The Epicure's Almanac or Diary of Good Living
December 16th : RED ROUND
Corn a round in the manner directed for “Hunting Beef,” only using double the quantity of saltpetre named in that recipe; at the expiration of a fortnight, wipe it quite free from the brine, and stuff every interstice that you can find with equal portions of chopped parsley, and mixed sweet herbs in powder, seasoned with ground allspice, mace, salt, and Cayenne; do not be sparing of this mixture, put the round into a pan, fill it with strong ale; and bake in a very slow oven for eight hours, turning it in the liquor every two hours, and adding more ale if necessary.
This is an excellent preparation for the approaching festive season, and is usually sent to table enveloped in ornamented writing paper. Scarcely a family of any respectability in the Green Isle but has a red round to assist in the “keeping of Christmas.”