An Economical Household, not a Stingy One, makes a Successful and Contented Home. — Freeman. HOME ECONOMIST, . A . MANUAL FOR THE PEOPLE. Especially Adapted to the Every-Day Wants of American Homes. EMBRACING THIRTEEN HUNDRED TESTED AND APPROVED RECEIPTS FOR THE KITCHEN; CONTRIBUTED BY OVER ONE HUNDRED OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL AMERIC>C>5 WOMEN. Receipts for the Care of Furniture ; How to Destroy House Pests ; Special In- structions for the Care-of the Kitchen and Kitchen Utensils; The Laundry and numerous Receipts for Cleaning of Silks, Woolens, Laces, Ribbons, Curtains, Etc. ; The Sewing Room and its Conveniences; Receipts for Dyeing and Color- ing all Shades and Colors; Numerous Miscellaneous Receipts of all Sorts. ;,^ ALSO, COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK ROOM; HEALTH ITEMS AND """^ vsV GRAND MOTHERS' MEDICAL RECEIPTS. CARE AND CULTURE OF CHILDREN AND FOOD FOR THE SICK, Etc., Etc. PUBLISHED BY F. B. DICKERSON COMPANY, DETROIT, MICH. - - ^ ^^\%cy A / 1^\^ ^ Great fttasses of Home-]VIakePs This Book is Hespeetfally Dedicated, DEPARTMENTS. Bread, '7 Breakfast and Tea Cakes, 18 Cake, 43 Cookies, Jumbles and Snaps, '^'^ Creams and Custards 82 Confectionery 92 Catsups, 100 Desserts, 103 Drinks, 140 Eggs and Omelettes, 149 Fresh Fruits, 155 Canning Fruits, 159 Ices and Ice Cream, 163 Jams and Jellies, 174 Mushrooms, 184 Pickles, 190 Preserves, .... 204 Vegetables, 212 Fish 242 Shell Fish, 251 Game, 264 Marketing 271 Meats, . ... 277 Poultry 308 Salads , 324 Soups, Sauces and Forcemeats, 331 Furniture 354 House Pests, .... 358 Toilet, 362 Kitchen, 367 The Laundry, 373 Sewing Room, . . , , . 384 Dyeing, Etc 388 Odds and Ends, 398 The Sick Room 425 Health Items and Grandmothers' Medical Recipes, . 432 Care and Culture of Children, 446 PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. N the preparation of this work our aim has been not only to make it full and complete, but to give such information as is adapted to the common homes of our land; to make it clear and concise; and to so arrange its contents that any subject sought for can be easily and quickly found. Our object is to assist in making the management of the home both successful and economical, and especially so in regard to cookery. Bad cooking is waste — waste of money and loss of comfort. How to cook is one of the most essential, and yet most neglected branches of female education. The receipts in the cooking department have been contributed by over one hundred of our most successful women, and only those are given which have stood the test of actual use, and received the indorsement of the best housekeepers, and all of them can be depended upon as being reliable. The home is woman's realm, and it is certainly of supreme importance that she should know how to govern it. If she knows nothing of her kitchen and is at the mercy of the cook, the table will soon become intolerable — bad bread, soft and flabby fish, meat burned outside and raw within — a condition of things conducive neither to good health or domestic concord. In short, we want common sense in cookery as in most other things. Food should be used, not abused; much of it is now absolutely wasted; wasted for want of a little art in cooking it. PUBLISHERS. A NEW RECIPE. NE of the lecturers before the Baltimore Cooking- School recently gave this recipe for cooking husbands, which, it is safe to say, has never appeared in any book on cookery: A good many husbands are utterly spoiled by mismanagement. Some women go about as if their husbands were bladders, and blow them up. Others keep them constantly in hot water. Others let them freeze by their carelessness and indifference. Some keep them in a stew by irritating ways and words. Others roast them. Some keep them in a pickle all their lives. It cannot be supposed that any husband will be tender and good, managed in this way; but they are really delicious when properly treated. In selecting your husband, you should not be guided by the silvery appearance, as in buying mackerel, nor by the golden tint, as if you wanted salmon. Be sure to select for yourself, as tastes differ. Do not go to market for him, as the best are always brought to your door. It is far better to have none unless you will patiently learn how to cook him. A preserving kettle of the finest porcelain is best, but if you have nothing but an earthenware pipkin, it will do, with care. See that the linen in which you wrap him is nicely washed and mended, with the required number of buttons and strings tightly sewed on. Tie him in the kettle by a strong silk cord called comfort, as the one called duty is apt to be weak. They are apt to fly out of the kettle and be burned and crusty on the edges, since, like crabs and oysters, you have to cook them while alive. Make a clear^ steady fire out of love, neatness and cheerfulness. Set him as near this as seems to agree with him. If he sputters and fizzes, do not be anxious; some husbands do this until they are quite done. Add a little sugar in the form of what confectioners call kisses, but no vinegar or pepper on any account. A little spice improves them, but it must be used with judgment. Do not stick any sharp instrument into him to see if he is becoming tender. Stir him gently, watching the while lest he lie too flat and close to the kettle and so become useless. You cannot fail to know when he is done. If thus treated, you will find him very digestible, agreeing nicely with you and the children, and he will keep as long as you want, unless you become careless and set him in too cold a place. — Baltimore Sun. THE CHAPTER I. BREAD MAKING. |;F it be true that bread is the staff of life, no one can be insensible to the statement which has been made by authors on the sub- ject so many times of late, that we make a great mistake, from a dietetic point of view, in the kind of flour which we select for making bread. The most nutritious bread is not the whitest, but rather the reverse, since the branny portion of wheat, which is sys- tematically rejected, contains very valuable substances and salts ^at, taken into the body, go to form bone, flesh, and nerve, as well as to assist in the digestion of starchy matters. The central por- tion of wheat, or that portion which forms the ordinary flour of eommerce, consists solely of starch, which is not a flesh-forming substance, but a heat-giving principle of food. The bran con- tains phosphates, of which bones and nerves are so largely made up; gluten, or flesh -forming substance; and cerealine, a peculiar body which has the character of a ferment, changing starchy mat- ter in such a way as to be more readily absorbed and utilized by ike system in the act of digestion. \ It stands to reason, therefore, that flour miade from the entire wheat contains the very substances which are needed to make it mttritious, and that the removal of the bran in the making of flour, 8 BREAD MAKING. as ordinarily practiced, entails the loss of very important items of diet. Further, it is clear that the physiologist is right in recom- mending the use of whole grain flour, provided that there is no special drawback on account of its physical character. But this »s just what has been the case hitherto. When the bran is mixed with the ordinary flour and taken, it is found to be diflicult of digestion, and, in some cases, to irritate; the latter result being due to the mechanical action of the bran scales upon the intestines, and hence there has been a real difiiculty in extending the consumption of brown bread. But recent improvements in milling machinery have to a great extent overcome these difliculties, and as a consequence, the consumption of wheat in its many and various preparations is correspondingly increased. For good bread three things are essential — good flour, good yeast, and great care. Yeast that will not Sour. Good bread cannot be made from poor yeast, and here is a recipe that will not sour: One bowl of flour, one bowl of sugar, one cup of salt, one tablespoonful ginger. Take a double handful of hops and pour over them five quarts of water, boil an hour, and have as much water on at the last, and pour scalding hot through a strainer on to the other ingredients, stirring briskly; when cold add a cup of good yeast and let rise thirty-six hours, pour into a perfectly sweet jug, and keep in a cool place. A cupful of this added to a quart of lukewarm water, with flour enough to make a stiff batter, will make two loaves of bread. Set this at night and knead in more flour the next morning, keep in a place where it will be of even temperature, raising it as fast as possible; when raised again, knead a good deal, using but little flour, and put into bread pans; when well raised bake slowly three-fourths of an hour. Part of this taken out and raised once or twice, with sufficient butter or lard, and the white of an egg added, makes excellent rolls for tea. BREAD MAKING. 9 A Good .Reliable Yeast. Steep slowly, in a porcelain or bright tin kettle, one large hand- ful of hops, tied in a cloth, boil six large potatoes, sliced thin, in two quarts of water; when done very soft, mash till smooth and creamy. Have ready one pint of flour, wet and rubbed to a smooth paste; pour into this the potato water, boiling hot, stirrino- smoothly; let it boil a few minutes, stirring all the time; add the hop water and potatoes, two tablespoonfuls of salt, and one cup of white sugar; stir thoroughly, and set away to cool. When milk warm, stir in one cup of yeast; let it rise in a warm place twelve hours; put it into an air-tight vessel, previously well scalded, and set in the cellar. This will keep from four to six weeks. Always make new yeast before the old is gone, in order to have some to start with. Be very particular with every new batch of yeast, to have the vessel in which it is kept well cleaned, and scalded with hot saleratus water. Much depends upon keeping this sweet and clean. Another Good Yeast. Boil two potatoes with a good handful of hops, tied in a bag; mash the potatoes when done, in the yeast dish, and add two tea- cupfuls of flour, and scald with the potato water; when cool, add a yeast cake soaked in warm water. Dry hop yeast can always be found at grocery stores. Good Home-made Bread. The superiority of good home-made bread has long been acknowl- edged, yet how few know how to make a i-eally good article of bread, therefore so many housekeepers depend on the baker, whicli is at least very expensive, to say nothing of the injury the constant use of baker's bread causes to the health of delicate persons and children, as all baker's bread contains alum, which causes the loaves to increase in weight, as it makes the flour absorb more water. Therefore a pound loaf of baker's bread will contain less nourish- ment than a loaf of home-made bread of equal weight. Economy. 10 BREAD MAKING. therefore, should make every housekeeper her own bread maker, as baker's bread dries and becomes stale much quicker than home- made. To make first-rate bread, the sponge should be set over night in a warm place and raised and kneaded three times; the first time from fifteen to twenty minutes — the more the better. If this rule is followed the bread will present an even surface when sliced off, and not the loose, crumbly appearance which is so often seen in bread. Take three quarts of good flour, sift and warm; make a cavity in the center, add a large teaspoonful of salt; take one pint of new milk, or water boiling hot, pour into this and stir quickly; cool off with one quart of cold milk or water; add one cup of yeast; mix well together; then cover well and set in a moderately warm place (if in cold weather) ; this will be ready to knead up before break- fast, if set over night. Slashing the dough with a sharp knife adds to its lightness and texture. When well kneaded the first time cover tightly, watch closely, and as soon as light knead as before, but be very careful not to work in much flour; only keep enough on the board to prevent sticking, as all the flour that is added after the first kneading only makes the bread hard and dry. As soon as it is light the second time divide into loaves and reserve a portion for biscuit so that the bread will not be cut till cold. Mold smoothly, put into tins, let rise fifteen or twenty minutes in a warm place; bake half an hour in moderately hot oven. When done, set on hearth, cover with double thick cloth five minutes, turn out on same cloth; let stand until cool; put in stone jar and keep covered. Always keep a cloth folded in the bottom of the jar to take up the dampness which naturally collects. Yeast Bread. To three quarts water add one teacupful of yeast, stir into enough sifted flour to make a stiff batter; do this in the evening and set in a warm place. In the morning mix stiff; it will soon BREAD MAKING. 11 rise, then mold out into the tins. No certain time can be given for the time of rising, as that depends on the temperature. Potato Bread. Pare and boil six good-sized potatoes, drain off the water, mash fine and pour over them about three pints of cold water and run through a colander; add flour until this is a thin batter, then put in a coffee .cup of yeast from the jug; let stand until it rises, then stir into it flour as much as you can with a spoon and let it rise again; work in enough more flour to make stiff enough for bread, and then let rise the third time; when light this time, work intvf loaves and let rise. All the flour must be sifted. Anotheb. Boil four potatoes to the loaf; mash when done and add two tea- cupfuls of flour and scald with the potato water; when cool add the yeast and let stand till bed time, then sponge and knead in the morning; make quite stiff and knead fifteen or twenty minutes; let rise again and mold into loaves. Milk Sponge Bread. Put a pint of boiling water into a pitcher with a teaspoonful of sugar, one-fourth teaspoonful of salt, and the same of soda; let it stand till you can bear your finger in it, then add flour to make a thick batter; beat it hard for two minutes. Now place the pitcher in a kettle of hot water — not hot enough to scald the mixture; keep the water at the same temperature till the emptyings are light. If set early in the morning and carefully watched they will be ready by eleven o'clock to make a sponge the same as for other bread, with a quart of very warm milk. Let this sponge get very light, then make into loaves and set to rise again, taking care that they do not get too light this time before putting into the oven, or the bread will be dry and tasteless. The emptyings pitcher and bread pan or tray must be perfectly clean and sweet. Scald them out Vfith saleratus or lime water. 12 BREAD MAKING. Salt Rising Bread. In the evening scald two tablespoonfuls of corn meal, a pinch of salt and one of sugar, with sweet milk, and set in a warm place till morning; then scald a teaspoonful of sugar, one of salt, half as much soda, with a pint of boiling water, add cold water till luke- warm, then put in the mush made the night before, and thicken to a batter with flour; put in a close vessel in a kettle of warm water (not too hot); when light, mix stiff, adding a little shortening; mold into loaves. It will soon rise, and will not take as long to bake as yeast bread. Salt Rising Bread, No. 2. In the morning take a quart dish and scald it out, then put in a pint of warm water; put in a teaspoonful of salt and a little pinch of soda, two or three tablespoonfuls of corn meal, and flour enough to make a thick batter. Stir well, and set the dish in a kettle of warm water, and keep at the same temperature (just so you can bear your hand in it). If water rises on the top, stir in briskly one or two tablespoonfuls of flour, and put back into the kettle. If the flour is good the emptyings will be light within three or four hours; then take flour enough in a bread pan to make three or four loaves of bread, make a hole in the center, put in the emptyings, and fill the same dish Avith warm water; add a little salt, stir it in with a spoon, mix a thick spotige and cover it with some of the flour, f»nd set in a warm place to rise. When light, mold it into loaves and set to rise again (it does not require as much kneading as yeast bread). Bake from a half to three-fourths of an hour. Railroad emptyings are made in the same way, of middlings instead of flour. Corn Bread. One pint sweet milk, one pint sour milk, one pint flour, two pints meal, one teaspoonful syrup, one teaspoonful salt, one teaspoonful soda. Steam three hours. BREAD MAKING. 13 CoKN Bread, No. 2. Two eggs well beaten, one cup sugar, half cup butter, one cup sweet milk, half cup sour milk, half cup wheat flour, one and a half cups corn meal, two teaspoonf uls of any good baking powder. Corn Bread, No. 3. I ! One pint buttermilk, two eggs, one pint corn meal, two table- spoonfuls melted butter, a little salt, and one teaspoonful soda. Corn Bread, No. 4. One pint com meal, one pint flour, one pint buttermilk, one tea- cupful molasses, one teaspoonful soda, one teaspoonful salt. Bake just two hours. Grandmother's Indian Bread. Three cups sweet milk, three cups corn meal, one cup wheat flour, one half cup molasses, one teaspoonful of soda, one teaspoon- ful salt. Put into a buttered bake-dish, and set in a steamer and steam three hours. Quick Graham Bread. One and a half pints sour milk, two-thirds cup cooking molasses, a half teaspoonful salt, two even teaspoonfuls of saleratus dissolved in a little hot water, and as much Graham flour as can be stirred in evenly with a spoon. Put into a well-greased pan, and bake imme- diately. It will require from an hour and a half to two hours to bake. Baking Powder Graham Bread. I One and one-half pints Graham flour, one-half pint flour, onw tablespoonful of sugar, one teaspoonful of salt, two teaspoonfuls baking powder; mix with a pint and a half of milk, or equal parts of milk and water. Sift together Graham, flour, sugar, salt, &r.d baking powder; add the milk, or milk and water, mix rapidl;^ into a soft dough, put into a greased tin, bake in rather hot oven for forty minutes. Protect the loaf with ])aper the first fifteen n-ninutes. 14 BREAD MAKING. Brown Bread of Graham Flour. Take one cup of milk; add hot water to warm; thicken with sifted flour, sufficient to make a sponge; stand over night in a warm place; in the morning add half a cup of milk, with a cup of hot water, one cup molasses, one cup butter, one teaspoonful salt; mix in Graham flour till thick, and smooth with a spoon; pour into bread pans half full; let stand in a warm place until the pans are nearly full ; bake an hour in a moderately hot oven. Keep a steady fire. Graham Bread. To a scant quart of warm water add a heaping teaspoonful of salt, a good half cup of brown sugar; stir in a pint of the sponge made of flour for potato bread; add as much Graham flour as can be stirred in; put into baking pans and let rise until light; bake in a moderate oven, and when done wrap in a damp towel until cool. Graham Bread, No. 2. Take one and two-thirds cups of water or milk and a small piece of butter or lard; mix quite thick with Graham flour or Arlington wheat meal, which is better; add half a cup of good yeast and set to rise over night. In the morning dissolve one-half teaspoonful soda in a little water and add one-half cup of molasses; stir this into the bread, mix quite soft and put in baking tin to rise. Bake thoroughly. A nice rye and wheat loaf may be made in the same way, using one and one-half cups sifted rye and the rest wheat flour. If you wish a light colored loaf use only one cup of rye and* sweeten with sugar. Brown Bread. Take two quarts of corn meal; scald with one quart of boiling milk or water; when cool add one quart of Graham flour, one large spoonful salt, one cup brown sugar or best molasses, one cup home- made yeast, one cup flour. Mix with warm water as stiff as can easily be stirred; put in deep basins; steam two hours and bake BREAD MAKING. 15 one. Before baking baste with a few spoonfuls of sweet cream or milk; this makes a soft, tender crust. Biscuit is made from the same dough as the bread, rolled out and spread with a small quantity of lard, which must be very fresh and sweet. Double the dough together, roll and spread again three times; then cut in small biscuits; place on buttered tins; let stand half an hour; bake fifteen minutes until a very light brown. Cover with cloth a few minutes and slip off on the same until ready for use. All bread, biscuit, loaf cake or doughnuts made from yeast should rise after being mixed before being baked; if put into the oven or fried directly they are never light, as the dough has no chance to recover its elasticity. Beown Bkeai>, No. 2. One pint of rye meal sifted, one pound of coarse yellow Indian meal sifted, one quart of sour milk, salt, half cup of molasses or less, one heaping teaspoonful of saleratus dissolved in a little hot water. Steam three hours and-a-half in a tin pail set in a kettle of boiling water. Boston Brown Bread. Flour one-half pint, one pint corn meal, one-half pint ry*-- flour, one teaspoonful salt, one tablespoonful brown sugar two teaspoonfuls baking powder, one-half pint water; sift flour, corn meal, rye flour, sugar, salt and baking powder together thoroughly; peel, wash, and well boil two mealy potatoes, rub them through the sieve, diluting with water. When this is quite cold use it to mix the flour, etc., into a batter like cake; pour it into a well-greased mold, having a cover (a tin pail will do), place it in a kettle or sauce pan half full of boiling water, when the loaf may steam or simmer one hour; then take off the cover and bake in the oven a half hour. Rye Bread. Make a sponge as for wheat bread, and let it rise over night; then add two-thirds cup molasses, one teaspoonful salt, one quart 16 BREAD MAKING. milk and water — equal parts — and mix with rye flour, not as stiflf as wheat bread, and bake. Rye and Indian Bread. Scald two quarts Indian meal by pouring over it just boiling water enough to wet it, one quart rye meal or flour, one-half tea- cupful molasses, two teaspoonfuls salt, one of soda, one cup of yeast; make as thick as can be stirred with a spoon, mixing with warm water, and let rise over night; put in a bake tin, let stand a half hour, and bake from four to six hours. Rye Bread with Baking Powder. One pint rye flour, one-half pint corn meal, one-half pint flour, one teaspoonful sugar, one teaspoonful salt, two teaspoonfuls baking powder, one tablespoonful lard, nearly one pint milk. Sift together rye flour, corn meal, flour, sugar, salt and powder, rub in the lard cold, add the milk and mix into a smooth batter, as for cake; pour into a well greased tin, and bake in a moderate oven three-quarters of an hour; protect with a paper the first quarter. HoYLETON Bread. Five cups Indian meal, seven cups wheat flour, two cups rye meal, four cups buttermilk, two cups sweet milk, one-half cup molasses, two teaspoonfuls salt, two teaspoonfuls soda. Put it in a three quart pail that has a cover; let it stand near the fire thirty minutes with the cover off, to rise, then put on cover, and bake or steam four hours. Norwegian Bread, for Dyspeptics. One pint barley meal, one-half pint Graham, one-half pint flour, one teaspoonful salt, two teaspoonfuls baking powder, one pint milk. Sift together barley meal, Graham, flour, salt and powder. Mix into a firm batter with the milk, pour into a greased tin, and bake in a moderate oven forty minutes; cover with a greased paper the first twenty minutes. BREAD MAKING. 17 Oat Meal Bread. One-half pint oat meal, one ancl-a-lialf pints flour, half teaspoonf ul salt, three teaspoonf uls baking powder, three-fourths pint milk; boil the oat meal in one and-a-half pints salted water for one hour. Then dilute it with the milk. Set aside to get perfectly cold. Sift together flour, salt, powder, and when the oat meal preparation is cold place it in a bread bowl; add to it the flour, etc.; mix smoothly together, pour from the bowl into the greased tin, and bake in a moderate oven three-fourths of an hour; protect the loaf with paper the first tAventy minutes. Rice Bread. Boil one cupful of rice in a pint of water; when tender, add one- half pint milk; when cold, add one and-a-half pints flour sifted, with a teaspoonf ul sugar, half teaspoonful salt, two teaspoonfuls baking powder; mix together smootniy, pour mto greased tin, and bake forty minutes, CHAPTER II. BREAKFAST AND TEA CAKES. Light Biscuit. [N kneading bread, set aside a small loaf for biscuits. Into this work a heaping tablesjioonful of lard and butter mixed, and a teaspoonful of sugar. The more it is worked, the whiter it will be. As it rises, mold it down twice before making into biscuit. Roll out and cut with a biscuit cutter. The dough should be quite soft. Butter Biscuit. Sift one quart of flour into a pan, and make a hollow in the center large enough to admit a pint of milk and a coffee-cup of yeast; mix into a sponge, set it to rise; in the morning add one pound of melted butter, and knead as much flour as will, with another pint of warm milk or water, make a soft dough ; make out the biscuit in pans to rise; when sufficiently light, bake in a well-heated oven. Soda Biscuit. One quart of sifted flour, an even teaspoonful of soda dissolved in a pint of buttermilk, or sour milk, heaping tablespoonful of lard, a pinch of salt. Bake in an oven — not too hot — after raising fifteen or twenty minutes. If sour cream is to be had, use it instead of milk, leaving out the shortening. Dixie Biscuit. Three pints of flour, two eggs, two tablespoonfuls of lard, one small cup of yeast, one cup of milk; mix at 11 o'clock, roll out at 4 o'clock, and cut with two sizes of cutters, putting the smaller one on top; let rise until supper. Bake twenty minutes. 18 BREAKFAST AND TEA CAKES. 1& Baking Powder Biscuit. To begin with, have a hot oven ; have the flour sifted, and roll dough as soft as it can be handled. Then more baking pow- der is needed than is usually given. For each teacupful of flour use a teaspoonful of powder; butter the size of a hen's egg is suffi- cient for a quart of flour; after rubbing powder and butter in'oo the flour, mix soft with cold water or milk, stirring with a spoon; roll lightly and bake at once. Ceeam of Tartar Biscuit. One quart flour, a tablespoonful of butter, and a tablespoonful of lard, a half teaspoonful of salt, one teaspoonful of soda, two tea- spoonfuls of cream of tartar. Sift the flour and cream of tartar together, rub the butter and lard very thoroughly through it; dis- solve the soda in a pint of milk or water (ii water, use more short- ening) ; mix all together. Roll out, adding as little flour as possi- ble; cut with a biscuit cutter, and bako immediately in a quick oven. English Biscurr. One and a-half pints of flour, one cofree-cup full corn starch, three tablespoonfuls sugar, a large pinch of salt, tAvo lai'ge teaspoonfula baking powder, three tablespoonfuk lard, one egg, one-half pint milk, one-half cup currants, one tablespoonful coriander seed (if desired). Sift together flour, corn .-starch, sugar, salt, and baking powder; rub in the lard cold; add the eggs beaten, milk, currants well cleaned; mix into a smooth dough soft enough to handle, flour the board, turn out the dough, roll it out to half an inch thickness, cut out with a round cutter, lay them on a greased baking tin, and bake in a rather hot oven twenty minutes ; rub over with a little butter on a clean piece of linen when taken from the oven. Grah«.m Biscuits. Take one quart water or milk, butter the size of an egg, three tablespoonfuls sugar, half cup yeast, and a little salt; take enough white flour to mix a batter witli the water; add the other ingredi- 20 BREAKFAST AND TEA CAKES. euts, and as much Graham flour as can be stirred in Avith a spoon; set it away until morning; then grease a pan, flour hands, take a himp of dough the size of a hen's egg, roll lightly between the palms; let them rise twenty minutes, and bake in a rather hot oven. Cold Biscuits. Three pints flour, two tablespoonf uls sugar, one teaspoonf ul salt, two heaping teaspoonf uls baking powder, four tablespoonf uls lard, tAVO tablespoonfui., caraway seeds, two eggs, one pint milk. Sift together flour, sugar, salt and powder, rub in lard cold, add the seeds, beaten eggs, and milk; mix into a smooth, firm dough, flour the board, turn out the dough, give it a few quick kneadings, and roll out to the thickness of a quarter of an inch, cut into lai-ge bis- cuits, prick with a fork, lay on a greased tin. Bake in hot oven fifteen minutes; when cold, store for use. BuxNS. Break an egg into a cup, and fill the cup up with sweet milk; mix with it a half cup yeast, half cup butter, one cup sugar, enough flour to make a soft dough; flavor with nutmeg; let rise till very light, then mold into biscuits with a few currants; let rise the second time and bake, and when nearly done glaze with a little molasses and milk. BUNNS. One cup butter, one cup sugar, half cup yeast, half pint milk, make stiflE with flour, and mold into biscuits; when light, bake. BUNNS, One cup yeast, one egg, one tablespoonful molasses, flour to make a batter; let it rise, then add one pint milk, one pint sugar dissolved in the milk, half pint butter, two eggs; stir in flour stiff enough to make the buns, and let them rise in the pans before baking. Cinnamon Cake. Take yeast bread dough when light, knead and roll out three- fourths of an inch thick; put thin slices of butter on the top, sprinkle with sugar, and then with cinnamon: let rise, and bake. BREAKFAST AND TEA CAKES. 21 Graham Cakes. To one quart Graham flour add one teaspoonful of salt, five tablespoonfuls molasses, three tablespoonfuls yeast, or a yeast cake dissolved in warm water. Stir as thick as pound cake; let stand over night; when ready to bake, add a well beaten egg, a table- spoonful lard and a teaspoonful of soda. Bake in cups half an hour. Rye Drop Cakes. One egg, two cups rye flour, two cups flour, half a cup sugar, a teaspoonful salt, two teaspoonfuls cream of tai-tar, one teaspoonful soda — or three teaspoonfuls baking powder, — a tablespoonf ul melted butter, and one of lard, one and a half cups milk; drop from a spoon and bake half an hour. Corn Cakes. One pint sour milk, two cups Indian meal, one cup flour, one egg, two tablespoonfuls molasses, one teaspoonful salt, one teaspoonful soda; mix thoroughly and bake twenty-five minutes in shallow pans. Johnny Cake. One quart corn meal, one quart milk, two eggs, two tablespoon- fuls shortening, half cup sugar, teaspoonful salt, three teaspoonfuls baking powder — or substitute one quart sour milk and a large tea- spoonful soda. Newport Breakfast Cakes. Three eggs, three spoonfuls sugar, one and-a-half pints milk, half cup butter, three teaspoonfuls baking powder. Stir stiff with flour and bake in loaves, like cakes. Potato Cakes. Peal enough good sized potatoes for a meal for the family, grate on a coarse grater, and stir in from three to five eggs, salt and mix stiff enough to mold into cakes, and fry in hot lard or drippings. 22 GRIDDLE CAKES. GRIDDLE CAKES. Stale Bread Griddi.e Cakes. Soak one pint bread crumbs in warm water, when soft drain ott the wate/ and add one pint sour milk with a teaspoonful soda stirred in, half teaspoonful salt, a beaten egg, and thicken with flour to make a batter. CoRX Meal Griddle Cakes. One pint corn meal, one of sour milk or buttermilk, one egg, one teaspoonful soda, one of salt. Bake on a griddle. Rice Griddle Cakes. One and one-half pints boiled rice, the same of flour, one-half teacupful sour milk, one teacupf ul sweet milk, one teaspoonful soda, salt, three eggs, and butter the size of a walnut. Flour Griddle Cakes. Make a thick batter with one quart of sour milk and flour. Let it stand over night and in the morning add two well-beaten eggs, salt, and a teaspoonful of soda dissolved in a tablespoonful warm water. Bake immediately. Green Corn Griddle Cakes. Six ears grated corn, two eggs, one pint milk, one pint flour, one tablespoonful butter, a little salt. Bake on a griddle. Hominy Griddle Cakes, To one pint warm boiled hominy add a pint of milk, or milk and water, and flour enough to make a thin batter; beat up two or three eggs and stir them into the batter with a little salt. Fry as other griddle cakes. Crumb Corn Cakes. Soak a quart of bread crumbs in a quart of sour milk over night; in the morning rub through a colander and add four well-beater» eggs, a heaping teaspoonful soda dissolved in a little warm water^ GRIDDLE CAKES. 