FoodNet

Hilda's diary of a Cape housekeeper

1902

Page 87 · 2 recipe records on this page

Presented as published in 1902. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Pare the vegetable-marrow, and scoop out all the soft seedy part, and cut the marrow into pieces about i inch thick. Lay these in a pan of cold water with a teaspoonful of salt, and let it remain two days, changing the zvater daily. Wipe the pieces dry, and to every pound of marrow add ij lbs. sugar, i oz. whole ginger (cracked), and the juice of a lemon and the peel cut very thinly. Put all the ingredients except half of the sugar into a preserving-pan with I teacupful of water, and i drachm of saffronPreserved Marrow tied in a muslin bag (this is taken away when the preserve is sufficiently yellow) ; boil ij hours, throw it up and cover, and let it remain till next day. Then boil again, adding the remainder of the sugar, for i i hours. The saffron is best steeped in a jar with a little water, and a tiny pinch of citric acid before using — it draws out the colour, and uses less saffron, half a drachm being, sufficient for 4 lbs. vegetable-marrow. MINCE-MEAT FOR CHRISTMAS Nov. November 15.— Preparation for Christmas. — With a view to Christmas festivities we must prepare the traditional mince- pies and plum-pudding, however hot the weather may be, and these are usually prepared six weeks beforehand. Many people in the Colonies are sent plum-puddings now-a-days straight from home, and it is astonishing to learn in these days of quick posts how many go out to the Cape, to Canada, to Australia, and China, and India. I am told that London confectioners annually send thousands to the Colonies. We must, however, record some good recipes for those of us who are not likely to receive such solid Christmas presents, and I think we may promise ourselves good mince-meat and plum-pudding if we carefully follow these recipes of Mrs. Mitchison’s (we make ours beginning of December). Mince-meat. — I lb. suet. I lb. currants. I lb. apples. \ lb. mixed candied peel. I lb. sugar. I nutmeg, grated. I- teaspoonful mixed spice. The peel and juice of a lemon. A teaspoonful of saltMince-meat for Christmas. Chop the suet fine ; wash and pick the currants, stone the raisins and mince them, peel and core the apples and mince or chop them up, cut up the candied peel, grate the nutmeg and the peel of the lemon, then add sugar and spice and mix the whole well together. Put the mixture into jars, pressing it down as closely as possible to exclude the air, and cover with brandied paper. 223 Nov. MINCE-PIE. PLUM-PUDDING- Mince-pie. — Make a puff paste and line some patty-pans with it, and fill these with mince-meat and cover with some more of the paste, making a hole in the top crust to let the steam escape. Moisten the edges of the paste and press them tightly together to prevent the mince-meat from coming out at the sides in baking. Bake about half- an-hour in a quick oven. November 20. — We are still busy with Christmas fare ; here is a —