A couple of thoughts come to mind, stirred up by this old thread:

The Queen was in the parlor
Eating bread and honey;
The King was in the chamber maid
And she was in the money!

And then there's my mother's award-winning recipe for Black Bird Pie:

One of Dahlov Ipcar's famous recipes was published in The Sensuous Carrot, edited by Clarissa Watson back in 1972, p. 143. The recipes were solicited from well known artists and there were some interesting contributions. Mother's was certainly a unique contribution - Blackbird Pie.

Suggested Menu

Dinner for six:

Blackbird Pie

Four and twenty black birds dressed
One dozen oysters
One half teaspoon nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, rye bread crumbs by the pocket full
Four tablespoons of cream or chicken stock
Two tablespoons butter creamed with two tablespoons flour

Brown the birds in butter. Line large deep pie pan with pastry. Arrange birds and oysters, add cream or chicken stock, sprinkle with nutmeg, rye crumbs, etc. Dot with butter and flour mixture. Cover with crust and bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees or until crust is lightly browned. Crust may be decorated with pastry leaves and brushed with beaten egg yolk before baking.

She suggested serving mugs of nut-brown ale all around as the beverage of choice.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble