and of course the French bilboquet. Traditional children's games like hide-and-seek or tag are also plausible.
Hobbit entertainments cited in Tolkien's work include storytelling, dancing, music, and fireworks. Probably they enjoy other performing arts like juggling or balancing acts.
Bilbo has doilies. Modern ones are often mass-produced from paper, but historic ones were created by tatting, crocheting, or knitting. Hobbit clothes are described as brightly colored and finely made which suggests that they have other fibercraft skills such as blending, spinning, weaving, and sewing. Explore some sewing tutorials and hobbit patterns. Dyeing seems probable given their skill with plants. Certainly hobbits would make cord and rope from fiber. This is easier with a ropewalk, but there are other ways too.
This page has tutorials for dyeing and blending hobbit-themed fibers. This video shows how to use a blending board. and here's a picture of the blending in progress. Blending fibers can also be done on a drum carder or hand cards. Each method has its own pros and const, and they give slightly different results.
Enjoy an introduction to fractal and gradient spinning for beginners. This makes it look like you switched yarns, when actually the yarn itself changes colors. This video shows fractal spinning with cool colors from a multicolored braid of fiber to get this pretty two-ply yarn.
These are bronze acorn buttons. Fresh bronze may be yellowish, pinkish, or tan depending on its particular alloy. Barstock suppliers often offer a variety of alloys and colors.
Bronze patinas depend on the age and the exact proportions of the metals alloyed together. They are most often shades of brown or teal, but occasionally a bright turquoise or russet. For acorns, good contrast could be achieved using shades of lighter and darker brown patina.
Several times Tolkien references Bilbo's silver spoons in regard to his Sackville-Baggins relatives. Hobbit silverware is fancy stuff for special occasions, probably adorned with nature motifs. Thus silver spoons are popular at Tolkien events. A few companies here still produce new sterling silver flatware, as do some individual silversmiths.
These are Tarnish's silver spoons.
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit (1937)
The Mathom-house was a museum-like building in Michel Delving where the Hobbits collected and displayed "mathoms": items and trinkets for which they had no particular use. It was known to contain a store of weapons,[1] and for a time also (between T.A. 2941 and T.A. 3001) it held Bilbo Baggins' mithril coat.
T-shirt Orc
The back reads, "Do you know how the Orcs first came to being? They were Elves once, taken by the dark powers, tortured and mutilated. A ruined and terrible form of life. And now, perfected."
—Saruman
This is the motto of the White Hand, a controversial support group for veterans with post-traumatic stress. They believe that although war wreaked havoc on them, even making them monstrous, they can still take pride in their survival and ferocity.
Nature weaving, flower crowns, and tussie-mussies are all fun crafts. You can also braid flowers into a horse's mane and tail. As hobbits love flowers, it seems likely for their ponies to go about bedecked in flowers.
See Dr. Infanta's hobbit festival dress. It's fancier than the everyday costumes for the swamp halflings.
This produce calendar for Colorado shows what is in season during September.
Foraging in Colorado offers a smorgasbord of fall finds.
This particular festival has separated smokeables and alcohol into individual areas, so that people who want them can find them easily and everyone else can avoid them without worrying what might be mixed into something else or floating around the public air.
Popular hobbit varieties of pipe-weed soon included Longbottom Leaf, Old Toby (named after Tobold Hornblower and revered by Bilbo Baggins), Southern Star, and Southlinch, which was grown in Bree.
One advantage to smoking blends over simples is that they offer a much wider range of plants and thus effects, spanning most of what can be accomplished with herbs: stimulating, relaxing, painkilling, enlightening, and so on. Here are some sample recipes with tobacco and cannabis. People who do not wish to smoke cigarettes, a pipe, hookah, etc. may use similar blends as looseleaf incense or smudges instead.
The Green Dragon was a popular inn of Bywater, frequented by Hobbits from Bywater itself and the neighboring settlement of Hobbiton.
Tolkien's work mentions an assortment of beer, ale, and porter. Given the context, these would likely include "old ale" designed to store without refrigeration. The hobbit affinity for nature would probably make them adept at capturing wild yeast with diverse and exciting flavors, each brewer likely having their own secret recipe for catching just the right yeast for a desired result. These historic recipes for wine and related spirits draw on similar principles. A simulation of famously potent elvish wine, like Dorwinion, is a deep purple burgundy made with grapes and berries, plus cannabis. Conversely, hobbits probably make nonalcoholic soda and cider as well as alcoholic beverages. In Terramagne-America, small brewers and homebrewing are both quite popular, often featured at events like this Hobbit Day festival. It comes from their greater interest in local production and handmade goods, but also from a much wider awareness of science. Combine artistry and science, and you get some truly excellent brews.
Read about hobbit foods and mealtimes.
Honeygums are honey-flavored gelatin candies, similar to gummy bears. They can be made with any flavor of fruit juice or herbal tea for various benefits.
Hobbit recipes are among the favorites of Middle-Earth, with delights such as seedcakes. There are actually many variations of seedcakes around the world, but with hobbits in mind, presumably the inspiration was the British style with seeds on top.
