Dr. Weaver notes that the cold water soak is intended to remove some of the bitterness. Since I have an hour to kill, I might as well start on the dressing.

The Dressing Ingredients…

Already there is a complication. Instead of a recipe, we have the following poem from 1868:

 

Your good lady Salad-maker forgot to say

That Sidney Smith composed her famous lay.

He praises anchovy and onion; they’re enough

To frighten every dainty palate from the stuff.

If you must have potato–why? I cannot see,

Let it be only one, and let it mealy be.

I think none needed, for the yolks of boiled eggs

Keep up the dressing’s body well upon it legs.

I made the blind Reverend’s mixture, and I found

It stiff and dry–not heavenly, too much of ground;

Two hard boiled from barn-door fowls you’ll need;

Keep those from far off Brahma and Houdan to breed;

Of Durham mustard a full teaspoon grant;

 

The same of salt and sugar fine you’ll want;

A dash of capiscum excites the whole,

And keeps the Durham under good control;

Fill twice the spoon with vinegar quite clear;

Rub well the solids till no lumps appear.

 

Now pour the oil of gladness–let it be

The sweetest, purest from the olive tree;

Stint not your spending–get the finest, best;

Without it, time is idly spent with all the rest;

Rub in three tablespoonsful at discretion,

‘Tis hard to get too much–it’s my impression.

 

Come forth crisp lettuce! Hot-bed! Quick reveal;

Oh! Cut it with knife silvered–not with steel

Pour on the soft persuader–stir by slow degrees;

Eat as a course, alone–add only biscuit hard and cheese.

 

Fortunately, Dr. Weaver decided to “untangle the puzzle” on page 56.

For real this time, the ingredients:

yolks of 2 hard boiled eggs

1 tsp. mustard

1 tsp. superfine sugar

dash of pepper

2 tbsp. vinegar

3 tblsp. olive oil