Page 194 - The Lost Ways
P. 194
Turnovers are made with the same ingredients, but you make a big, flat crust and spoon
some filling in the middle of one half. Fold the crust over and pinch it together, and then
cook it on a frying pan. Turnovers were a popular meal to send off with working men and
will hold up well for a day or so if prepared in advance.
Mock-mock Turtle Soup
Original mock turtle soup called for a calf’s head to be boiled down for 8 hours. In this
recipe, we’ll use whatever meat we have on hand. Boil a pound or more of meat—with
the bones, if you have them—for at least two hours. The water should be seasoned with
bay leaves, parsley, marjoram, and basil (or just use what you’ve got). After two hours,
toss in enough root vegetables, such as potatoes, turnips, and carrots, to feed your family.
While this is cooking, take six hard-boiled egg yolks and mash them together with a little
raw yolk and some flour to make a dough. Roll a dozen marble-sized balls, and toss them
into the pot with a cup or two of red wine when the vegetables are almost tender.
Wassail
The Wassail bowl is a forgotten Christmas tradition. Even the old cookbooks refer to it as
an old one. The spicy drink was ushered in with much ceremony and was often decorated
with wreathes and ribbons. It would be a beautiful tradition to bring back when we find
ourselves in need of a little reminding about the good things in life.
Many old recipes can be found for wassail. Depending on the cook, it might have beer,
cider, or wine as the base. The spices vary too. Feel free to adapt and change the following
recipe to include whatever you have on hand and to satisfy your own taste buds. This is
as much a part of the tradition as drinking the wassail itself. In a small pot, boil the
following:
❖ 1 tsp. cardamom
❖ 1 tsp. cloves
❖ 1 tsp. nutmeg
❖ 1 tsp. mace
❖ 1 tsp. ginger
❖ 1 tsp. cinnamon
❖ 1 tsp. coriander
❖ 1 cup of water
193