Chapter 2

As you pare your Apricocks, save the clearest Parings, and throw a little Sugar on them; half a Pound is sufficient to a Pound of the Parings; set them on the Fire, let them just boil up, and set them by 'till the next Day; drain the Syrup from them, and make a Syrup with a Pound of Sugar and almost half a Pint of Water; boil the Sugar very well, and put as much to the Chips when it is cold as will cover them; let them stand in the Syrup all Night, and the next Day make them scalding hot; and when they are cold, lay them out on Boards, sift them with Sugar, and turn them on Sieves.

_To preserve APRICOCKS._

Take four Dozen of large Apricocks, stone and pare them, and cover them with three Pound of fine beaten Sugar, strewing some on as you pare them; let them stand, at least, six or seven Hours, then boil them on a slow Fire 'till they are clear and tender; if some of them are clear before the rest, take them out, and put them in again when the rest are ready. Let them stand, with a Paper close to them, 'till the next Day; then make Codling-Jelly very strong: Take two Pints of Jelly, two Pound of Sugar, boil it 'till it jellies; and whilst it is boiling, make your Apricocks scalding hot, and put the Jelly to your Apricocks, and boil them together, but not too fast. When the Apricocks rise in the Jelly, and they jelly very well, put them into Pots or Glasses, with Papers close to them.

_To make APRICOCK CLEAR-CAKES._

Take about three Dozen of Apricocks, pare them, and put thereto a Pound of fine Sugar, and boil them to Pieces; then put to them two Quarts of Codling-Jelly, boil them together very fast for a Quarter of an Hour; run it thro' a Jelly-bag, and to a Pint of Jelly put a Pound and half of Sugar, sifted thro' a Hair Sieve; while the Jelly boils, shake in your Sugar, and let it scald 'till the Sugar is melted; then put it thro' a thin Strainer, in a broad earthen Pan; fill it in Pots, and dry it as other Clear-Cakes. If you would have some with Pieces in them, cut some of your dry'd Quarters small; and when the Strainer has taken off the Scum, take some of the Jelly in a Pan, put in the Pieces, make it scalding hot again, and fill it out.

_To make APRICOCK-PASTE._

Take two Pound of Apricocks par'd, and a Pound of Sugar fine beaten, let them lye in the Sugar 'till it is melted; then boil it well and mash it very small; put to it two Pints of Codling-Jelly; let it boil together; and to a Pound of it put a Pound and a Quarter of sifted Sugar; let your Paste boil before you put your Sugar to it, then let it scald 'till the Sugar is melted; fill it in Pots, and dry it in the Stove, turning it as other Paste.

_To make APPLE-JELLY for all Sorts of SWEET-MEATS._

Let your Water boil in the Pan you make it in; and when the Apples are par'd and quarter'd, put them into the boiling Water; let there be no more Water than just to cover them, and let it boil as fast as possible; when the Apples are all to Pieces, put in about a Quart of Water more; let it boil at least half an Hour; and then run it thro' a Jelly-bag: In the _Summer_, Codlings are best; in _September_, Golden Runnets and _Winter_ Pippins.

_To make APRICOCK-JAM._

Take two Pound of Apricocks par'd, and a Pint of Codling-Jelly, boil them very fast together 'till the Jelly is almost wasted; then put to it a Pound and half of fine Sugar, and boil it very fast 'till it jellies; put it into Pots or Glasses. You may make fresh Clear-Cakes with this, and Pippin-Jelly, in the _Winter_.

_To preserve GREEN JENNITINS._

Cut out the Stalk and Nose, and put them in cold Water on a Coal-Fire 'till they peel; then put them in the same Water, and cover them very close; set them on a slow Fire 'till they are green and tender; then, to a Pound of Apples take a Pound and half of Sugar, and half a Pint of Water; boil the Syrup, put in the Apples, and boil them fast, 'till they are very clear, and the Syrup very thick, almost at a Candy; then put in half a Pint, or more, of Codling-Jelly, and the Juice of a Lemon, boil it 'till it jellies well, and put them in Pots or Glasses.

_To dry GREEN PLUMS._

Take the green Amber Plum, prick it all over with a Pin; make Water boiling hot, and put in the Plums, be sure you have so much Water, that it be not cold with the Plums going in; cover them very close, and when they are almost cold, set them on the Fire again, but not to let them boil; do so three or four Times; when you see the thin Skin crack'd, fling in a Handful of Allum fine beaten, and keep them in a Scald 'till they begin to be green, then give them a Boil close cover'd: When they are green, let them stand all Night in fresh hot Water; the next Day have ready as much clarify'd Sugar as will cover them; drain your Plums, put them into the Syrup, and give them two or three Boils; repeat it two or three Days, 'till they are very clear; let them stand in their Syrup above a Week; then lay them out on Sieves, in a hot Stove, to dry: If you would have your Plums green very soon, instead of Allom, take Verdigreece finely beaten, and put in Vinegar; shake it in a Bottle, and put it into them when the Skin cracks; let them have a Boil, and they will be very soon green; you may put some of them in Codling-Jelly, first boiling the Jelly with the Weight in Sugar.

