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


being substituted for the pagan
II yuletide, the famous 'boar's head"
- 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.
It is quite possible that we would not like
their favorings today. They used a variety of
spices, wines and seasonngs 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 turned to account in the sea-
son with a view to future use, in this way
preparations for the holiday were going on 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 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
ms 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 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 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
A 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 made, and such stuftng!
Bread crumbs, beef suet liver, lemon peels' nut
meg savory, pepper, salt, cream and eggs. The
little pig only four five weeks DID, was nled
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 ner
dauphters and her maids were up early The
brick oven was heated and the mince pies put LII.
The turkey was dredged with hour ana put Oh
the spit, with a small unwilling child to watcn
and turn 1t as it Drowned
Another child set to cracking nuts ana
polishing apples.
Roasting the Little Pig.
The little pig put before the fre to roas.
in the dripping pan, in which were three oo'Ne'
of red wine for basting
While the things were cooking a long table,
the length of the room, was spread WIN ING
white linen CLOTH napkin, china and silver OF
pewter.
In the middle of the table was the fameo
Christmas bowl Here are the quaint orections
for making it: .
Break nine sponge cakes and half pound OF
macaroons in deep dish; pour over one pint
raisin wine half pint sherry. Leave them 10
soak Sweeten with two ounces OF poWdereu
sugar candy and pour over one pint ana haAh
of custard Stick with two ounces sliced ALMONDS
Place on a stand and ornament with Christmas
evergreens."
The tankard with the Christmas brew was put
nm the table and all the sillabubs jellies, pickles.
lemon tarts red apples. nuts, the cookies ana the
cherries fresh from the nay
The nreplaces were now blazing, and the req
berries and green leaves Of the holly were shin
ing in the light.
The mistletoe was waiting for the unwary ana
the good smell of the brown turkey, savory stuff
fng and applesauce was everywhere
Don Their Best Froeks.
After the housewife and her daughters had
seen to everything they hurried to put on their
best Powered silks, with white whims around
their necks and the most secret beautihers on
their faces
Then the dinner being nearly cooked. they tooh
~. ntt,e 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 lemon was put into the sauce, which
was noured over him hot. They had him sitting
on his launches looking hfelike Eass they put