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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1916-12-15, Page 7COOKING HINTS In baking a cake, always use the greatest. heat at first. When breadcrumbs are added to goose stuffing room must be allowed for swelling. . Cold sweet sauce is considered a more suitable adjunct to a Christmas pudding than a hot concoction Mince pies should be baked from twenty to thirty minutes, and the tops brushed over with the white of an egg a short time before.they are done. Dried green Peas, which are very cheap, make a most excellent soup for the winter, They should 'be soaked raisin wine. After mixing and stand - overnight in cold water. ing for a day or two, acid more sug- To make egg -powder take a guar- ar, should ib be required. ter of a pound of tartaric acid, three Cornflour Lemon Jelly.—To make, natters of a pound of bicarhonabe of four lemons, six ounces of sugar, J of nutmeg, and the liver of the goose chopped finely. Mix: well, and see that the chestnuts are well mashed. Skin the rest •of the nuts, and pub them in whole.' Roast the goose, and serve with gravy and a puree of chestnuts. Mincemeat is plain and wholesome when made with a pound each of cur- rants and raisins, a pound and a half of brown sugar, two pounds and a half of apples, half a pound of orange Trussing and Roasting the Turkey.. The success of the entire dinner on this annual festival depends upon the perfection of the bird chosen to grace the occasion. No matter how care- fully the vegetables are cooked, how the cranberry sauce sparkles, how flaky and spicy the mince pies, or how toothsome the plum pudding, if the queen of the feast lacks flavor, tend- erness or juiciness, the housekeeper feels that all Use has been in vain. It may be well to consider some of the details esential to success, and not trust entirely to the choice of your marketman, or the care and skill of marmalade, the same of chopped suet, your cook. a pound of candied peel, a quarter of Select a young hen turkey, and for an ounce of good spice, the rind and a family of six or eight, one of about juice of a lemon, and half a pint of j ten pounds' weight. The best tur- keys have black, smooth legs, the spurs soft and loose, the breast full, and the flesh plump and of a pinkish white tinge. If the pin feathers are numerous and the long hairs few ,and the breast bone cartilaginous, you soda and one pound of arrowroot. Dry three-quarters of a pint of wa er, and mix well, and then add two ounces some cornflour are required. The may be sure the bird is not too old; of sequi-carbonate of ammonia and rind of the fruit may be rasped or and if the eyes are full and bright, two draciuns of powdered tumerie. grated on the sugar. Add the strain- and the legs and feet limber, the The secret in having a good roast ed juice of the lemons to the water, bird is fresh. At all first-class mar - turkey is to baste it often enough, and and boil in an- enamelled saucepan. kets the turkeys are carefully drawn, to cook it long enough. A turkey of Then add the cornflour, mixed with the tendons removed from the drum - seven or eight pounds should be cold water to a paste, and boil for a sticks, and the crop removed from the roasted at least three hours, and a minute or two before pouring into a end of the neck or through a slit in very large turkey not less than four mould. An ounce and a half of corn- the skin on the back. Unless you hours; an extra hour is preferable to flour to a pint of liquid is sufficient are sure this will be done right, it is better to order it sent home undrawn, for the legs will be much better eat- ing if minus the tough tendons, and the unnecessary gash across the breast is unattractive, at least. First remove pin feathers and singe off the hairs. Then thoroughly wash and wipe with a soft cloth. Next draw the fowl and wash inside with warm water. Cub off the neck close to the body, leaving the skin to fold aver the opening. Then bend the legs back and carefully cut the skin on the joint, just enough to expose the sinews without breaking them, and draw them out with a fork. Break off the leg by bhe joint, the sinews hanging to it. Cut the oil sack from the rump. Now it is ready to stuff. Put the stuffing that is to be used, a lit - one minute less. To make soda-water.