SUGGESTIONS: The meatloaves freeze well (prior to adding the crust)-- it is often a good idea to make a few and freeze them, then on the day you want to serve the meatloaf, defrost the meat, add the crust, cook and serve. This is good for a quick dinner - set the meatloaf out to defrost in the morning and all you have to do is prepare and cook the crust.
Finnish meatloaf is an outstanding tourney food, as it is good cold. I often make many small loaves, 4"x2" or 6"x3" and then the day before the event add the crusts. They keep in the icechest and can be eaten "on the go" during the event without further preparation, with or without the sour cream and dill sauce.
A variant on this dish can be made using leftovers, including leftover meats. Chop the meat very fine and add extra eggs to bind the loaf. Any leftover veggies can be added in the center of the loaf. This makes leftovers seem very special!
If I am pressed for time, lacking ingredients, or for whatever reason don't want to make the sour cream crust, I have successfully substituted Bisquick dough for the shell. It is not as rich or tasty, but still quite good. ------------------------------ At this year's Candlemas Feast in Bryn Gwlad, each course was heralded by a special performance presentation as the head table was served the dish. Mistress Mari graciously agreed to make the presentation of the Finnish meatloaves, performing the following poem to drum accompaniment by Master Cynric of Bedwyn.
BEOLOAF A presentation poem for the Candlemas Feast in Saxon style composed and performed by Chieftess Mari ferch Rathyen
"Bring meat to us!" the baron bade, "Our guests to feast with noble fare!" Like grim Skadi, skillful huntress, Gunnora dressed and gathered hard weapons, Hunting the woods for horned stag. Cruel barbs flew straight and bright blood burst. Crimson haunches she hauled to larder. Then flashed the cleaver, cutting and hacking, Grinding the flesh of the forest king. Cream from the cow with a look she curdled, Then finest flour she flung to breadboard, Punching and pounding the proud dough down. With cross curses and cookpots flying At quivering thralls, her quest she completed. Now find fare from Karelian forests. We serve before you meatloaves fashioned In sour cream crust, crowned with gold, Burnished by fire, food of Finland.
------------------------------ I received the following poem about the Finnish meatloaves from Master Godwin Alfricsson while I was in the process of preparing Finnish meatloaves to feed 300. I laughed so hard I cried.
SIXTEEN LOAVES by Master Godwin Alfricsson Sing to the tune of "SIXTEEN TONS"
Some people say the SCA's nothin' but fun, But Gunnora's thinking, "Now WHAT have I DONE!?!" Candlemas wants her to cook up some food- SIXTEEN meat loaves, well that ought to do!
REFRAIN: She's baking Sixteen Loaves, an what'll she get? Hands all greasy, and a kitchen that's messed. Featocrat don't bug her or else she won't go... she owes her soul to the wood burning stove.
When she took up the challenge, she thought three loaves would be fine. Now they expect her to change water to wine! Sixteen Loaves, or Water to Wine? It makes no difference, cause they BOTH suck up time...
(refrain)
She awoke one morning, near Candlemas eve, this task that they gave her made her want to heave. Making Sixteen Loaves is a lot to do- But they're FINNISH meat loaves Now she's gotta make the dough too.
(refrain)
On Candlemas morning (never going to bed), She picked up the meat loaves (although feeling "dead") She put them on the wagon and she drove away- The Feastocrat, wisely, just stayed out of her way.
(refrain- revised) She brought 'em Sixteen Meat Loaves, What'll she get? Probably an invitation to help clean up the event. "Fellows don't you call me, because I've got to go- I'm using my mace to break up that DAMN stove!
The meatloaves freeze well (prior to adding the crust)-- it is often a good idea to make a few and freeze them, then on the day you want to serve the meatloaf, defrost the meat, add the crust, cook and serve. This is good for a quick dinner - set the meatloaf out to defrost in the morning and all you have to do is prepare and cook the crust.
Finnish meatloaf is an outstanding tourney food, as it is good cold. I often make many small loaves, 4"x2" or 6"x3" and then the day before the event add the crusts. They keep in the icechest and can be eaten "on the go" during the event without further preparation, with or without the sour cream and dill sauce.
A variant on this dish can be made using leftovers, including leftover meats. Chop the meat very fine and add extra eggs to bind the loaf. Any leftover veggies can be added in the center of the loaf. This makes leftovers seem very special!
If I am pressed for time, lacking ingredients, or for whatever reason don't want to make the sour cream crust, I have successfully substituted Bisquick dough for the shell. It is not as rich or tasty, but still quite good.
------------------------------
At this year's Candlemas Feast in Bryn Gwlad, each course was heralded by a special performance presentation as the head table was served the dish. Mistress Mari graciously agreed to make the presentation of the Finnish meatloaves, performing the following poem to drum accompaniment by Master Cynric of Bedwyn.
BEOLOAF
A presentation poem for the Candlemas Feast in Saxon style
composed and performed by Chieftess Mari ferch Rathyen
"Bring meat to us!" the baron bade,
"Our guests to feast with noble fare!"
Like grim Skadi, skillful huntress,
Gunnora dressed and gathered hard weapons,
Hunting the woods for horned stag.
Cruel barbs flew straight and bright blood burst.
Crimson haunches she hauled to larder.
Then flashed the cleaver, cutting and hacking,
Grinding the flesh of the forest king.
Cream from the cow with a look she curdled,
Then finest flour she flung to breadboard,
Punching and pounding the proud dough down.
With cross curses and cookpots flying
At quivering thralls, her quest she completed.
Now find fare from Karelian forests.
We serve before you meatloaves fashioned
In sour cream crust, crowned with gold,
Burnished by fire, food of Finland.
------------------------------
I received the following poem about the Finnish meatloaves from Master Godwin Alfricsson while I was in the process of preparing Finnish meatloaves to feed 300. I laughed so hard I cried.
SIXTEEN LOAVES
by Master Godwin Alfricsson
Sing to the tune of "SIXTEEN TONS"
Some people say the SCA's nothin' but fun,
But Gunnora's thinking, "Now WHAT have I DONE!?!"
Candlemas wants her to cook up some food-
SIXTEEN meat loaves, well that ought to do!
REFRAIN:
She's baking Sixteen Loaves, an what'll she get?
Hands all greasy, and a kitchen that's messed.
Featocrat don't bug her or else she won't go...
she owes her soul to the wood burning stove.
When she took up the challenge, she thought three loaves would be fine.
Now they expect her to change water to wine!
Sixteen Loaves, or Water to Wine?
It makes no difference, cause they BOTH suck up time...
(refrain)
She awoke one morning, near Candlemas eve,
this task that they gave her made her want to heave.
Making Sixteen Loaves is a lot to do-
But they're FINNISH meat loaves
Now she's gotta make the dough too.
(refrain)
On Candlemas morning (never going to bed),
She picked up the meat loaves (although feeling "dead")
She put them on the wagon and she drove away-
The Feastocrat, wisely, just stayed out of her way.
(refrain- revised)
She brought 'em Sixteen Meat Loaves,
What'll she get? Probably an invitation to help clean up the event.
"Fellows don't you call me, because I've got to go-
I'm using my mace to break up that DAMN stove!
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