23 one tablespoonful shortening, and corn meal to mix into a nice batter. It is better to beat yolks and whites of eggs separately, stirring the whites in lightly just before baking. Flannel Cakes. Three eggs, one quart sweet milk, oiie quart sifted flour, with three teaspoonfuls baking powder, a small spoonful salt; beat the volks and half of the milk, salt and flour together, then the remainder of the milk, and last, the whites of the eggs, well beaten; a teacup of boiled rice improves them. Buckwheat Cakes. Take, of equal parts of buttermilk and water, one quart, half cup yeast, a little salt ; stir into a batter with buckwheat flour, let rise over night; in the morning add half teaspoonfjul soda dissolved in a little water. Bake on a hot griddle. Graham Gkiddle Cakes. One pint Graham flour, half pint corn meal, half pint flour, one heaping teaspoonful sugar, half teaspoonful salt, one egg, one pint buttermilk, one teaspoonful soda. Squash, Pumpkin and Apple Griddle Cakes. Cold stewed squash, pumpkin or apple, rubbed through a colan- der, half pint; mix with two well-beaten eggs and half pint milk. Sift together half pint Graham flour, half pint corn meal, half tea- spoonful salt, heaping teaspoonful baking powder. Mix smooth and thoroughly into a batter and bake on a hot griddle. Berry Griddle Cakes. Take of huckleberries, blackberries, or raspberries a half pint, one and one-half pints flour, one teaspoonful salt, one tablespoonful brown sugar, two teaspoonfuls baking poAvder, two eggs, and one pint milk. Sift together flour, sugar, salt and powder; add beaten eggs, milk and berries; mix into a batter; have the griddle hot enough to form a crust as soon as the batter touches it. In order to confine the juice of the berries turn quickly in order to form a 24 GRIDDLE CAKES. crust on the other side; turn once more on each side to complete the baking. Egg Cracknels. One quart flour, one-half teaspoonful salt, five tablespoonfuls sugar, one teaspoonful baking powder, four tablespoonfuls butter, and five eggs. Sift together flour, sugar, salt and powder; rub in the butter cold; add the eggs beaten, and mix into a firm, smooth dough. Flour the board, turn out the dough, and give it a few minutes' rapid kneading; cover with a damp towel fifteen minutes; then roll it out to the thickness of one-eighth of an inch. Cut out with biscuit cutter. When all are cut out, have a large pot of boiling, and a large tin pan of cold water. Drop them a few at a time into the boiling water. AVhen they appear at the surface and curl at the edges, take them up with a skimmer, and drop them in the cold water. When all are thus served, lay them on greased baking tins and bake in a fairly hot oven fifteen minutes. Oatmeal Crackers. One pint very fine oatmeal, one-half pint Graham flour, one-half teaspoonful salt, one-half teaspoonful sugar, one-half teaspoonful baking powder, one-half pint cream. Sift together the oatmeal, Graham, salt, sugar and powder; add the cream and mix into a dough, rather too soft to handle. Let it stand half an hour, by which time it wall have absorbed the extra moisture, and handling it will be easy. Flour the board with Graham, roll out to the thickness of one-third inch, prick with a fork, lay on greased bak- ing tin, and bake in a moderate oven ten minutes. They must be watched during baking, as they burn quickly, and when baked handled with care; they break easily. Graham Crackers. 'Sift together one quart Graham flour, one tablespoonful sugar, half teaspoonful salt, half teaspoonful baking powder; mix with two tablespoonfuls butter and a good half pint milk, into a smooth dough, and knead well for five minutes; rcU it to the thickness of GRIDDLE CAKES. 25 one-quarter inch, cut into crackers round or square. Bak<^. in rather hot oven ten minutes; when cold store for use. Crumpets. Mix together thoroughly while dry one quart sifted flour, two heaping teaspoonfuls baking powder, a little salt, then add two tablespoonfuls melted butter and sweet milk enough to make a thin dough. Bake quickly in muffin rings or patty pans. London Crumpets. Sift together one and one-half pints flour, one-half teaspoonful salt, one teaspoonful sugar, and two teaspoonfuls baking powder; add one beaten egg, a scant pint of milk and cream in equal parts, a little ground cinnamon or a teaspoonful extract of cinnamew half fill greased muffin rings, place on a hot, well-greased griddle. Bake on one side only. Serve hot with cottage cheese. Kentucky Corn Dodgers. Place your griddle where it will heat, for this is much better than a bread jDan, there being less danger of scorching at the bot- tom. Take an even pint of sifted meal, a heaping tablespoonful of lard, a pinch of salt, and a scant half pint of cold water; mix well and let it stand while you grease your griddle and sprinkle some meal over it. Make the dough into rolls the size and shape of goose eggs, and drop them on the griddle, taking care to flatten as little as possible, for the less bottom crust the better. Place in the oven and bake until brown on the bottom. Then change to the grate, and brown on top, taking from twenty to thirty minutes for the whole process. Eaten while hot with plenty of good butter, they are better than any other bread. The same amount of meal, lard and salt mixed with boiling water, till of the consistency of thick batter, will give you delight- ful hot cakes, to be cooked like any other batter bread. 26 FRITTERS. FRITTERS. Green Corn Fritters. Gr9te green corn from the cob, and allow an egg and a half for every cupful, with a tablespoonful of milk or cream; beat the eggs well; add the corn by degrees, beating very hard; salt to taste. Put a tablespoonful of melted butter to every pint of corn; stir in the milk, and thicken with just enough flour to hold them together — say a tablespoonful for every two eggs. You may fry in hot lard, as you would fritters, or cook upon a griddle like batter cakes. Eaten at dinner or breakfast, these ahvays find a cordial welcome. Green Corn Fritters, No. 2. Two cups of grated corn, two eggs, one cup of milk, flour for thin batter, a pinch of soda, salt, one tablespoonful melted butter. Mix and fry as you would griddle cakes. Apple Fritters. Beat three eggs very lightly, then stir in one teaspoonful of salt, Dne-half cup of sugar, one pint of milk, two cups of chopped apple tod two cups of flour. Flavor with nutmeg. Stir all well together and fry in lard as pancakes. Sift sugar over them and send to the table. Celery Fritters. Boil some thick but tender stalks of celery in salted water; when done dry them on a cloth, cut them in equal lengths about one and a-half inches; fry them in batter to a golden color, sprinkling fine salt well over, and serve. Oyster Fritters. Drain them thoroughly, chop fine, season with pepper and salt. Make a batter of eggs, milk and flour; stir the chopped oysters in this and fry in hot butter; or fry them whole, enveloped in batter, one in each fritter. In this case the batter should be thicker than if they were chopped. FRITTERS. 27 Clam Fritters. Twelve clams, miiicecl fine; one pint milk; three eggs. Add the liquor from tlie clams to the milk; beat up the eggs and put to this, with salt and jjepper, and flour enough for thin batter; lastly, the chopped clams. Fry in hot lard, trying a little first to see if the fat and batter are right. A tablespoonful will make a fritter of -moderate size. Or you can dip the whole clams in batter and cook in like manner. Fry quickly, or they are apt to be too greasy. Lobster Fritters. Put one lobster in two quarts boiling water with half a cup salt; boil twenty-five minutes; when cold remove the meat and fat, cut into small slices; put one tablespoonful butter, one tablespoonful flour, one cup cream, a little celery, salt, thyme, white pepper, and a salt-spoon of parsley, into a stew-pan; let boil two minutes; add yolks of four eggs, and the lobster; mix and set it back to simmer five minutes; pour it out on a well-greased dish and set it away to get firm by cooling; cut into slices, dip into common batter and fry to a light brown in hot lard. Serve on the fritters a few sprigs of parsley, quite dry, fried in the lard fifteen seconds. Rice Fritters. Boil one cup of rice in one pint of milk until soft; add the yolks of three eggs, one tablespoonful sugar, two tablespoonfuls butter, two tablespoonf uls flour; when cold add the whites of the eggs whipped to a stiff froth; drop in spoonfuls in plenty of hot lard and fry to a light brown color. Serve with cream, wine or lemon sauce. Blackberry Fritters. Mix one cup blackberries with one and a-half cups commoit batter and drop by tablespoonfuls into hot lard. All berry fritters can be made as directed for the above and served with spiced sauce made as follows: Set on the fire three- fourths pint of water, one cup sugar; boil twenty minutes, remove from the fire and add one teaspoonful each of extract cloves, mace, and ginger. 28 GEMS. GEMS, Graham Gems, One pint milk, one pint Graham flour, salt-spoonful salt; beat well; heat the gem pan hot, butter it and drop the dough into the sockets with a spoon, filling each one-half full. Graham Gems, No. 2. One pint buttermilk, one teaspoonful soda, a little salt, one egg, one-half cup sugar, tablespoonful lard; thicken with Graham flour, and bake in gem tins. Graham Gems, No. 3. One pint milk, one cup flour, one cup Graham flour, one egg, a little salt. Have the irons hot before using. Cold Water Gems. Take cold water, Graham flour, and a little salt, make rather a stiff batter; heat and grease the irons, or tins, and bake twenty- minutes. Mixed Gems. One-half pint Graham, half pint corn meal, half pint rye flour, half pint buckwheat flour, one teaspoonful salt, two heaping tea- spoonfuls baking powder, one pint rich milk; mix into a thin batter, then half fill well-greased gem j^ans. Bake in hot oven fifteen minutes. Corn GEisrs. One pint corn meal, one pint flour, one teaspoonful salt, two large teaspoonfuls baking powder, one pint milk; mix into a firm batter, two-thirds fill well-greased gem pans and bake in a hot oven fifteen minutes. Oatmeal Gems. Soak one cup oatmeal over night in one cup water; in the morn- ing add one cup sour milk, one teaspoonful soda, one cup of flour, a little salt, bake in gem irons. If on trial they are a little moist or sticky, add a little more flour. MUFFINS. 29 MUFFINS. To one quart of milk add two well-beaten eggs, a lump of butter half the size of an egg, a little salt, and flour enough to make a stiff batter; stir in half a pint of yeast. Let them stand until they are perfectly light and then bake on a griddle in rings made for the purpose. These are merely strips of tin three-fourths of an inch wide, made into rings two and a half or three inches in diameter, and without bottoms, the ring being simply placed on tlfe griddle and the batter being poured in to fill it. Muffins, No. 2. One pint flour, one cup milk, two eggs, two teaspoonfuls baking powder, butter the size of an egg; beat the yolks of the eggs witb the butter, then add the whites well beaten. Sift baking powder with the flour, and mix all together into a batter. Bake in muflin rings. Muffins, No. 3. One pint new milk, one egg, one tablespoonful sugar, one table- spoonful butter, half teaspoonful salt, one cake yeast (or better, half cup home-made yeast) ; mix with flour until a very stiff batter is formed; leave in a warm place over night and bake in the morn- ing in rings. Rice Flour Muffins. One and one-half cups rice flour, two cujis Avheat floiir, one pint milk, one egg, three teaspoonfuls baking powder, a little salt, a small piece of butter. Bake as usual. Rice Muffins. One pint sifted flour, two heaping teaspoonfuls baking powder and a li-ttle salt. Thoroughly mix together; then add one cup cold boiled rice, two eggs, one tablespoonful butter, and enough sweet milk to make a thick batter. Bake immediately. 30 MUSH. Graham Muffins. Two cups sour milk, one teaspoonful saleratus, two eggs, a little salt, butter half the size of an egg, three cups Graham flour. Bake in rings. Graham Muffins, No. 2. Two cups Graham flour, one cup sweet milk, one-third cup sugar, one egg, butter the size of an egg, two teaspoonfuls baking powder. Bake in fings twenty or thirty minutes in hot oven. Corn Meal Muffins. One and one-half cups of corn meal, the same of flour, two heap- ing teaspoonfuls baking powder, one-half cup sugar, one-half tea- spoonful salt, one tablespoonful butter, two eggs, and milk enough to make a stiff batter. MUSH. Corn Musii. Take boiling water (soft water is preferable), salt to the taste, add meal very slowly so as to prevent any lumps being formed; cook thoroughly. Oatmeal Mush. Put four tablespoonfuls oatmeal into one quart cold water; add one teaspoonful salt, let it cook slowly for from one to two hours, adding hot water when needed; just before serving stir in one teaspoonful butter, or soak the meal over night and add boiling water and cook in the morning. Cracked Wheat Mush. To one quart salted water add three-fourths cup cracked or rolled wheat, and boil two hours ; or it may be soaked over night and boil one hour. PUFFS. 31 Cracked Wheat Mush, No, 2. Moisten one and one-half cups cracked wheat with cold water, add one-half teaspoonful salt, place in a muslin bag, leaving half the space for the wheat to swell; put into a small colander and place in a kettle of water and keep boiling from three to four hours. Serve with syrup and butter or cream and sugar. It is nice sliced and fried when cold. Fried Mush for Breakfast, Night before, stir into two quarts of boiling water a little salt and one pound of farina, boil for ten minutes, and pour it into a shallow dish to cool; next morning cut it into slices, and fry in lard light brown. This is far superior to corn meal mush. Hominy. Take one cup hominy to one quart salted water and soak over night and boil three-fourths of an hour. Serve with milk and sugai'. Slice and fry when cold. PUFFS. Puffs. Two eggs, two cu2>9 of milk, two cups of flour, and a little salt. Pour into hot roll pans and bake in a quick oven. Fill the pans about half full. German Puffs. Two cups of sweet milk, two cups of flour, three eggs, and a little salt. Graham Puffs. One egg, one pint sweet milk, one pint Graham flour, and a pinch of salt; beat the eggs thoi-oughly; add the milk, then the flour gradually; beat the whole mixture briskly with an egg-beater; pour into cast-iron gem pans, well-greased, and hot; bake in very hot oven; this mixture is just sufticient for twelve gems. S2 PUFFS. Oatmeal Puffs. Sift together one-half pint oatmeal, one-half pint Graham, one* half pint flour, one teaspoonf ul sugar, one-half teaspoonful salt, and two teaspoonf uls baking powder; add three beaten eggs and one pint milk; mix into a thin batter; half fill well-greased gem pans and bake in hot oven ten or fifteen minutes. Potato Puffs. To each two cupfuls of mashed potatoes take one tablespoonful of melted butter and beat to a cream; put with this two eggs whipped light, and a cupful of milk, salting to taste; beat all well; pour into greased baking dish and bake quickly to a light brown. Serve in the dish in which it is cooked. Ceeam Puffs. One-half pint boiling water, one cup of butter, two cups of flour. Let the water and butter boil, then stir in the flour; let it cool; add five eggs well beaten; beat all well; drop in niuflin rings; bake thirty minutes. Boil one pint of milk; beat together one cup of flour, one cup of sugar, and two eggs; add this to the boiling milk and boil three minutes; cut a hole in the top of each cake and filJ with cream, putting the piece of crust back. PUFFETS. One quart flour, one pint milk, two eggs beaten light, butter size of an egg, three tablespoonfuls sugar, three teaspoonfttls baking powder; bake quickly. Pboverbs. One cup rich milk, one egg, two cups flour, one teaspoonful baking powder, a little salt; beat together thoroughly, fill buttered cups half full and bake in a hot oven. Pocket Books. One quart warm water or milk, two eggs, three teaspoonfuls sugar, one cup yeast, four tablespoonfuls melted butter, add flour to make a sponge, and set to rise; when it is risen work it over and ROLLS. 33 set to rise again; when light put in a piece of soda the size of a bean ; roll out, spread the surface with butter, cut in squares and double over to form a pocket book shape; put in a pan and let stand till light, then bake. ROLLS. How TO MAKE Rolls. When mashing potatoes for dinner, put a tablespoonf ul of it into one pint of the water they were boiled in, and set aside till bed- time; then strain it through a colander, add one pint of milk, one large spoonful nice lard, one large spoonful white sugar, one tea- spoonful salt, one penny-worth of yeast, and flour to make a stiff batter. Leave it in a moderately warm place. In the morning add flour enough to make a soft dough, working it well. Let it rise again, roll out half an inch thick, cut into round cakes, fold together, drawing a buttered knife through as you fold them. Let them rise again for half an, hour, or until light; bake in a quick oven for fifteen or twenty minutes. In cold weather the milk should be luke-warm; in hot weather the milk should be scalded and cooled. The potatoes must be pared before boiling, and the kettle in which they are boiled must be perfectly clean. Rolls No. 2. Take a piece of bread dough when molded; roll out half an inch thick; spread with butter, and sprinkle with sugar; roll up and cut off the size you want; let rise and bake. Paekeu House Rolls. Two quarts flour, one cup yeast, one pint milk, boiled, then cooled to milk- warm, one tablespoonf ul of shortening, one of sugar: lay a sj^onge, leaving out enough flour to mix in when rolling out: if for tea, mix in the morning; bake as soon as ready. Ciio^^AMON Rolls, Take light dough, as for bread; mix in shortening, an egg, and a 34 ROLLS. little sugar; roll out to al)Out one-quartor incli in thickness; spread with butter, tlien sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon; roll up and cut as you would a jelly cake; put in pans like biscuit; set to rise. When light, put a little lump of butter, and sugar and cinnamon \)n each one, and bake. "White Mountaln^ Rolls. Sixteen cups of flour, half cup of sugar, cup of butter, cup of yeast, the whites of four eggs beaten to a stiff froth, and four cups of boiling milk; melt the butter and sugar in the milk, have the milk blood warm and mix the bread, adding the whites of eggs after mixing in part of the flour; knead stiff and let rise in a warm place over night. In the morning knead into rolls and let rise till light; rub the beaten white of an egg over the tops of rolls, and bake thirty minutes. ViENXA Twist Rolls. Break pieces off dough (as prepared for common rolls) the size of an egg, and divide each piece into two unequal pieces, the largest piece form with the hands into a plain roll tapering at each end; lay them, thus formed, on a greased baking tin so as not to touch each other; flatten each a little and wash over Avith milk; divide the remaining pieces each into three, roll the pieces out under the hands into strips a little longer than the roll already made, and braid them; then lay each braid, as soon as formed, on top of the plain roll; Avhen all are made, wash over Avith milk. Bake in a hot oven twenty minutes — a very handsome roll for a dinner party. Oatmeal Rolls. , Sift together one-half pint oatmeal, one-half pint Graham, one pint flour, one teaspoonful salt, two teaspoonfuls baking powder, and mix with three-fourths pint milk into a smooth dough; turn out and give one or two quick kneadings to complete its quality; roll out to the thickness of half an inch, cut out with large round cutter, fold through the centre laying one half over on the other. ROLLS. 35 lay them on a greased baking tin so tliey do not touch, wash ove? with milk and bake in a good hot oven fifteen minutes. Italian Rolls. Take a piece of bread dough and one-fourth the amount ol butter, Avork the butter thoroughly into the dough and roll out tc about one-half an inch in thickness; cut into strips about six inches long; sift over them fine corn meal, place them, separated, on a buttered baking tin, and when light bake in a quick oven. Graham Breakfast Rolls. Take six potatoes, boiled and pressed through a colander, one pint warm water, one-half cup sugar, one-half teasj)oonful salt, one-half cup yeast; mix into a stiff dough with Graham flour, and let rise over night; in the morning mold into rolls and bake when light. French Rolls. Into one pound of flour rub two ounces of butter and the whites of three eggs well-beaten; add a tablespoonful of good yeast, a little salt, and milk enough to make a stiff dough; cover and set in a warm place till light; cut into rolls, dip the edges into melted butter to keep them from sticking together, and bake in a quick oven. Tremont House Rolls. Take two quarts of flour, add one teaspoonfnl salt; make a hole in the middle and put into it one tablespoonful of sugar, butter about the size of an egg, one pint of boiled milk, and one teacupful I of yeast. Do not stir, but put them together at night, and set in a cool place until morning. Then mix all together and knead fifteen minutes. Set in a cool place again for six hours, and roll out about one-half an inch thick and cut with a biscuit cutter; moisten one edge with butter, and fold together like rolls; lay in the pan so that they will not touch, set for half an hour in a warm place to rise, and bake in a quick oven. 36 RUSKS. Rosettes. To thi'ee eggs, the yolks beaten very light, add one quart of milk, a piece of butter the sizt; of an egg cut in little pieces into the milk and eggs, three coffee cups of flour, a little salt, three teaspoontuls of baking powder, and lastly the whites of the eggs beaten very light and stirred quickly into the mixture. Bake in a quick oven. RUSKS. Sweet Rusks. In one large coffee cup of warm milk dissolve one cake of com- pressed yeast; then add three eggs and one cup of sugar, and beat all together; use only flour enough to roll out, to which add two ounces of butter; let it rise. When very light, knead, mold into shape, and set in a warm place. When light, bake in a hot oven; when done, cover the top with sugar dissolved in milk. Sweet Rikks, No. 2. One pint of warm milk — new is best — one-half cup of butter, one cup of sugar, two eggs, one teaspoonful of salt, two tablesiDoonfuls of yeast; make a sponge with the milk, yeast, and enough flour to make a thin batter, and let rise over night. In the morning add the sugar, butter, eggs, and salt, well-beaten together, with enough flour to make a soft dough. Let it rise again, then make into round balls, and rise a third time. Bake in a moderate oven. Rusks. Half pint of sweet milk, one teacup of yeasi, two eggs; mix with suflicient flour for a stiff batter and raise; then add one cup of butter, half cup of sugar, one teaspoonful of soda, and a little nut- meg; let rise, and knead out into biscuits; let rise and bake. Just before taking out of the oven beat up the white of an egg and rub over the top, then sprinkle with sugar; put into the oven again for a moment, and serve hot. RUSKS. 87 Baking Powder Rusks. Thorouglily mix with one quart sifted flour, two heaping tea- spoonfuls baking powder, and one teaspoonful salt; then mix the beaten yolks of three eggs with a half cup butter and one cup sugar; now stir up the flour prepared as above with water, making a dough of the proper consistency for bread; then add the eggs, butter and sugar, and mix all well together. Form into little cakes and rub the tops with sugar and water, and then sprinkJ** dry sugar over them and bake immediately. Scones. Thoroughly mix one quart sifted flour, two heaping te«.«?poonfuls baking powder; then rub into one-fourth pound butter and enough sweet milk to make a smooth paste; roll out the paste to one-fourth of an inch in thickness and cut it into triangular pieces, each side of which is about four inches long; put them into a greased tin and bake immediately in a very hot oven; when half done, brush them over with sweet milk. Scotch Scones. Sift together one quart flour, one teaspoonful sugar, one-half teaspoonful salt, two heaping teaspoonfuls baking powder; rub in a large tablespoonful lard cold; add two beaten egg? and nearly one-half pint milk; mix into a smooth dough, knead up quickly and roll out to one-third of an inch in thickness, cut out with a knife into squares larger than soda crackers, fold each in half to form three-cornered pieces, bake on a hot griddle eight or ten »ninutes; brown on each side. Sally Lunn, One quart of flour, a piece of butter the size of an egg, three tablespoonfuls of sugar, two eggs, two teacups of milk, two tea- spoonfuls of cream of tartar, one of soda, and a little salt. 3ca in three-quarters of a pound of butter and one pound of lard. Put in half a pint of good fresh brewers' yeast, and knead as for common bread. If there is any difficulty about the yeast, baking pow- der may be used, allowing a heaped teasi^oonful of ordi- nary baking poM'der for every pound of material. If yeast is used, let the dough rise before adding the other in- Chbistmas Cake. gredicuts. Mix in three pounds of currants, one and one-half pounds of moist sugar, a whole nutmeg, a quarter of a pound of candied lemon peel finely minced, ft tablespoonful of brandy, and four eggs, well-beaten. Butter the mold and bake in a moderate oven for about two CiNNAMOx Cake. Three-foui-ths of a cup of butter, a cup of white sugar, one and one-half cups flour, four eggs (yolks and whites beaten separately), a tablespoonful of sweet milk, one and one-half teaspoonf uls baking powder, lemon, and a little salt. Rub the baking powder into the flour. CAKE. 51 CixxAMON Cake. One cup sour cream, one cup sugar, one-half cup melted butter, one egg, one-half teaspoonful soda. Mix as for cookies, roll out, and spread ground cinnamon over the toj^; then roll up as a roil jelly cake and slice off with a sharp knife and bake. Any good cookie recipe will do. Cup Cake. Rub to a cream one cup of butter and two cups of sugar, add four beaten eggs, and three cups of flour, into which one and one- half teaspoonf uls of baking powder have been sifted, season with extract of almonds; mix into a smooth batter and bake in well- greased cups or mufiin pans. CocoAxuT Pound Cake. Beat half a pound of butter to a cream; add gradually one pound of powdered sugar, four well-beaten eggs, one pound of flour sifted with two tablespoonfuls baking powder, a pinch of salt, a teaspoon- ful of grated lemon peel, one-fourth pound of prepared cocoanut, and a cup of milk; mix thoroughly, butter the tins, and line them with buttered paper; pour the mixture in to the depth of one and one-half inches, and bake in a good oven; wlien baked spread icing over them. Return the cake to the oven a moment to dry the icing. Clove Cake. One pound of brown sugar, one pound of flour, one pound of raisins, one-half pound of butter, one cup of milk, two large tea- spoonfuls of baking powder stirred well into the flour, one table- spoonful of cloves, one tablespoonful cinnamon, one tablespoonful of nutmeg, four eggs; chop the raisins. For less quantity divide proportionately. Delicate Cake. One and one-half cups of granulated sugar, one cup of butter, two-thirds cup of milk, whites of six eggs beaten to a stiff froth, three even cups of flour, three teaspoonfuls of baking powder pif 62 CAKE. in the flour and mixed; stir butter and sugar well together, to them add the milk, then pixt in the flour, and last add the beaten eggs; flavor with lemon. Stir the whole mixture well. Delicious Cake. Two cups of white sugar, one cup of butter, one cup milk, three eggs, one teaspoonful soda, two teaspoonfuls cream of tartar, three cups of sifted flour. Stir butter and sugar together, then add the beaten yolks of the eggs, then the beaten whites; dissolve the soda in the milk, nib the cream of tartar into the flour and add; flavor with extract of bitter almond. Drop Cake. One pound of sugar, three-fourths of a pound of butter, one and one-fourth pounds flour, five eggs. To be dropped by the table- spoonful on buttered pans and baked. Dough Cake. Two cujjs light dough, two cups sugar, one cup butter, half cup milk, two eggs, one and a half cups flour, one teaspoonful soda, one cuj) raisins; flavor with nutmeg and cinnamon. Dover Cake. Rub to a cream one cup of butter and two cups of sugai-, add six eggs, two at a time, beating five minutes between each addition, one cup of milk, one and one-half pints of flour, sifted with two teaspoonfuls baking powder; season with one teaspoonful each of extract of cinnamon and orange; bake in rather hot oven forty minutes. Dundee Cake. Whip to a cream one and one-half cups of butter and the same amount of sugar; add eight eggs, two at a time, beating five minutes between each addition, one-half cup of cream or milk, one and one- half pints of flwir, sifted with two teaspoonfuls baking powder, one-half of a lemon peel cut in thin slices, one cup of washed, picked, and dried currants, one and one-half cups sultana raisins, CAKE. 53 one teaspoonful each of extract nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla; mix into a firm batter, pour into a shallow, square cake pan; chop one cup of almonds coarsely and sprinkle over the top; then bake one hour in a moderate oven. Dried Apple Cake, Two cups of dried apples, chopped fine and soaked in water over night, then cook in one cup of molasses until soft; add one cup each of butter, sugar, and sour milk, two teaspoonfuls of soda, one teaspoonful each of cinnamon, cloves and lemon extract, one nut- meg. A cup of raisins may be added. Bake in a greased cake dish in a moderate oven. Flour for stiff batter. Election Cake. Beat one and one-half cups of butter and two cups of sugar to a "white, light cream ; add three eggs, beating a little longer, one and one-half pints of flour sifted with two teaspoonfuls baking powder, two cups of raisins, stoned, one cup of currants well cleaned, one- half cup chopped citron, one-half of a lemon peel, chopped, one-half cup of almonds, blanched and cut into shreds, one teaspoonful each of extract of vanilla and of bitter almonds, one cup of milk; mix into a consistent batter, put into a paper-lined tin and bake in a moderate, steady oven one and one-half hours. Everyday Fruit Cake. One cup of butter, two cups of sugar, two cups of sour milk, two cups of raisins, five cups of flour, one teaspoonful saleratus, salt, cinnamon, cloves, citron and wine to suit the taste. Egoless Cake. One and one-half cups of sugar, one cup of sour milk, three level cups of flour, one-half cup of butter, one teaspoonful of soda, one- half teaspoonful of cinnamon, one-half teaspoonful of grated nut- meg, and one cup of chopped raisins. English Christmas Cake. Sift five pounds of flour; mix with it one tablespoonful of salt, 64 CAKE. one and one-half pounds of butter and half a pint of fresh brewer's yeast, or five teaspoonfuls of baking powder; if yeast is used, allow dough to rise before adding other ingredients; mix in three pounds of washed currants, one and one-half pounds of " A " sugar, one nutmeg grated, one-fourth pound of chopped candied lemon peel, one wine glass of brandy, and four well-beaten eggs; butter the tins and line them with buttered paper; bake in a moderate oven for two hours. The quantity of brandy recommended will serve to keep these cakes fresh for an indefinite time. Fruit Cake from Dough. Two cups of sugar, one cup of butter, one pint of dough, two eggs, one teaspoonful of soda, as much fruit as you wish, spices to suit the taste; use flour enough to make as stiff as common fruit cake; set in a warm place to raise. When light bake in a moderate oven. Fruit Cake. One pound of sugar, one pound of butter, one pound of flour, eight eggs, two pounds of raisins, one pound of currants, one-fourth pound of citron, one tablespoonful of molasses, one cup of sour milk, one teaspoonful of soda, and spices of all kinds. Bake two hours in a moderate oven. Fruit Cake, No. 2. One cup of butter, two cups of sugar, three and a half cups of flour, one cup of molasses, one cup of cream, four eggs, one pound of raisins, citrons and currants according to taste, one teaspoonful of saleratus, spice to taste. Warranted to keep a year. Fruit Jelly Cake. Two cups of sugar, two-thirds cup of butter, same of sweet milk, four eggs, three cups of flour, three teaspoonfuls of baking powder; stir together, then divide into three equal pai-ts. Into one part stir one tablespoonful of molasses, one cup of chopped raisins, one tea- spoonful each of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Bake, and put together with jelly or frosting. CAKE. 65 Favorite Lemon Jelly Cake. Take two cups of sugar, one-half cup of butter, one cup of milk, three eggs, two teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar, one teaspoonful of soda, three cups of flour; mix and bake in line, thin layers. For the jelly grate the rind of three small or two large lemons and add the juice of the same with one cup of sugar, one egg, one cup of water, one teaspoonful of butter, one tablespoonful of flour; mix with a little water and boil till it thickens, then place between the layers of the cake. Make before needed for use. Fig Cake. Three cups of sugar, one cup each of butter and sweet milk, four cups of flour, two teaspoonfuls of baking powder, twelve beaten eggs; bake in layers. Take one pound of figs, boil till smooth and put between each layer with or without frosting. Frost the top. Fig Cake, No. 2. A large cup of butter, two and one-half cups of sugar, one cuj) of sweet milk, three pints of sifted flour, with three teaspoonfuls of baking jiowder, the whites of sixteen eggs, one and one-fourth pounds of figs cut into strips like citron and well floured. French Loaf Cake. Two cups of sugar, half cup of butter, one-half cup of sweet milk, teaspoonful of soda, two of cream of tartar, three eggs, three cups of flour; flavor with lemon. Feather Cake. Beat to a cream one-half cup of butter, add to it two cups of sugar and beat well together; one cup of milk with one teaspoonful of soda dissolved in it; beat well together; then add one cup of sifted flour with two teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar previously rubbed into it ; add next the well-beaten yolk of three eggs, beat the whites separately until stiff, add them and then two more cups of flour; 66 CAKE. beat well between each successive addition; butter two middle-sized tins, put in the