—Dissolve one pound of crushed sugar and two ounces of super carbonate of soda into each two gallons of water used. When properly dissolved, fill pint bottles with this water; have the corks at hand, drop half a drachm of citric acid • in crystals into each pint bottle, cork at once, and tie down. Keep the bot- tles in a cool place, and be sure to handle them carefully. Goose with chestnuts.—Roast forty or fifby chestnuts, skin half of them; add them to half a pound of sausage - meat, a morsel of garlic, sage, salt and pepper to taste, a grate or two at this season. Use a shallow mould. A wholesome Christmas plum -pud- ding can be made at small cost with a pound of smoothly mashed potatoes, half a pound of Boiled and mashed car- rots, a pound of flour (or half flour and half breadcrumbs for a lighter pudding), a pound each of currants and stewed raisins, half a pound of suet, three-quarters of a pound of sugar, a pinch of salt and grated nut- meg, a good pinch of cloves, two tea- spoonfuls of treacle, two ounces of candied peel, a large grated apple, and two eggs. Cost, about two shillings. Time for one pudding, about eight hours. SOLCURI MM DMFS To Saii, Aanonds.—First blanch the almonds and spread on a nice clean baking tin, add a small piece of but- ter; directly it is dissolved shake the almonds about a little. Bake till the ahno..ds are a nice golden brown color then dredge with dried salt, and turn oft to coal. To Glaze a Christmas Ham.—First brush over the ham with beaten yolk of egg, then cover this very thickly with powdered breadcrumbs, pressed on firmly Lastly, brush over the whole with thick cream, and set in a quick oven. This glaze should be brown, and will be like a delicious crust. Christmas Cake.—Take an equal weight each of blanched sweet alm- onds, caster sugar, flour, butter, sul- ingredients, and, lastly, the whi bangs and eggs, Pound the almonds whites of the eggs. Pour into a to a paste in a marble mortar and ding bag, leaving room for it to s mix alp the ingredients together in Serve hob and whole, with sprig: the usual way. This cake should be holly stuck in the top. baked rather slowly and longer than an ordinary cake. "Maids of Honor" Cheesecakes: Boil gently together for a quarter of an hour half a pint of milk, two table- spoonfuls of breadcrumbs, two ounces of butter, a litble thin lemon -peel, some loaf sugar, three well -beaten eggs, and stir till the mixture becomes thick. Then pass it through a . sieve, add two more beaten eggs, and suffici- ent flavoring to be tasty. Line some patty -pans with puff -paste, half fill with the mixture, and bake. Belgian Christmas Pudding.—Take half a pound of prunes, half a ,pound of currants, half a pound of flour, three ounces of suet, two ounces of mixed peel, half a teaspoonful of ear_ borate of soda, half a teaspoonful of spice, a pinch of salt, one egg, and a little milk. Stone the prunes after scalding and drying. Mix all the dry ingredients. Dissolve the soda in the Warm milk, Beat the egg and add to mixture; beat all till quite blended, and pour into a well -greased mould, filling it only two-thirds up. Boil for five hours steadily. Mincemeat. Half a pound of finely chopped suet, half a pend of raisins (weighed after being stoned and chop.. ped), half a pound of currants, one pound of chopped apples, three-quart- ers of a pound of mixed candied fruit finely chopped, three-quarters of a pound of brown sugar, spice to taste. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly to- gether, place them in a jar, and then add two wineglassfuls of brandy. If the mincemeat is to be kept long,'nrore brandy must be added. Beef SSausagee--These are best when made of beefsteak. Take away all skin, and chop the meat finely, weigh, and place in an earthenware pan with these ingredients: To every pound of meat add a quarter of a pound of beef suet, a quarter of a pint of stock or water, two ounces of breadcrumbs, half an ounce•of salt, half a teaspoon.: fel of dried and sifted parsley, the same quantity of dried thyme, and a teaspoonful of black pepper. Work these ingredients thoroughly t,ogefh- er with a wooden spoon. Clean skins nicely, rub them well over lemon juice, and put to soak in w Take the skins out of the water o a time, dry them, and fill with sausage meat. Tie in lengths about three inches. If these saus are well made and cooked, they when cut, give plenty, of gravy. Plum Pudding.