Cookery book, polar bear dip

In his travels recently, my friend, Eddie Moylan came across this little booklet. He knew that I would love it. He was right.

Here is the introduction:

A Plain cookery  book for the working classes

Introduction

My object in writing this little book is to show you  how you may prepare and cook your daily food, so as to obtain from it the greatest amount of nourishment at the least possible expense; and thus, by skill and economy add, at the same time, to your comfort and to your comparatively slender means. The recipes which it contains will afford sufficient variety, from the simple everyday fare to more tasty dishes for the birthday, Christmas day or other festive occasions.

In order to carry out my instructions properly, a few utensils will be necessary. Industry, good health and constant employment, have, in many instances, I trust, enabled those whom I now address to lay by a little sum of money. A portion of this will be well spent in the purchase of the following articles:- A cooking-stove with an oven plasced at the side or under the grate, which should be so planned as to admit of the fire being opened or closed at will; by this contrivance much heat and fuel are  economized; there should also be a boiler at the back of the grate…. Such poor men’s cooking stoves  exist, on a large scale, in all modern built lodging houses. Also a three gallon iron pot with a lid on it, a one gallon saucepan, a two quart ditto, a frying pan, a gridiron and a strong tin baking dish…..

And her his one of the recipes

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Polar Bear Dip

I was fascinated by this photo on Liam Murphy's timeline so I asked him to tell me about it. This is what Liam wrote:

This is an account article about  details of the event on Sunday January 12th. At  Pier Village, Long Branch, Monmouth county, New Jersey  south of New York on the Atlantic Coast.

At least 1000 people plunged into the frigid ocean water to raise money for Catholic education. The 8th annual event, that our G-Daughter was one of those participating, hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernian's, raised at least $100,000 this year.

Organizer Jim Shaw said he expects the totals to reach about the same as last  year, which was $135,000.  This event makes an opportunity  to raise money  for tuition  assistance, for projects going on at  the  schools  - 100 percent of the money raised goes back into the schools.

Shaw estimated that at least 1000 people participated this year and said it looked like there were more plungers then last year. Schools from across the state, including as far away as Trenton and Jersey City participated in the event.

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This is a photo from The National Library's collection of two men painting a white line in the middle of the Naas Road in 1958.

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REMINISCING

  

Tonight I am reminiscing

I have turned back the years

Removed the locks from both the doors

And forgot about my fears.

Removed the TV from the shelf

And put it out of sight

Replaced it with a radio

Commentating on a fight.

Put the mobile phone on silent

Took the handset off the wall

Tonight-The only interruption

Neighbours foot steps in the hall.

Reached up to the fuse board

Reversed the on off handle

Got an empty bottle from the press

And placed in it a candle.

Replaced the coal and briquettes

With a seasoned wooden log

And a couple sods of well dried turf

Harvest from the local bog.

The lid from off the oven

I will heat until just right

Wrap in a woollen sweater

Place in the bed tonight.

Stare out through the window

Watch the snowflakes as they fall

Pretend its Christmas Eve again

And Santa’s sure to call.

Will I read a passage from the book

Or the rosary instead?

Then go outside – melt a little snow

Before I go to bed.

Seamus Hora

I copied this poem by Seamus Hora from here;

The Irish in America