The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1915-12-24

being substituted for the pagan
yuletide. the famous "boars head"
was omitted. and the Christmas pie
became known as mnoe pie However many old
observances were kept Including the mistetoe
and holly, and Christmas u day for family
gatherings. with a feast prepared by tho women
OF the house
II Ia quite possible that NO would not like
their navorings today, They used variety OF
spites wines and soasoningss1n ever Their plain.
est dishes; but as everything was prepared in
the homo, either under the supervision OF tho
r 'eys or by BIER own hands the mixtures were
Wholesome
Evnrvthng was turned TO account In tho sea
soJ SIN view 10 future use, so In this way
preparations for the holiday were going on long
before tho day
In chorry time, a supply Was carefully packed
In hay aud kept for Christmas
The Christmas cookies with corander seed
In them. were baked six months before and kept
In an earthenware Jar in the cellar.
Mnce Meat Recipe
The rich plum pudding and cakes were made
early In the fall and put away to mellow and
ripen.
Tho mincemeat was then made, the recipe for
which recently found In an old Philadelphia
cookbook We copy all but tho spelling -Four
pounds veal. four pounds suet two pounds rails.
tns ono pound currants. SIX apples, some rose
water and sack half pound no more OF sugar.
threetourths pound cloves. mace. nutmeg and
cinnamon. some eanded orange peel, lemon peel.
citron and banched almonds"
They made pun paste for their pies differ
eEt from One recipe called for hour. ono
pound butter ten eggs and some milk or water.
Some housewives made their winter supply ct
mince pies before Thanksgiving and rehea.ed
them before using
For the lemon tarts. the lemons had 10 be first
soaked in salt water for two days, Then every
day for fourteen days they were put into fresh
cold water, When they were made. apples. or.
anges and sugar were added
A few days before Christmas the mistress went
20 market the maid carrying the basket. she
would get her turkey cranberries celery, oysters,
and little pig for roasting whole
Tho day before Christmas the real excitement
began The stafhns was made and such stu!fng!
Bread crumbs. beef suct liver. lemon peels nut
meg. savory, pepper, salt, cream and eggs, The
little pig, only four or Ave weeks old. was filed
20 his utmost capacity with mashed potatoes or
apples
Not the least to be considered were the green
decorations ), Ground pinc for festoons and
wreaths. mistletoe TO hang and holly everywhere
were the necessities
When Christmas corning came the excitement
was nj the highest pitch. Tho housewife, her
daughters and her maids were up early. The
brick oven was heated and the mtnce pies put In.
The turkey was dredged with -four and put on
the spit with n small unwilling child to watch
aud turn II as II Drowned.
Another child was set to cracking nuts and
polishing apples
n Roasting tho Little Pig,
The little pig put before tho fire 10 roast
In the dripping PAN in which we're three bottles
OF red wine for hasting
While the things were cooking long table,
tho length OF the room. spread with the
white linen cloth. napkin china and silver or
pewter.
IN the middle OF the table was the famed
Christmas bowl Here are the quaint directions
for making IL:
Break nine sponge cakes and bali pound OF
macaroons in a deep dish pour over one pint
rasin wine, half pint sherry Leave them TO
soak Sweeten with two ounces OF powdered
sugar candy and pour over one pint and half
Of custard Stick with two ounces sliced almonds
Place on a stand aud ornament with Christmas
evergrcens."
The ,anksrd with the Christmas brew was put
nm tho table and all the sillaaaas ;elsies. pickles
lemon tars red apples, nuts, tho cookies and The
cherries fresh trcr the hay
The freplaces we're now blazing and the rec
brrr,ss and green leaves OF the holly were shin
ing m tho light,
The mistletoe was waiting for the unvary and
tho good smell OF the brown turkey savory stuff
ans and applesauco was everywhere,
Don Their Best Ftoess
After the housewife and her daughters had
sean 10 everything they hurried to put on their
hest lowered silks, with white whims around
their necks and the most secret eeautihers on
their faces.
Then the dinner being nearly cooked. they took
the little Drowned pig. raised him gently and put
two small loaves Of bread under him and added
more wine. an anchovy, bundle OF sweet herbs
aad a half lemon was put into the sauce. which
was poured over him hot They had him sitting
on Ais launches looking iitelike Then they pu,