Harrowing Hats

by Joyce; Jim Lavene

  And as you’ve just read, hat making is alive and well!

  No one knows when the first hat was made—it probably happened when the first cave lady put a piece of saber tooth tiger skin on her head to keep out the rain. Instant fashion!

  In the Middle Ages, the church decided that all women should cover their heads at services. Hats became fashionable and expensive as ladies and gentlemen showed off their millinery style.

  Felt, straw, and silk were twisted and shaped into works of art. Hennins—the pointed hats with or without scarves—were popular. Women wore muffin caps to cover their hair when they didn’t have time to dress their locks properly. Hats said things about the wearer without the wearer saying a word.

  Renaissance Recipe

  A trip to the Renaissance Faire wouldn’t be complete without eating some good food outside as you walk around the shops and watch the events. There is a great deal of debate as to what constitutes Renaissance food. While it’s true that funnel cakes probably didn’t exist, their ingredients did, and it would be hard to say that no one ever made something like them.

  Christopher Columbus changed the way people ate during the Renaissance. Corn, potatoes, tomatoes, chili peppers, and turkey came back with him. It took some time for many of these foods to become popular. Tomatoes had an uphill climb. People didn’t trust them. Potatoes (actually from South America) were popular in many parts of Europe. Peasants and highborn folks ate them roasted, boiled, and fried. They put sweet syrup, broth, and herbs on them to give them flavor.

  Potato soup was a favorite, and here’s a recipe for how people ate it during the Renaissance:

  5 small white potatoes, diced

  1 small onion, diced

  1½ quarts vegetable broth

  cream

  chives to garnish, chopped

  Cook the potatoes and onions in the vegetable broth until they are soft. Add cream and chives. Eat with bread, bacon, or cheese.

  WILL FEED FOUR

  Berkley Prime Crime titles by Joyce and Jim Lavene

  Peggy Lee Garden Mysteries

  PRETTY POISON

  FRUIT OF THE POISONED TREE

  POISONED PETALS

  PERFECT POISON

  A CORPSE FOR YEW

  Renaissance Faire Mysteries

  WICKED WEAVES

  GHASTLY GLASS

  DEADLY DAGGERS

  HARROWING HATS

  Missing Pieces Mysteries

  A TIMELY VISION

  A TOUCH OF GOLD