CITRUS things 1887

 In the dark and deep of winter , one's mind turns to citrus. Lemonade, perhaps. Good way to remember that Spring is coming.

 Grind up 3 oranges, and 4 lemons. Save all the juice and rinds.

 Add 2 oz citric acid , which you can get from pharmacy. Add 2 quarts boiling water, and 4 pounds of sugar.

 Boil about 5 minutes. Let cool.

 Add the fruit and juice. Let sit about 24 hours in fridge.

 Next day strain and keep syrup concentrate in covered container in fridge. You can add a small amount to ice water to freshen your glass of water, or add more to make it into a real glass of lemonade.

 Another great lemonade NEW version:   take 5 cups of water, 1/2 cup sugar or less, 3  or 4 tea bags. Add 1 can of lemonade store bought lemonade concentrate, and  5 cups water into pitcher. To get the pretty layered effect, dump in pink lemonade at the end. Do not stir till serving. Good.

 Another way to beat the winter blahs is to make marmalade. I have a recipe from the 1886 Whitehouse Cookbook. Not to lengthy, and good when you have a snow day at home.

 Allow pound for pound. Pare half the oranges and cut the rind into shreds.

 Boil in large pot of water till tender and set aside. Grate the rind of the remaining oranges. Don't use any of the white inner skin.

 Quarter all the oranges, and take out seeds if there are any. Chop or cut them into small pieces.

 Drain all the juice that will come away without pressing them over the sugar.

 Heat this, stirring until the sugar is dissolved, adding a very little water, unless the oranges are very juicy.

 Boil and skim about 5 or six minutes.

 Put in the boiled shreds and cook ten minutes, then the chopped fruit and grated peel. Add a good slosh of whiskey or rum.Boil 20 minutes.

 1887 "Troublesome Ants: a heavy chalk mark laid a finger's distance from your sugar box and all around will surely keep ants from troubling."

 When cold, put into small jars, processed and sealed.

 If you don't process the jars for about 12 minutes you can keep in fridge. Add extra whisky or run or brandy if you want to punch up the flavour.

 Of course, if you add too much whiskey, brandy or rum it will by punchy anyways.

 Lemon marmalade is made the same way, but allow a pound and a quarter of sugar to a pound of the fruit.

 1887 "To increase the hair in the brows" : Clipt them and anoint with a little sweet oil. Should the hair fall out, having been full, use one of the hair invigorator tonics from chemist."

 1887 For Dandruff: "Take glycerine four ounces, tinture of cantharides five ounces, bay rum, four ounces, water two ounces. Mix, and apply once a day and rub well down into scalp."

 1887 "To destroy cockroaches: Hellebore sprinkled on the floor at night. They eat it and are Destroyed!"

 1887 "To keep milk sweet: add grated horseradish into the milk jug. Will keep for days."

 From: Whitehouse Cookbook, 1887