Sunday, November 2, 2008

HOUSEHOLD HINTS

Have you heard about:

TOAST WATER FOR INVALIDS
Slices of toast nicely browned without a symptom of burning; enough boiling water to cover. Cover closely and let steep until cold, strain and sweeten to taste and put a piece of ice in each glass. If the physician thinks it safe, add lemon juice. Makes the idea of becoming an invalid far into the future, don't you think?

Now, before we can have that toast water, we have to make the bread. In 1900 bread was considered a daily necessity. It was on the table three times a day, seven days a week. Women should so thoroughly understand the preparation so there is no luck involved.

I think the CALF'S HEAD STEW is what made the person the invalid in the first place. We are to remove the brains and boil the head until the bones drop out. (I think they mean until the meat falls off). Add six chopped hard boiled eggs to the meat and broth. Now when that is cooking in one pot, one is to make the brains in another pot. How? one and a half cups of butter, salt and pepper, and one clove. Once the brains are cooked, put the two pots together and simmer for ten minutes. Serve with walnut catsup.

WHAT IS WALNUT CATSUP?
Take six half-sieves of GREEN WALNUT shells, put them into a tub, mix them up well with common salt, from two to three pounds, let them stand for six days, frequently beating and mashing them; by this time the shells become soft and pulpy, then by banking it up on one side of the tub, and at the same time by raising the tub on that side, the liquor will drain clear off to the other; then take that liquor out: the mashing and banking up may be repeated as often as liquor is found. The quantity will be about six quarts. When done, let it be simmered in an iron boiler as long as any scum arises; then bruise a quarter of a pound of ginger, a quarter of a pound of allspice, and two ounces of long pepper, two ounces of cloves, with the above ingredients, let it slowly boil for half an hour; when bottled let an equal quantity of the spice go into each bottle; when corked, let the bottles be filled quite up: cork them tight, seal them over, and put them into a cool and dry place for one year before they are used.


WHAT IS A SIEVE?
I think it was a container, perhaps even cloth-like used to hold the walnuts. They are still available and come in different sizes.

Do you write it catsup or Ketchup? What is the difference?

Looking.....looking....

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