—One pound of. suet, shredded fine and chopped, pound of seeded raisins, the amount of currants, carefully w and dried, half a pound of citr. fine shavings, five tablespoonful brown sugar, rolled fine, three cu; grated stale bread, one cup of one grated nutmeg, a tablespo' each of mace and cinnamon, four tablespoonfuls of cream, six eggs. gills of orange juice and the g rind of a lemon. Roll the fru the flour, moisten the bread cri with the cream, beat up the yol the eggs, and stir into them all Christmas Gift Quotations. Wrap Christmas gifts in white sue paper, tie with red ribbon. I en in the blow a small sprig of Inclose with gift card with C wish. 1. "Sunbeams bless thy Chris day, Gladness dwell with thee for 2. "We hope your Christmas w merry; We hope you will be happy, vc 8. "The world is happy, the is wide, May joy be yours this Christmas- tide." 4. "Christmas year; Christmas always ' cheer." 5. "Christmas greetings with good cheer, And may you have a glad New ''ear." comes but once a brings good 6. "Holly branch and mistletoe, Happy days where'er you go." 7. "Sing a song of Christmas, Wish you happy times, Four and twenty joybells Ring your merry chimes." s. "To every one and all of yours, We wish a merry day." 9. "For you we wish the Christmas pleasures Through all the year may stay." 10. "In your heart be Christmas gladness, Far from you be care and sad - nese." "Sing hie; sing .hey;„ sing hol sing holly! We wish your Christmas will 'be jolly," 1:1. . :9 tl • 1 gi edmond felon 14.4pY1, ,I/,tlWL',II ♦ • nvettiyarl uncal , al That m r —t ;lam from (fh h .. They e tchii&en wa Frog . rI � b�i'the +# 'hrist as bel sweetly, c __est!oft, soft, eir beds a de e snow 3 and w tonight i ht: h-6 r 14 Noel/ Nel/k Carols each Chris What are th 1A fact that bhe palmtree puts forth a branch every month, and at the end of the year the Egyptians were accus- tomed to set up in their houses a spray of this tree with twelve shoots on it as a symbol of the completed year. U the tist vv -pane ost all y has lain? res, wh4ct fain would 1t our Christmas cheq/r�j?/ a les! Swil'C swift,yy rhymes!, e of the. rnockUI& mist Christmas belle .64 ly bough, 4„ iildren throng and shout, to flit about? :n, wjio died' sere last Christmas -tide? est Cease, cease, my rhymes! gath - : d 1 r MINCE MEAT AND CAKES Here are two recipes from mince e meat procured from old-fashioned cooks: No. 1.—Five pounds of chopped beef, two pints of chopped suet, ten pints of chopped sour apples, two pounds of sugar, one quart of molasses, two ounces of cinnamon, one ounce of cloves, one tablespoonful of salt, one tablespoonful of pepper, six pounds of fruit. Mix all together and scald. No. 2.—Cook two and one-half pounds of beef (this should make two quarts when chopped), four quarts chopped apples, one pint of currants which have been thoroughly cleansed, one quart of raisins stoned just before using, one cup of chopped citron, four cups of brown sugar, two cups of mo- lasses, one cup of chopped suet, one nutmeg grated, one tablespoonful of salt, two tablespoonfuls of cinnamon, one-half tablespoonful of cloves. Place in an earthen vessel and keep in a cool place. This quantity will make twelve pies. Some delicious cakes to be made now for Christmas are the following: Imperial Cake.—Two pounds of sug- ar, two pounds of butter worked to- gether. Add two pounds of flour, part of which is used for dredging, two pound's of raisins, three pounds of blanched and chopped almonds and two pounds of sliced citron. It is well to pound the almonds in a porcelain mor- tar, a small quantity at a time, add- ing rose water occasionally to keep them from becoming oily. After mix- ing in the fruit with the sugar and flour, add one wineglassful of rose water, two glasses of sweet grape juice, a small quantity of mace and one teaspoonful of baking powder. Bake four hours, placing in a 'cool oven at first and increasing the heat gradually. When cold put in a tin bax and seal tightly. Christmas Cake.—Beat one pound of butter to a cream. Add one pound of powdered sugar and beat until very light. Now mix in ten eggs whipped together and add one pound of pastry flour. As soon as these ingredients are perfectly smooth, stir in one-half teaspoonful of cloves, one gratednut- meg, one teaspoonful of cinnamon, one beaspeenful of allspice, the grated rind and juice of two lemons and one-half. pint of unfermented grape juice. Mix . together one pound of sultanas, one pound of currants, one pound of stoned. raisins, one pound of orange peel, one- quarter pound of lemon peel and one- half pound of sliced citron. Dust with half a cup of flour and mix thor- oughly with the remainder of the cake. Line a fruit cake pan with greased paper, filling it afterwards