Hard Sauce and Clear Soup

This past week I wrote about the White House Christmas dinner during the war and mentioned they were having clear soup and hard sauce.  I was unfamiliar with both of these items and looked them up.

CLEAR SOUP--  Primarily liquid, usually served warm and combining ingredients like meat and vegetables.

HARD SAUCE--  Sweet, rich dessert sauce made by creaming butter and sugar with liquor, often rum.

New Words for Me.  --GreGen

Christmas Dinner at the White House

From the History Rat site.

Unfortunately, no date given.

WHITE HOUSE MENU

Clear Soup With Sherry (not sure what clear soup is)
Celery, Assorted Olives
Thin Toast
Roast Turkey, Chestnut Dressing, Sausage
Giblet Gravy
Beans
Cauliflower
Casserole of Sweet Potatoes
Cranberry Jelly
Rolls
Grapefruit Salad and Cheese Crescents
Plum Pudding and Hard Sauce  (not sure about the sauce either)
Ice Cream and Cake
Coffee
Salted Nuts and Assorted BonBons

Kind of Like My T-Giving Dinner This Year.  --GreGen