The Epicure's Almanac or Diary of Good Living
November 12th : HUNTING BEEF
Rub well into a round of beef a quarter of a pound of saltpetre finely powdered. Next day mix half an ounce of cloves, an ounce of black pepper, the same quantity of ground allspice, with half a pound of salt; wash and rub the beef in the brine for a fortnight, adding every other day a table-spoonful of salt.
Have ready an earthen pan deep enough to hold the joint, and lay suet an inch deep at the bottom; rub the beef in coarse cloth still perfectly free from the salt and spice; put it into the pan with a quart of water, some more suet on the top, and cover with a thick coarse crust.
Bake for seven hours, pour off the gravy, and place the meat upon a proper dish; do not cut it till cold; at this season of the year, it will keep for a couple of months.