_To dry AMBER, or any WHITE PLUMS._

Slit your Plums in the Seam; then make a thin Syrup. If you have any Apricock-Syrup left, after your Apricocks are dry'd, put a Pint of Syrup to two Quarts of Water; if you have none, clarify single-refin'd Loaf-Sugar, and make a thin Syrup: Make the Syrup scalding hot, and put in the Plums; there must be so much Syrup as will more than cover the Plums; they must be kept under the Syrup, or they will turn red: Keep them in a Scald 'till they are tender, but not too soft; then have ready a thick Syrup of the same Sugar, clarify'd and cold, as much as will cover the Plums; let them boil, but not too fast, 'till they are very tender and clear, setting them sometimes off the Fire; then lay a Paper close to them, and set them by 'till the next Day; then boil them again 'till the Syrup is very thick; let them lye in the Syrup four or five Days, then lay them on Sieves to dry: You may put some in Codling-Jelly, first boiling the Jelly with the Weight in Sugar, and put in the Plums hot to the Jelly. Put them in Pots or Glasses.

_To dry BLACK PEAR-PLUMS, or MUSCLES, or the GREAT MOGULS._

Stone your Plums, and put them in a large earthen Pot; make a Syrup with a Pound of single-refin'd Sugar and three Pints of Water; or if you have the Syrup the white Plums are dry'd out of, thin it with Water, it will do as well as Sugar; boil your Syrup well, and when it is cold enough to hold your Hand in it, put it to the Plums; cover them close, and let them stand all Night; heat the Syrup two or three Times, but never too hot; when they are tender, lay them on Sieves, with the Slit downwards to dry; put them in the Oven, made no hotter than it is after Bread or Pyes come out of it; let them stand all Night therein; then open them and turn them, and set them in a cool Oven again, or in an hot Stove, for a Day or two; but if they are too dry, they will not be smooth; then make a Jam to fill them with. Take ten Pound of Plums, the same Sort of your Skins, cut them off the Stones, put to them three Pound of Powder-Sugar; boil them on a slow Fire, keeping them stirring 'till it's so stiff, that it will lye in a Heap in the Pan; it will be boiling at least four or five Hours; lay it on Earthen Plates; when it is cold, break it with your Hands, and fill your Skins; then wash every Plum, and wipe all the Clam off with a Cloth: As you wash them, lay them on a Sieve; put them in the Oven, make your Oven as hot as for your Skins; let them stand all Night, and they will be blue in the Morning. The great white Mogul makes a fine black Plum; stone them, and put them in the Syrup with or after the black Plum; and heat the Syrup every Day, 'till they are of a dark Colour; they will blue as well as the Muscles, and better than the black Pear-Plums. If any of these Plums grow rusty in the _Winter_, put them into boiling hot Water; let them lye no longer than to be well wash'd: Lay them on a Sieve, not singly, but one on the other, and they will blue the better: Put them in a cool Oven all Night, they will be as blue and fresh as at first.

_To preserve BLACK PEAR-PLUMS or DAMASCENES._

Take two Pound of Plums, and cut them in the Seam; then take a Pint and half of Jelly, made of the same Plum, and three Pound and a half of Sugar; boil the Jelly and Sugar, and scum it well; put your Plums in a Pot; pour the Jelly on them scalding hot: When they are almost cold, heat them again; so do 'till they are tender, and then let them stand two or three Days, heating them every Day; then boil them 'till they look clear and jelly: Don't boil them too fast.

_To preserve WHITE PEAR-PLUMS._

Slit your Plums, and scald them in a thin Syrup; as for drying them, put them in a thick Syrup of clarify'd Sugar, as much as will cover them; let them boil very slow, 'till they are very clear, sometimes setting them, off the Fire: They must have the Weight, or something more, of clarify'd Sugar in the Syrup: When they are very tender and clear, put to a Pound of Plums (when they are raw) a Pint of Apple-Jelly, and a Pound of fine Sugar, and boil it 'till it jellies; before your Plums are cold put them into the Jelly, but not above half the Syrup they were boil'd in, and boil them together 'till they jelly well: Put them in Pots or Glasses, with Papers close to them. You may keep some of them in Syrup, and put them in Jelly as you use them.

