SC - figs

[Olwen the Odd]

Good day all.  I just got back from my local used book store where I found 
(under the shelf rack apparently dropped or stashed) The Williamsburg Art of 
Cookery or, Accomplish'd Gentlewoman' Companion.  It was first printed in 
1742 (way OOP I know) but it is a delightful little book.

I do have a question about one of the recipes I have run across thusfar.  
It's for pickled figs.

The recipe reads; Bring to a boil one quart of vinegar, five sticks 
cinnamon, on tablespoon each whole cloves, allspice, and celery seed.  Drop 
in figs ashed and dried.  Cook twenty minutes

There is no date for the recipe.  I am relatively certain there was no 
celery seed in period but everything else I am pretty sure was.  Anyway, it 
sounds like a good recipe for the summer months served cold (recipe doesn't 
say).  Does anyone out there have any ideas about substituting the celery 
seed (or anything else) to make it a more period dish so I may use at a 
feast or hospitality?

Thanks
Olwen
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