Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets Part 12

33. Trufles, _and other_ Tubers, _and_ Boleti, _are roasted whole in the_ Embers; _then slic'd and stew'd in strong Broth with Spice_, &c.

_as_ Mushroms _are. Vide_ Acetar. p. 28.

34. Turnep. _Take their Stalks (when they begin to run up to seed) as far as they will easily break downwards: Peel and tie them in Bundles.

Then boiling them as they do_ Sparagus, _are to be eaten with melted b.u.t.ter. Lastly_,

35. Minc'd, _or_ Sallet-all-sorts.

_Take Almonds blanch'd in cold Water, cut them round and thin, and so leave them in the_ _Water; Then have pickl'd Cuc.u.mbers, Olives, Cornelians, Capers, Berberries, Red-Beet, Buds of_ Nasturtium, _Broom_, &c. _Purslan-stalk, Sampier, Ash-Keys, Walnuts, Mushrooms (and almost of all the pickl'd Furniture) with Raisins of the Sun ston'd, Citron and Orange-Peel, Corinths (well cleansed and dried)_ &c. _mince them severally (except the Corinths) or all together; and strew them over with any Candy'd Flowers, and so dispose of them in the same Dish both mixt, and by themselves. To these add roasted_ Maroons, Pistachios, Pine-Kernels, _and of Almonds four times as much as of the rest, with some Rose-water. Here also come in the Pickled Flowers and Vinegar in little_ China _Dishes. And thus have you an Universal_ Winter-Sallet, _or an_ All sort _in Compendium, fitted for a City Feast, and distinguished from the_ Grand-Sallet: _which shou'd consist of the Green blanch'd and unpickled, under a stately_ Pennash _of_ Sellery, _adorn'd with Buds and Flowers_.

_And thus have we presented you a Taste of our_ English Garden Housewifry _in the matter of_ Sallets: _And though some of them may be Vulgar, (as are most of the best things;) Yet she was willing to impart them, to shew the Plenty, Riches and Variety of the_ Sallet-Garden: _And to justifie what has been a.s.serted of the Possibility of living (not unhappily) on_ Herbs _and_ Plants, _according to_ Original _and_ Divine Inst.i.tution, _improved by Time and long Experience. And if we have admitted_ Mushroms _among the rest (contrary to our Intention, and for Reasons given_, Acet. p. 43.) _since many will by no means abandon them, we have endeavoured to preserve them from those pernicious Effects which are attributed to, and really in them: We cannot tell indeed whether they were so treated and accommodated for the most Luxurious of the_ Caesarean Tables, _when that Monarchy was in its highest Strain of_ Epicurism, _and ingross'd this_ Haugout _for their second Course; whilst this we know, that 'tis but what_ Nature _affords all her Vagabonds under every Hedge_.

_And now, that our_ Sallets _may not want a Gla.s.s of generous Wine of the same Growth with the rest of the Garden to recommend it, let us have your Opinion of the following_.

Cowslip-Wine. _To every Gallon of Water put two Pounds of_ Sugar; _boil it an Hour, and set it to cool: Then spread a good brown_ Toast _on both Sides with Yeast: But before you make use of it, beat some Syrup of_ Citron _with it, an Ounce and half of Syrup to each Gallon of Liquor: Then put in the_ Toast _whilst hot, to a.s.sist its_ Fermentation, _which will cease in two Days; during which time cast in the_ Cowslip-Flowers _(a little bruised, but not much stamp'd) to the Quant.i.ty of half a Bushel to ten Gallons (or rather three Pecks) four_ Limons _slic'd, with the Rinds and all. Lastly, one Pottle of_ White _or_ Rhenish Wine; _and then after two Days, tun it up in a sweet Cask. Some leave out all the Syrup_.

_And here, before we conclude, since there is nothing of more constant Use than good Vinegar; or that has so near an Affinity to all our_ Acetaria, _we think it not amiss to add the following (much approved) Receit_.

Vinegar. _To every Gallon of Spring Water let there be allowed three Pounds of_ Malaga-Raisins: _Put them in an Earthen Jarr, and place them where they may have the hottest Sun, from_ May till Michaelmas: _Then pressing them well, Tun the Liquor up in a very strong Iron-Hooped Vessel to prevent its bursting. It will appear very thick and muddy when newly press'd, but will refine in the Vessel, and be as clear as Wine.

Thus let it remain untouched for three Months, before it be drawn off, and it will prove Excellent_ Vinegar.

b.u.t.ter. b.u.t.ter _being likewise so frequent and necessary an Ingredient to divers of the foregoing_ Appendants: _It should be carefully melted, that it turn not to an Oil; which is prevented by melting it leisurely, with a little fair Water at the Bottom of the Dish or Pan; and by continual shaking and stirring, kept from boiling or over-heating, which makes it rank_.

_Other rare and exquisite_ Liquors _and Teas (Products of our_ Gardens _only) we might super-add, which we leave to our_ Lady Housewives, _whose Province indeed all this while it is_.

_THE END_