cake and bake for twenty minutes or half an hour in a moderate oven. Feather Cake, No. 2. One cup of white sugar, one teaspoonful of melted butter, one egg, two-thirds cup of milk, two even cups of sifted flour, two even teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar, one of soda; flavor with lemon; sift cream of tartar and soda into the flour. You will be surprised when you come to make this cake, it is so delicious. Gold Cake. The yolks of eight eggs, two cups of sugar, one cup of butter, one-half cup of sweet milk, three cups of flour, two teaspoonfuls of baking powder; flavor with orange extract. Gentleman's Favorite. Seven eggs, whites and yolks beaten separately, two cups of sugar and one-half cup of butter worked to a cream, one table- Spoonful of water, two teasj^oons, level full, of baking powder, two cups of flour, one-half teaspoonful of salt; bake in jelly-cake tins. Jelly for Same. — One egg, one cup of sugar, three grated apples without the peelings, one lemon; stir till it thickens. Cool before using. Ginger Drop Cake. Two cups of sugar, one cup of New Orleans molasses, one cup of butter, six cups of flour, one cup of hot water, two teaspoonfuls of soda, one teaspoonful of ginger, and one of cinnamon. Drop in hot tins and bake in a hot oven. Gingerbread Loaf. One cup of butter, one of molasses, one of sugar, half of cold water, one tablespoonful of ginger, one tablespoonful of cinnamon, one of soda dissolved in boiling water; melt the butter, slightly warm the molasses, spice and sugar, and heat together ten minutes; then put in the water, soda and flour; stir very hard and bake in three loaves. Brush them over with syrup while hot, and eat fresh. CAKE. 57 Ginger-Bread. One pint of molasses, one glass of sour milk or cream, one table- spoonful of soda, one-half pint of melted lard; put the soda into the milk and molasses and beat to a foam. Make the dough very- soft. Soft Ginger-Bread. One cup of sugar, one cup of butter, one cup of sour cream, one cup of New Orleans molasses, four cups of sifted flour, one table- spoonful of ginger, one teaspoonful of soda, the grated rind of one lemon, three eggs, well beaten; stir the butter and sugar together, then add eggs, milk and flour. Soft Ginger-Bread, No. 2. One coffeecup each of sugar, molasses, and butter, four cups of flour, one cup of sour milk, two large teaspoonfuls of ginger, two teaspoonfuls of cinnamon, one-half teaspoonful of cloves, one tea- spoonful of saleratus dissolved in the sour milk; stoned raisins may be added. Bake in sponge-calce tins. Ginger Cup Cake. Mix two cups of powdered sugar with two cups of warmed butter; add three well-beaten eggs, a cup of molasses, four heaping cups of flour, a tablespoonful of fresh-ground ginger, one teaspoon ful of dissolved saleratus; mix thoroughly and pour into buttered molds or patty pans; bake in a moderate oven. Groom's Cake. Ten eggs beaten separately, one pound each of butter, white sugar, and flour, two pounds of almonds blanched and chopped fine, one pound of seeded raisins, one-half pound of citron shaved fine; beat the butter to a cream, add the sugar gradually, then the well- beaten yolks; stir all till very light, then add the chopped almonds; beat the whites stiff and add gently with the flour; take a little more flour and sprinkle over the raisins and citron, then put in the cake pan, first a layer of cake batter, then a layer of raisins and 58 CAKE. citron, then cake, and so on until all is used, finishing off with a layer of cake. Bake in moderate oven two hours. Graham Cup Cake. Rub to a light cream tw -thirds cup of butter and one cup of sugar; add two beaten ggs, one-half cup of cream, two cups of Graham flour, one heaping teaspoonf ul of baking powder, one tea- spoonful of extract of lemon; mix into a moderately thin batter; bake in well-greased cups, or muffin pans, in a moderate oven. Hickory-nut Cake. Two cups of white sugar, one-half cup of butter, three cups of flour, three-fourths cup of sweet milk, one-half teaspoonful of soda dissolved in the milk, one teaspoo ful of cream of tartar put into the flour, the whites of eight eggs. Just before baking add two cups of hickory-nut meats. Hickory-nut Drop Cake. Whites of six eggs beaten to a stiff froth; add one pound of rolled sugar, one up of hickory-nut meats, one teaspoonful of baking powder, with flour to stiffen so as to drop. Drop by spoon- fuls on a buttered tin and bake in a quick oven. Huckleberry Cake. Rub together one cup of butter and two cups of sugar; add four beaten eggs, one and one-half pints of flour sifted with two tea- spoonfuls baking powder, ne up of milk, two cups of huckle- berries, one teaspoonful each oi extract of cinnamon, cloves and allspice; put in a paper-lined bake tin and bake in a quick oven fifty minutes. Honey Cake. Mix together one cup of honey and one cup of sugar; add one- half cup of melted butter, two beaten eggs, one pint flour sifted with two teaspoonfuls of baking powder, one teaspoonful of cara- way seeds. Mix into a smooth batter and bake in a hot oven thirty minutes. CAKE. 59 Ijiperial Cake. One pound each of sugar and flour, three-fourths pound of butter, one pound of ahnonds blanched and cut fine, one-half pound of citron, one-half pound of raisins, the rind and juice of one lemon, one nutmeg and ten eggs. Ice-Cream Cake. To the whites of five eggs, lightly beaten, add two cups of sugar, one cup of butter, one cup of milk, three cups of flour, and three teaspoonfuls of baking powder; bake in thin layers and use as a cream, to spread between, two and a half cups of sugar and one- half cup of water boiled together; beat the whites of three eggs to a stiff froth, and when the syrup will hair, pour it into the whites and stir as fast as possible; flavor with lemon or vanilla and spread between the layers and over the top. Jelly Cake. Beat to a cream three-fourths cup of butter and two cups of sugar; add five eggs, two at a time, beating five minutes between each addition, one and one-fourth pints of flour sift?d with one and one-half teaspoonfuls of baking powder, one cup of milk; mix to a smooth batter and bake in jelly-cake tins; spread with currant or other fruit jelly. Jelly Rolls. One cup of sugar, one cup of flour, three eggs, one teaspoonful baking powder. Stir well and spread thin on a long baking tin or dripping pan. Bake quickly, turn out on a cloth, spread with jelly and roll up. Kaffee Kuchen, One pound light raised dough, one ounce of sugar and three of butter, one egg; cream the butter and beat well with the sugar and the egg; add the dough and mix thoroughly with the hand; put it in a warm place to rise; when light, pour it in a small dripping pan (when baked it should not be more than two-thirds of an inch thick) 60 CAKE and let it stand ten or fifteen minutes; put in the oven and while baking prepare this icing: Blanch two almonds and shred them; add to the beaten whites of two eggs one cup of sugar; stir in the almonds, and when the cake is baked cover it Avith the icing and dry in the oven. The almonds may be browned a little if liked, Knickerbocker Cake. Beat one-half pound of fresh butter to a cream; add one-half pound of powdered sugar, three-fourths pound of sifted flour, a tablespoonful of orange-flour water, and one of brandy, and four ounces of washed currants; add five well-beaten eggs, and beat the mixture until very light. Line some shallow cake tins with but- tered paper, pour in the mixture until they are one-half full, and bake in a quick oven. Lemon Cake. Five eggs beaten with three cups of sugar and one of butter, one cup of milk, five cups of sifted flour, one lemon rind grated, half a teaspoonful soda dissolved well in the milk, and one teaspoonful of cream of tartar in the flour; after all is well beaten, add the juice of the lemon and bake immediately. Lemon Cake, No. 2. To four well-beaten eggs, add two cups sugar, two tablespoonf uls butter, one-half cup of milk, two cups of flour sifted with two tea- spoonfuls of baking powder; bake in jelly tins and put together with a frosting made of the white of one egg, the juice and grated rind of one lemon, and sugar enough to stiffen. Lemon Jelly Cake. Beat together two eggs, one cup of sugar, one-third cup of butter, one-half cup milk, two cups flour sifted, with a heaping teaspoonful baking powder; bake in jelly-cake tins. Jelli/ for Same. — Two-thirds cup of water, one cup sugar, the juice and grated rind of one lemon; mix together and let boil; then CAKE. 61 stir in two well-beaten eggs. When cold, spread between the layers of cake; also upon the top, or the top may be frosted. Lady Cake. Rub to a cream two-thirds cup of butter and three cups of sugar; add one cup of milk, one pint flour, one-half teaspoonful of baking powder, one teaspoonful extract of bitter almond; then add the whites of eight eggs whipped to a froth; when thoroughly mixed, put into a paper-lined tin and bake in a steady oven forty minutes. When cool, ice the bottom and sides ^vith white icing. Lunch Cake. Beat thoroughly two cups of butter and two cups of sugar; add two cups of egg well beaten, one and one-half pints of flour sifted with a heaping teaspoonful baking powder, one gill of wme, one teaspoonful each of extract of rose, cinnamon and nutmeg; mix into a smooth batter and bake in a moderate oven one hour; when cold, ice with white icing. Light Cake. Beat six eggs, yolks and whites separately; beat with the yolks one pound white sugar, and three-fourths pound of butter; add one pound of flour sifted with a teaspoonful of cream of tartar, and one cup sweet milk with one-half teaspoonful of soda, one pound raisins, a little citron, and lemon peel, then the whites of the eggs beaten to a froth. Bake in a paper-lined cake tin one hour in a moderate oven. Loaf Cake. Six cups of bread dough, five eggs, three cups of sugar, one cup of butter, two teaspoonfuls of ground cloves and cinnamon mixed, and half of a nutmeg, one and one-half pounds of raisins. Bake in a moderate oven. Marbled Cake. Light part: One and one-half cups of white sugar, one-half cup of butter, one-half cup of sweet milk, one half teaspoonful of soda, 62 CAKE. one teaspoonful cream of tartar sifted with two and one-half cups flour, whites of four eggs; beat and mix thoroughly. Dark part: One cup of brown sugar, one-half cup of butter, one- half cup of sour milk, one-half teaspoonful of soda, two and one- half cups of flour, yolks of four eggs, one-half teaspoonful each of cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. With a spoon drop the two batters alternately into a papered cake-tin. Mountain Cake. One cup of sugar, one-half cup of butter, one-half cup of sweet milk, one-half cup of corn starch, one cup of flour, whites of six eggs, a little vanilla, two teaspoonfuls baking jDowder. Bake in layers. Frosting for Above. — Whites of five eggs, twenty tablespoon- fuls sifted sugar, beaten very light, and a little vanilla. Spread between layers and on the outside of the cake» Madeira Cake. Beat together two and one-half cups of butter and two cups of sugar; add seven well-beaten eggs, one and one-half pints flour sifted with one heaping teaspoonful baking powder; mix with one gill of Madeira wine into a smooth batter and bake in a paper-lined cake-tin in a steady oven about one hour, and ice with transparent icing. Molasses Cake. Beat together one cup of butter and one cup of brown sugar; add one-half cup of molasses, one cup of milk, one egg, one and one-half pints of flour sifted with one and one-half teaspoonfuls of baking powder; mix into a consistent batter and bake about forty minutes. Molasses Cake. Beat together one-half cup of sugar, a piece of butter the size of an egg, and one egg', add one-half cup of molasses, one-half cup of sour milk, one-half teaspoonful of soda, two cups of flour, sifted, spices to suit the taste, and a cup of chopped raisins. Bake in a moderate oven. CAKE. 63 Marbled Chocolate Cake. One cup of butter, tw^o cups of sugar, three cups of flour, four well-beaten eggs, one cup of milk, two teaspoonfuls of baking powder; take out one cup of this batter and mix with four table- spoonfuls of chocolate dissolved with a little cream; cover the bottom of the pan witli the white batter and drop upon it in places a spoonful of the chocolate, forming rings, then another layer of the batter, and so on until all is used. Bake in a moderate oven, MoRETON Farm Cake, Two pounds of butter, softened throughout, but not melted; add two pounds of nice, white, soft sugar, and mix together until creamed; take out one-lialf and reserve it in a separate l)owl until wanted. To the rest add one quart of pretty warm, sweet milk; stir in gradually four pounds of flour, then mix in very thoroughly a teacupful of lively, home-made yeast. Let it stand in a M'arm place until very light, which will take about four hours; then add the remainder of the butter and sugar, and a little more flour i^ needed; add two pounds of raisins nicely stoned, a little pulverized mace, and, if at hand, some candied lemon peel; let it rise again, and when well raised mix it well, using the hands, and proportion it off into well-buttered pans; let them stand in a moderately warm place until beginning to rise; put them into a steady oven and bake them fully an hour, or longer if only one or two pans are used. There are no eggs used in this cake — none are needed. It is an excellent cake for economical housekeepers to make in winter, when eggs are scarce and high-priced. If the top and sides are frosted it will keep moist for a long time. Brown paper is nice to wrap cake in before putting it into the cake box. Nut Cake, One cup of butter, two cups of white sugar, four cups of flour, one cup of sweet milk, the whites of eight eggs, three teaspoonfuls of baking powder, and two cups of chopped nut meats. 64 CAKE. Nut Cake, No. 2, Two eggs, one cup of sugar, one-half cup of butter; beat together and add one-half cup of sweet milk, one and one-half cups of sifted flour, two teaspoonfuls baking powder, one large cup of chopped walnuts; frost when baked; mark in squares and put half a nut meat on each square. White Nut Cake. Whites of twelve eggs beaten to a froth, one cup of butter, two cups of sugar, three and one-half cups of flour, teaspoonful of yeast powder. After the butter is well mixed add one large cocoanut, grated; one large tumblerful of the kernels of jDecans, and one tumblerful of blanched almonds, the almonds to be slightly- mashed in a mortar. Neapolitan Cake. Black: Take one cup of butter, two cups of brown sugar, one cup of molasses, one cup of strong coffee, four and a half cups of sifted flour, four eggs, two teaspoonfuls of soda, two of cinnamon, two of cloves, one of mace, one pound of raisins, one of currants, and a quarter of a pound of citron. White: One cup of butter, four cups of white sugar, two cups of sweet milk, two cups corn-starch mixed with four and-a-half cups of sifted flour, whites of eight eggs, two tablespoonfuls of baking powder, one-half teaspoonful of extract of bitter almonds. Bake the cakes in round jelly pans with straight edges; the loaves should be one and a-half inches thick after baking. When the cake is cold, each black loaf should be spread with a thick coat- ing of lemon and sugar, made as follows: The white of one egg thoroughly beaten, the grated rind of two and the juice of three lemons; powdered sugar enough to make a thick frosting; lay a white loaf on each black one and frost as you would any other cake. Lady Fingers. Rub half a pound of butter into a pound o£ flour; add half a pound of sugar; grate in the rind of two lemons, and squeeze in the CAKE. 65 juice of one; then add three eggs; make into a roll the size of the middle finger; it will spread in the oven to the size of a thin cake; dip in chocolate icing. Orange Cake. Two cups of sugar, one cup of butter, one cup of sweet milk, three cups of flour, yolks of two eggs and whites of five, three tea- spoonfuls baking powder, grated peel and juice of one orange. Bake in four layers. Filling.— Whites of three eggs, juice of one orange, fifteen table- spoonfuls of sugar. Beat together, spread between the layers and on the outside of cake. Pare and divide in small sections two oranges and put on top of cake. Orange Cake, No. 2. Three eggs, one tablespoonful of butter, one and a-half cups of sugar, two cups of flour, with two teaspoonfuls of baking powder sifted with the flour, one-half cup of rich milk, a veiy little salt, orange juice, or some extract of lemon. Bake on jelly-cake tins. Jelly for Orange CaJce. — Take two good oranges, grate a part of the rind of one, then peel them and grate them all; remove the seeds and add one cup of sugar, two tablespoonfuls of water, and scald in a tin pail set in a kettle of hot water. Take one table- spoonful of corn starch, mix smooth with a few spoonfuls of cold water and stir into the orange and cook just enough to cook the corn starch; when nearly or quite cold, beat the whites of two eggs and add powdered sugar for frosting; leave out a little of this for the top of the cake if you like, and stir the rest into the orange, and you Avill have a jelly that will not run off or soak into the cake. Perfection Cake. Three cups of sugai-, three cups of flour, one cup of butter, one cup of milk, one cup of corn starch, the whites of twelve Qg^ beaten to a stiff froth. Before sifting the flour put in three tea- spoonfuls of baking powder; sift all together. Dissolve the corn 5 66 CAKE. starch in the milk and add it to tlie l>utter and sugar well beaten together; then add the flour and whites of the eggs. Never beat in a tin dish. Pork Cake. Take one pound fat salt jjork free from lean or rind, chop as fine as to be almost like lard, pour upon it one-half pint of boilino- water; add two cups of sugar, one cup of molasses, one teaspoonful of soda stirred into the molasses, one pound of raisins, one-fourth pound of citron shaved fine; stir in sifted flour enough to make of the consistency of common cake batter; season with one spoonful each of nutmeg and cloves and two teaspoonfuls cinnamon. Bake in a moderate oven, Portuguese Cake, Beat together one and one-half cups of butter and four cups of sugar, add eight eggs, two at a time, beating five minutes between each addition, one pint flour sifted with a heaping teaspoonful of baking powder, three cups of almonds blanched and pounded to a paste with a little water, one cup of seedless raisins, one cup of currants; season with nutmeg; mix into a batter and bake in a well-papered tin in a steady oven for one and one-half hours. Puff Cake, Two cups of sugar, three eggs, one cup of butter, one cup of sweet milk, two teaspoonfuls cream of tartar, one teaspoonful of Boda, and three cups of flour. Bake in a quick oven. Pine-Apple Cake, One cup of butter, two cups of sugar, one cup of milk, three cups of flour, whites of six eggs and yolks of four, three teaspoonfuls of baking powder well mixed through flour; bake in jelly-cake pans; grate a pine-apple; spi'inkle Avith sugar, spread between the layers; pine-apple jam may be substituted; frost the outside; beat two tablespoonfuls of the pine-apple into the frosting. CAKE. 67 Pound Cake without Soda. One pound of powdered sugar, one-half pound of butter, eight eggs, whites and yolks, beaten separately and well, ten ounces flour, one nutmeg. Bake one hour. CocoANUT Pound Cake. Beat one-half pound of butter to a cream; add gradually one pound of sugar, one pound of flour sifted with two teaspoonfuls of bakino- powder, a pinch of salt, one teaspoonful of grated lemon peel, one-fourth pound of prepared cocoanut, four well-beaten eggs, one cup of milk; mix thoroughly; butter the tins and line them with buttered paper; pour the mixture in to the depth of one and one-half inches, and bake in a good oven; when baked, take out, spread icing over them and return to the oven to dry the icing. Pound Cake. One and one-half cups of flour, one cup of butter, one and one- half cups of sugar, one-half teaspoonful of baking powder. Beat butter and flour to a cream; beat four eggs and sugar very light; put all together and add the baking jjowder. Plum Cake. Beat together two cups of butter, one cup of sugar, two eggs, one cuj. of molasses, one cup of sweet milk, one teaspoonful each of allspice, cinnamon and mace, one gill brandy, two pounds each of currants and raisins, one-half pound citron, one-half teaspoonful soda. Flour to thicken. QuiNCY Cake. One cup of butter, three cups of powdered sugar, four cups ol flour sifted with one and one-half teaspoonfuls cream of tartar, one cup of sweet milk, one teaspoonful of soda, the juice and r'md of one fresh lemon, whites of ten eggs beaten to a stiff froth. Bake one and one-half or two hours in a pan. 68 CAKE. QuEEX Cake. One pound of sugar, one pound of flour sifted with a heaping- teaspoonful of baking powder, three-fourths of a pound of butter, five eggs, one gill of sweet cream, one teaspoonful of extract of nectarine, one tablespoonful of water, and one grated nutmeg; beat the sugar and butter to a cream, add the eggs beaten very light, then the cream and flour, and lastly the flavoring. Railkoad Cake. One cup of sugar, one cup of flour, three eggs, one teaspoonful of cream of tartar, one-half teaspoonful soda, or one and one-half tea- spoonfuls of baking powder, a little salt; beat all together as for sponge cake, and spread on two square tins to bake. Reception Cake. Beat together two cups of butter and two cups of sugar; add ten beaten eggs, one quart of flour sifted with two teaspoonf uls of baking powder, two cups of currants, one cup of shaved citron, one-half of an orange peel cut fine, one-half cup of blanched almonds cut fine; season with allspice and cinnamon; put into a paper-lined cake tin and bake in a moderate oven. Rice Cake. Beat together one-half cup of butter, two cups of sugar, and four eggs; add one-half cup of sweet cream; sift together one and one- half cups of rice flour, one and one-half cups of flour, and one heap- ing teaspoonful of baking poAvder; mix all together and season with lemon extract. Bake in patty pans in a hot oven. RocHESTEK Jelly Cake. Three eggs, whites and yolks beaten separately, two cups of sugar, one-half cup of butter, one cup of sweet milk, three cups of flour, one tablespoonful of baking powder. Take one-half of the above mixture and bake in two square pans, then add to the remainder one cup of stoned and chopped raisins, one-fourth CAKE. 69 pound of citron sliaved fine, one teaspoonful cinnamon, one nutmeg, one-half teaspoojiful each of cloves and allspice, one tablespoonful each of molasses and flour. Bake in like pans and place in alternate layers with raspberry jam or any kind of jelly. The same put together with frosting is called Ribbon Cake. Silver Cake. Beat to a froth the whites of six eggs; add two cups of sugar, two-thirds of a cup of butter; beat well together and add one cup of sweet milk with one teaspoonful of soda, two cups of flour and one cup corn starch sifted with two teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar; flavor with any extract. The same made by substituting the yolks for the whites makes a nice gold cake. SxoAV Cake. One cup of sugar, one and one-half cups of flour, one heaping teaspoonful of baking powder. Sift all together through a sieve and add the whites of ten eggs beaten stift". Bake in a quick oven. Swiss Cake. One-quarter cup of butter, one and a half cups of sugar, two and ■one-half cups of flour, one cup of sweet milk, two eggs, one tea- spoonful of cream of tartar, and one-half teaspoonful of soda. Stir the butter and sugar to a cream; add the eggs, Avell beaten. Mix and flavor with lemon. This makes a good and inexpensive cake. Delicious Spoxge Cake. Twelve eggs, one pound of sugar, twelve ounces of flour, a pinch of salt; flavor. Beat the whites to a very stiff froth, the yolks till the bubbles look fine. When the yolks are beaten enough add the sugar and beat till sugar is dissolved; then add the whites, and lastly the flour, and bake immediately in brick-shaped tins. This will make two loaves. You will find your cake so much nicer if baked in a paste. Make with flour and water only; roll out on the board same as pie crust, line your greased tins all over inside with 70 CAKE. tbe paste and pour in the battel-. Bake nearly an hour. Do not break off the paste till you want to use it. Your cake will be more moist and keep longer; indeed, the cake will be much better a day or two old. Sponge Cake with Hot Water. One cup of sugar and two eggs, well beaten together, one tea- spoonful of baking powder sifted with one cup of flour; stir well together, then stir in one-third cup of boiling water or milk; bake quickly in a buttered tin. If these directions are followed the cake will be very nice. Sponge Cake. Beat together the yolks of four eggs and one cup of sugar ten minutes; add to it one cup of flour sifted with one-half teaspoonful baking powder, one teaspoonful extract of orange; then add the whites whipped to a stiff froth, and bake in a well-greased cake mould in a steady oven thirty minutes. White Sponge Cake. Sift together one cup of flour, one-half cup of corn starch, one teaspoonful baking powder; add one cup of sugar, one teaspoonful extract of rose, then add the whites of eight eggs whipped to a stiff froth; mix thoroughly and bake in a well-buttered cake tin in a quick oven thirty minutes. Sultana Cake. Beat together one and one-half cups of butter and one and one liJilf cups of sugar; add six eggs, two at a time, beating five minutes between each addition, one and one-half pints of floui sifted with one teaspoonful baking powder, one-half cup of thick cream, four cups of Sultana raisins, one-half cup of chopped citron; mix thoroughly and put in a paper-lined cake tin well buttered. Bake in a moderate oven one and one-fourth hours. When done, spread with transparent icing. CAKE. 71 Spice Cake, Beat together one cup of butter and two cups of sugar; add two beaten eggs, one cup of milk, three cups of flour with two tea- spoonfuls of baking powder, one-half cup each of seeded raisins and currants; season with nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. Seed Cake. Boat together one cup of sugar, ono-third of a rup of ha'^ter, and two eggs; add one-half cuj) of milk, and two oicpa ^our sifted with two teaspoonfuls of baking poAvder; stir ii? ona tablespoonful of coriander seed and season with nutmeg, Fjoke in a loaf or in patty tins. TuNBpaDGE Cake. Bake a plain sponge cake in a cyl'ndei-uiruld; when cold cut il in thin slices, lay the bottom piece ov. a plate spread over any kind of fruit jelly and two tablespoonfuls of any kind of wine; repeat this until all the cake is used; prepare a meringue paste of the whites of four eggs beaten stiff, with two cups of sugar; use it to entirely cover the top and sides of the cake; sift sugar plentifully over it and place it in an oven to brown just a fawn color; when ready to serve slide it off tbj plate into a glass dish and pile round it one pint of whipped oream. Flavor with any extract to suit the taste. Nice for tea or for dessert. Tavi.o'.i Cake. Seven eggs beaten ^separately; beat with the yolks two j^ounds of sugar, one and one-half pounds of butter (less butter will do); then add seven coffeecups of flour sifted with two and one-half tea- spoonfuls of baking powder, one pound of currants, one pound of seeded raisins, three nutmegs, a tablespoonful of cinnamon, one pint of milk, and lastly the beaten whites of the eg'^'i. "Weddixg Cake. First procure the following ingredients: One pound and a half of flour, the same of butter, half a pound of candied lemon, half a 72 CAKE. pound of eandiccl orange, lialf a pound of candied citron, one pound of dried cherries, one pound and a half of currants (or if the cher- ries cannot be readily obtained, use a pound more of currants), eight ounces of almonds, eight eggs, the rind of four oranges, or of two lemons rubbed upon sugar, half an ounce of spices, consisting of powdered cinnamon, grated nutmeg, and ground cloves in equal proportion, a teaspoonful of salt, and a small tumblerful of brandy (if objected to, the brandy may be omitted and another egg added). Wash, pick and dry the currants, cut the cherries into moderate sized pie- ces, slice the candied peel into thin shreds, blanch and pound the almonds, or cut them into very small pieces, and crush the flavored sugar to pow- dei". Put the butter into a large bowl, and beat it to cream, either with a wooden spoon or Avith the hand. Add very gradu- ally the sugar, flour, and eggs, and when they are thoroughly mixed work in the rest of the ingredients. Put them in a little at a time and beat the cake between each addition. It should be beaten fully three-fourths of an hour. Line a tin hooji with double thicknesses of buttered paper, pour in the mixture, and place it on a metal baking-sheet with twelve folds of paper under it, and four or five on top, to keep it from burning. Put it into a moderately heated oven, and keep the oven at an even temperature until it is done enough. If the cake is to be iced, first pi*eparo the almond part: Take half a pound of almonds, throw them into boiling water, and CAKE. 73 skin them. Pound them in a mortar with a few drops of orange- flower water, one pound of fine white sugar, and as much white of egg as will make a soft, stiff paste. Spread this over the toj) of the cake, and keep it from the edge as much as possible. Put it in a cool oven or in a warm place, till it is dry and hard. To make the sugar icing, put two pounds of icing sugar into a bowl and work it into the whites of two, or if necessary, three, or even four, eggs. The whites must not be whisked, but thrown in as they are. Work the mixture to a stiff, shiny paste, and whilst working it add occasionally a drop of lemon-juice. Be careful to obtain ici7ig sugar. If a drop of liquid blue is added it will make it look whiter. The icing will need to be worked vigorously to make a paste that will not run, and the fewer eggs taken the better. The cake ought not to be iced until a short time before it is wanted, as it may get dirty. The icing should be spread evenly over with the hand wetted with cold water, then smoothed with an ivory knife, and it should be put into a gentle oven to harden. It may be ornamented with little knobs of icing placed round the edge; and on the day of the wedding a wreath of white flowers and green leaves may be placed round it by way of ornament. If anything more elaborate is required, a pretty center ornament may be made with glazed white card board, silver paper, and orange blossom; or a stand and a drum, with artificial flowers, may be hired of the confectioner. Time to bake the cake, about six hours. Wedding Cake, No 2. Six cups butter, four cups sugar, sixteen eggs, three pints flour, six cups currants, washed, dried, and picked, three cups sultana raisins, three cups citron, two cups candied lemon peel, two cups almonds, blanched and cut in shreds, one-half pint brandy, two ounces each nutmeg, mace, and cinnamon, one tablespoonful each cloves and allspice. Prej^are all these ingredients in the following manner: Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl; break the eggs into a quart mea- sure or pitcher; cover a small waiter with a clean sheet of paper. 