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 Cucumbers, 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 aſſerted of the Poſſibility of living (not unhappily) on Herbs and Plants, according to Original and Divine Inſtitution, 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 Cæſarean 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 Glaſs 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 aſſiſt 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 Quantity 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.

Butter. Butter 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

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