47
"pie coffin" was a term used to define the case of the pieshell
"cart an egg" meant beating it
"sallet" often used for a mixture of greens or a salad
"beat with birchen twigs" was a term used in the era of Shaker
cooking when wire beaters were scarce. The recipe for Mother
Ann's birthday cake calls for beating with peach twigs to add a
subtle flavor.
"pompoon" was used for pumpkin
Ma gang of calvesr feet" meant all four of the feet used at the
time of butchering for calf-foot jelly--now known as gelatin
"butter the size of a walnut" was one of the first attempts at
exact measurement
Butchering was an essential part of rural life, not only for the food,
but cooking fats were also essential. Between 1630 and 1740, it was an es-
tablished rule that all immigrants who came here must bring with them a
gallon of oil or pure fats. Candles and soap also depended on fats. The
Shakers abhorred waste, so nothing in the butchering process was wasted.
The feet of veal or pork were made into gelatin (for dishes for aged and in-
firm); heads were boiled and converted into scrapple and head-cheese;
tripe, kidneys and liver went into stews and dinner dishes; hearts, jowls,
sweetbreads and brains were made into pressed meats encased in jelly;
even the bladder was blown up and given to children as a new ball and the
curly pigtail was hung beside the workbench to grease their saws.
Decline of the Shakers
What were the reasons for the gradual decline of this communistic
society whose principles were: 1) life of innocence, strict temperance and
virgin purity; 2) love; 3) peace; 4) justice; 5) holiness; 6) goodness; and
7) truth?