dutch flummery
(from The Book of Household Management, edited by Isabella Beeton, 1861)
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Ingredients:
1 oz. isinglass
1 lemon
1 pint water
4 eggs
1 pint sherry, Madeira, or raisin-wine
sifted sugar
Instructions:
1426. INGREDIENTS. - 1 oz. of isinglass, the rind and juice of 1 lemon, 1 pint of water, 4 eggs, 1 pint of sherry, Madeira, or raisin-wine; sifted sugar to taste.
Mode. - Put the water, isinglass, and lemon-rind into a lined saucepan, and simmer gently until the isinglass is dissolved; strain this into a basin, stir in the eggs, which should be well beaten, the lemon juice, which should be strained, and the wine; sweeten to taste with pounded sugar, mix all well together, pour it into a jug, set this jug in a saucepan of boiling water over the fire, and keep stirring it one way until it thickens; but take care that it does not boil. Strain it into a mould that has been oiled or laid in water for a short time, and put it in a cool place to set. A tablespoonful of brandy stirred in just before it is poured into the mould, improves the flavour of this dish; it is better if made the day before it is required for table.
Time. - 1/4 hour to simmer the isinglass; about 1/4 hour to stir the mixture over the fire.
Average cost, 2s., if made with sherry; less with raisin wine.
Sufficient to fill a quart mould. Seasonable at any time.
PALE SHERRIES are made from the same grapes as brown. The latter are coloured by an addition of some cheap must, or wine which has been boiled till it has acquired a deep brown tint. Pale sherries were, some time ago, preferred in England, being supposed most pure; but the brown are preferred by many people. The inferior sherries exported to England are often mixed with a cheap and light wino called Moguer, and are strengthened in the making by brandy, but too frequently they are adulterated by the London dealers.
Photo by Jrej09, Public Domain
From Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management - this would make an interesting summer dessert I think. It reminds me of a cross between a custard and jello as it's set in a mold.
And to those wondering what isinglass is - well it's a compound made from the stomach or bladder of sturgeons and used as a stiffening agent But never fear we have a safe modern equivalent with powdered gelatin.
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