The Country Housewife and Lady's Director in the Management of a House, and the Delights and Profits of a FarmBradley, Richard
Science
The Country Housewife and Lady's Director in the Management of a House, and the Delights and Profits of a Farm
Bradley, Richard
Cooking -- Early works to 1800; Cooking, English
Woodcocks are now in Season, and it is to be advertised of them, that they
are to be only pull'd of their Feathers, and not drawn like other Fowls,
but the Guts left in them; when they are roasted, they must be serv'd upon
Toasts of Bread, upon which the Guts are spread and eaten, when they are
brought to Table. The inward of this Bird eats like Marrow; this is
generally eaten with Juice of Orange, a little Salt and Pepper, without
other Sauce. The Legs of this Bird are esteem'd the most, and are therefore
presented to the greatest Strangers at Table; but the Wings and Breast of a
Partridge are the principal parts of that Fowl, for the Legs are full of
Strings, like the Legs of Turkeys and Pheasants.
The Snipe is of the same nature with the Woodcock, and is ordered in every
respect like it. These may be larded with Bacon upon the Breast, or else
strew'd with Salt and Crumbs of Bread, while they are roasting. Besides the
Sauce used for Woodcocks and Snipes, the aforesaid _Suffolk_ Gentleman has
the following which is Gravey with a little minced Anchovy, a Rocambole,
some Lemon-Juice, and a little White-wine boiled together; and when it is
strain'd, pour it in a Saucer, and serve it with the Fowls.
These Birds are in plenty among the woody parts of _England,_ from
_September_ till the end of _March,_ and then they all leave us at one
time, except only such as have been lamed by the Sportsmen, and disabled
for Flight; and then they will breed in _England,_ as there are Instances
enough. About _Tunbridge,_ it is frequent to find them in Summer; and I
have known the same in _Leicestershire._ I think if one could take
Woodcocks here in Hay-Nets, as they do in _France,_ and pinion them or
disable a Wing, and then turn them loose again, we might raise a Breed of
them that would stay with us; but I have experienced that they will not
feed if they are confined in Cages or Aviaries, for they must have liberty
to run in search of their Food, which they find for the most part in moist
places, near Springs; for I have often taken both the Woodcock and the
Snipe with such Snares as are made for Larks, by laying them in the Night
on the Bank of Rivulets, or watery Trenches near Woods.
* * * * *
NOVEMBER.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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