BS: Inuit cooking

Subject: RE: BS: Inuit cooking
From: Inükshük
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 11:30 AM

They also used an ingenious lamp called, I think a kudelik. It was dish shaped and a bit of dried moss served as a wick along one edge. A lump of blubber was suspended over the wick. Once lighted the blubber would drip oil into the lamp, but as the level of the oil rose, the wick was diminished and the flame grew smaller. On the other hand, as the oil was used up, the wick became more exposed resulting in a greater flame. with only minor tending such a lamp can serve for heat, light, and cooking.

Subject: RE: BS: Inuit cooking
From: el ted
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 11:18 AM

Interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: Inuit cooking
From: mack/misophist
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 10:25 AM

Rapaire:

An Inuit friend once did me the great honour of letting me have some of the muktuk his aunt had sent. Eating it with a smile is probably the bravest thing I've ever done. And I don't believe it's especially good for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Inuit cooking
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 10:14 AM

Couple things,RtS.

1. Igloos are not built to "live" in - they are temporary shelters used (usually) only one night while out hunting.

2. They do melt a bit, and that is purposeful. You build the igloo, get a hot fire going inside, close the entrance and wait a few minutes. The entire inside should be melting. Then open the entry, pull out the fire, and let the cold air enter. That freezes the melting water, and leaves a layer of ice coating the inside. Now the structure is strong enough so that even a heavy animal (polar bear, for example) can walk on top of it without it crushing. (You hope, anyway!)

Subject: RE: BS: Inuit cooking
From: Rapparee
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 09:30 AM

Muktuk is good for you and doesn't need cooking.

Besides, cattle don't do well, ranging across the tundra and icefields.

Subject: BS: Inuit cooking
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 09:17 AM

In the Notes and Queries section of yesterday's UK Guardian someone asked what Eskimos (sic) used for cooking fuel and why didn't their igloos melt.
It is well known that for fuel the Inuit use rendered down whale blubber. A tripod of walrus ribs is positioned above the fire from which meat is suspended. Traditionally, this would have been seal or caribou, now it is increasingly likely to be supermarket meat.
Nanook of the North's distant cousin, Catspaw of the Mid-West put it more succinctly on the Mudcat many years ago: "Whale oil, beef hooked".

RtS
(I'll get me parka)