Mumbled or Scrambled?

Today, September 13th ...

I am at the airport in Narita, Japan, filling in time until my flight - and it occurred to me that I could use some of that time to publish this post. I think it is Wednesday, isnt it? I am not sure what body-time it is, but it is not a comfortable one. Anyhow - here is today's story ...

A recent post about an unseemly scramble for palace leftovers in the mid-eighteenth century created some discussion of the use of the word ‘scramble’ in relation to a method of cooking. I indicated that the OED gave the first use of the word I 1891, but reader Anne M. identified a recipe for scrambled eggs in Mrs Hale’s New Cook Book, by Sarah Josepha Hale, published in 1857.

Somewhere in between those dates, the same dish was also called ‘mumbled eggs, or rumble-tumble’ – again, the authority is the OED which cites its appearance in 1879, in a book with the intriguing title of Indian Household Management, by Mrs James. Another book for my wish list. The use of the verb ‘to mumble’(in the culinary sense, meaning ‘to cook to a soft pulp’) is supported by a quotation from much earlier – from 1728 in fact. It is a recipe from The compleat housewife: or, accomplished gentlewoman's companion, by E.Smith, published in 1728.

To mumble Rabbets and Chickens.
Put into the Bellies of your Rabbets, or Chickens, some Parsley, an Onion, and the Liver; set it over the Fire in the Stew-pan with as much Water as will cover them, with a little Salt; When they are half boiled take them out, and shred the Parsley, Liver, and Onion, and tear the Flesh from the Bones of the Rabbet in small flakes, and put it into the Stew-pan again with a very little of the Liquor it was boiled in, and a pint of White-wine, and some Gravy, and half a pound or more of Butter and some grated Nutmeg; when ‘tis enough, shake in a little Flour, and thicken it up with Butter. Serve it on Sippets.

Tomorrow’s Story …

Finally, a Salad.

Quotation for the Day …

Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember; and I remember more than I have seen. Benjamin Disraeli