I've always wondered how story influences food choice. So, I started a study. Culinary Folklore: A Study of Fiction as an Influence in Traditional Foodways Practices. Nursery rhymes are a great place to start. Soon I'll be moving on to; Wives tales. Superstitions Omens. Folktales. Claims & Benefits. Practices. Comparisons. Warnings/luck/misfortune. Special Powers. Ballads and other songs. Fables & Local legends.

Jelly Jake and Butter Bill.

One dark night when all was still
Pattered down the long, dark stair,
And no one saw the guilty pair;
Pushed aside the pantry-door
And there found everything galore,
Honey, raisins, orange-peel,
Cold chicken aplenty for a meal,
Gingerbread enough to fill
Two such boys as Jake and Bill.
Well, they ate and ate and ate,
Gobbled at an awful rate
Till I’m sure they soon weighed more
Than double what they did before.
And then, it’s awful, still it’s true,
The floor gave way and they went thru.
Filled so full they couldn’t fight.
Slowly they sank out of sight.
Father, Mother, Cousin Ann,
Cook and nurse and furnace man
Fished in forty-dozen ways
After them, for twenty days;
But not a soul has chanced to get
A glimpse or glimmer of them yet.
And I’m afraid we never will
Poor Jelly Jake and Butter Bill.

Honey, Raisins, Orange-peel Glazed Chicken.

1 Chicken

Glaze
½ cup honey
1 cup raisins
¼ cup orange zest (3 large oranges.)
½ cup warm water

1 Roast the chicken at 350 for 40 minutes.
2. Then brush glazed over the chicken and cook for another 30 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool for 5 minutes.
3. Place the chicken on a platter. Skim the excess fat from the roasting pan and spoon the remainder over the chicken. Serve with your favorite accompaniment.

I'm saving the gingerbread recipe for a later date. I like to test all the recipes before I post.

The Folklore Food Blog: Jelly Jake and Butter Bill

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