what does cockaigne mean?

Question

its in my "joy of cooking" recipe book several times...

Answer 1

ironically the word evolved to mean "idiot" in the modern French vernacular..

but in the context of Joy of Cooking (no kitchen should be without) I think it means French peasent / farmer food.. sort of an equivalent of "country cooking"

Answer 2

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An imaginary land of idleness and luxury, famous in medieval story. George Ellis in his Early English Poets (1803) gives an early translation of a 13th century French poem called The Land of Cockaign in which 'the houses were made of barley sugar cakes, the streets were paved with pastry, and the shops supplied goods for nothing'. The name derives from Old French 'cocaigne' from the Middle Low German 'kokenje' meaning 'little cake'. London has been so called, with punning references to Cockney. Hence, Elgar's concert overture 'Cockaigne' (1900) subtitled In London Town. Scotland is also called the Land of Cakes (but famous for its oatmeal cakes). Try the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Answer 3

Cockaigne Cooking

Answer 4

Cockaigne ( P ) Pronunciation Key (k-kn)
n.
An imaginary land of easy and luxurious living.


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[Middle English cokaigne, from Old French, from (pais de) cokaigne, (land of) plenty, from Middle Low German kkenje, diminutive of kke, cake.]

So in the Joy of Cooking it means luxurious. Don't you just love the Joy of Cooking? I've had mine for years and it's almost falling apart. I have several other books but Joy is one I don't think I could do without.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
what does cockaigne mean?
its in my "joy of cooking" recipe book several times...

Answer 6

Though the term in medieval times meant "a mythical land of peace and plenty," the authors of "Joy of Cooking" named their country home "Cockaigne," and thus designated their favorite recipes in the cookbook "Cockaignes," much as anyone might name a favorite recipe after a favorite person or place. (See, Joy of Cooking, Forward; cf. e.g., Chicken Tetrazzini.)

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/ingredients/detail/cockaigne#ixzz3wyKymzg6

Answer 7

to me it means Kuchen! Cake in German (lux living)

Answer 8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockaigne