The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-12-13
For the Farmer and Mechanic.
"A Dainty Dish to Set Before the
King"

Now, good people. shall tell YOU all
in general, and M. B. c. and Tar
Heel'' in particular OF "A dainty dish to
set before the King" and the Queen.
and all the royal children: 1t is Bell
Fritters, my dears, and I've not the
ghost OF a doubt that originally thew
were spelt Belle fritters. for surely they
are beautiful to behold but oh, not to
make.
Ny first recollection of these super
latlve trItters dates back TO a day when
Nurse. at whose heels | was ALWAYS to
be found. was making some for a dim
ner party at which d gay young naval
officer. whc was afterwards the famous
Rebel pirate of the shenandoah. was
to be the cynosure of all eyes. Then
came all manner of crosses and losses,
and in mid vortex such tleshly joys as
tritters went out OF sight and mind.
An invalids fancy. however, recalled
them the other day, and with the spirit
of a volunteer for i torlorn hope. | went
out 70 concoct them. OF the nearest ap-
Proclamation thereto. TO which | could
attain.
L armed myself for the fray with Mrs.
hldSOll tAtt4IIIb AOoN booN- bul ~
only helped me as TO proportions. 80
| laid it by. and trusted to some prac-
teal knowledge OF cooking and little
common sense.
Here is my process, step by step
First. l put gallon bucket. which con-
tanned something over tEo pounds oi
lard on the fire to melt and boil. both
of which lard is slow in doing. Then
put pint ol waite" i'll a pan and set il
on the lire. salled it TO taste. and put III
it one teacupiull of sugar. When il
heated very hor. took il of and stirred
one pint o sitted flour INTO it. and bless
me, what a Job it was to get it smooth
| put it back on he fire. and | stirred
| and 1t thIckennd Ike a stiff dough till Ii
despair | took it of oi the fire again arc
! BEGAN To break the eggs. SIX oi them.
one by one and stir them III, and oh.
| but WASH { it . 'ob: | grew frantic.
| thought | never would reduce thai
mass To stirable condition. hut ! kept
on like Gideon after the AIidantes
faint but pursuing.' and when the
sixth cgg was beaten in | had subducd
my adversary and had manageable,
| tho very thick, batter, which | pui
| back on the fire and stirred until il
smeIt cooked. and was very thick. By
that time the lard was boiling. and i
dropped, one after another. four table
sI.oontulls OF batter into it, OF course
| each one Immediately went 10 the bot.
| tom. and in a minute | went there toe
with a fork. and gently lifted each fel.
low up. and forthwith it sailed tor
and staid there. The first shape they
| took was very discouraging. being fla
and ragged. but by and by rs YOU turn
and return them. for they are slow
! things to cook. they pull. and swell
! and round ont. like eggs. or devils pun
/ balls. They must be brown all over. =
rich deep brown. and when done las
them little apart on a large dish els,
! TO the fire. aud eat them as soon as you
can. for they fall and lore their eXquis.
! ite crispness after awhile. They are !
most belutitul dish. and eaten with 4
rich wine sauce. tOr sugar and cream
or powdered sugar and cinnamon. a
| yol like besD You will declare them Il
be fit TODD for gods and men.
| The making of them is no fun. you
get desperate over 1t. and make a whole
burnt offering of yourself. and ish that
such things had never been invented
and all the role of tranticneSs thai
cook. who were born '.above stairs.
20 thro' with. but when they are lynn.
in rosy brown crispness on somebody's
plate, you think. if you are woman
womanly. ''wcll. it was worth all suf-
tered to give him SO much pleas IRE. >
or if YOU happen to feel like / do. ano
somebody isn't your tather-you'li
| saw. The next time YOU wan bel
tritters. my man, L expect You Will have
to cook them"
The lard used TO boil them needs
only to be strained while hot-the sitter
will do very well as a slrain,r 10 '.e just
as good as before.
HOUSEE EEPER.