The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-12-17

DelnS substituted TOT the pagan
yJetde. the famous "boars head"
81 was omitted and the Christmas pie
became known as mince pie. However, many old
observances were kept including the mistletoe
and holly. and Christmas was day for family
gatherings. with feast prepared by the women
OF the house.
1t is quite possible that we would not like
their fiavorings today. They used a variety OF
spices, wines and seasonings in even their plain
est dishes; but everything prepared in
the home, either under the supervision of the
mistress or by her own hands. the mixtures were
wholesome
Everything was turned to account in the sea.
son with a view to future use. in this way
preparations for the holiday going long
before the day.
In cherry time, supply was carefully packed
in hay and kept for Christmas
The Christmas cookies, with coriander seed
in them were baked six months before and kept
In an earthenware jar in the cellar.
Mince Meat Recipe.
The rich plum pudding and cakes made
early in the fall and put away TO mellow and
ripen.
The mincemeat then made the recipe for
which was recently found in an old Philadelphia
cookbook. We copy all but the spelling: -Four
pounds veal. four pounds suet. two pounds rails
ins. one pound currants, six apples, some rose
water and sack half pound, no more of sugar,
three-fourths pound cloves. mace. nutmeg and
cinnamon, some candied orange peel. lemon peel.
citron and blanched almonds"
They made puff paste for their pies differ
ent from One recipe called for -four.
pound butter. ten eggs and some milk water.
Some housewives made their winter supply II
mince pies before Thanksgiving and reheated
them before using.
For the lemon tarts. the lemons had to be first
soaked in salt water for two days. Then every
day for fourteen days they were put into fresh
aDDleS. r.
anges and sugar were added
few days before Christmas the mistress went
10 market the maid carrying the basket She
would get her turkey cranberries, celery, oysters,
and little pig for roasting whole.
The day before Christmas the real excitement
began. The stuffng made and such stufing!
Bread crumbs. beef suet liver, lemon peels nut.
meg, savory, pepper. salt. cream and eggs. The
little pig, only four five weeks old was filed
to his utmost capacity with mashed potatoes or
apples.
Not the least to be considered were the green
decorations Ground pine for festoons and
wreaths. mstletoe to hang and holly everywhere
were the necessities.
When Christmas morning came the excitement
was at the highest pitch. The housewife, her
daughters and her maids were up early. The
brick oven was heated and the mince pies put in.
The turkey was dredged with flour and put on
the Spit with a small unwilling child to watch
and turn IL as il Drowned.
Another child set to cracking nuts and
polishing apples.
Roasting the Little Pig.
The little pig put before the hre to roast
in the dripping pan. in which were three bottles
of red wine for basting
While the things were cooking a long table,
the length of the room, spread with the
white linen CLOTH napkin, china and silver or
pewter.
In the middle OF the table the famed
Christmas bowl Here are the quaint directions
for making it,
Break nine sponge cakes and half pound OF
macaroons in a deep dish; pour over one pint
raisin wine half pint sherry. Leave them to
soak Sweeten with two ounces OF powdered
sugar candy and pour over one pint and a hair
of custard Stick with two ounces sliced almonds
Place on a stand and ornament with Christmas
evergreens."
The tankard with the Christmas brew put
on the table and all the sillabubs jellies pickles,
lemon tarts red apples, nuts the cookies and the
cherries fresh from the hay.
The hreplaces now blazing. and the red
berries and green leaves OF the holly were shin
ing in the light.
The mistetoe was waiting for the unwary. and
the good smell OF the brown turkey. sayory stuff
fng and applesauce was everywhere.
Don Their Best Froeks.
After the housewife and her daughters had
seen TO everything they hurried 10 put on their
best lowered silks. with white whims around
their necks and the most secret beautihers on
their faces.
Tben 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
and a half a lemon was put into the sauce. which
was poured over him hot. They had him sitting
on his launches looking lifelike. Then they put