The Story of Crisco

by Marion Harris Neil

Oysters
*Chicken Hot Pot
Celery Salad Dried Apricot Shortcake
Coffee

*Chicken Hot Pot—Prepare large chicken. Cut into as small pieces as joints allow. Do not remove meats from bones. Boil chicken until nearly tender and keep broth left in kettle when you remove chicken from it. Cut 1 pound of lean, raw ham into small squares. Wash and peel and parboil 8 large potatoes and slice them. Slice 3 medium-sized onions. Put into deep baking dish layer of chicken, layer of ham, layer of potatoes, and layer of onions. Repeat until all are used up; when arranging these layers strew tiny bits of Crisco over them. Pour chicken broth over layers, well seasoned with salt and pepper. Add enough water to almost fill pot. Cover pot, and bake for 1-1/2 hours. Be sure plenty of water is in pot while baking is in progress. When cooked put baked chicken and vegetables in large tureen. Garnish edges with parsley. Sprinkle parsley and sliced cooked carrots over top. Serve with small slice of toast on each plate.

December 10

Cream of Celery Soup
Broiled Oysters, a la Francaise
Bean Salad Cheese Straws
*Fig and Apple Cobbler
Coffee

*Fig and Apple Cobbler—Nearly fill Criscoed baking dish with equal amounts of sliced apples and chopped figs, arranging them in layers; add 1 cup water, strained juice 1 lemon and cover with Crisco biscuit dough about 1 inch thick. Place on range, cover tightly with a pan and simmer 30 minutes. Lift cover carefully, make an opening in middle of crust, and pour in another 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons Crisco, and 1 cup scraped maple sugar. Sprinkle a little maple sugar over top of pudding before serving it.

December 11

Roast Pork, Apple Sauce
Franconia Potatoes Creamed Onions
Endive and Grape Salad
*Lemon and Apple Tart
Coffee

*Lemon and Apple Tart—Line a large pie plate with Crisco pastry. Mix together 2 cups grated apple, grated rind and juice of 1 lemon, 1-1/2 cups sugar, 2 eggs, beaten without separating whites and yolks, 2 tablespoons melted Crisco, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 cup thin cream. Turn into plate lined with pastry, wet edge, and put strips of pastry over top of filling. Finish with strip of pastry on edge. Let bake until firm in center.

December 12

Baked Codfish
Piquant Beets Baked Potatoes
Lettuce and Cheese Salad
*Bread Pudding Coffee