Still another way. The night before it is wanted mix up the oatmeal with milk, one handful of oatmeal to one cupful of cold milk, add a little salt, pour into an earthenware jar, and let it soak all night. In the morning set the jar in a pan of boiling water, and let it steam for three hours, or longer if time permits.
When cooked this way serve with stewed figs.
PASTRY
- ¾ lb. (3 cups) flour
- ½ lb. (1 cup) lard
- ¼ teaspoonful salt
- 1 gill (½ cup) ice water
Mix the flour and salt together in an earthenware bowl, then mix in the lard by cutting it in with a knife. Add the ice water, and mix as little as possible. Roll the pastry out on a floured baking board.
It should be handled as little as possible.
PUFF PASTRY
- 1 lb. (4 cups) flour
- 1 lb. (2 cups) butter
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoonful lemon juice
- Cold water
Wash the butter in cold water and squeeze it in a floured towel into a flat cake. Sift the flour into an earthenware basin, rub two heaping tablespoonfuls of the butter finely into it. Beat up the yolk of the egg with the lemon juice and a little cold water, add them gradually to the flour and butter, making them into a firm paste. Roll out the paste into a long strip, lay the butter on one end of it, wet the edge slightly, and fold the paste over. Fasten the edges well together, turn round, press with the rolling pin, and roll out lengthways; have the paste so that the two open edges are parallel with yourself after folding it in three. Roll from you and never from side to side, using gentle pressure. Then fold in three. Now put the paste to cool for twenty minutes—the friction will have heated it somewhat. Then arrange the paste with the open ends in front of you and again roll out lengthways and fold in three as before. This completes the second rolling.
Repeat for the third and fourth time, then put to cool for another twenty minutes. After this, in like manner, give the fifth, sixth, and seventh rollings, and again cool for twenty minutes. The paste is now ready for the final rolling out.