>category is a valid one. Perhaps Sandy can remember what the
>writers meant, since he is one. If so, would you tell us, Sandy?
There can be grain goddesses that are not land goddesses (the Rice Mother, frex). I must admit I don't think of Hon-Eel as a grain goddess in any way, despite her connection with maize.
Joerg assaults my favorite grain (and favorite of many Americans)
>Unfortunately, corn makes lousy bread, due to its lack of gliadin
It makes just fine bread. Come to American, and try some johnnycake (aka cornbread) with me some day, Joerg. It's just fine. It keeps well, too (not as good as crackers, but better than loafbread) -- the Confederate army was largely fed on cornbread. It's very dissimilar from wheaten bread, and I imagine the pilgrims were highly disappointed if they tried to use cornmeal in exactly the same way that their own bread was baked. Johnnycake is better if you use some wheat flour in it in my opinion, but there are others. Anyway, the Pelorians don't _only_ eat maize.
Other cooking techniques include hominy, either whole or as grits (grits keep well, sadly); masa (soft flour, as in tamales);
>dietary supplements are mandatory, or you get pellagra
Yes, just as with wheat and rice. Except that all you need for a "dietary supplement" with corn are beans. Beans + corn make a complete protein. Anyway, wheat and other grains generally lack calcium, too. Grind up some bones or add a sardine to your dinner, and you got all you need, though.
The classic diet in ancient (and even modern) Mexico was corn (usually as tortillas), beans (often mashed and saucelike -- nowadays the infamous "refried beans"), and peppers. The peppers were mixed in with the mashed beans, and scooped up with the tortillas. These three items used together make a complete, if dull, diet. When cows were imported, then grated cheese was commonly added as a topping, making the meal that much more nutritious. And of course if you had some nice dogmeat every month or so, that was even better -- especially if you specially bred dogs for this purpose, like the Mexican Hairless.
But that was ancient Mexico.
SANDY'S UNSUPPORTED OPINIONS ABOUT PEASANT DIETS IN GLORANTHA Meat is uncommon for peasants and farmers everywhere in Glorantha, just as on ancient Earth. This doesn't mean that they don't have meat reasonably often, but few Gloranthan peasants would expect meat every day, much less every meal.
TYPICAL DARA HAPPAN PEASANT:
Staple: maize Other: millet, barley, potatoes, and fish from the Oslir. Most farms have a pool in which some fish are kept live. TYPICAL ESROLIT SERF Staple: oats Other: wheat and beans Most peasants own a pigsty and some chickens. Some farmsraise turtles instead, despite their slow-growing nature. After all, they cost little to tend and feed.
TYPICAL HEORTLAND/SARTARITE FREEHOLDER
Staple: wheat or oats Other: fruit, beans, cabbage Farmers with good land own a cow or two, thus getting milkand cheese as well, plus when the cow dies, some beef. Farmers with less-good land own goats instead. Pigs and chickens are common, of course.
TYPICAL KRALORI FARMER
Staple: rice Other: that's it, really. Just rice. Kralori that live near the coast supplement their rice withfish. Kralori that live in the interior supplement their rice with pork, dog, and horsemeat.
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