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An Introduction to Dah'Screwe Art of Cooking

First, we will give you an historical overview to show how Dah'Screwe eating habits developed. Then we provide you with a short list of the most commonly used foodstuffs and we like to finish with some delicious yet easy to make snacks.

History Of Dah'Screwe Eating Habits

Before the Proto-Screw evolved into todays Dah'Screwe, the Proto-Screw were cave-dwellers who sought shelter from the winds. There was and there still is a great resource of food in these places. Many species searched a safe place in caves and canyons and that is one of the reasons why the Proto-Screw evolved into an intelligent species. They did not have to go far to look for food. Todays traditional meals still echo this past; the taste for small cave or tunnel rodents and a wide variety of insects has never disappeared. As this is what defines this race's appetite. Besides that, they eat vegetables but to a lesser degree.

The Proto-Screw had handy claws to dig out insects and roots. They were strong to lift boulders to find another days meal. But they still had to work hard and that is another aspect of their cooking habits. They can create huge diners with many courses on occasion. Usually this happens on large celebrations, for example the changing of the seasons. When the Dah'Screwe were blessed with enough intelligence to build shelters and gained more free time, they started developing more interesting eating habits. They have changed over the millenia, but most of the animals and plants they ate still exist.

Vinalari Food Sources

The Vinalari system has 3 planets where food is grown. On Deh'Maran natural food recourses are abundant. Especially the fish cuisine is recommended. The wildlife and edible plants found on this world have completely different characteristics and are said to 'only please a Dah'Screwe'. This due to the fact that 'what you have prepared yourself, tastes much better'. That seems to be the case for most alien lifeforms. Ho der'sho. Dobara Me' uila! Or "Each his own", in translation. But opinions defer, as do tastes. One thing is certain, you will need a well developed taste, both physically as well as mentally!

On Noli Arwenh, flora and fauna are protected. The harsh conditions will not replenish depleted food sources quickly, more likely they will die out. Still, some plants are considered a delicacy. The demand for these plants is increasing and during the last decade a number of 'Plant Raiders', as they are named, have been arrested for disturbing the protected flora and fauna. Strangely enough, the wealthy on Dah'Scrawa e.g., nor finetasters of other systems do not demand these delicacies; the Noli Arwenh population itself, consisting of miners, who are paid well fuel the need for the 'forbidden fruit'.

That leaves the homeworld; Dah'Scrawa. Here, the greatest diversity in both flora and fauna is found. We will focus on the edible species. First, let us examine the main group vegetables. Here is a list:

Vegetable:	Appearance:	Colour:	Size:	Taste:	Used % (**)
Debi		White	30 cm.	Sweet	20
Teslori		Green	10 cm	Sweet	10
Kendrik		Purple/Red	8 cm	Salty	30
Lopolah		Green/Blue	3.5 cm	Depends (*)	15
Indi'Nee		Blue/White	1 cm	Bitter/Sweet	25

(*) Lopolah's taste depends on what time of year it is harvested.

(**) The percentage used is the average consumption of the food on Dah'Scrawa.

The supply of vegetables is not centralised. Vegetable farms can be found outside cities near so called 'wild farms'. More about that you will read in the Animal Meat section. The smart principle behind having wild farms and vegetable farms combined, is that these industries reinforce each other. Surplus vegetables never go to waste. Apart from being exported to other worlds, surpluses go to the wild farms as food for the animals. The animals referred to as 'wildstock' are prepared for consumption at the wildfarms themselves. Only pre-prepared meat leaves the wild farms for the retailer. Still, it is possible for individuals to order 'raw meat' at the retailer. This because many Dah'Screwe like to prepare their own food from animal to meal. The waste meat and inner organs not suitable for consumption are recycled into natural fertilizers for the farms. This way, the production is always in balance.

Animal meat comes in a wide variety. In most natural wildlife habitats hunting is forbidden. This society had developed a system where wildlife habitats merge with urban areas. These areas are used for recreation and wildlife observing. Most meat today comes from wild farms. On these farms animals live and reproduce to supply local needs. Larger Wetj'Ah own these farms while retailers and related businesses are owned by individuals. Now, let us list the most commonly eaten meat varieties.

Name Animal:	Localisation:	Nature:	Cubical Size:	Taste/Mouth Feel:	Used %
Ratha	Arctic Forrests	Herbivore	90 cm³.	Soft, Sweet	21
Makker	Equatorial Mountains	Semi Dependant	120 cm³	Salty, Tough	16
Swenda'An	Equatorial Plains	Dependant Herbivore	220 cm³	Sweet, Melting	30
Chalar'Ar'An	Global, Different Varieties	Mutual Cooperative	150 cm³	Depends on Preperation	15
Li'Arak'Aran'Nahr'Ara Mendolasiar	Global Coastal	Carnivore	46,4 cm³	Bitter, Chewy	25
Beral	Cave Dweller	Omnivore	15 cm³	Neutral, Soft	25

Recipes

Using the before mentioned foods, we will now provide you with some recipes. As mentioned before, we will focus on in flight cooking.