with the mixture, and bake in a moderate oven for three hours, increasing the heat during the last hour. For a medium- sized family this recipe should be halv- ed and ib will last as a rich sweet all through the holiday season. A delicious chestnut sweetmeat is the French marron glace, which may be made from the common small chest- ] I nut or the large English nut. Take I oif shell and brown skin. Boil in steaming water until tender, but not soft. When the water is drained off , add to each pint of the nuts two table- spoonfuls of vanilla and one pound of sugar dissolved in half a pint of water (this amount of water should be used for the entire weight of the sugar). Allow the chestnuts to boil in this vanilla sauce until very soft and dark, land rich. Lift each carefully with a w. 'fork put in a bottle or jar and cover easily arranged evening, providing in- terest and amusement equally.'- When Cromwell ruled England he Invite about thirty guests by meaNeissued an edict against all festivities of a bright little rhyme, if possible, at Christmas. The festival was al - asking each one to bring one article together abolished, and the displaying that has cost exactly five cents, to of holly and mistletoe and other em - make or buy, and to attach a little blems of the happy time was held to be original poem therewith. seditious. In 1644 the Long Parliament cam - As the hostess receives, she, or an mended that Christmas Day should be assistant, will take the parcels and ar observed as a strict fast, when all copies were sold. Every succeeding range them on a large table, the open- people should think over and deplore Christmas, cards of a similar kind ing and examining of each creating the great sin of which they and their were put on the market, until 1862 ex - great interest and fun, as the articles , _ Goodall, _- it will indeed be of 'everything under the sun,' while the poems will be most unique. After a thorough examination by two judges, two or three prizes will begiven for the articles of most value and the least, the prize to be a five cent one in both eases. Now comet: the amusing part. When each one in turn is blindfolded, and told to walk to the table and choose a souvenir, the first article touched; as tall, dignified men turn shyly away with sidecombs, a bag of peanuts or a tiny thimble 'etc., and fair ladies choose bars of soap, a clay pipe, , o" said the guest at the wedding. a huge paper hat, or a paper collar, tell you what I'm going to give you "�No „ replied the bride's father; "it did the fun will wax high. for Christmas. Why cant you-wo- , served will men be content to wait and. be .surpris- look as if it was going to be hard at A simple supper prettily r one time but she finally landed this liriitg .ria : a; close an evening that'line ed 4',; Mrs. Green: "Oh, tell me now. , ...«. been not only bright and merry, but If you keep your word I'll be surprised fellow of ve just as we were giving up all one that has been an eye-opener as enough." to the value of such a tiny thing five -cent piece. Fasting at Christmas. with the boiling syrup.. - Seal tightly as a and stand aside until ready for use. The Forerunner of Millions. ' The Christmas card originated in the year 1846. The first ever publish- ed was issued in that year by a Lon- don publisher named Joseph Crandall, who was indebted for the idea to Sir Henry Cole. The publisher commis- sioned a famous R.A. to design a card, which he did, producing a color- ed one. It was lithographed and colored by hand. About a thousand ing-merry at that season. This Act .cards of the size cf an ordinary carte so provoked the people that on the fol- lowing natal day the law was violently resisted in many places. Though these scenes were disgrace. ful, they served their purpose, and put an end to an unjust order. When Charles the Second regained the throne the populace once more made Christmastide a time of rejoicing. There is no historical mention of a Christmas -tree before 1605, Mr. Green :'No, my dear, I will not de visite, inscribed simply with the words "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" in illuminated form. Next year robins, holly branches, and such things that did not require many colors were printed, and later, when printing became more artistic, embos- sed figures and landscapes were add- ed, till, by degrees, the modern variety of the Christmas card which can 1}e found in all quarters of the globe was developed. "Rather hard to lose your daughter,