74 CAKE. and on it lay the sifted flour, fruit, citron, and lemon peel cut into shreds, the almonds and spices, with the brandy measured at hand; also get ready a large cake tin by papering it inside with white paper, and outside and bottom with four or five thicknesses of coarse wrapjDing paper, which can be tied on. Having thus prepared everything, and the fire banked up to last, with the addition from time to time of just a shovelful of coal by which means you will not reduce the oven heat, proceed to beat to a very light cream the butter and sugar, adding the eggs, two at a time, beating a little between eact addition until all are used; then put in contents of the waiter all at once with the brandy; mix very thoroughly, and smooth; put it into the prepared cake tin, smooth over the top, put plenty of paper on to protect it, and bake eight hours, keeping the oven steadily up to a clear, moderate heat; watch it faithfidly, and you will produce a cake Avorthy of the occa- sion; remove from the oven very carefully, and suffer it to stay on the tin until quite cold; the next day ice it with a thin coat of IV/iite Icing, both the top and the sides; and place in a cool oven to dry the icing. Noav spread a second coat of icing, which will prevent any crumbs or fruit being mixed up with the icing when you are icing to finish; now with a broad knife proceed, when the first coat is dry, to ice the sides, then pour the icing on the center of the cake, in quantity suflicient to reach the edges, when stop; decorate with a vase of white, made flowers, etc., to taste. Vanilla Cake. One cup of butter, two cups of pulverized sugar, one cup of sweet milk, three cups of flour, one-half cup of corn starch sifted with two teaspoonfuls of baking powder, four eggs, two teaspoonfuls extract of vanilla. "Washtngton" Cake. Three- foiirths j^ound of butter, one and one-fourth jjounds of sugar beaten together; add four beaten eggs, one pint milk, one and one-fourth pounds of flour, with two teaspoonfuls baking j^ow- CAKE. 75 der, one and one-half pounds of seedless raisins, one and one-half pounds of currants, one glass brandy; sj)ice to taste. Wine Cake. Beat together one and one-half cups of butter and two cups of sugar; add three beaten eggs, two cups of flour with one teaspoon- ful baking powdei', one gill of Avine; mix into a firm batter and bake in a moderate oven. Frost. Webster Cakes. Beat together thoroughly one cup of butter, three cups of sugar, and two eggs; add five cups of flour sifted with two teaspoonfuls of baking powder, one and one-half cups of milk, two cups of seed- less raisins, one teaspoonful each of extract of bitter almonds and vanilla. Bake in a quick, steady oven forty-five minutes. Watermelon Cake. White part: Two cups of pulverized sugar, two-thirds cup each of butter and sweet milk, three cups of flour sifted with one table- spoonful baking powder, and the whites of five eggs; flavor. Red part; One cup of red sugar sand, one-half cup of butter, two-thirds cup of milk, two cups of flour, one heaping teaspoonful of baking powder, whites of five eggs, and one-half pound of raisins. In filling the cake pan put the white part outside and the red part inside; drop in the raisins here and there where they belong for seeds. White Cake. Whites of eight eggs well whipped, three caps of pulverized ««ngar, one cup of butter, one cup of milk, foui cups of sifted flour with one teaspoonful cream of tartar, one-half teaspoonful of soda dissolved in the milk, juice of one lemon. Bake one hour in a moderate oven. Yule Cake. Rub together two and one-half cups of butter and three cups of sugar; add ten beaten eggs, four cups of flour with two teaspoon- 76 COOKIES, JUMBLES AND SNAPS. fuls baking 2)0wder, four cu2).s of currants, two-thirds cup of chopped citron, one teaspoonful eaeli of extract of nutmeg and ck)ves, one gill brandy. Bake in a well-greased, paper-lined tin, in a moderate oven, two and one-half hours. Crullers. One-half pint of buttermilk, one cup of butter, two cups of sugar, and three eggs; beat up the eggs and add the sugar and milk. Dissolve half a teaspoonful of saleratus in a little hot water; add to the mixture, with a teaspoonful of salt, one-half nutmeg grated and half a teaspoonful of fresh ground cinnamon. Work in as much flour as will make a smooth dough; mix thoroughly; dredge the board, rolling-pin, and dough with flour; roll it out and cut it in rings or fingers and fry in hot fat. Crullers, No. 2. Three eggs, one cup of sugar, one-half cup of butter, one cup of milk, three teaspoonfuls of baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon and lemon juice, or extract to taste; flour sufiicient to stiffen. Cut in strips and fry in lard. Crullers, No. 3, Six eggs, one cup of butter, two cups of sugar, one-half cup of milk, and flour to roll out easily. They should be rolled out about one-half inch thick; cut Avith a jagging iron or knife in strips about one-half inch wide, and twist so as to form cakes. The fat should boil up as the cakes are put in and they should be constantly watched while frying. When brown on the underside, turn them; when brown on both sides they are sufliciently done. Mamma's Cookies All Gone ! COOKIES, JUMBLES AND SNAPS. 77 COOKIES, JUMBLES, AND SNAPS. Almoxd Cookies. Half a pound of battel-, same of sugar, one-and one-fourth pounda of flour (or half corn starch), one good teaspoonful baking powder, two eggs; flavor with extract of almond, and mix into a smooth dough to roll out with a little milk; roll quarter of an inch thick. and cut in any shape; wash them over, when cut, with a little water and sprinkle with chopped almonds, and sift over a little fine sugar. Almond Cookies. Two pounds of butter, three pounds of sugar, one pound of shelled almonds, one dozen eggs, one teaspoonful of ground cinna- mon, one-half teasjjoonful of soda, a cup of boiling water, one lemon grated; mix butter, sugar, yolks of eggs, lemon, cinnamon, and hot water; beat the whites, take three parts, mix also one-half of the almonds, and as much flour as it will hold; roll them, and brush with the whites of eggs. Before putting in the almonds artd sugar, almonds must be scalded, dried and cut fine. Bake in a moderate oven. CocoANUT Cookies. Two cups sugar, one cup butter, two eggs, one teaspoonful soda dissolved in a tablespoonful of milk, one cocoanut, and flour enough to roll. Cookies. One quart flour sifted, three teaspoonfuls baking powder, twc eggs, one cup of sugar, half a cup of butter, three tablespoonful f of milk; mix soft and roll; flavor Avith any extract. Cream Cookies. Two cups sugar, two eggs, one cup sour cream, one cup butter,^ one teaspoonful soda, one teaspoonful lemon extract or one-half a nutmeg grated; flour enough to make a dough as soft as it can be rolled. Delicious. 78 COOKIES, JUMBLES AND SNAPS. Cookies, No. 2. One cnp sugar, one-half cup lai-d or l)utter, one-half cup sour milk, one-half teaspoonful soda, just flour enough to roll, baking quickly. Add any flavoring you Avish. No eggs are required. These are very nice if grated or prepared cocoanut is added. Cookies, No, 3. One cup of butter, two cups sugar, four eggs, four cups flour, three tablespoonfuLs milk, three teaspoonfuls baking powder. Rub the flour and butter thoroughly together, cream the butter and sugar, beat the eggs separately; add to the above, with a little nut- meg or cinnamon, or any seasoning preferred. Sift in the flour and baking poAvder, and add enough flour to mold and roll out. Tliese cookies will keep fresh tAVO weeks, and if the milk is left out, a month. Cookies, No. 4. One and one-half cups of white sugar, four eggs, one cup of lard, lialf cup of butter, three tablespoonfuls of water, one teaspoonful soda, a half grated nutmeg; roll thin; dust over with sugar and roll flown lightly. Bake quickly. Egoless Cookies. Tavo cups sugar, one cup sweet milk, one cup butter, one-half teaspoonful soda. Flour enough to roll. Use vanilla, lemon or nutmeg for seasoning. They are very nice. GixGEK Cookies. One cup sugar, one cup molasses, one cup shortening, two beaten eggs, one teaspoonful soda dissolved in four tablespoonfuls of but- termilk, one tablespoonful ginger. Stir Avith a spoon until stiff enough to mold Avith the hand; roll and bake in a quick oven. Graiiaai Cookies. Two cups of sugar, one cu]) of sour cream, one-half teaspoonful of soda; mix quickly, roll and bake. These require less heat and more time in baking than Avhen Avhite flour is used. COOKIES, JUMBLES AND SNAPS. 79 Molasses Cookies. Three cups of New Orleans molasses, one cup of lard, a half cup butter, four teaspoonfuls soda dissolved in ten tablespoonfuls boil- ino- Avater; one tablespoonful ginger, one teaspoonful cinnamon. Sugar Cookies. Two cups of sugar, one cup of butter, one-half cup of milk, two eggs, two teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar, one teaspoonful soda, a tablespoonful caraway seeds. Mix soft and roll. Hickory-nut Cookies. Take two cups of sugar, two eggs, half a cup of melted butter, six tablespoonfuls of milk, or a little more than a third of a cup, one teaspoonful of cream of tartar, half a teaspoonful of soda and one cup of chopped meats stirred into the dough. Sand Tarts. Rub toerether two pounds of sugar, two pounds of flour, one and a quarter pounds of butter beaten with three eggs; mix smooth and roll out and cut into cakes. Place hickory-nut or almond meats over the top. Wet over with the whole of an egg beaten, and sprinkle with cinnamon and fine sugar. Jumbles. Three eggs, one and one-fourth cups sugar, one cup butter, three tablespoonfuls sour milk, one-quarter teaspoonful saleratus, flour to mix hard. After it is kneaded and rolled out, sift sugar over the top. Season if you like. Jumbles, No. 2. One cup of butter, two cups of sugar, one cup of milk, five eggs, one teaspoonful of cream of tartar, and half a teaspoonful of soda. Ginger Snaps. One cup of sugar, one cup of molasses, one cup of butter, one teaspoonful soda, one teaspoonful ginger, one egg. 80 COOKIES, JUMBLES AND SNAPS. Ginger Snaps, No. 2. One cap molasses, one-half cup lard, one teaspoonful soda, salt and ginger to taste; mix hard. Ginger Snaps, No. 3. One cott'eecup New Orleans molasses, one cup butter, one cup sugar; place them on the stove, and let it come to a boil, then take off immediately, and add a teaspoonful of soda, and a tablespoon- ful of ginger. Roll thin and bake quickly. Doughnuts. Two beaten eggs, one cup of sugar, four tablespoonfuls melted lard, one cup of sour milk, one teaspoonful of soda, a little salt, seasoning to the taste; flour to make a soft dough to roll out; fry in hot lard. Doughnuts Without Eggs. Two quarts of flour, one pint of milk, one heaping cup of sugar, and a piece of butter the size of an egg. Scald the milk, and when tepid add the sugar, the butter, a half cup of yeast, and a half tea- spoonful of soda. Pour this all into the center of the flour, using enough of flour to make a sponge. Let it rise all night in a Avarm place. In the morning sprinkle in whatever spice you want; then knead in the rest of the flour; let it rise again until light; knead again and roll them. After they are cut out let them stand five minutes. Fry in boiling lard. Doughnuts, Raised. Make a sponge, using one quart water and one cake yeast; let it rise until very light, then add one cup of lard, two cups of sugar, three large mashed potatoes, two eggs, season with nutmeg; let rise again until very light. Roll and cut, or pull off bits of dough and shape as you like; lay enough to fry at one time on a floured plate and set in the oven to warm ; drop in boiling lard and fry longer than cakes made with baking powder. COOKIES, JUMBLES AND SNAPS. 81 Cream Doughnuts. Beat one cup each of sour cream and sugar, and two eggs, together; add a level teaspoonful of soda, a little salt, and flour enough to roll. Fried Cakes. '= Seven taWespoonfuls of sugar, three tablespoonfuls of melted lard, three tablespoonfuls of melted butter, three ijggs, one cup of milk, one teaspoonful of soda, two teaspoonfuls of tream of tartar; flour enough to roll out soft. Roll in pulverized sugar when half cold. Snow Balls, White. One cup of sugar, six tablespoonfuls of melted butter, two eggs, one cup of sweet milk, two teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar, one of soda, a very little nutmeg, one teaspoonful of salt; mix middling soft and roll out, and cut with a small round outter. Your tea canister top may be just the right size. Fry ir hot lard. Have ready a small bowl with a little fine white sugar in it. As you take them from the lard drop them in the suga'^ and roll around quickly until the surface has a very thin coat of sugar all over it, then lay carefully on a plate. Repeat with eacl cake separately, adding a little fresh sugar occasionally. CHAPTER IV. CREAMS AND CUSTARDS. Apple Snow. UT twelve tart apples in cold water over a slow /irej when soft skin and core. Mix in a pint of sifted white sugar, beat the whites of twelve eggs to a stiff froth, then add to the apples and sugar. Put in a dessert dish and ornament with myrtle. It will be found much better if frozen. Almond Ceeam. Take three ounces of sweet and one ounce of bitter almonds, blanch them; put them in a pan over the fire, stirring them con- tinually. As soon as they have acquired a fine yellow color, take them off the fire, and when cold pound them into fino pieces; then add a pint of cream or rich milk, nearly boiling, and three or four heaping tablespoonfuls of sugar, and one-half package of gelatine which has been dissolved in a little water. Put it upon the ice, and when about to thicken stir it until it is very smooth, then stir in lightly a pint of whipped cream and put it into a mold. Apple Float. One cup of pulverized sugar, one cup of cream beaten to a stiff froth, five eggs beaten light, one lemon, four Iarp.e apples grated, three tablespoonfuls of gelatine dissolved in warm water. Fills one quart bowl. Bavaroise. One pint of milk; add four tablespoonfuls of ground coffee; cook until well mixed, and strain through a jelly-bag; add the beaten 82' CREAMS AND CUSTARDS. 83 yolks of four eggs, a cup of sugar, and cook as for a custai'd; set in a cold place, and when cool add a pint of whipped <;ream in which has been stirred one-third of a box of dissolved gelatine, and stand in a cool place until it thickens. Blanc Mange. Take four ounces of sweet almonds and one-half ounce of bitter almonds, blanched; pound them in a mortar, moistening them occa- sionally with orange-flower water; mix this with one quart of fresh cream; set the cream and almonds on the fire, stirring constantly; when it comes to a scald pour in one-half box of gelatine which has been previously dissolved by soaking in half a cup of oold water one hour. Cream a la Mode. Put half a pound of white sugar into a deep glass dish; the juice of one large orange and one lemon; to one ounce of isinglass or gelatine add one pint of water; let it simmer down one-half, and when cool sti'ain it into the glass dish, and by degrees add one and one-half pints of whipped cream; stir till cool, and place it on ice to stiffen. Coffee Cream. Sweeten one pint of rich cream rather liberally; roast two ounces of coffee kernels; Avhen they are lightly browned throw them into the cream at once, and let the dish stand an hour before using; strain, and whip the cream to a stiff froth. A teaspoonful of pow- dered gum arabic dissolved in a little orange-flower water, may be added to give the cream more firmness, if desired. Bavarian Cream. Whip one pint of cream to a stiff froth, and set in a colander one minute to allow the un whipped portion to drip away; boil one pint of milk and one-half cup of sugar; flavor with vanilla, and add one-half package of gelatine dissolved in water, remove from the fire, and cool; add the well-beaten whites of four eggs. When the mixture has become quite cold add the whipped cream gradually 84 CREAMS AND CUSTARDS. until it is well mixed; put into individual molds a teaspoonful of some bright jelly or jam, then jjour the mixture and place in an ice-chest until wanted. This cream may be flavored in any way desired. Chocolate Bavarian Cream Can be made as the i^i'eceding by adding two cakes of sweet chocolate, soaked and stirred smooth in two tablespoonfuls of water, to the yolks of the eggs. Caledonian Cream. Two ounces of raspberry jam or jelly, two ounces of red currant jelly, two ounces of sifted loaf sugar, the whites of two eggs put into a bowl and beaten with a spoon for three-quarters of an hour. This makes a very pretty cream, and is good and economical. Charlotte Russe Elegante. One-half package of gelatine dissolved in a very little water; one quart of whipped cream, flavored and sweetened to taste. Line a mold with sponge or white cake; stir the gelatine into the cream and pour into the prepared mold. The cake may be soaked in a little wine if preferred. Charlotte Russe. One pint of cream well whipped; beat five tablespoonfuls of sugar jrith the yolks of four eggs; simmer together one-half pint of milk and one-half ounce of isinglass or gelatine till the gelatine is dis- solved, then mix with the beaten yolks and the sugar, then the whites of the eggs well beaten, then the whipped cream; flavor with one gill of wine and set it aside to cool; pour it into a mold which was previously lined with pieces of sponge cake. When it is stiff and solid turn out into a dish and sift sugar over the top. Charlotte Russe, No. 2. One box of gelatine soaked in milk one-half hour; Avhile it is soaking make a soft custard with the yolks of seven eggs, one pint of milk, and one-half pound of crushed sugar. When the custard CREAMS AND CUSTARDS. 85 begins to boil pour in the gelatine and it will dissolve; when dis- solved, strain the custard through a sieve and add one gill of cold cream; then let it cool a little, but not enough to thicken; whip a good quart of thick cream, add vanilla or any flavoring to suit the taste, add this to the custard, set it in the ice chest and stir occa- sionally until it begins to thicken. Then beat the whites of the seven eggs to a froth, adding two tablespoonfuls of powdered sugar, and stir into the custard and cream, stirring occasionally very gently until it is thick enough to turn into the molds which, have been lined with sponge fingers or slices. Set them back ip the ice chest. Fruit Charlotte. Line a dish with sponge cake; place upon the bottom, in thj centre of the dish, grated pine-apple; cover with a whipped cream blanc mange. Keep back a little of the cream to poiir over the top after it is poured out of the mold. Genoese Cream. One pint of milk, one tablespoonful of flour, one tablespoonful of sugar. Boil until it thickens; add the yolks of three eggs and a piece of butter the size of. an egg; flavor with lemon or vanilla. Cover the bottom of the dish with sponge cake, spreading one side of the cake with currant or other jelly. Pour on the cream and dust the top with sugar. Italian Cream, Put one ounce of soaked isinglass, six ounces of loaf sugar, and one pint of milk, into a sauce pan; boil slowly and stir all the time until the isinglass is dissolved; strain the mixture, and, when cool, mix it with a pint of thick cream; flavor with one teaspoonful of extract of bitter almond, and one gill of rose water. Beat thoroughly until it thickens; pour into a large or into individual molds and put into an ice box until wanted. 86 CREAMS AND CUSTARDS. Manioca Cream. Three tablespoonfuls of manioca, one pint of milk, three eggs, vanilla and sugar to taste; soak the manioca in water till soft; boil the milk; while boiling stir in the manioca and the yolks of the eggs beaten with the sugar; when cooked sufficiently pour into a dish to cool; when cold, add the vanilla; beat the whites of the eggs until stiff, sweeten and flavor them and stir part into the cream, putting the rest on top. RussE Cream. One-half box of gelatine soaked in a little water one hour, one quai't of milk, one cup of sugar, and four eggs. Mix sugar, milk, yolks of eggs, and gelatine together; put in a pail, set in a kettle of water and boil twenty minutes. Beat the whites of the cg^-3 stiff, and stir into the custard after taking off the fire. Flavor with vanilla and pour into molds. Serve with sugar and cream or with custard. Rock Cream. Boil rice until quite soft in new milk, sweeten with powdered loaf sugar. Pile it in a dish and lay on it in different places lumps of currant jelly, or any kind of preserves; beat the whites of five eggs to a stiff froth; add flavoring and a tablespoouful of thick cream; droj) it over the rice forming a rock of cream. Spanish Cream. Make a soft custard of one quart of milk, the yolks of six eggs, six tablespoonfuls of sugar. Put one box of gelatine dissolved in one pint of water over the fire; add the custard; flavor with vanilla Strain into molds and set in a cool place. Tapioca Cream. One cup of tapioca soaked for eight hours in milk enough to cover; then take one quart of milk, place on the stove, and when it boils add the beaten yolks of two eggs and the tapioca; let it boil up. CREAMS AND CUSTARDS. 87 then stir the beaten whites very thoroughly through it. Sweeten and flavor to taste. Eat cohh Whipped Cream. To one quart very tliick whipped cream, add powdered sugar to taste and a glass of wine. Make just before ready to use. Whipped Cream Sauce, IVIix a plateful of whipped cream (flavored with vanilla), the beaten whites of two eggs and pulverized sugar to taste, all together; pile a bank of this mixture in the center of a platter and form a circle of little fruit puddings (steamed in cups) around it, or it is nice for corn starch, blanc manges, etc. Single cream is cream that has stood on the milk twelve hours. It is the best for tea and coffee. Double cream stands on its milk twenty-four hours, and cream for butter frequently stands forty- eight hours. Cream that is to be whipped should not be buttei' cream, lest in whipping it change to butter. Almond Custard, One pint of new milk, one cup of pulverized sugar, one-quartek Dound of almonds (blanched and pounded), two teaspoonfuls rose water, the yolks of four eggs; stir this over a slow fire until it is of the consistency of cream, then remove it quickly and put into a dish. Beat the whites with a little sugar added to the froth, and lay on top. Apple Custard. One pint of mashed stewed apples, one pint of sweet milk, four eggs, one cup of sugar, and a little nutmeg. Bake slowly. Boiled Custard. Allow five eggs to one quart of milk, a tablespoonful of sugar to, each egg, set the milk in a kettle of boiling water until it scalds; then, after dipping a little of the milk on to the eggs and beating up, turn into the scalded milk, and stir until it thickens. Flavor to taste. 88 CREAMS KND CUSTARDS. Baked Custard. One quart of milk, five eggs, a pinch of salt, sugar and flavor to taste, boil the milk; when cool, stir in the beaten eggs and sugar, pour into cups, set them in pans of water, and bake; if baked toe long, will become watery. Chocolate Custard. Make a boiled custard with one quart of milk, the yolks of six eggs, six tablespoonf uls of sugar, and one-half cup of grated vanilla chocolate. Boil until thick enough, stirring all the time. When nearly cold, flavor with vanilla. Pour into cups, and put the whites of the eggs beaten with some powdered sugar on the top. Coffee Custard. One-half pint of rich cream, one-half cup cold coffee, four eggs, sugar to taste. Corn Starch Custard. Most persons know how to make a corn starch custard. A rich one can be made as follows: One quart of milk with five beaten eggs in it; sweeten and flavor to choice, adding one-fourth pound of corn starch; place over the fire, stirring quickly to avoid burn- ing to the bottom, until it begins to thicken. Or, can take less egg by using more corn starch, as follows: One quart of milk, two eggs, sugar and flavor to taste, one-half pound of corn starch. If this is too much starch and it becomes too thick, take it off the fire, add a a little milk, stirring till smooth. A custard is best made in a vessel placed in boiling water, as there is no risk of burning. Custards requii'e to be stiff er for filling cream puffs, chocolate eclares, charlotte russes, etc. The above receipts are thick enough for any of the purposes, and, if required for simple custard, less starch will do. CocoANUT Custard. To one pound of grated cocoanut, allow one pint of scalding milk and six ounces of sugar. Beat well the yolks of six eggs and CREAMS AND CUSTARDS. 89 stir them alternately into the milk with the cocoanut and sugar. Pour this into a dish lined with paste and bake twenty minutes ; or, if preferred, treat the milk, cocoanut, eggs, and sugar as for boiled custard, and serve in cups. Cold Cup Custard. One quart of new milk, one pint of cream, one-fourth pound of fine white sugar, three large tablespoonfuls of wine, in which rennet has been soaked. Mix the milk, c4-eam and sugar together, stir the wine into it, pour the mixture into custard cups, and set them away until the milk becomes a curd. Grate nutmeg on top and eat them with cream that has been kept on ice. Caramel Custard. Put two dessert-spoonfuls of crushed sugar into a tin pan; let it stand on the stove till it begins to brown, then stir constantly till it is a thick, black syrup. Pour it into a quart of scalding milk; add six ounces of white sugar and the yolks of six eggs. Beat and pour into cups, set in a pan of hot water in the oven and bake twenty minutes. Lemon Custard, Four eggs (leave out the white of one), one cup of sugar, one cup of cold water, one grated lemon, a small piece of butter, one table- spoonful of corn starch; bake as custard; after it is baked, cover it with the beaten white and pulverized sugar; return to the oven; bake a light brown. Moonshine. Beat the whites of six eggs into a very stiff froth, then add grad- ually six tablespoonfuls of powdered sugar, beating for not less tJian fifteen minutes; then beat in one heaping tablespoon ful of preserved peaches cut in tiny bits. In serving, pour in each saucer some rich cream sweetened and flavored with vanilla, and on the cream place a liberal portion of the moonshine. This quantity is enough for seven or eight persons. 90 CREAMS AND CUSTARDS. Floating Island. Set a quart of milk to boil, then stir into it the beaten yolks of six eggs; flavor with any exti'act liked and sweeten to taste; whip whites of eggs to a stiff froth. When the custard is thick, put into a deep dish, and heap the frothed eggs upon it. Place pieces of currant jelly on top and serve cold. Floatestg Island, No. 2. Into three-quarters of a pint of cream, put sugar to make it very sweet, and the juice and rind of a lemon grated. Beat it for ten minutes. Cut French rolls into thin slices, and lay them on a round dish on the top of the cream. On this put a layer of apricot or currant jam, and some more slices of roll. Pile upon this, very high, a whip made of damson jam, and the whites of four eggs. It should be rough to imitate a rock. Garnish with fruits or sweetmeats. Irish Moss. Soak a scant handful of Irish moss in strong soda water until it swells; then squeeze the moss until it is free from water, and \mt it in a tin bucket which contains six pints of sweet milk. Set the bucket in a large iron pot which holds several pints of hot water; stir seldom, and let it remain until it will jell slightly by dropping on a cold plate. Strain through a sieve, sweeten and flavor to taste. Rinse a mold or a crock with tepid water; pour in the mix- ture, and set it away to cool. In a few houi's it will be palatable. Eat with cream and sugar — some add jelly. QUAKTJTG CtrSTAITD. Three cups of milk; yolks of four eggs, reserving the whites for "^he meringue ; one-half package gelatine; six tablespoonfuls of sugar; vanilla flavoring; juice of one lemon for meringue. Soak CREAMS AND CUSTxVUDS. , 91 the gelatine two hours in a cup of the cold milk. Tiien add to the rest of the milk, which must be boiling hot, and stir until dissolved. Let it stand a few minutes, and strain through muslin over the beaten yolks and sugar. Put over the fire and stir five minutes, or until you can feel it thickening. Stir up well when nearly cold, flavor, and let it alone until it congeals around the edges of the bowl into which you have poured it; then stir again, and put into a wet mold. Set upon ice, or in cold water until firm Turn it, when you are ready for it, into a glass bowl. Have a meringue made by whipping the whites stiff with three tablespoon- fuls of powdered sugar, and the lemon juice. Orange Snow. Peel sweet oranges, slice and lay them in a glass dish with alter- nate layers of grated cocoanut and powdered loaf sugar, leaving a layer of cocoanut on top. Pour over the whole a glass of orange and lemon juice mixed. Place on ice vniU r^<*4j. to sorve. CHAPTER V. CONFECTIONERY. General Directions. 'RANULATED sugar is preferable. Candy should not be stirred while boiling. Cream of tartar should not be added until the syrup begins to boil. Butter should be put in when the candy is almost done. Flavors are more delicate when not boiled in the candy. Almond Candy. Proceed in the same way as for cocoanut candy. Let the almonds be perfectly dry and do not throw them into the sugar until it approaches the candying point. Almond Creams. Three cups of sugar, one and one-half cups of water, one-half teaspoonful of cream of tartar, flavor with vanilla. Boil until drops will almost keep their shape in water, and add a cup of blanched almonds chopped fine, then pour into a bowl set in cold water; stir steadily with a silver or wooden spoon until cool enough to bear the hand; then place on a platter and knead to a fine even texture. If too hard, a few drops of warm water may be stirred in. If too soft, it must be boiled again. When well molded, cut in squares! or bars. Almond cream is very nice flavored with chocolate- BON BONS. Take some fine fresh candied orange rind or citron, clear off the sugar that adheres to it, cut it into inch squares, stick these singly on the prong of a fork or ozier twigs, and dip them into a solution of sugar boiled to the consistency of candy, and place them on a CONFECTIONERY. 98 dish rubbed with the smallest possible quantity of salad oil. When perfectly cold put them into dry tin boxes with paper between each layer. Butter Scotch. One cup of molasses, one cup of sugar, one-half cup of butter. Boil until done. Boston Caramels. One pint bowl of grated chocolate, two bowls of yellow sugar, one bowl of New Orleans molasses, one-half cup of milk, a piece of butter the size of a small egg, and vanilla flavor; boil about twenty-five minutes; this should not be so brittle as other candies. Pour in buttered tins and mark deeply with a knife. Cbeam Cocoanut Candy. One and a half pounds of sugar, one-half cup of milk; boil ten minutes; one grated cocoanut added; boil until thick; put on greased pans quite thick; when partially cold cut in strips. Cocoanut Caramels. Two cups of grated cocoanut, one cup of sugar, two tablespoon- fuls of flour, the whites of three eggs beaten stiff; bake on a but- tered paper in a quick oven. Cocoanut Candy. One cup of water, two and a half cups of fine white sugar, four spoonfuls of vinegar, a piece of butter as large as an egg; boil till thick about three-quarters of an hour. Just before removing stir in one cup desiccated cocoanut and lay in small flat cakes on but- tered plates to cool and harden, Chocolate Caramels. One cup sweet milk, one cup of molasses, half a cup of sugar, half a c-j jf grated chocolate, a piece of butter the size of a walnut ; stir constantly, and let it boil until it is thick; then turn it out on to butt ered plates, and when it begins to stiffen mark it in squares, so that c will break readily when cold. 94 CONFECTIONERY. Chocolate Cream Drops. Mix one-half cup of cream with two of white sugar, boil and stir full five m^Jiutes; set the dish into another of cold water and stir until ib becomes hard. Then make into small balls about the size of marbles, and with a fork roll each one separately in the choco- late, 'vhich has in the meantime been put in a bowl over the bfuli ng tea kettle and melted; put on brown paper to cool; flavor '' 4h vanilla if desired. This amount makes about fifty drops. Chocolate Kisses. One pound of sugar and two ounces of chocolate pounded together tid finely sifted; mix with the whites of eggs well beaten to a froth; drop on buttered paper and bake slowly. Fruit Candy. One and one-half pounds of granulated sugar, wet with the milk of a cocoanut; put into a sauce-pan and let it heat slowly; boil rapidly five minutes, then add one cocoanut grated very fine, anc*. boil ten minutes longer, stirring constantly. Try a little on a cold plate, and if it forms a firm paste when cool, take from the fire. Pour part of it out on to a large tin lined with greased paper; then add to the remaining cream one-fourth pound of stoned raisins., one-half pound of blanched almonds, one pint of pecans, one-half cup of chopped walnuts. Pour over the other cream, and when BOol cut into bars and squares. ' HicKORY-NUT Candy. Boil two cups of sugar, one-half cup of water, without stirring, until thick enough to spin a thread; flavor; set the dish off into* 'cold water; stir quickly until white, then stir in one cup of hicko- ry-nut meats; turn into a flat tin, and when cool cut into squares. HoREHOUND Candy. Prepare a strong decoction, by boiling two ounces of the dried herb in a pint and a half of water for about half an hour; strain CONFECTIONERY. 95 this, and add three and one-half pounds of brown sugar; boil over a hot fire until it reaches the requisite degree of hardness, when it may be poured out in flat tin trays, previously well greased, and marked into sticks or squares with a knife, as it becomes cool enough to retain its shape. Lemon-Ckeam Candy. Six pounds best white sugar, strained juice of two lemons, grated peel of one lemon, one teaspoonful of soda, three cups clear water. Steep the grated peel of the lemon in the juice for an hour; strain, squeezing the cloth hard to get out all the strength. Pour the water over the sugar, and, when nearly dissolved, set it over the fire and bring to a boil. Stew steadily until it hardens in cold water; stir in the lemon; boil one minute; add the dry soda, stirring in well ; and, instantly, turn out upon broad, shallow dishes. Pull as soon as you can handle it, into long white ropes, and cut into lengths when brittle. Vanilla cream candy is made in the same way, with the substitu- tion of vanilla flavoring for the lemon-juice and peel. Lemon and Peppermint Drops. Take of dry granulated sugar a convenient quantity; place it in a saucepan having a lip from which the contents may be poured or dropped. Add a very little water, just enough to make, with the sugar, a stiff paste; two ounces of water to a pound of sugar is about the right proportion. Set it over the fire and allow it to nearly boil, keeping it continually stirred. It must not actually come to a full boil, but must be removed from the fire just as soon as the bubbles, denoting that the boiling point is reached, begin to rise. Allow the syrup to cool a little, stirring all the time; add strong essence of peppermint or lemon to suit the taste, and drop on tins or sheets of smooth white paper. The dropping is per- formed by tilting the vessel slightly, so that the contents will run out, and with a small piece of stiff wire the drops may be stroked off on to the tins or paper. They should be kept in a warm place 96 CONFECTIONERY. for a few hours to dry. In the season of fruits, delicious drops may be made by substituting the juice of fresh fruits, as straw berry, raspberry, lemon, pineapple or banana, or any of these essences may be used. Molasses Candy. Into a kettle holding at least four times the amount of molasses to be used, pour a convenient quantity of Porto Rico molasses; place over a slow fire and boil for a half hour, stirring all the time to diminish as much as possible the increase of bulk caused by boil- ing, and checking the fire or removing the kettle if there is any danger of the contents running over. Be very careful not to let the candy burn, especially near the close of the boiling. When a little, dropped in cold water, becomes quickly hard and snaps apart like a pipestem, add a teaspoonful of carbonate of soda, free from lumps, to every two quarts; stir quickly to mix, and pour on greased platters to cool. When the candy is sufficiently cool to handle without burning the hands, it is pulled back and forth, the hands being rubbed with a little butter (do not use flour) to prevent the candy from sticking to them. The more the candy is worked, the lighter it will be in color. White Molasses Candy. Take two pounds of refined sugar (termed by grocers " Coffee C "), one pint of pure sugar-house syrup, and one pint best Porto Rico or New Oi'leans molasses. Boil together until it hardens, as above described, add one teaspoonful of carbonate of soda, and work in the usual manner. Peanut Candy. One scant pint of molasses, four quarts of peanuts, measured before they are shelled, two tablespoonf uls of vanilla, one teaspoon- ful of soda. Boil the molasses until it hardens in cold water, when dropped from the spoon. Stir in the vanilla, then the soda, dry. Lastly, the shelled peanuts. Turn out into shallow pans well buttei'cd, and press it down smooth with a wooden spoon. CONFECTIONERY. 