A while back I purchased a copy of the Ingoldsby Legends. Among the many poems was this curiousity:
In a few days afterwards, Mr. Barham received the following
invaluable recipe; it was forwarded by post without signature
or comment of any kind.
A RECEIPT FOR SALAD
(LAST EDITION)
Two large potatoes passed through kitchen sieve,
Unwonted softness to the salad give;
Of ardent mustard add a single spoon,
Distrust the condiment which bites so soon;
But deem it not, thou man of herbs, a fault
To add a double quantity of salt;
Three times the spoon with oil of Lucca crown,
And once with vinegar, procured from town,
True flavour needs it, and your poet begs
The pounded yellow of two well-boiled eggs;
Let onion atoms lurk within the bowl,
And, scarce suspected, animate the whole;
And, lastly, on the flavoured compound toss
A magic teaspoon of anchovy sauce.
Then, though green turtle fail, though venison's tough,
And ham and turkey are not boiled enough,
Serenely full, the epicure may say,--
'Fate cannot harm me, -- I have dined to-day.'
N.B.-- As this salad is the result of great experience and
reflection, it is to be hoped young salad-makers will not
attempt any improvements upon it.
Anyone know any other examples of recipes in verse? *
Kevin
* (Excepting that one in "Titus Andronicus.")
[This message has been edited by Kevin Andrew Murphy (edited December 26, 2002).]
|