What's Cooking?

For the edification of the inquiring gourmet, hasty pudding itself is a type of Indian meal garnished liberally with cinnamon, sugar, spices, and cloves. It is so concocted that any type of alcoholic beverage will serve as a worthy accompaniment.

Originally the pudding was meant to be cooked in a large, black pot. For over 70 years it was served before and after each theatrical's performance. James Russell Lowell once paid this tribute to the doubtful concoction:

"'Tis the last pot of pudding

Left steaming alone;

All its jolly companions

Are gobbled and gone:

No pot of its kindred,

No milk-can is nigh

To reflect back its pumpness,

And give sigh for sigh."