Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-12-16


N yuletide, the famous "boar's head"
~ omitted, and the Christmas pie
became known as mnce pie. However. many old
observances were kept, including the mstletoe
and holly, and Christmas a 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 everything was 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 were going on long
before the day.
In cherry time, supply carefully packed
in hay and kept for Christmas.
The Christmas cookies, with coriander seed
in them were baked six months before and kept
in 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 mincemeat 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,
ctron and blanched almonds"
They made a puff paste for their pies differ.
ent from ours. One recipe called for flour. one
pound butter, ten eggs and some milk or water
Some housewives made their winter supply ct
mince pies before thanksgiving ana reheaIeu
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.
A few days before Christmas the mistress went
to market, the maid carrying the basket. She
would get her turkey, cranberres 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 sayory, pepper, salt, cream ana eggs. Inc
little pig only four or five weeks old' was nlied
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 ner
daughters and her maids were up early. The
br,ck oven was heated and the mince pies put in
The turkey was dredged with flour and put on
the emit with a small unwilling child to Watch
and turn it as it Drowned
Aro,her child was set to cracking nuts and
polishing apples
Roasting the Little Pig
Tho little mig was put before the fire to roast
in the dripping pan. in which were three oo'''e'
of red wine for basting .,
wbua the things were cooking long table,
.h I.r.+h NJ the ROOM was spread with the
white linen cloth napkin, china ana silver VI
pewter. 49, tos
In the middle of the table was the famed
Christmas howl Here are the quaint olrections
for making it: ,,s -,
macaroons in deep dish; pour over INC ~
raisin wine half pint sherry Leave men ~
col Swaeten with two ounces OF powdered
sur,r candy and pour over one pint ana nan
NJ custard Stick with two ounces siiceo aiaohus
place m a stand and ornament Win ShrlstnaS
evergreens." ,uou, rv.s mt
THE tankard with the Christmas prev was put
m the table and all the siilabubs 1enies' pickles.
lemon tarts red apples nuts Tue e'oA
cherries fresh from the nay
tn. e,.n,aces were now blazing, and the red
harr,es and green leaves OF the holiy were shih
ing in the light En- ~. rrwarv and
the good smell of the brown turkey sa'oi' s'1
hnv and applesauce was everywhere
Don Their Best Froeks.
After the housewife ana hei u"us 60
econ ~ everything they hurried to put on their
hert fovered silks, with white whims arounu
their necks and the most secret oeau'ineiS 'D
their faces. ...,oH
Than the dinner being nearly cooked, they took
.,a ,,t,,s drowned pig raised him gently and put
two small loaves of bread under him and added
wv 'n .-a an anchovy bundle of sweet herbs
na hals lemon was put into the sauce, which
was poured over him hot They had nam sl't ing
on his launches looking lifeiike. aess 'nes 'u'