Queries on two foods

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Can anyone answer the following questions for me that my grandchildren have asked me about:-

1) What are the ingredients of "shortnin' bread" that is mentioned in the song and where was this a staple food and eaten by whom?

2) "Curds and whey" is mentioned in a nursery rhyme and I wonder if this food was eaten in any specific area of Britain.

 

[Domh245]

From a very quick bit of 'Google-fu' I've discovered that Curds and Whey are what went into Cottage Cheese, although nowadays, Cottage Cheese is mostly curd, with very little Whey. More often that not, Curds are used in Cheeses and Whey is had by itself, often as a powder supplement. It is therefore likely that Little Miss Muffett's Curds and Whey was either a portion of cottage cheese, or a dry cheese with a Whey drink.

As for Shortnin bread, the first reference to it as a foodstuff that I could find was this:

Shortening bread is a fried batter bread, the ingredients of which include corn meal, flour, hot water, eggs, baking powder, milk and shortening.

and after a little bit more research, it would seem that it is from the Southern states of the USA. As the article says, not all that different to a Scottish Shortbread

http://askville.amazon.com/Shortnin'-Bread/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=2238666

 

[Phil.]

urdsand whey refers to cheesemaking. After adding rennet to the warmed milk the milk separates into liquids and solids. The solids (curds) are scooped off and are (usually) pressed into moulds and become - after varius lengths of storage, treatment and addiditives such as herbs or introduded bacillus - cheese. The liquid (whey) was often fed to pigs to fatten them up.

 

[Blockman]

On this side of the Pennines, curds are made into that magnificent confection the "Yorkshire Curd Tart".
https://britishfoodhistory.wordpress.com/2014/02/09/yorkshire-curd-tart/
Not as common as they once were, but still to be found in local bakers' shops.Well worth seeking out!

 

[Crossover]

On this side of the Pennines, curds are made into that magnificent confection the "Yorkshire Curd Tart".
https://britishfoodhistory.wordpress.com/2014/02/09/yorkshire-curd-tart/
Not as common as they once were, but still to be found in local bakers' shops.Well worth seeking out!

Or Fly Pie as one of my grandparents often asks for! These days, that usually confuses the staff at the likes of Greggs!

However, I can also recommend them, too!