_To make WHITE PEAR-PLUM CLEAR-CAKES._

Take a good Quantity of white Pear-Plums, as many as you think will make three Pints, with as much boiling Water as will cover them; boil them very fast, 'till they are all to Pieces; then have ready three Pints of Apple-Jelly, and put it to the Plums, boiling them very fast together; then run it thro' a Jelly-bag: To a Pint put a Pound and half of sifted Sugar; first boil the Jelly, and shake in the Sugar; let it scald on the Fire 'till it is melted; put it in Pots in the Stove; dry and turn it as other Clear-Cakes.

_To make WHITE PLUM-PASTE._

Take a Pound of fine Sugar, and a Pint of Water, or more, as the Quantity you intend to make requires; set it on the Fire, let it boil, and set a Pan of Water to boil; when it boils, put in your Plums; let them just boil, and then take them out with a Ladle, as they flip their Skins off; take off the Skins, and put the Plums into the Syrup; do this as fast as you can, that they may not turn: Boil them all to Pieces; and to a Quart of Plums put a Pint of Apple-Jelly; boil them well together, and rub it thro' a Hair Sieve; to a Pint of this put a Pound and a half of sifted Sugar; let the Jelly boil before you shake the Sugar, and let it scald 'till the Sugar is well melted; skin it, put it in Pots, and dry it in the Stove.

_To make RED PLUM CLEAR-CAKES._

Take white Pear-Plums, half White and half Black, or if you have no Black, one third of Damsins, and as much Water as will cover them; boil them very well; and to a Quart of the Plums put a Quart of Apple-Jelly; boil them very well together; run it thro' a Jelly-bag; to a Pint of the Jelly put a Pound and Half of Sugar; let the Jelly boil, then shake in the Sugar; let it scald, but not boil; put it thro' a thin Strainer in a broad Pan, to take off the Scum, and put it in Pots in a Stove: When it is candy'd, turn it as other Clear-Cakes: You may make it paler or redder, as you best like, with more or less black Plums.

_To make RED PLUM-PASTE._

Take half white and half red Plums, as you did for the Clear-Cakes; boil them with as much Water as will cover them; then, to a Quart of Plums put a Pint of Apple-Jelly; let them boil well together; rub it thro' an Hair Sieve; to a Pint of Jelly put in a Pound and half of Sugar; boil the Jelly, and shake in the Sugar; let it scald 'till the Sugar is melted, skin it well, and fill in Pots; dry it as other Cakes: You may put some of this in Plates, and make Fruit-Jambals.

_To dry PLUMS like the FRENCH PLUMS, with Stones in them._

When you have laid out all your Plums that are to be stopt, put white Pear-Plums, or any large black Plums, in an Earthen Pot, and make your Plum-Syrup almost scalding hot; put it to the Plums, and scald the Syrup every Day, 'till the Plums are tender and red; then lay them on Sieves, and dry them in an Oven, turning them every Day 'till they are dry; then lay them between Papers, and keep them in a dry Place.

_To dry PEACHES._

Stone the largest white _Newington_ Peaches, and pare them, and have ready a Pan over the Fire with boiling Water; put in the Peaches, and let them boil 'till they are tender; then lay them on a Sieve to drain out all the Water; weigh them, and lay them in the Pan you boil them in, and cover them with their Weight in Sugar; let them lye two or three Hours; then boil them 'till they are clear, and the Syrup pretty thick; set them by cover'd, with a Paper close to them; the next Day scald them very well, setting them off the Fire and on again, 'till the Peaches are thorough hot; repeat this for three Days; then lay them on Plates to dry, and turn them every Day 'till dry.

_To make PEACH-CHIPS._

Pare the Peaches, and cut them in thin Chips; to four Pound of Chips put three Pound and a Half of fine beaten Sugar; let the Sugar and Chips lye a little while, 'till the Sugar is well melted, then boil them fast 'till they are clear; about half an Hour will do them enough; set them by 'till the next Day, then scald them very well two Days, and lay them on earthen Plates in a Stove; sift on them fine Sugar, through a Lawn Sieve; turn them every Day, sifting them 'till almost dry; then lay them on a Sieve a Day or two more in the Stove: Lay them in a Box close together, and when they have lain so a Week, pick them asunder, that they may not be in Lumps.

