The state herald., 1915-12-17

n yuletide. the famous "boars head"
was omitted, and the Christmas pie
became known as mnce pie. However many old
obseryances were kept including the mstletoe
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 favorings today. They used a variety of
Spices wines and seasonings in even their plain.
est dishes; but as 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 view to future use, SO in this way
preparations for the holiday going on long
before the day
In cherry time, supply was carefully packed
in hay and kept for Christmas
Ihe Christmas cookies. with coriander seed
In them. were baked six months before and kept
In an earthenware jar in the cellar
Minee Meat Recipe.
The rich plum pudding and cakes were made
carly in the fall and put away to mellow and
rpen.
Ihe mincemeat was 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
ms one pound currants. six apples some rose
water and sack half pound. no more OF sugar
threefourths pound cloves, mace. nutmeg and
cinnamon, some candled orange peel lemon peeI
citron and blanched almonds"
They made puff paste for their nies s,n,r.
ent from ours. One recipe called for -four one
pound butter, ten eggs and some milk or water
Some housewives made their winter supply RI
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 p1ade. 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 stufing made. and such stuflng!
Bread crumbs, beef suet. liver, lemon peels. nut.
meg. sayory. pepper. salt, cream and eggs The
little pig only four or Ave weeks old, was filled
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, 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 -four and pu, on
the spit. with a small unwilling child to watch
and turn II as II Drowned
Another child was set TO cracking nuts and
polishing apples
Roasting the Little Pig
The little pig was put before the fire TO roast
in the dripping pan, in which were three bottles
OF red wine for bastlng
While the things were cooking a long table.
,l.a ..lth tb.
white linen cloth. napkin, china and silver or
pewter.
In the middle OF tho table was the famed
Christmas bowl. Here are tho quaint directions
for making Il:
Break nine sponge cakes and half pound OF
macaroons in n deep dish: pour over one pint
raisin wine. half pint sherry. Leave them to
soak. swoeton with two ounces OF powdered
sugar candy and pour over ono pint md u half
OF euntard Stick with two ounces sliced almonds
Place on stand and ornament with Christmas
.yorgroens."
The tanknrd with the Christmas brew was put
on the table and all the slllabubn. jelllea. pickles.
lemon ,artn red applea, nuts, tho cookies and tho
cherries fresh from the hay
The nrcpacoA were now blazing, and the red
berries and green leaves Of tho holly woro ahin.
Ing In the light
The mlhtiotoc was waiting for tho unwary. and
tho good smell OF the brown turkey, aayory stuf.
nng and npplcsauco was everywhere.
Don Their Best Froeks.
Anor the housewife and bor daughters had
noen TO everything thoy hurried TO put on their
boat covered silks with white whima around
their nerka and tho most secret bcautihoru on
their faces.
Then the dinner being nearly cooked. they took
tho little Drowned pig. raised him gently and put
two small loayes OF bread under him. and added
more wine. mn anchoyy. bundle Of sweet herbs
and half lemon was put into the sauce, which
was poured oyor him hot They had him sitting
on his launches looking lifellte Then they put