Happy Birthday Pop!

Letter no. 56

Feburary 27, 1989

February has been a month of rest after a busy January. We are also preparing for a busy March. We did, however, celebrate Mom’s birthday properly. Myk and Sue were over here the Presidents’ Day weekend. On Sunday evening Bethel Park, Harrisburg and Mount Lebanon got together for their final celebration at The Common Pleas. A great time was had by all. Three the eight requested family portraits were presented. She is looking forward to the remainder. Her other present, a family tape you all know about. It was a great success. We have seen it several times already. These were presented at a birthday party at Patty and Bob’s which included the grandchildren, champagne, ice cream and cake, cards, and from Dad a beautiful necklace and bracelet. It was a wonderful 70.  Thank you all!

There are only two family birthday in March:

5 Christopher

8 Mary

Patty and Bob are moving this week. The movers arrived this morning. Bob is in Atlanta and Patty and the children are staying with us. Bob will return Friday and they will all start off for their new home early Saturday morning.

We believe Steve and Joie have purchased land and plan to start building as soon as the weather permits. Steve speculates that the house will be ready for occupancy by Christmas.

We received two letters from Lisa and Pete. We are sending you each copies as we will do with future communications.

The water should be turned on at the shore this week and we plan to be there shortly thereafter. This is surely one of the first signs of spring.

On the way down we will stop in and see Mrs. Nascenzi and help Christopher celebrating his fifteenth birthday. On the way back we will stop in Harrisburg as Myk and Sue have an office retreat and can use our help with the children. We plan to be in Pittsburgh on Palm Sunday. Easter we will spend in Chicago. Further plans will be revealed in the next letter.

We have seen the three top 1988 movies: Mississippi Burning, Rain Man and a Dangerous Liaisons. The first was the most dramatic and Gene Hackman was great. Dustin Hoffman gives another of his unforgettable performances. (We recently saw him on TV and Little Big Man). Liaisons was very well done but we left with a sad feeling about a hollow society where everybody lost.

Jim is still working for AY and is getting ready for MAC Washington. He has the lead in another play. This time its Fool for Love by Sam Shepherd. He reports it a challenging part.  Rehearsals have just begun.

Bill and Maureen are always busy. They were slowed down for a few days with the flu but have recovered.

Mary and Tom continue their interior decorating with paint and paper. James had a foot infection which held him up for a month but is now back in school working harder than ever

We see Mrs. Hignett that from time to time in the library.  She reports all is well in Baltimore.

Bob and Marie had their mid-winter party to coincide with Lisa and Pete’s departure. We could not be there but we heard it was great. The other guests included Sue and Myk and the Long Branch branch. Marie and Bob went to a “Chocolate Party” and won 4^th prize with Guess What? Our favorite ice box cake made with chocolate wafers and whipped cream! The other contestants wondered how Marie sliced the cake so thin. We will have more to report from them after seeing them this weekend.

Love to all,

Mom + Dad

"Irate Prelate"

While researching the flip history and its use of its luggerhead (see A Drink for the Season), I had come across a Smoking Bishop recipe (all these recipes must be part of the heated poker family).  After reading Peter's Christmas letter I thought I would post it (sorry no poker version).  From Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol-

"A merry Christmas, Bob! Said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken…I'll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob!..."

(Via HistoricalFoods.com)

Smoking Bishop Recipe

This recipe will make enough for about 10 small glasses, double the ingredients to make a large punch bowl to serve around 20 people. It can also be re-corked in the wine bottles once cool and be re-heated and drunk in small batches over a few days.

You can use just oranges (older, bitter varieties) or just a few lemons (making it an Oxford University ‘Bishop’) although this recipe gives the right balance and authentic taste using 6 modern variety oranges and two lemons, which is then sweetened to taste with sugar.

Recipe Ingredients:

• 6 large oranges
• 2 large lemons
• 120g of brown sugar (demerara)
• 1 bottle (750ml) red wine
• 1 bottle (750ml) ruby port
• 8 cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 1/4 tsp ground mace

Ingredients For A Smoking Bishop

To serve:

• 1 or 2 lemons, cut into wedges to serve
• 1 or 2 oranges, cut into wedges to serve
• optional – a grating of nutmeg over the top
• small bowl of white sugar for guests to individually sweeten the Bishop

Recipe Method:

The day before: bake the large oranges and lemons in the oven on a shallow baking tray (with a lip to contain any leaking juice) on a low heat at 120°C until they are pale brown (after about an hour and a half). If any liquid leaks from the fruit when baking pour this from the tray into the bowl with the fruit and wine.

The Oranges And Lemons Baking In The Oven

After the fruit has baked in the oven stud the oranges and lemons with one of the cloves pricked into each, place into a large bowl, add the ground ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and mace. Add the sugar and pour in the wine – but not the port or the cinnamon sticks. Stir gently for a few minutes. Cover and leave in a warm place overnight or for 24 hours.

Leaving The Oranges, Lemons, Sugar, Spices And Wine Overnight

The next day: cut the baked oranges and lemons in half and squeeze all the juice into the spiced wine in the bowl. Do not worry about adding in the pulp and pips, this will be strained through a sieve next.

Pour this wine, fruit and spice mix through a sieve into a large saucepan, use the back of a spoon to press out the juice from the pulp in the sieve. Then add the cinnamon sticks. Heat the wine to a high simmer for 5 minutes, then turn down the heat under the saucepan and add the port and heat for 20 minutes very gently (so as not to boil away the alcohol). In the last two minutes turn up the heat to a medium simmer and get the Bishop ‘smoking’ hot with vapours rising.

Making Up The Smoking Bishop

Following the advice given in 1836, “sweeten it to your taste, and serve it up with the lemon and spice floating in it” – taste the Bishop and add in a little more sugar if it is needed. Although I prefer to serve it as it is and supply a small bowl of white sugar with a spoon so guests can sweeten their own Bishop.

When the Bishop is hot through and ‘smoking’ pour into a heat-proof punch bowl or serving jug (including the cinnamon sticks) with fresh cut wedges of lemon and orange, and serve in goblets, or heat-proof glasses, and drink warm – optional, take the advice from Eliza Acton in 1845, either grate a little nutmeg on top of the Bishop in the serving jug or bowl, or as I do, grate it individually on top of the Bishop in the glasses if people request it.