97 We can heartily recommend the candy made according to this receipt as being unrivaled of its kind. The molasses should be good in quality, and the peanuts freshly roasted. Pop-Corn Balls. Add one ounce of white gum arable to a half pint of water, and let it stand until dissolved. Strain, add one pound of refined sugar and boil until when cooled it becomes very thick, so much so as to be stirred with difficulty. To ascertain when it has reached this point, a little may be cooled in a saucer. A convenient quantity of the freshly popped corn having been placed in a milk pan, enough of the warm syrupy candy is poured on and mixed by stirring, to cause the kernels to adhere in a mass, portions of which may be formed into balls by pressing them into the proper shape with the hands. Ordinaiy molasses, or sugar-house syrup may be used as well, by being boiled to the same degree, no gum being necessary with these materials. Corn cake is prepared in a similar manner. This mass, while warm, is put into tins and pressed by rollers into thin sheets, which are afterwards divided into small, square cakes. Taffy. Either of the two kinds of molasses candy, if poured from the kettle into tin trays without working, will produce a fine plain taffy. It may be left in one sheet the size of the tray, or, wheH slightly cold, may be marked off in squares. Efferton Taffy. This is a favorite English confection. To make it take three pounds of the best brown sugar and boil with one and one-hall pints of Avater, until the candy hardens in cold water. Then add one-half pound of sweet-flavored, fresh butter, Avhich will soften the candy. Boil a few minutes until it again hardens and pour it into trays. Flavor with lemon if desired. 7 98 CONFECTIONERY. Vinegar Candy. Three cups white sugar; one and one-half cups clear vinegar; stir the sugar into the vinegar until thoroughly dissolved; heat to a gentle boil, and stew uncovered until it ropes from the tip of the spoon. Turn out upon broad dishes, well buttered, and cool, and, as soon as it can be handled, pull. It can be pulled beautifully white and porous. Vinegar Candy, No. 2. To one quart of good New Orleans molasses, add one cup of good cider vinegar; boil until it reaches the point where a little dropped into cold water becomes very hard and brittle. Pour into shallow platters until cool enough to be handled, and form into a large roll, which may be drawn dowai to any size and cut off in sticks. "Walnut Candy. The meats of hickory-nuts, English walnuts, or black walnuts may be used according to preference in that regard. After removal from the shells in as large pieces as practicable, they are to be placed on the bottoms of tins, previously greased, to the depth of about a half inch. Next, boil two pounds of brown sugar, a half pint of water, and one gill of good molasses until a portion of the mass hardens when cooled. Pour the hot candy on the meats and allow it to remain until hard. Meringues. Take one pound of powdered sugar, and add to it the beaten whites of eight eggs (slowly), until it forms a stiff froth; fill a tablespoon with the paste, and smooth it over with another spoon to the desired shape; sift a little sugar over a sheet of paper, drop the meringues about two inches apart; dust a little sugar over them, and bake in a quick oven with the door left open part way, so they can be continually watched; when fawn colored, take them out; remove them from the pajier with a thin knife; scrape out of each a little of the soft part. They may be neatly arranged CONFECTIONERY. 99 around a dish of whipped cream, or filled with ice cream. If Avhipped cream is used, they would be improved by the addition of a little bright jelly inside each meringue. Cream Meehstgues. Four eggs (the whites only), whipped stiff, with one pound pow° ■dered sugar, lemon or vanilla flavoring. When very stiff, heap in the shape of half an egg upon stiff letter-paper lining the bottom of your baking pan. Have them half an inch apart. Do not shut the oven door closely, but leave space through which you can watch them. When they are a light yellow-brown, take them out and cool quickly. Slip a thin bladed knife under each; scoop out the soft inside and fill Avith cream whipped as for charlotte russe. They are very fine. The oven should be very hot. Macaroon. Pound in a mortar one pound of blanched sweet almonds and one and one-fourth pounds of lump sugar until they are fine; then add one-half pound of corn starch, one-fourth pound of rice or wheat flour; mix into a fine smooth batter with the whites of about eight r boiled cider or diluted jelly. Bake with two crusts. DESSERTS. 131 Cracker Pie. Soak ten crackers in one and one-half cujis of boiling water, add one cup of molasses, one cup sugar, one cup butter, one cup raisins, two-thirds cup of vinegar, one-half nutmeg, one-half teaspoonful ground cloves, one teaspoonful cinnamon. Bake with two crusts. Chocolate Pie. One coffeecup milk, two tablespoonfuls grated chocolate, three- fourths cup sugar, yolks of three eggs. Heat chocolate and milk together; add the sugar and yolks together, beaten to cream. Flavor with vanilla. Bake with under crust. Spread meringue of the whites over the toj:*. CocoANUT Pie. Open the eyes of a cocoanut with a pointed knife or gimlet, and pour out the milk into a cuj); then break the shell and take out the meat and grate it fine. Take the same weight of sugar and the grated nut and stir together; beat four eggs, the whites and yolks separately, to a stiff foam; mix one cup of cream and the milk of the cocoanut with the sugar and nut, then add the eggs and a few drops of orange or lemon extract. Line deep pie-tins with a nice crust, fill them with the custard, and bake carefully one-half an hour. Jelly Custard. To one cup of any sort of jelly, add one egg and beat well together with three teaspoonfuls cream or milk. After mixing thoroughly, bake in a good crust. Custard Pie. Line a deep plate with pie crust and fill with a custard made of one pint of milk, three eggs, three tablespoonfuls of white sugar and a pinch of salt; flavor with nutmeg; bake until firm in the center; this you can tell by inserting the handle of a teaspoon; do not let the oven got hot enough to boil it. 132 DESSERTS. Cream Pie. Pout j» pint of cream upon a cup and a half of powdered sugar; let it s''-.and till the whites of three eggs have been beaten to a stiff froth; add this to the cream, and beat up thoroughly, grate a little nutmeg over the mixture and bake as custard pies. Cream Pie, No. 2. Three eggs, one cup sugar, one and one-fourth cups flour, juice and grated rind of lemon, half teaspoonful soda dissolved, and one tablespoonful cold water, stirred in the last thing. Bake in round sheets. Custard for Cream Pie. A little mpre than half pint milk, half cup flour, one cup sugar, two eggs. Boil, when cold, spread on the cakes and lay them together. This receipt makes two pies. Delicate Pie. To stewed apples sufiicient for four pies, one-half pound of butter, six eggs, beaten separately, one pound of sugar; flavor with lemon, the apples being quite cold before adding the eggs. Bake as a tart pie. Lemon Pie. One cup of hot water, one tablespoonful of corn starch, one cup of white sugar, one tablespoonful of butter, the juice and grated rind of one lemon. Cook for a few minutes, add one egg, and bake with a top and bottom crust. Fruit Pie. Line a soup plate with a rich jjaste, and spread with a layer of strawberry or raspberry preserves; over which sprinkle two table- spoonfuls of finely-chopped almonds (blanched of course), and one- half ounce of candied lemon peel cut into shreds. Then mix the following ingredients: One-half pound white sugar, one-quarter pound butter, melted, four yolks and two whites of eggs, and a few drops of almond essence. Beat well together and pour the mixture DESSERTS. 133 into the soup plate over the preserves, etc. Bake in a moderately warm oven. When cold, sprinkle or sift a little powdered sugar over the top. A little cream eaten with it is a great addition. Lemon Pie, No. 2. The juice and grated rind of one lemon, one cup of white sugar, the yolks of two eggs, three tablespoonfuls of sifted flour, and suf- ficient milk to fill a plate. Make with undercrust, but not the uppercrust. Bake till nearly done and then add a frosting made of the beaten whites of two eggs, and two tablespoonfuls of powdered sugar, and set back in the oven and brown slightly. Mince Meat. One pint of chopped meat, two pints of chopped apples, one pint «ach of molasses and vinegar, two pints of sugar, one tablespoonful each of cinnamon, cloves, and allspice, a cup of chopped suet or butter, a little salt, and a little brandy if liked. Add raisins when the pies are baked. Mince Meat. Two pounds of lean beef boiled; when cold chop fine; one pound of suet minced to a powder, five pounds of juicy apples, 2:>ared and •chopped, two pounds of raisins, seeded, two pounds of sultanas or seedless raisins, two pounds of currants, one-half pound of citron, chopped, three tablespoonfuls of cinnamon, two tablespoonfuls of mace, one tablespoonful of allspice, one tablespoonful of fine salt, one grated nutmeg, three pounds of brown sugar, one-half gallon of sweet cider. Mince meat made by this recipe will keep tilJ -spring. Mince Pie. It is supposed you have your meat ready for the paste. Make the paste by rubbing into a quart of your best flour one-thfrd of a pound of ^weet lard; chop it in with a bi-oad knife, if you have time; wet up with ice water; roll out very thin and cover with dabs of butter, also of the best; fold into a tight roll; flatten with a few strokes of the rolling-pin, and roll out into a sheet as thin a? 134 DESSERTS. tlie first; Dasce again with the butter; roll up and out into a third sheet hardly thicker than drawing paper; a third time dot with butter and fold up closely. Having used as much butter for this purpose as you have lard, set aside your roll for an hour on ice, or in a very cold place; then roll out, line your jjie plates with the paste, fill with mince meat, put strips across them in squares or triangles and bake in a steady and not dull heat. Mince Pie, No. 2. Boil a piece of beef weighing six pounds, and a beef's tongue weighing six pounds, six hours. Then skin the tongue, chop it and the beef fine; add five pounds beef suet chopped fine, five pounds raisins stoned, three pounds dried currants, one and one-half pound citron, four pounds brown sugar, one pint good molasses, one quart brandy, one quart wine, or, omit these, and add in their place boiled cider; half a cup each of salt, cinnamon, allspice and cloves, three nutmegs and a tablespoonful of mace. Mix all well together, and let it stand over night. Mix apples stewed when you make the pies, as the meat keeps better without apple. Keep it in a stone jar. You should have about a third as much apple as you have of the mince meat for a batch of pies. Mince Meat Without Meat. Take nine lemons, squeeze out the juice, boil the rinds and pulp (remove seed) in three or four waters till bitterness is out and rinds quite tender; beat them to a pulp; two and one-half pounds beef suet after it is picked from the skins, two pounds currants after they are picked and washed, one and one-half pounds raisins after they are stoned, two ounces almonds, two pounds sugar, one- half pound citron, a glass of brandy, and one of any kind of sweet wine; mix all these ingredients well together with the juice from the lemons, and as many sweetmeats as you please. ■« Marlborough Pie. Grate six apples, one cup sugar, three tablespoonfuls melted DESSERTS. 135 butter, four eggs, juice and grated rind of a lemon, two tablespoon- fuls brandy or wine, if you choose; if not, omit it. Bake in an under, but without top crust. Oeaj^ge Pie. Take four good-sized oranges, peel, seed, and cut in very small pieces. Add a cup of sugar, and let stand. Into a quart of nearly boiling milk stir two tablespoonfuls of corn starch mixed with a little water, and the yolks of three eggs. When this is done, let it cool, then mix with the oranges. Put it in simply a lower crust. Make a frosting of the whites of the eggs and one-half cup suo-ar. Spread it over top of pies, and place for a few seconds in the oven to brown. Cream Peach Pie. Pare ripe peaches and remove the stones; have your pie dishes ready lined with a good paste, fill with the peaches; stew these with sugar; lay the upper crust on lightly, slightly buttering the lower at the point of contact. When the pie is done, lift the cover and pour in a cream made thus: One cup (small) of rich milk, heated; whites of two eggs, whipped and stirred into the milk; one tablespoonful of sugar; one-half teaspoonful of corn starch wet up in milk. Boil three minutes. The cream must be cold M^hen it goes into the hot pie. Replace the crust, and set by to cool. Eat fresh. Pine-Apple Pie. One granted pine-apple, its weight in sugar, half its weight in butter, five eggs, the whites beaten to a stiff froth, one cup of cream; cream the butter and beat it with the sugar and yolks until very light; add the cream, the pine-apple and the whites of the eggs. Bake with an under crust. To be eaten cold. Pumpkin Pie. Pare the pumpkin and take out the seeds without scraping the inside; stew and strain through a sieve. To every quart of milk add five eggs, and stir the pumpkin into the milk and eggs until 136 DESSERTS. the proper consistency; sweeten with sugar or the best sjTup; molasses makes it too strong. Add some salt, powdered cinnamon, powdered ginger and the grated peel of lemon. Bake in either deep or shallow dishes in a hot oven. Potato Pie. One pound mashed potato, rubbed through a colander; one-fourth pound of butter, creamed with the sugar; six eggs, whites and yolks beaten separately; one lemon, squeezed into the potato while hot; one teaspoonful of nutmeg and the same of mace; two cups of white sugar. Cream the butter and sugar; add the yolks, the spice, and beat in the potato gradually until it is very light. At last, whip in the whites. Bake in open shells of paste. Eat cold. Sweet Potato Pie. A plate deeper than the common pie plate is necessary. Bake medium-sized potatoes, not quite done. Yams are best. Line the plate with good paste; slice the potatoes; place a layer upon the bottom of the plate; over this sprinkle thickly a layer of good brown sugar; over this place thin slices of butter and sprinkle with flour, seasoning with spices to the taste. A heaped tablespoonf ul of butter and a heaped teaspoonful of flour will be sufficient for one pie. Put on another layer of potatoes, piled a little in the middle. Mix together equal quantities lemon juice and water, or vinegar and water and pour in enough to half fill the pie ; sprinkle over the potato a little flour and place on the upper crust, pinching the edges carefully together. Cut a slit in the center and bake slowly an hour. Sweet Potato Pie, No. 2. Boil potatoes until tender, pare and put through a colander or sieve. To one pint of potato add one pint of milk, three eggs, and from one to two cups sugar, to suit taste; flavor with ginger or lemon. DESSERTS. 137 Apple or Peach Meringue Pie. Stew the api^les or peaches and sweeten to taste. Mash smooth and season with nutmeg. Fill the crusts and bake until just done. Put on no top crusts. Take the whites of three eggs for each pie and whijD to a stiff froth, and sweeten with three tablespoonfuls powdered sugar. Flavor with rose water or vanilla. Beat until it will stand alone, then spread it on the pie one-half to one inch thick, and set back into the oven until the meringue is well " set." Eat cold. Peach Pie. Peel, stone and slice the peaches; line a pie plate with crust and lay in your fruit, sprinkling sugar liberally over them in proportion to their sweetness. Allow three peach kernels chopped fine to each pie; pour in a very little water and bake with an upj^er crust, or with cross-bars of paste across the top. Quince Pie. Pare, slice, and stew six quinces till soft; press them through a sieve; add to them one pint milk and four well-beaten eggs. Sweeten to taste, and bake in a bottom crust three-fourths of an hour in a moderate oven. Cream Raspberry Pie. Line a pie-dish with puff paste, and fill with raspberries, sweet- ened bountifully. Cover with a paste crust, but do not pinch this down at the edges. Also rub the edge of the lower crust with butter to prevent adhesion. Bake in a good oven. While it is cooking, heat a small cup of rich milk, putting in a pinch of soda; stir into it half a teaspoonful of corn starch, wet in cold milk, one tablespoonful of white sugar, and cook three minutes. Take it off, and beat in the frothed whites of two eggs. Whip to a cream, and let it get cold. When the pie comes out of the oven, lift the top crust and pour in the mixture; replace the crust and set aside to cool; sift sugar upon the top before serving. 138 DESSERTS. Ratstn Pie. One lemon — juice and yellow rind, one cup of raisins, one cup of water, one cup of rolled crackers; stone the raisins, and boil in water t© soften them. Rhubarb Pie. One and one-half bunches rhubard, one and one-quarter cups efugar. Cut the fruit in small pieces after stripping off the skin, and cook it very fast in a shallow stewj^an, with sugar. Line a pie plate with the paste; wet the rim; add the rhubarb, cold; lay three bars of paste across, fastening the ends; lay three more across^, forming diamond-shaped spaces; lay round a rim, wash over with egg, and bake in a quick oven fifteen minutes. Rice Pie. For \;wo pies, take two tablespoonf uls of rice ; wash and put it into a farina boiler with a quart of milk; cook until perfectly soft. Let it cool; add three eggs, well beaten, with three tablespoonf uls of sugar and one of butter, a little salt, cinnamon and a few stoned raisins. Bake with undercrust. Squash Pie. Pare the squash and remove the seeds; stew until soft and dry; then pulp it through a colander; stir into the pulp* enough sweet milk to make it thick as batter; spice with ginger, cinnamon, nut- meg, or other seasoning to taste; sweeten with sugar and add four beaten eggs for each quart of milk. Fill a pie plate lined with crust and bake one hour. Vinegar Pies. One and one-half cups good vinegar, one cup of water, lump of butter size of an egg, sugar enough to sweeten to the taste; flavor with lemon; put in stewpan on stove; take five eggs, beat the yolks with one cup of water and two heaping teaspoonfuls of flour; when the vinegar comes to a boil, put in the eggs and flour, stirring till well cooked; have ready crust for four pies, put in the filling DESSERTS. Ib9 and bake. Beat the whites with two teaspoonf uls of white sugar to a froth, spread on the pies when done, and color in the oven. These are excellent. Tarts. Use the best of puff paste; roll it out a little thicker than the pie crust, and cut with a large biscuit-cutter twice as many as you intend to have of tarts; then cut out of half of them a small round, in the center, which will leave a circular rim of crust; lift this up carefully, and la^ on the large pieces. Bake in pans, and fill with any kind of preserves, jam, or jelly. CHAPTER VIII. DRINKS. Coffee. , INCE Pasquet Rossee oj^ened the first coffee-house in Europe in Newman's Court, Cornhill, London, in 1652, its popularity has constantly increased until to-day those who use it embrace the whole world, and its annual consumption is measured by millions of pounds. But as common as is its use, it has not been a common occurrence in our experience to have set before us a really good cup of coffee. This fact convinces us that there is still much need of information on this subject. The following, by H. K. & F. B. Thurber & Co., is so appropriate that we quote it in full : "Nothing is more generally desired or appreciated, nothing harder to find than a uniformly good cup of coffee. Its production is usually considered an easy matter, but it involves the observance of a considerable number of conditions by a considerable number of persons, and a volume might be written about these and still leave much to be said. We will, however, briefly state the most import- ant requisites. " The wholesale dealer must exercise care and judgment in his selections, as there is almost as much difference in the flavor of coffee as there is of tea; this is especially true of Mocha, Java, Maracaibo, and other fancy coffees, of which frequently the bright- est and handsomest looking lots are greatly lacking in the flavor and aroma which constitute the chief value of coffee, and which can be ascertained only by testing carefully each invoice purchased. It should be roasted by a professional roaster, as this is a very 140 A'GooD Cup of Coffee. DRINKS. 141 important part of the programme, and requires skill, experience and constant practice. Expert roasters are usually experienced men and command high salaries. A bad coffee roaster is dear at any jjrice, as the coffee may be ruined or its value greatly injui-ed by an error in judgment or an instant's inattention. Owing to these circum- stances, in addition to the fact that in order to do good work it is necessary to roast a considerable quantity at a time, none of the small hand machines produce uniformly good results, and they are only to be tolerated where distance makes it impossible for the retail merchants to obtain regular and (when not in air-tight pack- ages) frequent supplies of the roasted article. How much it should be roasted is also an important part of the question. For making " black " or " French " coffee it should be roasted higher than usual (the French, also, often add a little chicory), and some sections are accustomed to a higher roast than others, but as a whole the cus- tomary New York standard will best suit the average American palate. Retail dealers should buy their roasted coffee of a reliable house that has a reputation to sustain, and that cannot be induced to cut down prices below what they can afford to furnish an article that will do them credit. Do not buy much at a time (unless in air-tight packages), a week or ten day's supply is enough, and if you are situated so you can buy it twice a Aveek, so much the better. Keep it in a dry place and, if possible, in a tin can which shuts tightly, never in a pine box or bin, for the smell of the wood is quickly absorbed by the coffee. Get your customers in the habit of buying it in the berry, or, if they have no mill at home and want you to grind it for them (every grocer should have a mill), grind it pretty fine, so that when used the strength is readily extracted, but do not sell them much at a time, as it is a necessity to have it freshly ground. " Consumers should adopt the above suggestions to retail dealers — buy of a reliable dealer who will not represent an inferior article as 'Java;' buy in small quantities and buy often; keep it dry in a tightly closed tin can or in a glass or earthen jar. Have a small 142 DRINKS. hand coffee mill and grind only when ready to use it, and if, during rainy weather, the kernels become damp and tough warm them up in a clean pot or skillet but do not scorch them; this drives off the moisture, restores the flavor and makes it grind better. The grinding is an imj^ortant feature; if ground too coarse you lose much of the strength and aroma of the coffee; if too fine it is hard to make it clear, but of the two. the latter is the least objectionable; both the strength and the flavor of the coffee, however, is a neces- sity, and if a little of the finely powdered coffee flows out with the liquid extract it is clean and will hurt nobody. It is better, how- ever, to grind it just right, which is that the largest pieces will be no larger than pin heads." We now come to the important part of making coffee. For this there are many receipts and formulas, including a large number of new and so-called improved coffee-pots, but we have never seen any of the new methods which, in the long run, gave as satisfactory results as the following old-fashioned receipt: Grind moderately fine a large cup of coffee; break into it one egg with shell; mix well, adding just enough cold water to thor- oughly wet the grounds; upon this pour one pint boiling water; let it boil slowly for ten to fifteen minutes, and then stand three minutes to settle; pour through a fine wire sieve into coffee-pot, which should be first rinsed with hot water; this will make enough for four persons. Coffee should be served as soon as made. At table, first rinse the cup with hot water, put in the sugar, then fill half full of hot milk, add your coffee, and you have a delicious beverage that will be a revelation to many poor mortals who have an indistinct remembrance of and an intense longing for an ideal cup of coffee. If you have cream so much the better; and in that case boiling water can be added either in the pot or cup to make up for the space occupied by milk, as above; or condensed milk will be found a good substitute for cream. General Remarks. — We have thus briefly indicated the points necessary to be observed in obtaining uniformly good coffee. DRINKS. , 143 whether made from Rio, or Java, and other mild flavored coffees,. In the Eastern and Middle States, Mocha, Java, Maracaibo, Ceylon, etc., are most highly esteemed and generally used; but at the west and south more Rio coffee is consumed. The coffee par excellence, however, is a mixture of Mocha and Java together, and thus thoroughly blended. Mocha alone is too rough and acrid, but, blended as above, it is certainly delicious. In all varieties, how- ever, there is a considerable range as to quality and flavor, and, as before stated, the best guide for the consumer is to buy of a reli- able dealer and throw upon his shoulders the responsibility of fur- nishing a satisfactory article. Hotels and restaurants that desire good coffee, should make in small quantities and more frequently. It is impossible for coffee to be good when it is kept simmering for hours after it is made. Coffee Substitutes. French cooks, who are celebrated for making good coffee, mix three or four different kinds, and recommend as a good proportion, to add to one pound of Java about four ounces of Mocha and four ounces of one or two other kinds. It is said that from three parts of Rio, with two parts of Old Government Java, a coffee can be made quite as good, if not superior, to that made of Java alone. Wheat coffee, made of a mixture of eight quarts of wheat to one pound of real coffee, is said to afford a beverage quite as agreeable as the unadulterated Rio, besides being much more wholesome. It is probably known to many that a very large per cent, of the ground coffee sold at the stores is common field pease, roasted and ground with genuine coffee. There are hundreds of thousands of bushels of peas annually used for that purpose. Those who are in the habit of purchasing ground coffee can do better to buy their own pease, burn and grind them, and mix to suit themselves. Novel Mode of Making Coffee. Put two ounces of ground coffee into a stewpan, which set Upon ihe fire, stirring the powder around with a spoon until quite hot. 144 DRINKS. when pour over a pint of boiling water; cover over closely for five minutes, when strain it through a cloth, rinse out the stewpan^ pour the coffee, which will be quite clear, back into it, place it on the fire, and when near boiling, serve with hot milk. Tea. We find the following eminently sensible lines in Household Hints : One of the most surprising things one constantly meets is to find that the people who have the same duties to perform, day after day, or year after year, do not improve in their method or even once blunder into the right way of doing them. Nothing is more easily made than good tea, and yet how seldom, away from home, does one enjoy delicately fragrant tea which Hawthorne calls "an angel's gift " and which Miss Mitf ord said she could be awake all night drinking. The first thing needed is a clean tea-pot; it is useless to try to make good tea in a rusty j^ot, or one in which the leaves have been allowed to remain all night. The water should be boiling but the tea itself should never boil. I wish these words coiild be painted on the wall of every hotel and restaurant kitchen in the United States. After the boiling water has been jjoured over the tea set the tea-pot on an extra griddle on the back of the stove. All that is good in the tea will be gradually extracted from it; then when brought to the table one may well echo De Quin- cey's wish for an " eternal tea-pot," though not inclined to follow his example of drinking it from eight o'clock in the evening until four o'clock in the morning. The most satisfactory steep)er I ever used is an old-fashioned brown eai'thern tea-pot. This may be kept perfectly clean with almost no trouble. Whatever may be said of the hurtfulness of tea, when immoderately used, a cup of the afternoon tea so fre- quently mentioned in novels and essays is an unpurchasable luxury. Hamerton says in "The Intellectual Life:" " If tea is a safe stimu- lant it is certainly an agreeable one; there seems to be no valid reason why brain workers should recuse themselves this solace." DRINKS. 145 Iced Tea. The tea should be made in the morning, very strong, and not allowed to stee}) long. Keep in the ice-box till the meal is ready and then put in a small quantity of cracked ice. Very few under- stand the art of making iced tea, 1 pour the scalding hot tea on a goblet of ice lumped in, and as the ice melts the tea is weak, insipid, and a libel on its name. Iced coffee is very nice made in the same way. Too much ice is detrimental to health and often causes gastric fever; so beware of it when in a heated state, or do not drink of it in large quantities, A Good Summer Drink. Two pounds CataAvba grapes, three tablespoonfuls loaf sugar, one cup of cold water. Squeeze the grapes hard in a coarse cloth, when you have picked them from the stems. Wring out every drop of juice; add the sugai', and when it is dissolved, the water, surround with ice until very cold; put a lump of ice into a pitcher, pour out the mixture upon it, and drink at once. You can add more sugar if you like, or if the grapes are not quite ripe. Cottage Beer. Take a peck of good wheat bran and put it into ten gallons of water with three liandfuls of good hops, and boil the whole together until the bran and hops sink to the bottom. Then strain it through a hair sieve or a thin cloth into a cooler, and when it is about lukewai-m add two quarts of molasses. As soon as the molasses is melted, pour the whole into a ten-gallon cask, with two tablespoonfuls of yeast. When the fermentation has subsided, bung up the cask, and in four days it will be fit to use. Ginger Beer. Boil six ounces of bruised ginger in three quarts of water, foi half an hour; then add five pounds of loaf sugar, a gill of lemon • juice, quarter pound of honey, and seventeen quarts more of water. 146 DRINKS. and strain it througli a clotli. When it is cold put in the whole of an egg, and two drachms of essence of lemon. After standing three or four days, it may be bottled. Spruce Beer. Take four ounces of hops, boil half an hour in one gallon of water; strain it; add sixteen gallons of warm water, two gallons of molasses, eight ounces of essence of spruce dissolved in one quart of water; put it in a clean cask, shake it well together, add half pint of yeast, let it stand and work one week; if warm weather, less time will do. When drawn off, add one teaspoonful of molasses to each bottle. Iced Buttermilk. There is no healthier drink than buttermilk, but it must be the creamy, rich buttermilk to be good. It should stand on the ice to cool, though if very rich and thick a little ice in it is an improve- ment. Claret Cup. Put into a bowl three bottles of soda water, and one bottle of claret. Pare a lemon very thin and grate a nutmeg; add to these, in a jug, one pound of loaf sugar, and pour over them one pint of boiling water; when cold, strain and mix with the wine and soda water; a little lemon juice may be added. Fruit Cup. Pare the yellow rind very thinly from twelve lemons; squeeze the juice over it in an earthern bowl, and let it stand over night if possible. Pare and slice thinly a very ripe pine-apple, and let it lay over night in half a pound of powdered sugar. Crush one quart of berries, and let them lay over night in half a pound of powdered sugar. If all these ingredient cannot be prepared the day before they are used, they must be done very early in the morning, 'because the juices of the fruit need to be incorporated with the sugar at least twelve hours before the beverage is used. After all DRINKS. 