January 09 |
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Anniversary of Jack Horner's Death
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Instead of birds, the Abbot of Glastonbury's pie contained deeds to twelve of his estates as a present to Henry. The delivery of the pie was entrusted to his steward Thomas (whose nickname was Jack) Horner who opened the pie and removed the deeds of Mells Manor in Somerset and left the other eleven. Henry was impressed with the gift and thanked the abbot, not referring to the total number of deeds. When the abbot died a few months later, Horner appropriated the manor for himself and the property remained in the Horner family for more than 200 years. The sudden source of Horner's wealth was highly suspect and was the source of the double entendre of the word "plum" in the rhyme. The rhyme became the source of the used of "plum" for an office, position, or other reward given for political reasons. As a side note, when "plum" is used in reference the English cooking, it refers to currents or raisins. Therefore, a plum pudding is a raisin pudding and a plum pie is a raisin pie.
The Christmas pie in the Jack Horner rhyme was
mincemeat pie. Mincemeat pie was also the more respectable sibling of
the humble pie. Humbles or numbles are internal organs of game and were
often baked into a pie and served to the servants while their masters ate
pies made from more succulent parts. Often, as a punishment for
rowdiness, children were forced to eat humble pie instead of their family's
regular meal. |
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Old English Mincemeat Pie |
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Ingredients |
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Instructions |
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© 2010 Gordon Nary