Take a couple of dozen of pigeons, which should be hung up a full week
in cold weather. They must be drawn of the intestines and nicely picked
of pen-feathers. Cut off the necks and pinions and lay them open at the
backbones, wiped clean out and washed in salt and water, being dried
quickly. Season them well with
Nutmeg, grated 1 oz.
Cloves, in fine powder 1 oz.
White pepper, in fine powder 2 oz.
Table salt, in fine powder 6 oz.
Bay leaves, in fine powder 1 oz.
inside, particularly on the backbone and vent, and let them lie put
down in a jar and covered over for a week, turning them daily. Then
place them singly, or in halves, if a small family; put a lump of
fresh butter inside of each, and, tying thick paper over the pots, bake
them slowly until done. While they are yet warm pour off any gravy
that may have been produced, which must be set by, and when cold the
butter taken off and added to the quantity which will be required to
be clarified, and with which the birds must be covered, when cold,
to the thickness of at least half an inch in each pot. These will be
excellent, taken cold.