147 the ingredients have been properly prepared, as above, strain off the juice, carefully pressing all of it out of the fruit; mix it with two pounds of powdered sugar and three quarts of ice water, and stir it until all the sugar is dissolved. Then strain it again through a muslin or bolting-cloth sieve, and put it on the ice or in a very cool place until it is wanted for use. Cream of Tartar Drink. Two teaspoonf uls of cream of tartar, the grated rind of a lemon, half a cup of loaf sugar, and one pint of boiling water. This is a good summer drink for invalids, and is cleansing to the blood. Jelly DEiTiTKS. A little jelly or fruit syrup dissolved in a goblet of water with a little sugar is a refreshing drink. Lime juice squeezed into lemon- ade gives it a tart but pleasing flavor. A little orange juice is also an improvement in nearly all summer drinks. Simon Pure Lemonade. Take thin-skinned lemons; roll them on the table until very soft; slice very thin with a sharp knife into a large pitcher, averaging one lemon to a person, thus allowing them two glasses apiece. Put in the pitcher with the sliced lemon a cup of white sugar to five lemons (or more if you want it sweeter) and pound all well together with a potato masher; put in a lump of ice; let it stand a few minutes and fill the pitcher with ice water. This makes lemonade that is lemonade, and the peel in the pitcher is delicious. Jelly Lemonade. Pare the yellow rind thinly from two oranges and six lemons and steep it four hours in a quart of hot water. Boil a pound and a half of loaf sugar in three pints of water, skimming it until it is clear. Pour these two mixtures together. Add to them the juice of six oranges and twelve lemons, mix and strain through a jelly- bag nntil clear; keep cool until wanted for use. If the beverage is 148 DRINKS. to be kept several days, it should be put into clean glass bottles and corked tightly. If lor a small party, half of the quantity will be sufficient. Ginger Lemonade. Take a half cup of vinegar, one cup of sugar, two teaspoonfuls ginger; stir w^ell together, put in a quart pitcher and fill with ice water. If one wants it sweeter or sourer than these quantities will make it, more of the needed ingredients may be put in. It is a cooling drink and almost as good as lemonade, some preferring it. Berry Sherbet. Crush one pound of berries, add them to one quart of water, one lemon sliced, and one teaspoonful of orange flavor, if you have it. Let these ingredients stand in an earthen bowl for three hours; then strain, squeezing all the juice out of the fruit. Dissolve one pound of powdered sugar in it, strain again, and put on the ice until ready to serve. Excellent Mead. Three pounds brown sugar, one pint of molasses, one-fourth pound tartaric acid; mix, pour over them two quarts boiling water, stir till dissolved. When cold, add half ounce essence sassafras and bottle. When you wish to drink it, put three tablespoonfuls of it in a tumbler, fill half full with ice M^ater, add a little more than one-fourth teaspoonful soda. An excellent summer beverage. CHAPTER IX. EGGS AND OMELETTES. GGS of various kinds are largely used as food for man, and it is scarcely possible to exaggerate their value in this capacity, so simple and convenient are they in their form and so mani- fold may be their transformations. They are exceedingly delicious, hio-hly nutritious and easy of digestion, and when the shell is included they may be said to contain in themselves all that is required for the construction of the body. It has been claimed for them that they may be served in about six hundred ways, although it is generally found that the more simply they are prepared the more they are approved. Although other eggs besides birds' eggs are eaten it is generally agreed that the eggs of the common fowl and of the plover possess the sweetest and richest flavor. The eggs of ducks and geese are frequently used in cookery, but they are of too coarse a nature to be eaten alone. The eggs of the turkey and of the peahen are highly esteemed for some purposes* The weight of an ordinary new-laid hen's egg is from one and a half to two and a half ounces avoirdupois, and the qiiantity of solid matter contained in it amounts to two hundred grains. In one hundred parts about ten parts consist of shell, sixty of white and thirty of yolk. The white of the egg contains more water than the yolk. It contains no fatty matter but consists chiefly of albumen in a dissolved state. All the fatty matter of the egg is accumulated in the yolk, which contains relatively a smaller proportion of nitro- genous matter and a larger proportion of solid matter than the ivhite. Therefore, in an alimentary point of view the white and 149 150 EGGS AND OMELETTES, the yolk differ considerably from each other, the former being, mainly a sinqjle solution of albumen, the latter being a solution of a modified form of albumen together with a quantity of fat. Raw and lightly boiled eggs are easy of digestion. It is said that raw eggs are more easily digested than cooked ones; but this may be doubted if the egg is not over-cooked. A hard-boiled egg presents a decided resistance to gastric solution, and has constipa- tory action on the bowels. Beeaded Eggs. Boil hard and cut in round, thick slices; pepper and salt and dip each in beaten raw egg, then in fine bread crumbs or powdered cracker crumbs and fry in butter, hissing hot. Drain off everjr drop of grease and serve hot. Egg a la Mode. Remove the skin from a dozen tomatoes, medium size, cut them up in a saucepan, add a little butter, pepper and salt; when suffi- ciently boiled, beat up five or six eggs, and just before you serve^ turn them into the saucepan with the tomato, and stir one way for two minutes, allowing them time to be well done. How TO Bake Eggs. Butter a clean, smooth saucepan, break as many eggs as will be needed into a saucer, one by one. If found good, slip it into the dish. No broken yolk allowed, nor must they crowd so as to risk breaking the yolk after being put in. Put a small piece of butter on eacli, and sprinkle with pepper and salt. Set into a well-heated oven, and bake till the whites are set. If the oven is rightly heated^ it will take but a few minutes, and is far more delicate than fried eggs. Egg Baskets. Boil quite hard as many eggs as will be needed. Put into cold water till cold, then cut neatly into halves with a thin, sharp knife;, remove the yolk and rub to a paste with some melted butter„ EGGS AND OMELETTES. 151 adding pepper and salt. Cover up this paste and set aside till the filling is ready. Take cold roast duck, chicken, or turkey Avhich may be on hand, chop fine i-nd pound smooth, and while pounding mix in the paste prepared from the yolks. As you pound moisten with melted butter and some gravy which may have been left over from the fowls; set this paste when done over hot water till well heated. Cut off a small slice from the end of the empty halves of the Avhites so they will stand firm, then fill them with this paste; place them close together on a flat, round dish, and pour over the rest of the gravy, if any remains, or make a little fresh. A few spoonfuls of cream or rich milk improves this dressing. To Pickle Eggs. Sixteen eggs, one quart of vinegar, one-half ounce of black pepper, one-half ounce Jamaica pepper, one-half ounce of ginger; boil the eggs twelve minutes; dip in cold water and take off the shell; put the vinegar with the pepper and ginger into a stew pan and simmer ten minutes; place the eggs in a jar, pour over the seasoned vinegar boiling hot, and when cold tie them down with a bladder to exclude the air; ready for use in a month. Scrambled Eggs. Heat the spider and put in a little butter; have the eggs broken into a dish, salt and pepper them; add a small piece of butter; beat up just enough to break the eggs, then pour into the buttered spider; scrape them up from the bottom with a thin knife to prevent their cooking fast. Do not cook too dry. To Poach Eggs. Have the water well salted, and do not let it boil hard. Break the eggs separately into a saucer, and slip gently into the water; when nicely done, remove with a skimmer, trim neatly, and lay each egg upon a small thin square of buttered toast, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Some persons prefer them poached, rather than fried, with ham; in Avhich case substitute the ham for toast. 152 EGGS AND OMELETTES. Stuffed Eggs. Boil tlie eggs hard, remove the shells, and then cut in two either way, as preferred. Remove the yolks, and mix witli theiii pepper, salt, and a little dry raiist::i*d — some like cold chicken, ham, or tongue chopped very fine — and then stuff the cavities, smooth them, and put the halves together again. For picnics they can simply be wrapped in tissue paper to keep them together. If for home use, they can be egged, and bread-crumbed, and browned in boiling lard; drain ^nd garnish with parsley. Omelette. First have fresh eggs, not omelette eggs (in restaurants all eggs that will not in any way do to boil, are put aside for omelettes), break the eggs in a bowl and to every egg add a tablespoonful of milk and whip the whole as thoroughly as you would for sj^onge cake. The omelette pan must be so hot that butter will melt almost brown in it but not quite. Then run the whipped egg and milk into the pan and put it directly over the fire. Take a thin-bladed. knife and run it carefully under the bottom of the omelette so as to let that which is cooked get above. If the fire is right the whole mass will swell and puff and cook in just about one minute. Watch carefully that it does not burn. It is not necessary to wait till the whole mass is solid as its own heat will cook it after it has left the pan, but begin at one side and carefully roll the edge over and over till it is all rolled up, then let it stand a moment to brown. Turn aut on a hot plate and serve immediately. Omelette, No. 2. Six eggs, one tablespoonful of flour, one cup of milk, a pinch of salt; beat the whites and yolks separately; mix the flour, milk and salt, add the yolks, then add beaten whites. Have a buttered spider very hot; put in. Bake in a quick oven five minutes. EGGS AND OMELETTES. 153 Apple Omelette. Eight large apples, four eggs, one cup of sugar, one tablespoon- ful of butter, nutmeg or cinnamon to taste. Stew the apples and mash fine; add butter and sugar; when cold, add the eggs, well beaten. Bake until brown, and eat while warm. Baked Omelette. Set one-half pint of milk on the fire and stir in one-half cup of flour mixed with a little cold milk and salt; when scalding hot, beat the yolks of six eggs and add them; stir in whites and set imme- diately in the oven. Bake twenty minutes and serve as soon as done. Oyster Omelette. Allow for every six large oysters or twelve small ones, one egg; remove the hard part and mince the rest very fine; take the yolks of eight eggs and whites of four, beat till very light; then mix in the oysters, season and beat all up thoroughly; put into a skillet a gill of butter, let it melt; when the butter boils, skim it and turn in the omelette; stir until it stiffens, fry light brown; when the under side is brown, turn on to a hot platter. If wanted the upper side brown, hold a red-hot shovel over it. Omelette Souffle, Stir five tablespoonfuls of sifted flour into three pints of milk, strain through a sieve; add the yolks of eight eggs, beaten very light, and, just as it goes into the oven, the whites beaten stiff. Bake quickly. French Omelette. One quart of milk, one pint of bread crumbs, five eggs, one table- spoonful of flour, one onion chopped fine, chopped parsley, season with pepper and salt. Have butter melted in a spider; when the omelette is broAvn, turn it over. Doi'l^le when served. 1,04 EGGS AND OMELETTES. Omelette with Ham. Make a plain omelette, and just before turning one-half over the other, sprinkle over it some finely chopped ham. Garn.sh with small slices of ham. Jelly or marmalade may be added in the same manner. Eggs a la Bonne Femme. Take six large eggs, boil them ten minutes; when cool, remove the shells carefully; divide them equally in halves, take out the yolks, and cut off from each the pointed tip of the white, that they may stand flatly. Make tiny ^^ dice of some cold chicken, ham, boiled beet root, and the eggs. Fill the hollows with these up to the brim, and pile the dice high in the center — two of ham and chicken, two of boiled beetroot, and two with the hard yolks. Arrange some neatly cut lettuce on a dish and place the eggs amongst it. CHAPTER X. FRESH FRUITS. Pine Apples. j,LICE on a slaw cutter, or very thin with a knife; mix with finely-powdered sugar. Set on ice till ready to serve. A Nice Way to Prepare Apples. Pare a dozen tart apples, take out the core, place sugar, with a small lump of butter, in the center of each apple, put them in a pan with half a pint of water, bake until tender, basting occasionally with the syrup while baking; when done, serve with cream. To Stew Apples. One pound sugar boiled in one quart of spring water and skimmed, one pound of the largest pippins, cut in quarters and the cores taken out. Have the syrup boiling; when you put them in let them stew till they are quite tender, then add the juice of two large lemons, and the peel cut small; give them a few more boils after the lemons are put in. If you want them to keep all the year, the syrup must be well boiled after the apples are taken out. A? you peel the apples fling them into cold water. Bananas and Cream. Peel, slice, and heap up in a glass dessert-dish, and serve raw, with fine sugar and cream. To Crystallize Fruit. Pick out the finest of any kind of fruit — leave in the stones*, beat the whites of three eggs to a stiff froth; lay the fruit in the 155 156 FRESH FRUITS. beaten egg, Avith the stems upwai'd; drain tlieni and beat the part that drips off again; select them out, one by one, and dip them into i- cup of finely-powdered sugar; cover a pan with a sheet of fine paper, place the fruit on it, and set it in a cool oven; when the icing on the fruit becomes firm, pile them on a dish, and set them in a cold place. To Keep Grapes. Select nice fresh clusters, and cut the end of the stem smooth and dip it into melted sealing wax; then put it in cotton batting; pack them away in wooden boxes; keep them in a dry cool place. In this way they will keep fresh all winter. Another way — Take full bunches, ripe and perfect; seal the end that is cut from the vine so that no air can get in, or the juice of the stem run out, and let them stand one day after sealed, so as to be perfectly sure they are sealed (if not they will shrivel up) ; then pack in boxes of dry sawdust and keep in a cool place; they will keep nicely all winter without losing their flavor; in packing, do not crowd the bunches; sprinkle the sawdust over the bottom of the box, then lay the grapes carefully, a bunch at a time, all over the box, then sawdust and grapes alternately until the box is full. Meloxs. Melons are much nicer if kept on ice until time for serving. Cut off a slice at each end of the water-melon, then cut through the center; stand on end on platter. Cantaloupe melons should have the seeds removed before sending to the table. Eat with a spoon- ful of strained honey in each half of melon. Oranges, Slice, mix with powdered sugar, and strew grated cocoa-nut over the top. Are also nice served whole, the skins quartered and turned down. Form in a pyramid with bananas and white grapes. Candied Cherries. Two quarts large, ripe, red cherries, stoned carefully; two pounds loaf sugar, one cup water. Make a syrup of the sugar and water FRESH FRUITS. 167 and boil until it is thick enough to " pull," as fox- candy. Remove to the side of the range, and stir until it shows signs of granula- tion. It is well to stir frequently while it is cooking, to secure this end. When there are grains or crystals on the spoon, drop in the cherries, a few at a time. Let each supply \ie in the boiling syrup two minutes, when remove to a sieve set over a dish. Shake gently but long, then turn the cherries out upon a cool, broad dish, and dry in a sunny window. Steaved Pears. Peel pears. Place them in a little water, with sugar, cloves,^ cinnamon and lemon peel. Stew gently, and add one gliass of cider. Dish up cold. Glace Cherries, Make as above, but do not let the syrup granulate. It should not be stirred at all, but when it " ropes " pour it over the cherries, which should be spread out upon a large flat dish. When the syrup is almost cold, take these out, one by one, with a teaspoon^ and spread iipon a dish to dry in the open air. If nicely managed- these are neariy :.s good as those put up by professional confec- tioners. Keep in a dry, cool place. Candied Lemon-Peel. Twelve fresh, thick-skinned lemons, four pounds loaf sugar, a little powdered alum, three cups clear water. Cut the peel from the lemons in long, thin strips, and lay in strong salt and water all night. Wash them in three waters next morning, and boil them until tender in soft water. They should b" almost translucent, but not so soft as to break. Dissolve a little alum — about half a tea- spoonful, when poAvdered — in enough cold water to cover the peel, and let it lie in it for two hours. By this time the syrup should be ready. Stir the sugar into three cups of water, add the strained juice of three lemons and boil it until it " ropes " from the end of the spoon. Put the lemon-peels into this, simmer gently half an 158 FRESH FRUITS. hour; «ake them out and spread upon a sieve. Shake, not hard, but often, tossing up the peels now and then, until they are almost dry. Sift granulated sugar over them and lay out upon a table spread with a clean cloth. Admit the air freely, and, when per- fectly dry, pack in a glass jar. CHAPTER XL CANNING FRUIT. 'OR the benefit of those thrifty housewives who have fruit of their own which they wish to save, or who think that any preparation of food made outside of the home kitchen, and branded " factory make," should be considered " common and unclean," we append a few recipes which will be found in every way satisfactory. The canning industry has grown within the few years of its existence to such enormous dimensions and includes so great a variety of articles, and competition is so sharp among the different firms who make it a specialty, that in point of expense it is cheaper to buy on the market than to purchase the fruit and be to the trouble and further expense of canning it at home. There is, probably, no one thing which has done more to drive stern winter beyond the threshold than this simple but late-discov- ored process of keeping fruit fresh by excluding the air, and there is genuine satisfaction in contemplating the rows of cans filled with the different kinds of fruit, showing clear and distinct through the glass, and we are conservative enough to hope that the time will not come when the business of canning fruit shall be relegated, entirely, into the hands of the mercenary factory owner with hia tin can with its overdrawn label. General Directions. First. See that the cans and elastics are perfect and that thts screw fits properly. Second. Have fruit boiling hot when sealed. 159 160 CANNING FRUIT. Have pan on stove in which each empty can is set to be filled after it is rolled in hot water. Fill can to overflowing, put on the top quickly, screw tightly; as contents cool, screw again and again, to keep tight. Third. Use glass cans, and keep in a cool, dark, but dry place. Light spoils them. Table for Canning Fruit. Time for Quantity- boiling of sugar fruit. per qt. Apricots 10 min. 8 oz. Sour Apples 10 " 6 '' Crab Apples 25 " 8 " Blackberries 6 " 6 " Gooseberries 8 " 8 " Raspberries 6 " 4 " Huckleberries 5 " 4 " Strawberries 8 " 8 " Cherries 5 " 6 " Currants 6 " 8 ' Wild Grapes 10 " 8 " Sour Pears, -whole 30 " 8 " Bartlett Pears 20 " 6 " Peaches, in halves 8 " 4 " Plums 10 " 8 " Peaches, whole 15 " 4 " Pine-apple, sliced 15 " 6 " Tomatoes 30 " " Quinces 30 " 10 " Rhubarb 10 " 10 " Apple Sauce. Ready for table use or for pies may be kept till apples are out of the market by putting it into hot jars and sealing at once. Canned Pine-apple. Pare the fruit and be xerv particular to cut out the eyes; chop fine and weigh it; add to it the same weight of sugar; mix thor- oughly in a large crock; let it stand twenty-four hours, then put CANNING FRUIT. 161 iiito cans, filing them full, and seal tight. After leaving them about two weeks it is well to see if there are any signs of working; if so, pour into a kettle and heat through and replace in the cans. Canjted Pine-apple, No. 2. Three-fourths pound of sugar to one pound of fruit, allowing one cup of water to a pound of sugar. Pick the pine-apple to pieces with a silver fork; scald and can hot. Canned Berries. Heat slowly to boiling in a porcelain kettle; when they begin to boil, add sugar according to table above. Before doing this, how- ever, if there is much juice in the kettle, dip out the surplus and save for jelly; it will only increase the number of cans. Leave the berries almost dry before jDutting in the sugar, this will make syrup enough. Boil all together and can. Canned Pears. Prepare a syrup, allowing a pint of water and one-fourth pound of sugar to one quart of fruit. While this is heating peel the pears, dropping each as it is pared into a pan of clear water. When the syrup has come to a fast boil, put in the pears carefully and boil until they look clear and can be easily pierced by a fork. Have the cans ready rolled in hot water; pack with the pears and fill to over- flowing with the scalding syrup, Avhich must be kept on the fii"e all the while, and seal. The tougher and more common pears must be boiled in water until tender, and thrown while warm into the hot syrup, then allowed to boil ten minutes before they are canned. Canned Peaches. Pare, cut in half and stone, taking care not to break the fruit; drop each piece in cold water as soon as it is pared. Allow a heaping tablespoonf ul of sugar to each quart of fruit, scattering it between the layers. Fill your kettle and heat slowly to a boil. Boil three minutes, until every piece of fruit is heated through, u 162 CANNING FRUIT. Can and seal. Put a cup of water in the bottom of the kettle before packing it with fruit, lest the lower layer should burn. Dried Peaches. Peaches, as usually dried, are a very good fruit; but can be made vastly better if treated the right way. Last season, the recipe which had quite a circulation in the papers, of drying the fruit by a stove after halving it, and sprinkling a little sugar into the cavity left by the extracted pits, was tried in our family. The fruit was found to be most excellent; better to the taste of nine out of ten persons, than any other peach preserves, by far. The peaches, however, were good ones before drying; for it is doubtful whether poor fruit can be made good by that process or any other. CHAPTER XII. ICES AND ICE-CREAMS. K^M LSE only the best materials for making and flavoring if good ice-cream is desired, and avoid using milk thickened with arrow-root, corn starch or any other farinaceous substance. Pure cream, ripe natural fruits, or the exti*acts of the same, and sugar of the purest quality, combine to make a perfect ice-cream. In the first place secure a good ice-cream freezer. Of these several are made. Without recommending any particular make, we would suggest one be secured working with a crank and revolving dashers. Next secure an ice tub not less than eight inches greater in diame- ter than the freezer. See that it has a hole in the side near the bottom, with a plug, which can be drawn at pleasure, to let off water accumulating from melting ice. Get a spatula of hard wood — not metal — with a blade about twelve inches long and four oi five inches wide and oval shaped at the end. This is used to scrapf off cream which may adhere to the sides of the freezer in the process of freezing, also for working fruits and flavorings into the cream. A smaller spade is also necessary for mixing ice and salt together, and for depositing this mixture in the intervening space between can and ice tub. Ice must be pounded fine in a coarse, strong bag. To freeze the cream after it has been flavored, first pound up ice and mix with it a quantity of coarse salt, in the proportion of one- third the quantity of salt to the amount of ice used. Put freezing can in center of tub, taking care that the lid is securely fastened on, and pile the mixed ice and salt around it on inside of tub to within three inches of top. First turn the crank slowly, and as the cream 163 164 ICES AND ICE-CREAMS. hardens increase the speed until the mixture is thoroughly con- gealed and the revolving dashers are frozen in. Remove the lid, take out the dashers, cut away the cream which has adhered to the sides and jDroceed to work the mixture with the sj^atula until it is smooth and soft to the tongue. Re-insert the dashers, cover the can again, and work the crank until the entire contents are hard and well set. It is now ready to be served. Berry Cream. Any kind of berries may be used for this, strawberries being the nicest. Mash with a potato masher in an earthen bowl, one quart of berries with one pound of sugar; rub it through the colander; add one quart sweet cream and freeze. Very ripe peaches or mashed apples may be used instead of the berries. Burnt Sugar Ice-Cream. Take one-half pound of sugar, burn half of it in a sauce-pan or skillet; stir in sufficient water to bring to a liquid state; add the other sugar with one pint of milk containing four eggs well beaten. Flavor strongly with lemon, proceed as with other ices. Chocolate Ice-Cream. Use three or four ounces of the common unsweetened chocolate to a gallon of cream, or boiled custard. Boil the chocolate in some milk and sweeten to taste ; strain it into the cream and flavor with vanilla. Beat the ice-cream to make it bright and rich colored. Melted chocolate cannot be mixed at once in cold cream as it sets and makes trouble. It must be considerably diluted first. Coffee Ice-Cream. To three quarts of pure, sweet cream add one pint of a decoction. of very strong clear coffee. Sugar as usual — eight ounces to the quart. Lemon Ice-Cream. This is made with the same proportion of cream and sugar and one lemon; grate the lemon rind into the sugar; this extracts the ICES AND ICE-CREAMS. 165 oil; then add the juice and the raw cream; strain and freeze imme- diately. Lemon ci'eam sours more quickly than any other. Peach Ice-Cream. Take one quart of milk, two eggs, sugar to taste, one quart of peaches pared and stoned — mash and add to the custard. Proceed as usual. Pine-Apple Ice-Ceeam. Take two cans of pine-apples, two pounds of sugar, two quarts of cream (the cream must be nearly frozen, else the pine-apple pulp or syrup, upon being added, will immediately curdle it). Beat all thoroughly and finish freezing. Oeaistge Ice-Ceeam. Make a custard same as for vanilla; add orange pulp, or simply flavor with orange, if preferred. Steawbeeey and Raspbeeey Ice-Ceeam. Bruise a pint of strawberries or raspberries with two large spoonfuls of fine sugar; add a quart of cream and strain through a sieve and freeze it. If you have no cream, boil a teaspoonful of arrowroot in a quart of milk, and if you like, beat up one egg and «tir into it. Vanilla Ice-Cream. One quart of cream, half a pound of sugar, granulated, half a vanilla bean. Boil half the cream with the sugar and bean, then add the rest of the cream; cool and strain it. If extract of vanilla, or any other extract is used, do not boil it, but put it in the cream with the sugar and freeze. Make it strong with the flavoring, as it loses strength with freezing. CocoANUT Ice-Ceeam. Same as vanilla, omitting vanilla flavoring, and adding chopped <;ocoanut. 106 ICES AND ICE-CREAMS. Frozen Tapioca Custard. Soak six or seven ounces of tapioca in one quart of milk; when soft, boil two quarts of milk sweetened with one and one-fourth pounds of sugar; then add the tapioca and let it cook fifteen min- utes; then stir in two ounces of butter and eight beaten eggs and take the custard immediately off the fire; cool and flavor with vanilla or lemon and freeze like ice-cream; w^hen nearly finished, add one cup of whipped cream and beat. well. Frozen Rice Custard. Wash six ounces of rice in several waters and cook it in milk; then proceed as in tapioca custard, using cinnamon or any other flavoring desired. Frozen Sago Custard. Soak the sago in cold milk first, it will then cook in a few minutes; then proceed as in tapioca custard. Water-Ices. These ai-e made with the juices of ripe fruits, sweetened and frozen like ice-cream; but it must be remembered that if the juices are sweetened excessively they will not freeze. It is therefore generally necessary to test them with an instrument called a saccharometer. This applies equally to ice-creams and all drinks to be frozen; and for M^ater-ices clarified sugar should be used, which may be prepared in the following manner: To a quart of water add three pounds of sugar and half of the white of an egg well beaten up. This should be boiled ten minutes and skimmed. Cherry Water-Ice with ISTut Cream. Two freezers will be required. For the cherry ice take two quarts of sweet cherries, one quart of water, one and one-half pounds of sugar. Pound the raw fruit in a mortar so as to break the stones and strain the juice through a fine strainer into the freezer. Boil the cherry pulp wnth some of the sugar and water to ICES AND ICE-CREAMS. 167 extract the flavor from the kernels, and mash that also through the strainer; add to the remainder of water and sugar and freeze. No eggs are needed and only beat the ice enough to make it even and smooth. For the nut cream, use one pound of either pecan or hickory-nut meats, three-fourths of a pound of sugar, one quart of rich milk or cream, one tablespoonf ul of burnt sugar for coloring. Pick over the kernels carefully, that there be no fragments of shells to make the cream gritty, then pound them in a mortar with part of the sugar and a few spoonfuls of milk. Only a few can be pounded effectually at a time. Mix the milk Avith the pulp thus obtained, the rest of the sugar and caramel coloring, enough to make it like coffee and cream, and run it through a strainer into a freezer. Freeze it as usual and beat smooth with a spatula, then pack down with more ice to freeze firm. Line the moulds with cherry ice and fill the middle with the cream, or dish the ice as a border in shallow glasses with the cream piled in the center. Strawberry Water-Ice. To a pound of ripe strawberries and half a pound of currants add a pint of clarified sugar. If desired, a little coloring may be used. The whole must then be strained through a hair sieve and frozen. Raspberry "Water-Ice, This may be made the same as strawberry water-ice by merely substituting raspberries for strawberries. Burnt Almond Ice Cream and Orange-Ice. First make the almond candy as follows: Take one pound of sugar, three-fourths pound of sweet almonds, two ounces of bitter almonds. Blanch the almonds, split them and put them in a slow oven to dry and acquire a light yellow color; put the sugar in a kettle on the fire, without any water, and stir it until it is all melted and of the color of golden syrup; then put in the hot almonds, stir gently to mix and pour the candy on a platter. When cold, pound the candy quite fine, put it into three pints of rich milk, set it on 168 ICES AND ICE-CREAMS. the fire, and when it boils add the beaten yolks of ten eggs. Strain the burnt almond custard thus made into a freezer, and freeze as usual and beat well. For the orange ice: Take three pints of water, one pound of «ugar, five or six oranges, according to size, juice of one lemon, if the oranges are sweet, whites of four eggs. Make a thick syrup of the sugar and a very little water. Peel half the oranges, divide them by their natural divisions and drop the pieces of oranges into the boiling syrup. Grate the yellow peel of the other three oranges into a bowl and squeeze in the juice, then pour the syrup from the scalded orange slices also into the bowl through a strainer and keep the slices on ice to be mixed in at the last. Add the water and lemon juice to the orange syrup in the bowl, strain and freeze. Beat in the whipped whites as usual, and when finished stir in the suo-ared fruit. Use the burnt almond cream and fill with the orange ice. Biscuit Glaces. To half a pound of jjowdered sugar add the yolks of four eggs; flavor with vanilla; beat well, then take two quai-ts of whipped cream and mix with the sugar and yolks; color some of it red and spread on the bottom of paper capsules and fill up with fresh cream. Then put them in a tin box with cover and pack well up on all sides with pounded ice and salt and let stand for two hours; it is then ready for use, Rateffe Biscuit Cream. Make the same as vanilla; when nearly frozen add one-half pound of rateffe biscuit and finish freezing. TuTTi Frutti. "When a rich vanilla cream is partly frozen, candied cherries, chopped raisins, chopped citron or any other candied fruit chopped rather fine are added; add about half the quantity of fruit that there is of ice-cream; mold and imbed in ice and salt; or make also two quarts of orange ice in another freezer, add the white of eggs ICES AND ICE-CREAMS. 