Parsonage Cottage Pantry

Following my recent but of spring-cleaning fever, Parsonage Cottage pantry is clean and tidy,

flour bins have been cleaned and checked, food rotated according to best before dates, etc.

 

All the glassware has been taken out and washed, pots, crocks, and the very large serving dishes, ditto.

I managed to persuade myself that Max and I really do not need 7 dozen glasses, no matter how many assorted sizes and shapes they come in.     I reduced the number by half, which still leaves us far too many but some of those belonged to my parents and I am reluctant to get rid of them.

I was feeling quite pleased with how spick and span it all looks.

Then I saw this...

It is the list of preserves which one of the cooks had in her pantry, at a vicarage in Derbyshire, 1850.


Preserves    1850


44 lb Strawberry Jam    42 pots
9 lb Strawberry Jelly     16 pots
20 lb Raspberry Jam     20 large pots
8 lb Raspberry Jelly      18 pots
8 lb Redcurrant Jam      7 large pots
4 lb Redcurrant Jelly      7 large pots
14 lb Blackcurrant Jam  9 large pots
5 lb Preserved Currants  6 pots
4 lb Preserved Ginger      3 Bottles
2 lb Lemon Jam                6 pots


A very impressive list.   I imagine that being the cook at a country village vicarage would involve lots of catering for large groups of people, there are certainly some large parties listed, along with the list of foods prepared to feed everyone.


I went back to look at the preserves in my pantry...

..one lonely jar of orange marmalade.  

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