Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-12-25

w In the colonies, the ChrlSt-Splr1t
being substituted for the pagan
Il yaletfde, the famous 'boars head"
~ omitted, and the Christmas pie
became known as mince pie However many old
'observances kept, including the mistletoe
and holly, and Christmas a day for family
gatherings, with feast prepared by the
of the house.
1t is quite possible that we would not like
their favorings today They used variety of
Spices wines and seasonings in their plain
est dishes; but everything was prepared in
the home, either under the supervision the
mistress or by her own hands the mixtures were
wholesome.
Everything turned to account in the sea
son with a view to future use, in this way
preparations for the holiday going on long
before the day
In cherry time. a 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 were made
early in the fall and put away mellow and
ripen.
The 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
water and sack half pound. 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 ours. One recipe called for -four, one
pound Dutter, ten eggs and some milk water
Some housewives made their winter supply Of
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 put into fresh
cold water. When they were made, apples,
anges and sugar were added.
A few days before Christmas the mistress went
to market, the maid carrying the basket. She
would get her turkey. cranberries, celery oysters
and a little pig for roasting whole.
The day before Christmas the real excitement
began The stufing made. and such stufhng.
Bread crumbs beef suet. liver. lemon pees. nut
meg. savory. pepper, salt, cream and eggs The
little pig only four or five weeks old. was filled
to his utmost capacity with mashed potatoes
apples
Not the least be considered the green
decorations. Ground pine for festoons and
wreaths. mistletoe to hang. and holly everywhere
were the necessities.
When Christmas morning the excitement
the highest pitch. The housewife, her
daughters and her maids. up early. The
brick heated and the mince pies put in.
The turkey dredged with flour and put on
the spit, with small unwilling child to watch
and turn 1t as it Drowned
Another child was set cracking nuts and
polishing apples.
Roasting the Little Pig.
The little pig put before the fire to roast
in the dripping pan, in which were three bottles
of red wine for basting.
While the things were cooking long table,
the length of the room. was spread with the
white linen cloth. napkin. china and silver or
pewter.
In the middle of the table the famed
Christmas bowl, Here 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 half
of custard Stick with two ounces sliced almonds
Place on a stand and ornament with Christmas
evergreenss
The tankard with the Christmas brew put
on the table all the sillabubs jellies. pickles.
lemon tarts red apples nuts. the cookies and the
cherries fresh from the hay.
The freplaces now blazing, and the red
berries and green leaves of the holly were shin
ing the light
The mistletoe waiting for the unwary and
the good smell of the brown turkey. sayory stuff
ting and applesauce everywhere.
Don Their Best Frocks.
After the housewife and her daughters had
seen to everything they hurried to put their
best Powered silks. with white whims around
their necks and the most secret beautifers 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; anchovy. bundle of sweet herbs
and a half lemon put into the sauce. which
was poured over him hot. They had him sitting
on his launches looking lfelike Then they put