169 in the usual manner and beat it up white and smooth, then spread it evenly over the insides of two or three melon molds to coat them. Imbed the molds in the freezing mixture, and when the coating of orange ice is frozen firm fill up with the tutti frutti. Spread the -orange ice also on top, put on the lids, secure with a number of rubber bands, close all spaces securely with butter and place the molds in the freezing mixture to remain two or three hours. When to be served wash the outsides with a cloth dij^ped in tepid water, carefully turn out the tutti frutti on to a folded napkin on a dish, lay a decoration of gelatine paste upon the white surface and serve. Gelatine Paste for Ornamenting Ices. Make clear jelly in the usual manner, then reduce it by slow boiling to little more than half, color it as desired, filter again flavor, and cool it on large platters. Stamp out leaves, fern leaves, flower shapes, etc., and have them ready to place on the molded ices as soon as they are turned out. Pine-Apple Sherbet. Take two cans of pine-apples or the same amount of ripe pine- apples, two pounds of sugar, two quarts of water, whites of six ^ggs. Strain the juice from the cans into the freezer. Make a boiling syrup of the sugar and one quart of water. Chop the pine- apples small, scald it in the boiling syrup, then rub it through a colander with the syrup and the remaining quart of water into the freezer. Freeze and add the whites of four eggs, and beat it per- fectly white. To Color Ice Cream or Water Ices. For Green, use juice of spinach or beet leaves. Vegetable green, already prepared, can be bought at the druggists. For Yellow, saffron soaked in warm water. For Red, take cochineal, which can be had at any druggists, or made as follows : One-quarter ounce cochineal, pound finely and add one-half pint boiling water, one-half ounce cream of tartar, one-quar- 170 ICES AND ICE-CREAMS. ter ounce alum, and one-quarter ounce salt of tartar. Let it stand until the color is extracted, then strain and bottle. For Purple, mix a small quantity of cochineal and ultramarine blue. For Brown, use powdered chocolate. Other colors can be used, but these are all good, showy and quite harmless. CHAPTER XIII. ICINGS. ^SiyOR icing cakes use only fresh eggs and sift your pulverized sugar. Almond Icing. Whites of three eggs, whisked to a standing froth, three-quarters pound of powdered sugar, one-half pound of sweet almonds, blanched and pounded to a paste. When beaten fine and smooth, work gradually into the icing; flavor with lemon juice and rose water. This frosting is delicious. Dry in the open air when this is practicable. Boiled Icing. One and one-half cups of sugar; put to this two tablespoonfuls of water; let it boil on the back of the stove until it is waxy, or stringy; then add whites of two eggs. Boiled Icing, No. 2. Whites of four eggs, beaten stiff; one pint of sugar, melted in water and then boiled; add to it the eggs, and beat until cold. Chocolate Icing. Take the whites of two eggs, one and one-half cups powdered sugar, and six large tablespoonfuls of chocolate. Chocolate Icing, No. 2. One-half cake of chocolate grated fine, two-thirds of a cup of sugar, one-half cup of milk or cream; boiled and stirred to a paste. 171 172 ICINGS. Chocolate Icing, No. 3. One-half cake chocolate; warm in the oven ten minutes; add one heaping cup of sugar, one teaspoonful cinnamon, one-half teaspoon- ful cloves, the same of ginger, two teaspoonfuls of vanilla; pour a little water on the sugar, put it on the chocolate, heat on the stove, melt it to a smooth paste, stir in the spices. Clear Icing, for Cake. Put one cup sugar into a bowl with a tablespoonful lemon juice and whites of two eggs. Just mix together smooth and pour over the cake; if the cake is not hot enough to dry it, place it in the mouth of a moderately warm oven. Icing for Cakes. Whites of four eggs, one pound of pulverized sugar, flavor with lemon; break the whites into a broad, cool, clean dish; throw a small handful of sugar upon them and begin to whip it in with long, even strokes of the beater. A few minutes later throw in more sugar and keep adding it at intervals until it is all used up. Beat until the icing is of a smooth, fine and firm texture; if not stiff enough, put in more sugar; use at least a quarter of a pound of sugar for each egg. To spread it, use a broad-bladed knife dipped in cold water. TuTTi Frutti Frosting. One-half cup of water, three cups of sugar, whites of two eggs; boil sugar and water until very thick and waxy; beat the whites of eggs to a stiff froth, and pour the syrup over them, beating all till cool; then add one-half pound of almonds, chopped fine; one small half cup of large white raisins, and a little citron, sliced thin. Very nice for sponge cake. Lemon Icing. Whites of two eggs, two cups of sugar, juice and a part of the rind of two lemons. ICINGS. 173 Ornamental Icing. * Fill a paper cone with the icing, and Av^ork upon the cake, by slightly pressing the cone, any design you may choose. Yellow Icing. Yolk of one egg to nine heaping teaspoonfuls of pulveri;?ed sugar and flavor with vanilla, or lemon. Rose Coloring. Mix together one-fourth ounce each of powdered alum and cream of tartar, one ounce cochineal, four ounces loaf sugai', a 8:\ltspoon- ful of soda. Boil ten minutes in a pint of clear, soft water; when cool, bottle and cork for use. This is used for jellieS;- cakes, ice- cream, etc. CHAPTER XIV. JAMS AND JELLIES. ■N making jam, the first thing to be looked after is the fruit. As a general rule, this should be fully ripe, fresh, sound, and ^ scrupulously clean and dry. It should be gathered in the morning of a sunny day, as it will then possess its finest flavor. The best sugar is the cheapest; indeed, there is no economy in stinting the sugar either as to quality or necessary quantity, for inferior sugar is wasted in scum, and the jam will not keep unless a sufficient proportion of sugar is boiled with the fruit. At the same time too large a proportion of sugar will destroy the natural flavor of the fruit, and in all probability make the jam candy. The sugar should be dried and broken up into small pieces before it is mixed with the fruit. If it is left in large lumps it will be a long time in dissolving, and if it is crushed to powder it will make the jam look thick instead of clear and bright. The quantity to be used must depend in every instance on the nature of the fruit. Fruit is gen- erally boiled in a brass or copper kettle uncovered, and this should be kept perfectly bright and clean. Great care should be taken not to place the kettle flat upon the fire, as this will be likely to make the jam burn to the bottom. Glass jars or cans are much the best for jams, as through them the condition of the fruit can be observed. Whatever jars are used, however, the jam should be examined every three weeks for the first two months, and if there are any signs of mold or fermentation it should be boiled over again. If you do not use the patent glass jar, the best way to cover jam is to lay a piece of paper the size of the jar upon the jam, to 174 JAMS AND JELLIES. 175 stretch over the top a piece of writing paper or tissue paper which has been dipped in white of egg, and to press the sides closely- down. When dry, this paper will be stiff and tight like a di-um. The strict economist may use gum Arabic dissolved in water instead of white of egg. The object aimed at is to exclude the air entirely. Jam should be stored in a cool, dry place, but not in one into which fresh air never enters. Damp has a tendency to make the fruit mold, and heat to make it ferment. Some cooks cover the jam as soon as possible after it is poured out, but the generally- approved plan is to let the fruit grow cool before covering it. In making jam continual watchfulness is required, as the result of five minutes' inattention may be loss and disappointment. Apricot Jam. Pare three pounds of fresh, sound apricots, halve them, and take out the stones. They should be ripe enough to halve with the fingers. Place them in a deep dish, and strew over them one pound of finely sifted sugar. Let them remain for eight hours. Then place them with the syrup that will have oozed from them in ? preserving-pan; add a few of the kernels blanched and sliced, anc* another pound and a half of sugar. Let them boil very gently, and, when done, put them into glasses or jars and cover closely with gummed paper. Marmalades axd Jams. In making marmalades, jams, etc. — If put up in small quantities and for immediate use, three-quarters of a pound of sugar to one pound of fruit is sufficient; but if desirable to keep them longer, a pound of sugar to a pound of fruit is a better proportion. As in preserves, the best sugar should be used, Apple Jam. Peel and core the apples, cut in thin slices and put them in a preserving kettle with three-quarters of a pound of white sugar to every pound of fruit; add (tied up in a piece of muslin) a few 176 JAMS AND JELLIES. cloves, a small piece of ginger and a thin rind of lemon ; stir with a wooden spoon on a quick fire for half an hour. Blackberry, Raspberry, Curra:nt or Strawberry Jam, May be made by putting into a preserving kettle and boiling fifteen or twenty minutes, stirring often and skimming off any «cum that may rise; then add sugar in the proportion of three- fourths pound of sugar to one pound of fruit. Boil thirty minutes Jonger stirring continually; when done pour into small jars or jelly glasses. A good way is to mix raspberries and currants in the pro- portion of two-thirds of the former to one-third of the latter. Grape, Gooseberry, or Plum Jam. Stew the berries in a little water, press through a coarse sieve or colander; then return to the kettle and add three-fourths pound of sugar to one pound of the pulped fruit. Boil three-fourths of an hour, stiri'ing constantly. Pour in jars or bowls and cover as directed for other jams. Apple Marmalade. Peel and slice the apples; weigh and put into a kettle and stew until tender; wash fine and add sugar in proportion of pound to pound; let them cook slowly, stirring very frequently; be careful not to allow it to scorch; when the mass has a jellied appearance it is done. About half an hour will generally be found sufficient for making the marmalades after adding the sugar. Orange Marmalade. Eighteen sweet, ripe oranges, six pounds best white sugar. Grate the peel from four oranges, and reserve it for the marmalade. The rinds of the rest will not be needed. Pare the fruit carefully, removing the inner white skin as well as the yellow; slice the orange; remove the seeds; put the fruit and grated peel in a por- celain or enamel saucepan and boil steadily until the pulp is reduced to a smooth mass; take from the fire and rub quickly through a JAMS AND JELLIES. 177 clean, bright colander, as the color is easily injured. Stir in the sugar, retui-n to the fire, and boil fast, stirring constantly half an hour, or until thick. Put while warm into small jars, but do not cover until cold. This is a handsome and delicious sweetmeat. Pine-Apple Marmalade. ? Pare, slice, core, and weigh the pine-apple; then cut into small bits; make a syrup of a cup of water to two pounds of sugar; melt and heat to a boil; heat the chopped pine-apple in a vessel set within one of boiling water, covering it closely to keep in the flavor; when it is smoking hot all through, and begins to look clear, add to the syrup; boil together half an hour, stirring all the while, or until it is a clear, bright paste. Peach Marmalade. Pare, stone, and weigh the fruit; heat slowly to draw out the juice, stirring up often from the bottom with a wooden spoon; after it is hot, boil quickly, still stirring, three-quarters of an hour; add, then, the sugar, allowing three-quarters of a pound to each pound of the fruit; boil up well for five minutes, taking off every particle of scum; add the juice of a lemon for every three pounds of fruit, and the water in which one-fourth of the kernels have been boiled and steeped; stew all together ten minutes, stirring to a smooth paste, and take from the fire; put up hot in air-tight cans, or, when cold, in small stone or glass jars, with brandied tissue-paper fitted neatly to the surface of the marmalade. A large ripe pine-apple, pared and cut up fine, and stirred with the peaches, is a fine addi- tion to the flavor. Quince Marmalade. Such quinces as are too knotty and defective to make good pre- serves may be pared and cored, cut into small pieces and put into the kettle with three-quarters of a pound of sugar to each pound of fruit; put a small cup of cold water in first to prevent burning. When the quince begins to soften, take a potato masher and mash it 178 JELLIES. to a pulp, without taking it from the fire; let it boil gently from fifteen to twenty minutes, not longer than twenty. Take from the fire and put into jars. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and grapes all make nice marmalades. Plum Marmalade. Choose plums that are fully ripe; scald them till the skins peel off, and take out the stones. Allow a pound and a half of sugar to a pound of fruit; let them lie in the sugar a few hours, then boil to a smooth mass. Pumpkin Marmalade, Take ripe, yellow pumpkins, pare and cut them into large pieces, scraping out the seeds with an iron spoon; weigh the pieces, and to every pound allow one pound of white sugar, and a small orange or lemon; grate pieces of pumpkin on a coarse grater, and put, together with the sugar, into a preserving pan, the yellow rind of the orange, grated, and the juice, strained. Let all boil slowly, stirring it frequently and skimming it well till it is a smooth, thick marmalade; put it warm into small glass jars or tumblers ant* lay a double round of tissue paper with a bladder or waxed paper. JELLIES. Apple Jelly, Slice the apples, skins, cores and all; put them in a stone jaP with a small quantity of water to keep them from sticking; then place the jar in water and let them remain boiling until perfectly soft; then strain and to one pint of the liquor add three-quarters of a pound of loaf sugar; boil and clear with the whites of two or three eggs beaten to a froth. When it jellies pour into the glas?«v3 to cool and seal them. JELLIES. ■ 179 Blackberry Jelly. Take blackberries before they are ripe, when they are turned red, put them into a porcelain kettle and cook until reduced to a pulp; then strain them and to a pint of juice add one pound of sugar. Boil to a jelly. Cranberry Jelly. Stew the cranberries until they are tender, then pour into a jelly- bag and let drip over night; take one pound of sugar to each pint of juice; let the juice boil five minutes, then pour in the sugar and stir until thoroughly dissolved. Crab-Apple Jelly. Boil the fruit whole in water enough to cover it until perfectly soft, then pour into a coarse linen bag and let it drip until it ceases, then press it a little. Allow one pound of sugar to each pint of juice. If you choose add the juice of a lemon to each quart of syrup. Boil the juice first, then skim it; heat the sugar in a dish in the oven and add it as the juice boils up. Boil gently twenty minutes and pour in tumblers or molds. Currant Jelly. From the Home Messenger we copy the following: This recipe is the only one which we will warrant to make good jelly against odds. We have made jelly by it on the fifth of July and on the fifteenth, and each time it was a perfect success. While we recom- mend all persons to make their jelly from fresh fruit, early in tha season, we can still assure those who are behindhand that they need not despair of jelly that will set firm and hard later in the season. Run the currants through your hand picking out the leaves and any stray thing that may adhere to them but leaving the currants on their stems. Weigh the fruit, being accurate in remembering the number of pounds. Put a pint of water into your preserving kettle and add a bowl or two of currants, mashing and pressing them till A'ou have sufficient juice to cover the bottom of the kettle; th^a 180 JELLIES. add Ibe remainder of the currants; let them come to a boil and boil at least twenty minutes, of course stirring and pressing them from time to time that they may not buri;i. Have a three-cornered bag of thin but strong unbleached cotton that has been well scalded and wrung till almost dry; hang it up and pour the boiled currants into it. Let it drip into a stone crock all night, but by no means squeeze it, the currants will drain perfectly dry. In the morning pour the strained juice into the preserving kettle without measuring; let it come to a boil and boil thorougly for three or four minutes, then pour in half as many pounds of sugar as you had pounds of currants. For instance, a peck of currants will probably weigh twelve pounds; therefore use six pounds of sugar. The moment the sugar is entirely dissolved the jelly is done. To make sure of the sugar being entirely dissolved see that it begins to jelly on the ladle. It Avill look thick and drop thick and a little stringy, but if let heat beyond this point it will loose its thickness and not jelly nearly so well and always disappoint you if you lose faith in your instructions and insist upon ' letting it come to a boil.' All the boiling is done before you put in the sugar. Currant Jelly. One pound of granulated sugar to each pint of juice. Squeeze the currants and boil twenty minutes, then add the sugar, which should be heating while the juice boils; stir well together until the sugar is well dissolved. Grape Jelly. Put the grapes into a preserving kettle and heat, bruising them meantime with a potato masher, until the juice runs freely, then strain through a sieve or thin cloth and measure one pint of juice for one pound of sugar. Boil the juice fifteen or twenty minutes before putting in the sugar; after adding the sugar let it boil from three to five minutes. All fruit will form more readily into a jelly if not quite ripe. JELLIES. 181 Peach Jelly. Crack one-third of the kernels and put them into the jar with the peachee, which have been wiped, stoned and sliced. Heat in a pot of boiling water, stirring occasionally until the fruit is well broken; strain, and to every pint of peach juice add the juice of a lemon; measure again and to every pint of juice allow one pound of sugar. Heat the sugar very hot and add when the juice has boiled twenty minutes. Let it come to a boil and take instantly from the lire. Pie-Plant Jelly. Stew the stalks until tender in a preserving kettle; strain through a jelly-bag; flavor with extract of lemon. To each pint of juice add a pound of sugar; boil until it jellies on the skimmer; remove it from the fire and put into jars. Quince Jelly. Peel, cut up and core some fine, ripe quinces; put them in suffi- cient cold water to cover them and stew gently till soft, but not red; strain the juice without pressure, weigh, and to every pound of juice allow one pound of crushed sugar; boil the juice twenty minutes, add the sugar and boil again until it jellies — about a quar- ter of an hour; stir and skim well all the time; strain through thin cloth into your jelly glasses, and when cold, cover it. The remainder of the fruit can be made into marmalade with three- quarters of a pound of sugar and a quarter of a pound of juicy apples to every pound of quinces, or it can be made into compotes or tarts. Quince Jelly, No. 2. Take the cores and parings of the quinces, put them in enough cold water to cover them, and boil until they are soft; squeeze, and add the juice to the water, and any syrup which may be left from the quince preserve, and strain it; to each pint of juice allow a pound of sugar; spread the sugar in pans, put it in the oven to heat, it must be watched and stirred to prevent burning. Let the 182 GELATINE JELLIES. juice boil for five minutes, then pour in the hot sugar, stirring until it is entirely dissolved, and skimming any scum that may rise. There will be very little. Let it come to a boil, then take from the fire and put in jars or glasses; the jelly will be clear, of a good color and keep well. All kinds of jellies can be made in this way, and it saves much labor in the time of boiling the juices and the trouble of skimming. GELATINE JELLIES. Coffee Jelly. One box gelatine soaked for an hour in just water enough to cover; take one quart of strong coffee, made as for table use; sweeten it to taste; have the coffee hot and add the dissolved gela- tine; stir well and strain into a mold that has just been rinsed in cold water. Set on ice or in a cool place, and when cold, serve with whipped cream. Lemon Snow Jelly. Dissolve one box of gelatine in nearly a quart of boiling water, then add the juice of five lemons and enough of sugar to sweeten to taste; strain and set aside until nearly cool. Beat the whites of five eggs and whip into the jelly; turn into a dish and let it set until cool. After it becomes solid, decorate with pieces of red jelly. Lemon Jelly, One ounce of gelatine, red is the best, one pound of sugar, one quart of boiling water, and four lemons; cut the lemons into slices and bruise them, then add the sugar and gelatine, and pour upon the whole boiling water; set the vessel containing them upon the stove and stir until the gelatine is thoroughly dissolved; then pour into molds and set to cool. GELATINE JELLIES. 183 Orange Jelly. Take two ounces of gelatine and pour on hot water enough to cover it, and let soak until it is dissolved; boil together one quart of water and one-half pound of sugar, and add the dissolved gela- tine; add the juice of five oranges and one lemon and the whites of two eggs, well beaten. Boil a few minutes and strain through a jelly-bag; turn into molds and set to cool. Any jellies may be colored by using fruit coloring, which may be obtained at the bakeries. Wine Jelly. One box of gelatine dissolved in just water enough to cover it, one pint of wine, one pint of boiling water, one pint of granulated sugar, and juice of three lemons. MOULDINESS. Fruit jellies may be preserved from mouldiness by covering the surface one-fourth of an inch deep with finely pulverized loaf sugar. Thus protected, they will keep in good condition for years. CHAPTER XV. MUSHROOMS. HE peasants of a great portion of Europe eat mushrooms raw with salt and dry bread, and wholesome and good they are. The true flavor of mushrooms, nevertheless, is greatly height- ened by cooking; and cook them how you may — a broil, a stew, or a fry, with the simple addition of butter, salt, and pepper, and they are excellent. There is one rule that should always be observed in what- ever mode they are cooked, and that is that they should be served up quickly and hot. The following modes of cook- ing mushrooms may prove use- ful: MUSHBOOMS ALT GrATIN. Take twelve large mushrooms about two inches in diameter, pare the stalks, wash, and drain the mushrooms on a cloth; cut off and chop the stalks. Put in a quart stewpan an ounce of butter and half an ounce of flour; stir over the fire for two minutes; then add one pint of broth; stir till reduced to half the quantity. Drain the chopped stalks of the mushrooms thoroughly in a cloth; put them in the sauce with three tablespoonfuls of chopped and washed 1S4 MUSHROOMS. 18& parsley, one tablespoonful of chopped and washed whalot, two pinches of salt, a small pinch of pepper; reduce on a brisk fire for eight minutes, put two tablespoonfuls of oil in a saute pan; set the mushrooms in, the hollow part upwards; fill them with the fine herbs, and sprinkle over them lightly a tablespoonful of raspings; put in a brisk oven for ten minutes and serve. Mushrooms a la Pkovencale. Take mushrooms of good size; remove the stems and soak them in olive oil; cut up the stems with a clove of garlic and some pars- ley; add meat of sausages, and two yolks of eggs to unite them; dish the mushrooms, and garnish them with the forcemeat; sprinkle them with fine oil, and dress them in an oven, or in a four de campagne. Mushrooms a la Creme. Trim and rub half a pint of button mushrogms, dissolve two ounces of butter rolled in flour in a stewpan, then put in the mush- rooms, a bunch of parsley, a teaspoonful of salt, half a teaspoonf ul each of white pepper and of powdered sugar, shake the pan round for ten minutes, then beat up the yolks of two eggs, with two tablespoonfuls of cream, and add by degrees to the mushrooms; in two or three minutes you can serve them in the sauce. Baked Mushrooms. Peel the tops of twenty mushrooms; cut off a portion of the stalks, and wipe them carefully with a piece of flannel, dipped in salt; lay the mushrooms in a tin dish, put a small piece of butter on the top of each, and season them Avith pepper and salt. Set the dish in the oven, and bake from twenty minutes to half an hour. "When done, arrange them high in the centre of a very hot dish, pour the sauce round them and serve quickly and as hot as you possibly can. Breakfast Mushrooms. Clean a dozen or so of medium size; place two or three ounces of nice, clean beef-dripping in the frying pan, and with it a table- 186 MUSHROOMS. spoonful or more of nice beef gravy. Set the pan on a gentle fire, and as the dripping melts place in the mushrooms, adding salt and pepper to taste. In a few minutes they will be cooked, and being soaked in the gravy and served upon a hot plate, will form a capital dish. In the absence of gi'avy, a soupcon of " extractum carnis " may be substituted. Curried Mushrooms. Peel and remove the stems from a dish of full-grown mushrooms, sprinkle with salt, and add a very little butter; stew them gently in a little good gi'avy or stock. Add four tablespoonfuls of cream, and one teaspoonful of curry powder, previously well mixed with two teaspoonfuls of wheat flour; mix carefully, and serve on a hot dish, with hot toast and hot plates attendant. Mind the "curry stuff " is good, says an Indian friend, and not too much of it. The word " curry," by itself, it seems, being merely the Tamul word for "meat." The large horse mushroom, when half or three parts grown, and curried in this fashion, will be found to be delicious. Mushrooms en Caisse. Peel the mushrooms lightly, and cut them into pieces. Put them into cases of buttered paper, with a bit of butter, parsley, green onions, and shalots chopped up, salt and pepper. Dress them oi> the gridiron over a gentle fire, and serve in the cases. Mushroom Catsup. Mushroom catsup is more highly esteemed and more generally useful than any other. It is best when made of large mushroom flaps, fully ripe, fresh, and perfectly dry — that is, gathered during dry weather. If this point is not attended to the catsup will not keep. Do not wash nor skin the mushrooms, but carefully remove any decayed, dirty, or worm-eaten portions; cut off about half an inch from the end of the stalks, then break the rest into small pieces, put them into an earthen jar, and strew three-fourths of a pound of salt amongst two gallons of mushrooms, scattering the larger portions on top. Let them remain all night, and the next MUSHROOMS. 187 Jay stir them gently with a wooden spoon, and repeat this three times a day for two days. At the end of that time put the jar into a cool oven for half an hour, then strain the liquid which flows from them through a coarse cloth, and let it boil for a quarter of an hour. Do not squeeze the mushrooms. To every quart of the liquid put a quarter of an ounce each of Jamaica ginger and black pepper, and a drachm of mace. Boil again till the quantity is reduced one- half. Pour it out, and let it stand until cool, then put it into per- fectly dry bottles, being careful to leave the sediment, which will have settled to the bottom, undisturbed. Seal the corks and keep in a cool, dry place. Mushrooms en Ragout, Put into a stew-pan a little stock, a small quantity of vinegar, parsley, and green onions chopped up, salt and spices. When thif< is about to boil, the mushrooms being cleaned, put them in. When done, remove them from the fire, and thicken with yolks of eggs. Mushrooms "vvith Bacon. Take some full-grown mushrooms, and having cleaned them, procure a few rashers of nice streaky bacon, and fry it in the usual manner. When nearly done, add a dozen or so of mushrooms, and fry them slowly until they are cooked. In this process they will absorb all the fat of the bacon, and with the addition of a little salt and pepper, will form a most appetizing breakfast relish. Mushroom Stems. If young and fresh, make a capital dish when the supply of mushrooms is limited. Rub them quite clean, and after washing them in salt and water, slice them to the thickness of a shilling, then place them in a sauce-pan with suflicient milk to stew them tender; throw in a piece of butter and some flour for thickening, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve upon a toast of bread, in a hot dish, and add sippets of toasted bread. This makes a light and very delicate supper dish, and is not bad sauce to a boiled fowl. 188 MUSHROOMS. To Stew Mushrooms. Trim and rub clean a half pint large button mushrooms; put into a stew-pan two ounces of butter; shake over the fire until thor- oughly melted; put in the mushi-ooms, a teaspoonful of salt, half as much pepper, and a small piece of mace pounded; stew till the mushrooms are tender, then serve them on a hot dish. They are usually sent in as a breakfast dish, thus prepared iu butter. To Pot Mushrooms. The small open mushrooms suit best for potting. Trim and rub them; put into a stew-pan a quart of mushrooms, three ounces of butter, two teaspoonfuls of salt, and half a teaspoonful of Cayenne and mace mixed, and stew for ten or fifteen minutes, or till the mushrooms are tender; take them carefully out and drain them perfectly on a sloping dish, and when cold press them into small pots, and pour clarified butter over them, in which state they will keep for a week or two. If required to be longer preserved, put writing paper over the butter, and over that melted suet, which will effectually preserve them for many weeks, if kept in a dry, cool place. Mushrooms and Toast. Peel the mushrooms, and take out the stems. Fry them over a quick fire. When the butter is melted take off the pan. Squeeze the juice of a lemon into it. Let the mushrooms fry again for some minutes. Add salt, pepper, spices, and a spoonful of water, in which a clove of garlic, having been cut into pieces, has soaked for half an hour; let it stew. When the mushrooms are done make a thickening of yolks of eggs. Pour the mushrooms on bread fried in butter, and laid in a dish ready for them. Mushrooms on Toast. Put a pint of mushrooms into a stew-pan, with two ounces of butter rolled in flour; add a teaspoonful of salt, half a teaspoonful of white pepper, a blade of mace powdered, and half a teaspoonful MUSHROOMS. 189 grated lemon; stew till the butter is all absorbed, then add as much white roux as Avill moisten the mushrooms; fry a slice of bread in butter, to fit the dish, and as soon as the mushrooms are tender serve them on the toast. To Pickle Mushrooms. Select a number of small, sound, pasture mushrooms, as nearly as possible alike in size; throw them for a few minutes into cold water; then drain them; cut off the stalks, and gently rub off the outer skin with a moist flannel dipped in salt; then boil the vin- egar, adding to each quart two ounces of salt, half a nutmeg sliced, a drachm of mace, and an ounce of white pepper-corns; put the mushrooms into the vinegar for ten minutes over the fire; then pour the whole into small jars, taking cai'e that the spices are equally divided; let them stand a day, then cover them. Another Method. In pickling mushrooms, take the buttons only, and while they are quite close, cut the stem off even with the gills, and rub them quite clean. Lay them in salt and water for forty-eight hours, and then add pepper and vinegar, in which black pepper and a little mace have been boiled. The vinegar must be applied cold. So pickled they will keep for years. CHAPTER XVI. PICKLES. PCKLES are made of fruit or vegetables preserved in vinegar, and may be used as accompaniments to cold meat, to garnish dishes, and to flavor hashes and sauces. It is generally understood that they can be bought cheaper than they can be made. Nevertheless, there is always a certain amount of satisfaction in using home-made preparations, as by this means the quality of the article can be assured beyond all question, and many ladies take great pride in their store of home-made pickles, A great outcry was raised some years ago about the unwholesomeness of pickles, and attention was called to the fact that most of those ordinarily sold were positively pernicious, because the vinegar used in making them was boiled in copper vessels. This evil has now been, to a great extent, remedied; and it may be reasonably assumpd that pickles which are sold by respectable dealers have been properly prepared. At the same time, for safety's sake, the rule should be laid down that all pickles which are beautiful and brilliant in color and appearance should be avoided, as this is a certain sign that the vinegar used has been boiled in a metal pan. In making pickles, care must be taken that the vegetables and fruit used for the pur- pose are procured at the right season, that they are perfectly sound, not overripe, and have been gathered on a dry day. They should be trimmed and wiped before they are used, and not washed, unless they are afterwards to be partially boiled or soaked. The vinegar must be of the best quality. White wine vinegar is generally r-fcommended, for the sake of the appearance, but it is not as 190 PICKLES. 