I love this recipe for "preserving children" that you can find in the Powell House cookbook (now out of print). Tom Rothchild brought this gem to my attention. The recipe is as follows:
Take one large grassy field, half a dozen children, three small dogs, and walk along a narrow strip of brook, pebbly if possible. Mix children with dogs and empty them into field, stirring constantly. Sprinkle the entire with daisies and buttercups, pour brook gently over pebbles, cover all with deep blue sky and bake in a hot sun for several hours. When children are thoroughly browned, they may be removed. They will be found right and ready for setting away to cool in the bathtub.
It's a lovely recipe book overall, sadly out of print. But the good news is that Ann Davidson, director of Powell House, says that they will soon be coming out with a new edition of their cookbook, complete with brand new recipes. I hope it includes the "kitty litter cake" and their delicious curried fruit compote.
Powell House is a Quaker retreat center located in Old Chatham, New York.