While this landrace is adapted to a very different habitat than the Shire, it is typical of a diverse landrace that makes a nice pot of mixed beans.
Enjoy a recipe for Candied Pumpkin.
Waxcloth food wraps offer traditional alternatives to plastic wrap.
Traditional Hand-Raised Pork Pie Recipe
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
827 Calories, 36g Fat, 89g Carbs, 34g Protein
These can be made with cute pig faces to identify the filling.
Twice-Baked Honey Cakes
Nutrition Information: Yield: 12, Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 180, Total Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g,
Trans Fat: 0g, Unsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 33mg
Sodium: 183mg, Carbohydrates: 39g, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 24g, Protein: 4g
These can be made with honeycomb or bee designs to identify the flavor.
This page has many links for historic cooking, including over a campfire. Here is a generous selection of campfire cooking equipment.
Because the Shire is described as a rich green land, most of the milk probably comes from cows. Just as hobbits prefer ponies to horses, they must keep small or miniature breeds of cattle, probably chosen for friendly personality and best milk flavor. Think Belted Galloway, Highland, or Jersey instead of huge Holsteins. Families living at the borders, near shrubby or otherwise poorer forage, may keep sheep or goats instead. Both butter and cheese are explicitly mentioned in Tolkien's writing; fresh milk and yogurt are logical extrapolations. Butter is easy to churn, and flavored butters are decadent. Traditional yogurt making requires no electricity or commercial culture. Hobbits likely make things similar to British cheeses such as cheddar, Derby, or brie and fresh cheeses like cream cheese, cottage cheese, or farmer's cheese. Historic recipes like this farmhouse cheddar relied on fresh raw milk and natural rennet. Modern ones like this sage Derby typically use pasteurized milk, commercial culture, and synthetic rennet. Artisan or hobby cheesemakers can go either way, and a food festival often includes samples and presentations for both.
Sourdough is an active yeast colony customarily used to make bread, but it can also be turned into scones, pancakes, and many other baked goods. There are allergy-friendly, gluten-free, vegan, and other special dietary options. Wild yeast offers a wider array of flavors than domesticated yeast. There are many methods for capturing wild yeasts; hobbits would likely use different grain blends for a sourdough starter or add a small quantity of fruit. This fruit and nut sourdough bread is perfect for a walking holiday, and this multigrain sourdough bread is ideal for sandwiches. You can even make sourdough dinner rolls.
Nuts, corn, and honey are all canonical from Tolkien. Descriptions suggest that hobbits could source other sweeteners and spices as well. This makes candied nuts such as walnuts a likely festival snack, presented here with allergy-friendly alternatives like roasted chickpeas and corn nuts.
Hobbits likely play simple board games from history such as Fox and Geese or Nine Mens Morris. Other cultures probably have one or more complex strategy games such as the Tafl family.
Bilbo Baggins claims to have skill at conkers, a game that relies on crafting and dexterity, in which people string horse chestnuts and swing them together. Hobbits are said to have excellent aim in throwing rocks, so challenges involving aim should be common. These also make good carnival games, such as ring toss or bottle knockdown. Hobbits probably enjoy other games and toys based on dexterity toys like the historic cup-and-ball or the later kendama, and of course the French bilboquet. Traditional children's games like hide-and-seek or tag are also plausible.
Hobbit entertainments cited in Tolkien's work include storytelling, dancing, music, and fireworks. Probably they enjoy other performing arts like juggling or balancing acts.
Bilbo has doilies. Modern ones are often mass-produced from paper, but historic ones were created by tatting, crocheting, or knitting. Hobbit clothes are described as brightly colored and finely made which suggests that they have other fibercraft skills such as blending, spinning, weaving, and sewing. Explore some sewing tutorials and hobbit patterns. Dyeing seems probable given their skill with plants. Certainly hobbits would make cord and rope from fiber. This is easier with a ropewalk, but there are other ways too.
This page has tutorials for dyeing and blending hobbit-themed fibers. This video shows how to use a blending board. and here's a picture of the blending in progress. Blending fibers can also be done on a drum carder or hand cards. Each method has its own pros and const, and they give slightly different results.
Enjoy an introduction to fractal and gradient spinning for beginners. This makes it look like you switched yarns, when actually the yarn itself changes colors. This video shows fractal spinning with cool colors from a multicolored braid of fiber to get this pretty two-ply yarn.
These are bronze acorn buttons. Fresh bronze may be yellowish, pinkish, or tan depending on its particular alloy. Barstock suppliers often offer a variety of alloys and colors.
Bronze patinas depend on the age and the exact proportions of the metals alloyed together. They are most often shades of brown or teal, but occasionally a bright turquoise or russet. For acorns, good contrast could be achieved using shades of lighter and darker brown patina.
Several times Tolkien references Bilbo's silver spoons in regard to his Sackville-Baggins relatives. Hobbit silverware is fancy stuff for special occasions, probably adorned with nature motifs. Thus silver spoons are popular at Tolkien events. A few companies here still produce new sterling silver flatware, as do some individual silversmiths.
These are Tarnish's silver spoons.
