So, what WAS in that infamous cooking pot? It reminded me of a village barbecue I went to once in deepest rural France. The roasted animal was chopped up any old how and the meat and juices all thrown into a huge cauldron that was carried around the table. A big serving ladle was dipped into the cauldron, and tipped out on to your plate. If you were lucky, you got a piece of VERY tough meat. If you were unlucky, you found a large piece or gristle or fat deposited, quivering in front of you.

And that's JUST what that UFO (unidentified floating object), poor Aragorn was struggling manfully with (and he never had a greater battle) looked like to me! :)