_To preserve or dry NUTMEG-PEACHES._

Peel the Peaches, and put them in boiling Water; let them boil a Quarter of an Hour; lay them to drain, weigh them, and to a Pound of Peaches put a Pound of fine Sugar beaten very small; when the Sugar is pretty well melted, boil them very fast 'till they are clear; set them by 'till they are cold; then scald them very well; take to every Pint of Peach a Pint of Codling-Jelly and a Pound of Sugar; boil it 'till it jellies very well, then put in the Peaches and half the Syrup; let them boil fast; then put them in Pots or Glasses: If you wou'd dry them, scald them three or four Days, and dry them out of their Syrup.

_To preserve CUCUMBERS._

Take Cucumbers of the same Bigness that you wou'd to pickle; pick them fresh, green, and free from Spots; boil them in Water 'till they are tender; then run a Knitting-needle through them the long Way, and scrape off all Roughness; then green them, which is done thus: Let your Water be ready to boil, take it off, and put in a good Piece of Roach-Allum; set it on the Fire, and put in the Cucumbers; cover them close 'till you see they look green; weigh them, and take their Weight in single-refin'd Sugar clarify'd; to a Pound of Sugar put a Pint of Water; put your Cucumbers in; boil them a little close-cover'd; set them by, and boil them a little every Day for four Days; then take them out of your Syrup, and make a Syrup of double-refin'd Sugar, a Pound of Sugar and half a Pint of Water to every Pound of Cucumbers; put in your Cucumbers, and boil them 'till they are clear; then put in the Juice of two or three Lemmons, and a little Orange-flower-water, and give them a Boil altogether: You may either lay them out to dry, or keep them in Syrup; but every Time you take any out, make the other scalding hot, and they will keep two or three Years.

_To dry GREEN FIGS._

Take the white Figs at the full Bigness, before they turn Colour; slit them at the Bottom; put your Figs in scalding Water; keep them in a Scald, but not boil them 'till they are turn'd yellow; then let them stand 'till they are cold; they must be close cover'd, and something on them to keep them under Water; set them on the Fire again, and when they are ready to boil, put to them a little Verdigrease and Vinegar, and keep them in a Scald 'till they are green; then put them in boiling Water; let them boil 'till they are very tender; drain them well from the Water, and to every Pound clarify a Pound and Half of single-refin'd Sugar, and when the Sugar is cold put in the Figs; let them lye all Night in the cold Syrup; the next Day boil them 'till they are very clear, and the Syrup thick, and scald them every Day for a Week; then lay them to dry in a Stove, turning them every Day; weigh your Figs when they are raw; and when you clarify your Sugar, put half a Pint of Water to a Pound of Sugar: If your Figs grow too dry, you may put them in their Syrup again; they will look new to the End of the Year.

_To dry BLACK FIGS._

Weigh the Figs, and slit them at the Bottom; put them into boiling Water, and boil them 'till they are very tender; drain them well from the Water; then make a Syrup of clarify'd single-refin'd Loaf-Sugar, with their Weight, and half a Pint of Water to a Pound of Sugar; when the Syrup is cold put in your Figs; let them lye all Night; the next Day boil them 'till they are very clear, and scald them every Day 'till the Syrup is very thick; then lay them out as you use them; but heat the Syrup after you have taken some out, or they will not keep: If they grow too dry, you may put them in the Syrup again, scalding the Syrup.

_To preserve GRAPES._

Peel the Grapes and stone them; put them in a Pan, cover them very close; first let them boil, and set them sometimes on and off the Fire, 'till they are very green; then drain all the Juice from them; and to a Pint of Grapes put a Pound and a Half of Sugar, and half a Pint of Apple-Jelly; let them boil very fast 'till they are clear, and jelly very well: Put them in Pots or Glasses, with Paper close to them.

_To dry GRAPES._

Take the large Bell-Grapes, just before they are ripe; stone them in Bunches, and put them into scalding Water, covering them close with Vine-Leaves, and a Cover on the Pan; keep them in a Scald, putting them on and off the Fire 'till they are green; then give them a Boil in the Water, drain them on a Sieve, and to every Pound of Grapes make a thick Syrup of a Pound and a Half of clarify'd Sugar; and when the Syrup is cold, put in the Grapes, and scald them every Day 'till the Syrup is thick, but never let them boil; then lay them out on Earthen Plates, and sift them very well with Sugar; dry them in a Stove, and turn and sift them every Day.

_To dry BARBERRIES._

Take Barberries, stone them, and tye them in Bunches, or loose in Sprigs, which you please; weigh them, and to every Pound of Barberries clarify two Pound of Sugar; make your Syrup with something more than half a Pint of Water to a Pound of Sugar; put the Barberries into the Syrup when it is scalding hot; set it on the Fire, and let them just boil; then set them by, with a Paper close to them; the next Day make them scalding hot, doing so for two Days; but be sure they never boil after the first Time; when they are cold, lay them out on Earthen Plates; sift them well with Sugar, and the next Day turn them on a Sieve; sift them again, and turn them every Day 'till they are dry: Your Stove must not be too hot.