Ingredients (serves : 2)

½ Earth standard kilo of Ratha

1. First you have to unfreeze the meat. Ratha is a sweet and spicy meat by many standards so add your race's spices to your likings. You can also use typical Dah'Screwe spices if you have them. Try not to mix spices with other aromas.
2. When the meat is at cabin temperature and spiced up to your needs, set your oven or furnace to 240 standard Earth centigrades. Grill the meat 12 minutes until the outside turns dark red.
3. In the meantime, take the Teslori and cut it into bits. Put it in a bowl with a little water and stamp it a few minutes so that the water gets some of the sweet flavour of Teslori.
4. Now, take the fruit you have chosen (it does not matter what flavour it has, it will act as a centra point to the sweet taste of the Ratha and Teslori), cut it into small parts and wait for the meat to be ready.
5. Once the meat is ready, drain the flavoured water from the Teslori and put the Teslori in the oven for no more than 2.5 minutes. This will make the Teslori crispy.
6. Put the meat in your plate or bowl, whatever your race uses will be fine, and sprinkle the Teslori with the flavoured water. But do not soak it!
7. Now you can put the Teslori on your plate or bowl around the meat and you are ready to eat a sweet snack!

Ingredients (serves :2)

A standard earth kilo of Beral (more if required

1. First cut the Beral in long strips. This enables the Kendrik to be as close as possible to a large surface of the meat.
2. When cut, we take the Kendrik and cut into similar strips and put these between the Beral stripes. This enables the Kendrik to be as close as possible to a large surface of the meat. We need to let the salty Kendrik taste to be absorbed by the neutral meat. You need enough Kendrik to put in between the meat.
3. Now we need sauce that will be made from boiled Makker. Put the Makker in a bowl, add water until it completely disappears. Cook for 20 standard earth minutes. The taste of the Makker is now in the water.
4. Remove the Makker and put it in the microwave oven for 20 minutes. It will degrade and one of the remaining things is an albuminous substance. It is yellowish and we will mix with the water.
5. Use a blender or mixer to mix it until it is has reached the liquidity you prefer.
6. Now you can take the sauce and put it on the meat and the Kendrik. Put this in the oven for 25 minutes, 250 C. The meat stays a bit red.
7. If you cannot eat red meat, put it in the oven for 35 minutes. But in that case put the oven at 200 C! Otherwise, you will have to like burnt meat!

This is a common snack on Dah'Scrawa. It is easy to make and fits right into those lonely moments aboard your ship. If you are carrying passengers, especially if they are of the furry race, you cannot please them more! Aboard every ship belonging to a Vinalari System Transport business or other passenger carrying company, you will find Debi Squares. The furry race simply doesn't book flights aboard ships where Debi Squares are not served!

1. Firstly take the Debi and slice it into rings an inch thick. This is a white colour and has a tubular shape. There is an inner tube that catches rain and stores it which will of benefit later.
2. The taste from the Chalar'Ar'An meat can vary depending on how it is prepared. With this recipe we will use the crush method. Dah'Screwe have a special kitchen tool called a Tar'ata for this. They are tend to be sold as souvenirs all over the Vinalari System, so perhaps you have one. The butt of a hand weapon or any other hard object may be used instead. So hit the meat for at least 5 minutes while it is raw. Hit it as hard as you can. The harder the better!
3. This will crush the cells and release their fluid. After 5 minutes you will see the flattened meat leak little drops.
4. Now put the Chalar'Ar'An in the grill for 10 minutes. The devastated meat will quickly turn gold brown.
5. While the meat is in the grill you have the time to take the Debi rings and cut them until they are square. So you will have to cut at 4 sides until the roundish shape is more or less square.
6. The inner tube of Debi is very thin, so that leaves a hole in every block which we will be putting the meat into.
7. First cut the meat into square pieces so that they fit exactly in the Deb 'containers'. The hot meat will warm up the Debi and it is then when it is best served. The Debi will soften by the warmth.
8. When you are done you should have many blocks that are filled with pieces of gold brown meat. Dah'Screwe use many sauces to enhance the taste. You can do that according to your taste as well!

The Zinna fish lives in the strings of small lakes in the northern hemisphere. In winter when loads of snow fall from the skies, this one standard earth meter long fish survives in unfrozen water with temperatures that can go as low as -12 C. This special condition makes that the Zinna fish goes into an hibernation for the duration of the winter. In the mud on the bottom of the lakes it finds a spot to dig in. Then slowly but surely it starts to swallow up rotting plant material that is stirred up by the turbulent winds. These plant materials give the fish its special taste.

1. The Zinna fish is pre-cut usually, but if not, gut the fish and cut into thin slices and put it on the grill. The taste gets better if you spray it with concentrated citric acid. Let it steam in there for about 40 minutes. You will be sure if the fish is ready when its colour turns pink with red spots. Then leave to cool (you do not want to eat it hot!).
2. Now cut the ratha into pieces you like. It really doesn't matter all that much but especially if you have guests, it would be nice to follow the tradition.
3. Now we will add the spices. Be careful. This must be a delicate procedure. The mixture of spices must be exactly right or it will ruin the effect! Mix these together and sprinkle it evenly on the meat. Then, put it in the grill for 32 minutes. No more no less!
4. Be ready to get the Ratha out of the grill and put it immediately in a freezer at a temperature of -8 C. leave it there for 5 minutes, take it out and serve it with the Zinna fish.

Special Offer!

This condensed report on Dah'Screwe eating, habits, food sources and recipes has been kindly donated to the Collins Encyclopedia Galactica by the famous Terran cook Edward Caplen. Excerpts were taken from his best selling books, The Edward Caplen Guide to Alien Cuisine and Interstellar Travel Food. We have arranged a special deal where our readers can download to their terminal the full copies of both book by clicking here for the price of 50 standard Earth Credits.

For now, good luck and as the Dah'Screwe say, "Mosmoto mer Tra'An eswerelda!" (May a sweet wind caress your tongue!)