MERRY CONCEIT
A 'conceited dish' was a chance for the lady of the house to show off her expertise at making desserts. “… I will … proceede to the manner of making Banquetting stuffe and conceited dishes, with other pretty and curious secrets, necessary for the understanding of our English Hous-wife: for albeit they are not of generall use, yet in their due time they are so needful for adornation, that whosoever is ignorant therin, is lame, and but the halfe part of a compleat Hous-wife.” Gervase Markham, ‘The English Housewife’ (1615). See Dainty Delights.
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