_To preserve BARBERRIES._

Stone the Barberries in Sprigs; and to a Pound of Barberries make a Syrup of a Pound and a Half of fine Sugar, with half a Pint of Water to a Pound of Sugar: Put the Barberries in the Syrup, and let them have a Boil; scald them every Day for four or five Days, but don't let them boil: Put them in a Pot, and when you use any, heat the rest, or they will not keep.

_To make BARBERRY-DROPS._

Take a good Quantity of Barberries, strip them off the Stalks; put to them a little Water, to keep them from Burning; boil them, and mash them as they boil, till they are very dry; then rub them through an Hair Sieve, and afterwards strain them through a Strainer, that there may be none of the black Noses in it; make it scalding hot, and to half a Pint of the Pulp put a Pound of the sifted Sugar; let it scald, and drop it on Boards or Glasses; then put it in a Stove, and turn it when it is candy'd.

_To make WHITE QUINCE-MARMALET._

Pare Quinces, and quarter them, putting as much Water as will cover them, and boil them all to Pieces to make Jelly; run it through a Jelly-bag; then take a Pound of Quince, pare, quarter, and cut out all the Hard of it; and to a Pound of Quinces put a Pound and a Half of Sugar fine beaten, and half a Pint of Water, and let it boil 'till it is very clear; keep it stirring, and it will break as much as shou'd be; when the Sugar is boil'd to be very thick, almost a Candy, put in half a Pint of Jelly, and let it boil very fast 'till it jellies: As soon as you take it off, put in the Juice of a Lemon; skim it well, and put it in Pots or Glasses: It is the better for having Lumps in it.

_To make RED QUINCE-MARMALET._

Pare the Quinces, quarter them, and cut out all that is hard; to a Pound of Quinces put in a Pound and a Half of Sugar, and half a Pint of Juice of Barberries, boil'd with Water, as you do Jelly, or other Fruit; boil it very fast, and break it very small; when it is all to Pieces, and jellies, it is enough: If you wou'd have the Marmalet of a very fine Colour, put a few black Bullace to the Barberries when you make the Jelly.

_To preserve WHOLE QUINCES._

Take a Pound of Quince par'd and quarter'd, cut out all the Hard, put to it a Pound of fine Sugar and half a Pint of Water, and let it boil very fast 'till it is all to Pieces; take it off the Fire, and break it very well, that there be no Lumps in it; boil it 'till it is very thick and well jelly'd; then take fine Muslin, and put your Quinces into it, and tye it up round. This Quantity will make three Quinces. Set them into three Pots, or _China_ Cups, that will just hold one; cut off the Stalk-End of the Quince, and put it in the Pot or Cup, to make a Dent in the Quince, that it may be like a whole Quince; let them stand two or three Days, that they may be very stiff; take them out of the Muslin, and make a strong Jelly with Apples and Quinces: Take two Pints of Jelly and two Pound of Sugar, boil it fast 'till it jellies very well; then put in the Quinces, and let them have two or three Boils to make them hot; put them in Pots or Glasses, with Paper close to them.

_To make QUINCE-CHIPS._

Pare the Quinces, and slice them into Water; put them into boiling Water; let them boil fast 'till they are very tender, but not so soft as to break them: Take them out with a Skimmer, lay them on a Sieve 'till they are well drain'd, and have ready a very thick Syrup of clarify'd Sugar; put them into as much as will cover them, then boil them 'till they are very clear, and the next Day scald them; and if you see they want Syrup, put in a Pint more, but let it be very thick: Scald them twice more, then lay them out on Earthen Plates in a Stove, sift them well with Sugar: Turn them and sift them 'till they are dry.

_To make QUINCE-PASTE._

Pare the Quinces, and quarter them; to a Pound of Quince put half a Pound of Sugar and half a Pint of Water; boil it fast 'till the Quinces are all to Pieces; then rub it very fine, 'till there be no Lumps in it, and put to it a Pint of Jelly of Quince, boil'd with as much Water as will cover them, and run through a Jelly-bag; boil the Quinces Jelly together, and to a Pint of it put a Pound and a Quarter of fine Sugar; let it scald, but not boil, 'till the Sugar is melted; skim it, and put it in the Stove; turn it when it is candy'd; twice turning will do.

_To make QUINCE CLEAR-CAKES._