The 12 days of Old Style recipes

purpleivy

greenbee wrote: »

I'd keep the chickens (assuming they're hen)... can't you get OH to knock up a hen house and a run? Then you'll have fresh eggs next year, and don't have to worry about dealing with the cooking now (plus all that plucking/drawing is a bit tedious and I find it puts me off my food).

A dovecote for the pigeons might be an idea too if you haven't already dispatched today's delivery. If not, I've got a great recipe for pigeon casserole that freezes well.

A dovecote does lend a bit of class to an establishment, long thought we should have one at IvyMansions. You know, like all those National Trust places one visits from time to time, the homes of Lords and Ladies and such like. The sort that have their own milkmaids and a large lake with ornamental birds. Some of them even have their own musicians, I hear!:rolleyes:

dronid

julieq wrote: »

We rapidly settled into a sort of loop. "So, madam, you have received your delivery, yes?", "no, I've received too much of my delivery". [pause, flicking of papers] "So, madam you have received your delivery and you wish to return it?", "no, I was sent an extra item and I want to return that". [bit of tapping, pause]. "Madam, our system shows that you received your delivery yesterday and signed for it as correct, yes". And so on, up to and past the point of human endurance.

EEEK!:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

The song goes

First Day - Partridge in a Pear Tree
Second Day - Two Turle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Third Day - Three French Hens, Two Turle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
If they are added, day by day, by the end of the 12 days you'll have 30 French Hens, 40 Gold Rings, 40 Milkmaids, and 42 Swans!

And I don't know how to cook a milkmaid, oatmeal and lentils aside!:D

rosieben

dronid, we've all been trying very carefully to not actually mention the song ...


... cos we don't want to alarm her of course

splishsplash

As you've decided to keep the over-deliveries, I think you could do with using one of the pear trees to make pearwood dust with - excellent for smoking game birds and poultry.

I would suggest cooking off and freezing as many of the birds as possible - as others have said, you never know who'll turn up at Christmas, and it's nice to feel you can offer something homemade and fresh.

At the rate you're going, you'll have enough feathers for a couple of nice, plump cushions, and don't forget to make pate with the chicken livers. In case you haven't made pate before - here's a step-by-step guide.

I'm presuming there's no fruit on the pear trees at this time of year, but think ahead to the jams and chutneys to come - this old flame gives the gift that keeps on giving!

Gryfon

I'm sure she'll be fine and it's just a hiccup on the delivery system. They'll probably notice next month and want everything extra back, so do you keep the live animals and ask them for money for looking after them or just claim that they shouldn't have sent your the extra in the first place and you didn't realise?

EssexHebridean

julieq wrote: »

It's OK, he knows I'm a bunny boiler

I get the feeling it might be more than just bunnies you've got to worry about.

Purely as a matter of interest, how do your local council stand on the keeping of livestock in the back gardens, do you know? I mean, I'm sure it won't be a problem, but it always pays to have all the knowledge in advance on these matters I find, don't you think? You might also consider checking your home insurance valuables cover ready for a couple of days time.....you never know what might pop up under the tree(s) at the this time of year after all.

dronid

rosieben wrote: »

dronid, we've all been trying very carefully to not actually mention the song ...
... cos we don't want to alarm her of course

Whoops! :rolleyes: What can I say?:D

Well on the other hand practical suggestions would be...
See if you have any guerilla gardening groups in the area you could donate the pear trees to them or just plant them in your back garden.
The birds that came with the tree. Some kind of terrine? Quite a lot of it for presents?
The white pigeons you could set free or set up a coup. Nice in a pie too.

For sensitivitys sake the rest is invisible unless you highlight below!

The 30 chickens would enable you to start up a small chicken farm. And 10 3 egg omelettes per day at that rate.
The 36 colling or blackbirds would be enough to give you enough for a 4 and 20 blackbird pie with enough for another half pie.
The 40 golden rings – well it depends if they're gold or not. They're worth something if they are, particularly if we're in recession.
The 42 geese would do a number of roast dinners but since they're laying maybe another 28 omelettes a day (given that geese eggs are larger) would keep you amused. And possibly on the edge of cholesterol poisoning.
The 42 swans would probably need to go back to the crown or maybe the nearest village pond.
The 40 milkmaids could probably form a synchronised milking display in front of Simon Cowell so maybe signing them up so that you can reap the rewards as their agents.
Just as an aside the Maids should be milking – so you could end up with anything! Cows, sheep, goats, llamas, even, if Heather Mills-McCartney is to believed, maybe rats.
You should probably sign up the 36 Ladies Dancing, the 30 Leaping Lords and maybe the 22 Piping Pipers for Britain's got Talent.
As for the 12 Drummers, I'd eat them. There's good eating there and the noise of the drumming coupled with all the squeaking, whistling, spitting, mooing, baaing, squeaking and honking going on with the other animals - well it'll probably send you over the edge!
If you do go over the edge, give me a wave on your way past. It's lonely out here!:santa2:

stefejb

splishsplash wrote: »

II'm presuming there's no fruit on the pear trees at this time of year, but think ahead to the jams and chutneys to come - this old flame gives the gift that keeps on giving!

well yes - chutneys and jams are all very well but how about perry - instructions for making a press http://homepage.ntlworld.com/scrumpy/cider/press2.htm and some lovely recipes http://www.brew-magic.co.uk/homebrew/cider.aspx - all going well you could drink your way through next christmas if this year's turns out to be a bit traumatic- not saying it will of course but it's best to be prepared

Churchmouse

Just found this thread and have laughed so much:T :T I was feeling rather stressed after the last few days, but boy am I relaxed now:D Thanks to all contributors :T

julieq, you sound fairly laid back, and pretty resourceful, so I'm quite sure you'll cope with any little hiccups over the next few days;) I thought Christmas presents were supposed to arrive on Christmas Day, but seeing as your old flame thought to start the process early, I really, really would consider going away for a few days from Boxing Day onwards;) After all it's quite easy to ignore those " Sorry, you weren't home" cards, and not bother to collect some deliveries:D And believe me, some deliveries are really best not collected

splishsplash

purpleivy wrote: »

A dovecote does lend a bit of class to an establishment, long thought we should have one at IvyMansions. You know, like all those National Trust places one visits from time to time, the homes of Lords and Ladies and such like. The sort that have their own milkmaids and a large lake with ornamental birds. Some of them even have their own musicians, I hear!:rolleyes:

Yes, sounds nice, but now, between the recession and recent fuel hikes, I wouldn't like to be facing their heating bills or staffing costs.
Who knows, they may need to downsize and diversify - you know, find alternative employment or accommodation.
Maybe they could start a themed rent-a-crowd business . You never know, it could be a niche market somewhere . Can anyone think of a situation where there could be a need for a 'rent-a-mob-of-milkmaids'; or 'lease-a-litter-of-lords-and-ladies' . The musicians should be ok, there should be lots of gigs coming up... fife and drum bands are big round my area around Christmas...

I'll stop, I'm just being fanciful now:o .