boiling hot lard. Serve with
coleslaw or chow-chow.

MINCEMEAT

During the Xmas holidays open house was kept by the barons and knights
of the early days. Great festivities and merrymaking was the order
of the time. The great fete took place on Xmas day. On that day
the mistresses of the households vied with each other in a friendly
rivalry with their dishes of mutton pie.

The mutton pie, as it was known in 1596, is the mince pie of to-day.
It was also known by the name of Xmas pie or shredds. In Herrick's
time it was considered vitally important to put an armed guard to
watch the Xmas pies, lest some sweet-toothed rascal purloin them and
then there would be no pies to grace the feast. As ever in warring
lands, food commodities were scarce and expensive and accordingly
considered a great luxury.

MINCEMEAT

Mincemeat may now be prepared for the holidays; and if kept in a cool
place it will have sufficient time to blend and ripen. Here are some
inexpensive recipes:

One-half cup of suet,
One-half cup of grated carrot,
Six cups of apples, chopped fine,
Two cups of raisins, chopped,
One-half cup of cooked meat, chopped fine,
One-half cup of citron, chopped fine,
One-half cup of orange peel, chopped fine,
Two tablespoons of cinnamon,
One-half tablespoon of nutmeg,
One-half tablespoon of cloves,
One and one-half cups of molasses,
One cup of boiled cider.

Mix in the order given. Pack into a bowl or crock. Cover closely and
then set in a cool place to ripen. Cold left-over meat may be used.

NEW ENGLAND MINCEMEAT

Place one-half pound of hamburg steak in a saucepan and add one cup
of cider. Cook for fifteen minutes; then remove from the saucepan and
place in a large bowl and add

Six ounces shredded suet,
One-half pound currants,
One-half pound of raisins,
Two pounds of minced apples,
Four ounces of minced citron,
Four ounces of minced orange peel,
Four ounces of minced lemon peel,
Two tablespoons of cinnamon,
One tablespoon of allspice,
Three-fourths of tablespoon of cloves,
Two and one-half cups of syrup,
One cup of boiled cider.

Mix in the order given, then pack in glass or crock. Cover closely and
then set in a cool place to ripen.

ORANGE MINCEMEAT

Squeeze the juice of three oranges. Place the peel in a saucepan of
cold water. Cook until tender. Drain and then pour through the food
chopper. Place in a bowl and add

Six cups of ap