During the
relentlessly harsh winter of 1777-78, morale was low at Valley Forge, and
desertions frequent. According to legend, Washington ordered a good meal to
cheer his troops one night - only to be told by his harried cook that there was
nothing but tripe, some peppercorns, and useless scraps. Still, an order was an
order and the cook improvised a soup which he called, ex post facto,
Philadelphia (in honour of his home town) Pepper Pot. It is said that some Philadelphians
still attribute the success of the Revolution to Philadelphia pepper pot soup.
3 pounds
tripe
1 knuckle
of veal with meat left on
2 pounds
marrowbone, split
2 large
onions, sliced
Soup
bouquet: several sprigs parsley; 1 bay leaf; 2 sprigs thyme or ½ teaspoon dried
thyme; 1 carrot, cut in chunks
½
teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon
whole allspice
6 whole cloves
4
potatoes, diced fine
2 teaspoons
dried marjoram
2
dessertspoons chopped parsley
Salt
Pepper
Dumplings
(recipe below)
