[Sca-cooks] I bet no one's thought of this before...

[Johnna Holloway]

I am always drawn to the writings of Thomas Tusser (1524-1580) who wrote the volume that
became eventually Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, published in 1557.

Of December he wrote--

Good husband and housewife, now chiefly be glad, 
Things handsome to have, as they ought to be had. 
They both do provide, against Christmas do come, 
To welcome their neighbors, good cheer to have some.

Good bread and good drink, a good fire in the hall, 
Brawn, pudding, and souse, and good mustard withal. 
Beef, mutton, and pork, and good pies of the best, 
Pig, veal, goose, and capon, and turkey well drest, 
Cheese, apples and nuts, and good carols to hear, 
As then in the country is counted good cheer.

What cost to good husband, is any of this? 
Good household provision only it is: 
Of other the like, I do leave out a many, 
That costeth the husband never a penny.

But I am not cooking since we are traveling and actually I think we are
eating Chinese on Christmas day this year.

Happy holidays, 

Johnna
 
On Dec 23, 2010, at 7:01 AM, Claire Clarke wrote:

> I was going to ask what everyone is cooking for Christmas, but I thought
> that was kind of off topic. So I thought I'd ask what period dish you'd cook
> for Christmas? Or what you'd cook for a period Christmas?
> 
> I can't go past Bourbelier de Sanglier from Le Menagier myself. Although if
> it was a proper period Christmas I suppose you would want a boar's head or a
> swan.
> 
> Angharad
> 
> 
> 
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