Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-12-18

Nv IN tue COOnleS, lue Nui lSlopii''
being substituted for the pagan
yuletide. the famous "boars head"
~ was omitted and the Christmas pie
became known mince pie However, many old
observances were kept. including the mistletoe
and holly and Christmas was a day for family
gatherings with feast prepared by the women
of the house.
1t is quite possible that would not like
their favorngs today They used a variety OF
spices. wines and seasonings In even their plain
est dishes; but everything was prepared In
the home, either under the supervision of the
mistress or by her own hands. the mixtures
wholesome.
Everything turned to account in the
son with view to future use. in this way
preparations for the holiday were going long
before the day
In cherry time. supply carefully packed
in hay and 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.
Mince Meat Recipe
The rich plum pudding and cakes were made
early in the fall and put away to mellow and
ripen.
The mncemeat was then made, the recipe for
which was recently found in 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 pun paste for their pies differ.
ent from ours One recipe called for four one
pound butter. ten eggs and some milk or water
Some housewives made their winter supply #
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
cold water. When they were made apples, or
anges and sugar were added.
few days before Christmas the mistress went
to 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 was made, and such stufhng!
Bread crumbs. beef suet, liver, lemon peels nut
meg, savory pepper, salt, cream and eggs. The
little pig only four or five weeks DID, was filled
to his utmost capacity with mashed potatoes or
apples
Not the least to be considered we're the green
decorations. Ground pine for festoons and
wreaths. mistletoe 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 we're 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 It as 1t Drowned.
Another child was set to cracking nuts and
polishing apples.
r"-yt~, Roasting the Little Pig.
The little pig was put before the fire to roast
In the dripping pan, in which we're three bottles
of red wine for basting
While the things cooking a long table
the length Of the room. spread with the
white linen cloth. napkin. china and silver OF
pewter.
In the middle of the table was the famed
Christmas bowl. Here are the quaint directions
for making 1t:
Break nine sponge cakes and half a pound o
macaroons in deep dish; pour over one pin
raisin wine. half pint sherry. Leave them Il
soak Sweeten with two ounces OF powdered
sugar candy and pour over one pint and hal
of custard Stick with two ounces sliced ALMONDS
Place on a stand and ornament with Christina
evergreens."
The tankard with the Christmas brew was pu
on the table and all the slabubs. jellies. pickles
lemon tarts red apples. nuts. the cookies and tn
cherries fresh from the hay.
The 6replaces were now blazing. and the re
berries and green leaves OF the hoiiy were sniI
ing in the light.
The mistletoe was waiting for the unwary. an
the good smell of the brown turkey. savory stu
ting and applesauce was everywhere.
Don Their Best Frocks.
After the housewife and her daughters ha
seen to everything they hurried to put on thei
best lowered silks. with white whims aroun
their necks and the most secret beautifers o
their faces.
Then the dinner being nearly cooked. they too
the little Drowned pig raised him gently and pu
two small Ioaves OF bread under him. and adde
more wine an anchovy bundle Of sweet herb
and q half a lemon was put into the sauce. whc
was poured over him hot They had him sittin
On his hsupches looking hfelike Then they p