I don't usually find cookery books puzzling, but this recipe had me scratching my head. Did rabbits have wings a mere two centuries ago? Sounds tasty enough anyway.
To dress Rabbets to look like Moor-Game
Take a young rabbet, when it is cased cut off the wings and the head; leave to neck of your rabbet as long as you can; when you case it you must leave on the feet, pull off the skin, leave on the claws, so double your rabbet and skewer it like a fowl; put a skewer at the bottom through the legs and neck, and tie it with a string, it will prevent it flying open; when you dish it up make the same sauce as you would for partridges. Three are enough for one dish.
English Housewifery by Elizabeth Moxon, thirteenth edition - 1790.
Maybe they used to be delivered with the hawk still attached?
ReplyDeleteSam - could be, but they don't mention plucking it first.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it was an alchemical rabbet, and those in the know understood it was actually a peacock.
ReplyDeleteRoger - I think you are on to something. An alchemical cross breed?
ReplyDelete