191 wholesome as the best cider vinegar. Metal utensils should never be used in making pickles, as the vinegar acting upon the metal produces a poison. Enameled or stone vessels and wooden spoons should therefore be used; and the best method that can be adopted is to put the vinegar into a stone jar, and heat it on a stone or hot hearth. Pickles should be kept in glass bottles, or unglazed earthen jars, and should be closely corked, and the corks sealed down, or covered with wet bladder. They should be stored in a dry place. As the vinegar becomes absorbed more should be added, as it is important that the vegetables should be covered at least two inches above the surface with vinegar. If any of the vinegar is left after the pickle is used, it should be boiled up with fresh spices, and bottled for flavoring sauces, etc. It should be remembered that to boil vinegar is to decrease its strength. If it is wished to hasten the preparation of the pickles, partially boil the vegetables in brine and let them cool and get quite dry before the vinegar is poured over them. Pickled Artichokes. Boil your artichokes in strong salt and water for two or three minutes; lay on a hair sieve to drain; when cold, lay in narrow- topped jars. Take as much white wine vinegar uj will cover the artichokes, and boil it with a blade or two of mace, some root ginger, and a nutmeg grated fine. Pour it on hot, seal and put away for use. Pickled Butternuts and Walnuts. Gather them when soft enough to be pierced by a pin; lay them in brine five days, changing this twice in the meantime; drain, and wipe them with a coarse cloth; pierce each by running a large needle through it, and lay in cold water for six hours. To each gallon of vinegar allow a cup of sugar, three dozen each of cloves and black peppers, half as much allspice, and a dozen blades of mace. Boil five minutes; pack the nuts in small jars and pour over them scalding hot. Repeat this twice within a week; tie up and set away. They will be good to eat in a month. 192 PICKLES. Pickled Beans. The beans should be gathered young. Place them in a strong brine of salt and water; when turning yellow, which will be in a day or two, remove them and wipe them dry. Boil the vinegar with a little mace, whole pepper, and ginger (two ounces of pepper and one ounce each of ginger and mace to each quart of vinegar); pour this over the beans. A small bit of alum, or a teaspoonful of soda will bring back the color. Cover them to keep in the steam and reboil the vinegar the next day; throw over hot as before. Cover, but do not tie down till cold. Pickled Beets. Take the beets, cleanse and boil two hours. When cold peel and slice, put into a jar and cover with vinegar prepared in the following manner: Boil half an ounce each of cloves, pepper-corns, mace and ginger in a pint of vinegar, when cold add another pint. Pickled Beocoli. Choose the finest, whitest and closest vegetables before they are quite ripe. Pare off all green leaves and the outsides of the stalks. Parboil them in well-salted water. When drained and diy pull off the branches in convenient sized pieces and put them into a jar of pickle prepared as for onions. Time to parboil, four or five minutes. Bottled Pickles. Wash and wipe small cucumbers; put into a stone jar and cover with salt — allowing a pint of salt to a half bushel of cucumbers — and pour over them boiling water enough to cover. Place a gallon at a time on the stove, cover with vinegar, and add a lump of alum about the size of a hickory nut. Put on the stove in another kettle a gallon of the very best cider vinegar, to which add half a pint of brown sugar; have bottles cleansed and placed to heat on stove in a vessel of cold water; also have a cup of heated sealing-wax. Have spices prepared in separate dishes as follows: Green and red PICKLES. 193 peppers sliced in rings; horse-radish roots washed, scraped and cut in small pieces; black and yellow mustard seed if liked, each pre- pared by sprinkling with salt and pouring on some boiling water, which let stand for fifteen minutes and then draw off; stick of cinnamon broken into pieces and a few cloves. When pickles come to boiling point, take out and pack in bottles, mixing with them the "epices. Put in a layer of pickles, then a layer of spices, shaking the bottles occasionally so as to pack tightly. When full, cover with the boiling hot vinegar from the other kettle (using a bright funnel and tin cup), going over them a second time and filling up, in order to supply shrinkage, for the pickles must be entirely covered with vinegar. Put in the corks, which should fit very snugly; lift each bottle and dijD the corked end in the hot sealing- wax; proceed in this manner with each bottle, dipping each a second time into the wax so that they may be perfectly secure. Glass cans, the covers of which have become defective, can be used by supplying corks. Pickles prepai-ed in this way are superior to imported pickles. Mary's Pickled Blackberries. Three quarts blackberries, one quart vinegar, one quart sugar No spice is required; put all together at the same time into your kettle and boil ten or fifteen minutes. After standing a few weeks they are very nice. To Put up Cucumbers ix Bri^te. Leave at least an inch of stem to the cucumbers, and wash well in feold water. Make a brine of salt and water strong enough to bear an egg; put your cucumbers in this as you gather them each day from the vines. Cut a board so as to fit inside of your barrel; bore holes here and there through it, and put this board on the cucuiii- bers with a weight sufficient to keep it down. Each day take off the scum that rises. When wanted for use, take out what is necessary and soak them two or three days, or until the salt is out 13 194 PICKLES. of them, and then pour boiling spiced vinegar over them. A red pepper or two is an improvement if one likes hot pickles. Pickled Cabbage. Select solid heads, slice very fine, put in a jar, then cover with boiling water; when cold, drain off the water, and season with grated horse radish, salt, equal parts of black and red pepper, cinna- mon and whole cloves. Pickled Cauliflower. Choose such as are firm, yet of their full size; cut away all the leaves and pare the stalks; pull away the flowers in bunches, steep in brine two days, then drain them, wipe them dry, and put them in hot pickle, or merely infuse for three days three ounces of curry powdei' in every quart of vinegar. Pickled Cauliflower, No. 2. These should be sliced and salted for two or three days, then drained, and spread upon a dry cloth before the fire for twenty- four hours; after which they are put into a jar, and covered with Diced vinegar. Picked Cabbage, No. 2. Slice red cabbage very thin; put on it a little coarse salt, and let it rest twenty-four hours to drain; add sliced onions, if you like them. Boil four spoonfuls pepper, and four of allspice in a quart of vinegar, and pour it over. Pickled Cucumbers. Wash with care your cucumbers, and place in jars. Make a weak brine (a handful of salt to a gallon and a half of water). When scalding hot, turn over the cucumbers and cover; repeat this process three mornings in succession, taking care to skim thor- oughly. On the fourth day have ready a porcelain kettle of vinegar, to which has been added a piece of alum the size of a v^alnut. When scalding hot, put in as many cucumbers as may be covered with the vinegar; do not let them boil, but skim out as PICKLES. 195 soon as scalded through, and replace with others, adding ov/a iJrae a small piece of alum. When this process is through, fhrow out the vinegar, and replace with good cider or white wine vinegar; add spices, mustard seed and red pepper. Sort the pickles and place them in stone or glass jars, turn over the hot spiced vinegar; seaS and put away the jars not wanted for immediate use. Pickles thus prepared are fine and crisp at the expiration of a year. Those that are kept in open mouth jars may be covered with a cloth, whicb will need to be taken off and rinsed occasionally. Chow-Chow. Two quarts of tomatoes, two white onions, half-dozen green pep- pers, one dozen cucumbers, two heads of cabbage, all chojiped fine; let this stand over night; sprinkle a cup of salt in it. In the morn- ing drain off the brine, and season with one tablespoonful of celery seed, one ounce of turmeric, half teaspoonful of cayenne pepper, one cup of brown sugar, one ounce of cinnamon, one ounce of all- spice, one ounce of black pepper, one-quarter ounce cloves, vinegar •enough to cover, and boil two houi-s. Chow-Ciiow, No. 2. Two heads of cabbage, two heads of cauliflower, one dozen cucumbers, six roots of celery, six peppers, one quart of small white onions, two quarts of green tomatoes; cut into small pieces and boil €ach vegetable separately until tender, then strain them. Two gallons of vinegar, one-fourth pound of mustard, one-fourth pound of mustard seed, one pot of French mustard, one ounce of cloves, two ounces of turmeric; put the vinegar and spices into a kettle and let them come to a boil; mix the vegetables and pour over the dressing. Pickled Cherries. Take the largest and ripest red cherries, remove the stems, have ready a large glass jar, fill it two-thirds full with cherries, and fill up to the top with best vinegar; keep it well covered and no boil- 196 PICKLES. ing or spice is necessary, as the cherry flavor will he retained, and the cherries will not shrivel. French Pickles. One peck of green tomatoes, sliced, six large onions, sliced; sprinkle over tiieni one cup of salt; let them stand over night; in the morning drain and boil for fifteen minutes in two parts water and one part vinegar; drain again; take two quarts vinegar, ®ne pound sugar, one tablespoonful each of cloves, cinnamon and all- spice; boil together for fifteen minutes and pour over the pickles. Pickled Grapes. Fill a jar with alternate layers of sugar and bunches of nice grapes, not too ripe; fill one-third full of good, cold vinegar and cover tightly. Pickled Grapes, No. 2. When grapes are not quite ripe, but dark colored, pick from the stem and wash; put in bottles; in a dish put sugar and vinegar, and boil a few minutes; add spices to taste; boil a few minutes, pour over the grapes and seal up the bottles. To Harden Pickles. After they are taken out of the brine take a lump of alum and a horse-radish cut in strips; put this in the vinegar, and it Avill make them hard and crisp. When you wish to make a few cucumber pickles quick, take good cider vinegar; heat it boiling hot and pour it over them. When cool, they are ready for use. Lemon Pickles. Wipe six lemons, cut each into eight pieces; put on them a pounCi of salt, six large cloves of garlic, two ounces of horse-radish, sliceCi thin, likewise of cloves, mace, nutmeg, and Cayenne, a quarter of an ounce each, and two ounces of flour of mustard; to these put two quarts of vinegar. Boil a quarter of an hour in a well-tinned sauce- pan; or, which is better, do it in a strong jar, in a kettle of boiling PICKLES. 197 water; or set the jar on the hot hearth till done. Set the jar by, and stir it daily for six weeks; keep the jar close covered. Put it into small bottles. Mangoes of Melons. Take green melons and make a brine strong enough to bear up an egg; then pour it boiling hot on the melons, keeping them under the brine; let them stand five or six days, slit them down on one side, take out all the seeds, scrape them well in the inside, and wash them clean; then take cloves, garlic, ginger, nutmeg and pepper; put all these proportionately into the melons, filling them up with mustard seed; then lay them into an earthern pot, and take one part of mustard seed and two parts of vinegar, enough to cover them, pouring it on scalding hot. Keep them closely covered. Imitation Pickled Mangoes. Large cucumbers, or small melons, are split so that a marrow- spoon may be introduced, and the seeds scooped out; they are then parboiled in brine strong enough to float an egg, dried on a cloth before the fire, filled with mustard seed and a clove of garlic, and then covered with spiced vinegar. Real mangoes are pickled in the same way. Pickled Nasturtiums. Soak for three days in strong salt and water; then strain and pour boiling vinegar over them, omitting the spice. Vinegar for any pickle should never be allowed to boil over one minute. Pickled Onions. Small silver-skinned onions; remove outer skin so that each one is white and clean; put them into brine that will float an egg for three days; bring vinegar to a boiling point, add a little mace and whole red peppers and pour hot over the onions, well di'ained from the brine. Pickled Onions, No. 2. Peel the onions and let them lie in strong salt and water nine days, changing the water each day; then put them into jars and 198 PICKLEB. pour fresh salt and water on them, this time boiling hot; when it is cold, take them out and put them on a hair sieve to drain, after which put them in wide-mouthed bottles and pour over them vinegar prepared in the following manner: Take Avhite wine vinegar and boil it with a blade of mace, some salt and ginger in it^, when cool, pour over the onions. Pickles. An excellent way to make pickles that will keep a year or more is to drop them into boiling hot water, but not boil them; let them stay ten minutes, wipe them dry, and drop them into cold, spiced vinegar, and they will not need to be put in salt and Avater. Stuffed Peppers. Chop a large cabljage finely, add one large spoonful grated horse- radish root and one ounce of white mustard seed; mix all this well; cut pieces out of the stem ends of large green peppers, large as a silver dollar; fill with the filling and sew the piece in again with cotton thread; then take vinegar enough to cover; spice with cloves, mace and allspice, whole; boil, and when nearly cold, pour over the peppers; no salt is to be used. Mangoes are pickled and stuffed in the same manner. Mixed Pickles. One quart raw cabbage chopped fine; one quart boiled beets chopped fine; two cups of sugar, tablespoonful of salt, one tea- spoonful red pepper, one cup of grated horse-radish; cover with cold vinegar and keep from the air. Mixed Pickles, No. 2. Three hundred small cucumbers, four green peppers sliced fine, two large or three small heads cauliflower, three heads of white cabbage sliced fine, nine large onions sliced, one large horse-radish, one quart green beans cut one inch long, one quart green tomatoes sliced; put this mixture in a pretty strong brine twenty-four hours; drain three hours; then sprinkle in one-fourth pound black and PICKLES. 199 one-fourth pound of white mustard seed; also one tablespoonful black ground pepper; let it come to a good boil in just vinegar enough to cover it, adding a little alum; drain again and when cold put in one-half \nnt ground mustard; cover the whole with good cider vinegar; add turmeric enough to color if you like. India Pickles. Take three quarts of vinegar, quarter pound mustard, half ounce of black pepper, one ounce cloves, one ounce allspice, one ounce turmeric, one ounce ginger, one ounce Cayenne pepper, hand- ful of salt and the same of sugar; boil for twenty minutes. When cold put in the vegetables, cucumbers, onions, cauliflower cut up small, and cover closely. If the liquid should seem thin, boil again and add more mustard in three weeks after making. Pyper Pickles. Salt pickles down dry for ten days, soak in fresh water one day; pour off water, place in porcelain kettle, cover with water and vinegar and add one teaspoonful pulverized alum; set over night on a stove which had fire in it during the day; wash and put in a jar with cloves, allspice, pepper, horse-radish, onions or garlic; boil fresh vinegar and pour over all. Ready for use in two weeks. Ragan Pickles. Two gallons of cabbage, sliced fine, one gallon of chopped green tomatoes, twelve onions, also chopped, one gallon best vinegar, one pound of brown sugar, one tablespoonful of black pepper, half an ounce of turmeric powder, one ounce celery seed, one table- spoonful of ground allspice, one tablespoonful of ground cloves, one-quarter pound white mustard, and one gill of salt. Boil all together, stirring well, for tAvo liours; take from the fire and add the spices, then put in air-tight jars; set in a cool, dry place, and this delicious pickle will keep all winter. Sweet Pickles. To every seven pounds of fruit allow three and one-half pounds 200 PICKLES. of sugar and one pint of cider vinegar, two ounces whole cloves, two of stick cinnamon. This is for peaches, pears, apples or musk melons. Peaches, pears, and apples should be pared only, not divided. Then in each stick two whole cloves. The cinnamon should be boiled in the vinegar. Put the prepared fruit into a jar and pour the vinegar, scalding hot, over it. Repeat this for three mornings. These sweet pickles will be found delicious, and will keep any length of time. The melons should be cut in strips as if to serve fresh on the table, and should not be too ripe. Simmer them thirty minutes slowly in the prepared vinegar, and they will need no further attention except to keep them closely covered, and they will keep good a year. Sweet Apple Pickle. Pickled sweet apples can be made by taking three pounds of sugar, two quarts of vinegar, one-half ounce of cinnamon, one-half ounce of cloves; pare the apples, leaving them whole; boil them in part of the vinegar and sugar until you can put a fork through them; take them out; heat the remainder of the vinegar and sugar and pour over them. Be careful not to boil them too long or they will break. Sweet Tomato Pickle. Seven pounds of ripe tomatoes, peeled and sliced, three and a lalf pounds of sugar, one pound of mace and cinnamon mixed, one junce of cloves, one quart of vinegar. Mix all together and stew an hour. Green Tomato Pickles. Slice one peck of tomatoes into a jar and sprinkle a little salt over each layer; let them stand twenty-four hours, drain off the liquor; put the tomatoes into a kettle with a teaspoonful of each of the following spices: Ground ginger, allspice, cloves, mace, cinnamon, a teaspoonful of scraped horse-radish, twelve small or three large red peppers, three onions, a cup of brown sugar; covA* all with vinegar; boil slowly for three hours. PICKLES. 201 PiCALILLI. One peck green tomatoes, one large cabbage, one dozen onions; add half pint salt; after the above have been cho^jped fine let it stand over night; in the morning drain off the brine and scald in weak vinegar; drain I'us off and stir in ground spices to suit the taste; add six i-ed peppers and a little horse-radish root; pack in a crock and cover with strong vinegar; a few small cucumbers put in whole are quite an addition. PiCKLETTE. Four large crisp cabbages chopped fine, one quart of onions chopped fine, two quarts of vinegar, or enough to cover the cabbage, two tablespoonf uls each of ground mustard, black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, celeiy seed, and one of allspice, pulverized alum and mace. Pack the onions and cabbage in alternate layers with a little salt between them. Let them stand until next day. Then scald the vinegar, sugar and spices together and pour over the cabbage and onions. Do this three mornings in succession. On the fourth put all together over the fire and heat to a boil; let them boil five minutes. When cold pack in small jars. It is fit for use as soon as cold and will keep well. Spiced Vinegar for Pickles Generally. Bruise in a mortar two ounces black pepper, one ounce ginger, one-half ounce allspice, and one ounce salt. If a hotter pickle is desired, add one-half drachm Cayenne, or a few capsicums. For Avalnuts add also one ounce shallots. Put these in a stone jar, with a quart of vinegar, and cover them with a bladder wetted with the pickle, and over this a piece of leather. Set the jar near the fire for three days, shaking it three time a day; then pour it on the walnuts or other vegetables. For walnuts it is used hot; for cabbage, etc., cold. Pickled Peaches. To fourteen pounds of peaches peeled, put three pounds of browp a.<2 PICKLES. sujar, throe tablespoonfuls of cinnamon, same of powdered cloves, to one quart of strong cider vinegar. Let the vinegar, sugar, and spices boil a very little while; then put in your peaches and let them scald enough to stick a straw through them with ease. Take them out and put them in an earthen jar, seeing that the vinegar covers them well, which must be poured over the packed peaches. Put a cover over them lightly the first day; the second pour off the vinegar, heat and pour it boiling hot over the fruit. Repeat till the fruit is ready for use. Four or five times heating will generally cure them. Watch closely and if any fermentation occurs pour off the vinegar and scald it, skimming off any scum that arises. Pickled Peaches that will Keep. Four pounds sugar, one pint vinegar, to twelve pounds of fruit; put sugar and vinegar together and boil; then add the fruit and let it come to a boil; the next day drain off the liquor and boil again; do this three times and your pickles are delicious; add cinnamon to the liquor and stick two or three cloves in each jseach. To Pickle Plums. For eight pounds of fruit take four pounds of sugar, two quarts of vinegar, one ounce cinnamon, and one ounce cloves; boil the vinegar, sugar, and spices together; skim, and pour scalding hot over your fruit; let it set three days, pour off the syrup, scald and skim and pour over again, and continue this process every three days till you have scalded it three times, after which it will be fit for use. Plums prepared in this way we think superior to the old method of preserving with sugar alone. Geeex Tomato Soy. Two gallons of green tomatoes sliced without peeling; slice also twelve good sized onions; two quarts of vinegar, one quart of sugar, two tablespoonfuls each of salt, ground mustard, and ground black pepper, one tablespoonful of cloves and allspice. Mix all together and stew until tender, stirring often lest they should scorch. Put up in small glass jars. A good sauce for all kinds of meat or fish. PICKLES. , 203 To Keep Tomatoes Whole. Fill a large stone jar with ripe tomatoes, then add a few whole cloves and a little sugar; cover them well with one-half cold vinegar and half water; place a piece of flannel over the jar well down in the vinegar, then tie doAvn with paper. In this way toma- toes can be kept a year. Should mildew collect on the flannel it will not hurt them in the least. Pickled Tomatoes. Let the tomatoes be thoroughly ripe and let them lie in strong salt and water for three or four days; then put them down in layers in jars, mixing with them small onions and pieces of horse- radish; then pour on vinegar, cold, after having spiced it. Use plenty of spice, cover carefully, and let stand for a month before using. CHAPTER XVII. PRESERVES. Preserved Apples for Tea. Ali."^ a ni«e syrup of sugar and water, and put in some small pieces of ginger root or the yellow of orange peel; have some good firm apples pared and halved — pippins are best — and when the syrup has boiled up three or four times and been skimmed, drop in the apples and cook until transparent, but they must not go to pieces. Let them be quite cold before eaten, and good cream greatly improves it. Apple Preserves. Take three-fourths pound of sugar to each pound of apples; make a syrup of the sugar and water, and a little lemon juice or sliced lemon; skim off all scum and put a few apples at a time into the syrup and boil uniil they are transparent; skim out and put in a jar. When all are done, boil the syrup down thick; pour boiling hot over the apples and cover closely. Well-flavored fruit not easily broken should be selected. Apricot Preserves. Proceed the same as for preserving peaches, save that apricots, having a smooth, thin skin, do not require paring. Citron Preserves. Pare and take out the seeds and cut them in pieces one inch thick and two inches in length; weigh them and put into a preserving kettle and cook them until they are clear, or steam them, then 304 PRESERVES. 205 make a syrup of their weight in sugar with water and add two sliced lemons for each pound of fruit; put the citron into the syrup, a part at a time, and boil about fifteen minutes; skim out and put into a jar. When all has been thus cooked, boil the syrup down thick, and pour over it. Cover closely with paper which the air cannot penetrate, or use air-tight jars. CiTEON Preserves, No. 2. First, peel and cut the citron in pieces an inch square; then boil in water until soft; drain off the water and add one pound of sugar to each pound of citron; to every five pounds of the preserve add one pound of raisins, one lemon sliced, half an ounce of white cloves, one ounce of stick cinnamon; dissolve the sugar, and when hot, add the fruit and simmer slowly for two hours. Currant Freserve«. Take ten pounds of currants and seven pounds of sugar; pick the stems from seven pounds of the currants and press the juice from the other three pounds; when the juice and sugar are made into a hot syrup, put in the currants and boil until thick and rich, Braxdied Cherries or Berries. Make a syrup of a pound of sugar and a half gill of water for every two pounds of fruit. Heat to boiling, stirring to prevent burning, and pour over the fruit while warm — not hot. Let them stand together an hour; put all into a preserving kettle, and heat slowly; boil five minutes, take out the fruit with a perforated skim- mer, and boil the syrup twenty minutes. Add a pint of brandy for every five pounds of fruit; pour over the berries hot, and seal. Lemox Preserves. One pound of pounded loaf sugar, quarter pound of butter, six eggs and the whites of four, well beaten, the rind of two lemons, grated, and the juice of three. Mix together and let it simmer till of the consistency of honey. Be careful to stir all the time or it will burn. 206 PRESERVES. Preserved Oranges. Take any number of oranges, with rather more than their weight in white sugar. Slightly grate the oranges and score them round and round with a knife, but do not cut very deej). Put them in cold water for three days, changing the water two or three times a day. Tie them up in a cloth, boil them until they are soft enough for the head of a pin to penetrate the skin. While they are boiling place the sugar on the fire, with rather more than half a pint of water to each pound; let it boil for a minute or two, then strain it through muslin. Put the oranges into the syrup till it jellies and is a yellow color. Try the syrup by putting some to cool. It musl not be too stiff. The syrup need not cover the oranges, but they must be turned, so that each part gets thoroughly done. Preserved Pine-Apple. Pare, cut into slices, take out the core of each one, and weigh, allowing pound for pound of sugar and fruit. Put in alternate layers in the kettle and pour in water, allowing a cup to each pound of sugar. Heat to a boil; take out the pine-apple and spread upon dishes in the sun. Boil and skim the syrup half an hour. Return the pine-apple to the kettle and boil fifteen minutes. Take it out, pack in wide-mouth jars, pour on the scalding syrup; cover to keep in the heat, and, when cold, tie up, first putting brandied tissue paper upon the top. To Preserve Plums or Cherries. Make a syrup of clean, brown sugar, and clarify it; when per-, fectly clear and boiling hot, pour it over the plums, having picked out all the unsound ones and stems. Let them remain in the syrup two days, then drain it off; make it boiling hot, skim it, and pour it over again ; let them remain another day or two, then put them into a preserving kettle over the fire, and simmer gently until the syrup is reduced, and thick or rich. One pound of sugar to each pound of plums. Small damsons are very fine preserved, as are PRESERVES. 207 cherries, or any other ripe fruit. Clarify the syrup, and when boiling hot, put in the plums; let them boil very gently until they are cooked, and the syrup rich. Put them in pots or jars the next day; secure as directed. Purple Plums Preserved. Take an equal weight of fruit and nice sugar. Take a clean stone jar and fill it with the fruit and sugar in layers. Cover them and set the jar in a kettle of water over the fire. Let them stand in the boiling water all day, filling up the kettle as the water boils away. If at any time they seem likely to ferment, repeat this pro- cess. It is a simple and excellent way of preserving plums. To Preserve Pears. Pare them very thin, and simmer in a thin syrup; let them lie a day or two. Make the syrup richer and simmer again. Repeat this till they are clear; then drain and dry them in the sun or a cool oven a little time; or they may be kept in the syrup and dried a" wanted, which makes them richer. Brandy Peaches. Drop the peaches in hot water, let them remain till the skin can be ripped off; make a thin syrup, and let it cover the fruit; boil the fruit till they can be pierced with a straw; take it out, make a very rich syrup, and add, after it is taken from the fire, and while it is still hot, an equal quantity of brandy. Pour this, while it is still warm, over the peaches in the jar. They must be covered with it. Peach Preserves. Take any nice peaches that v,n\l not cook to pieces, pare them and take out the pits; take their weight in sugar, or, if they are to be canned, three-fourths pound of sugar to each pound of fruit, and a coffee-cup of water to each pound of sugar. Boil part of the pits in the water until the flavor is extracted, then remove the pits; add" about as much water as has evaporated, then add the sugar; skim 208 PRESERVES. thoroughly, then add a small quantity of fruit at a time, cook slowly for about ten minutes, skim out into a jar, then add more. When all are done, pour the boiling syrup over them. The next day drain off the syrup and boil again and pour back; do the same for two or three days, then make them air-tight with paper as directed for jellies; or, if to be sealed in cans, the first boiling is sufficient. Cling stone peaches are preserved the same way, whole, except that they must be cooked longer. Quince Presekves. Pare and core the quinces, and cut into halves or quarters, as suits the size of your jars; let them stand over night in enough cold water to cover them; in the morning put them in the kettle with the same water and let them cook gently until you can just stick a fork in them; take the fruit out with a skimmer, weigh it and to each pound of fruit allow a pound of sugar; put the fruit and sugar into the kettle, with enough of the water to make a good syrup, and let them boil gently until they are clear; take out carefully with the skimmer and put into the jars; fill the jars to the top with the syrup. If there is a large quantity of fruit, and the kettle is not large, it is best to put the fruit in the syrup a little at a time. Preserving Strawberries. Select the largest and finest strawberries. Hull them, weigh and allow to each pound one pound of the best double i-efined loaf sugar finely powdered. Divide the sugar into two equal portions. Put a layer of strawberries into the bottom of a preserving kettle and cover them with a layer of sugar, until half the sugar is in; next set the kettle over a moderate fire and let it boil till the sugar is melted ; then put in, gradually, the remainder of the sugar, and, after it is all in, let it boil hard for five minutes, taking off the scum with a silver spoon; but there will be little or no scum if the sugar is of the very best quality. Afterwards remove the kettle from the fire and take out the strawberries very carefully in a spoon. Sjjread out the strawberries on large, flat dishes, so as not to touch each other, and PRESERVES. 200 set tlieni immediately in a cold place or on ice. Hang the kettle again on the fire, and give the syrup one boil up, skimming it if necessary. Place a fine strainer over the top of a mug or pitcher, and pour the syrup througli it. Then put the strawberries into glass jars or tumblers; pour into each an equal portion of the syrup. Lay at the top a round piece of white paper dipped in brandy. Seal the jars tightly. Raspberries may be j^reserved as above; also large ripe goose- berries. To each pound of gooseberries allow one and a half pounds sugar. Bury them in a box of sand, or keep in a dark, cool place. Green Tomato Preserves. Eight pounds small, green tomatoes; pierce each with a fork; seven pounds sugar, juice of four lemons, one ounce of ginger and mace mixed; heat all together slowly and boil until the fruit is clear; remove from kettle with skimmer and spread upon dishes to cool; boil the syrup thick; put the fruit in jars and cover with hot syrup. Ripe Tomato Preserves. Seven pounds round yellow or egg tomatoes, peeled, seven pounds sugar, juice of three lemons; let them stand together over night, drain off the syrup and boil it, skimming well; put in the tomatoes, and boil gently twenty minutes; take out the fruit with a perforated skimmer and spread upon dishes; boil the syrup down until it thickens, adding, just before taking it up, the juice of three lemons; put the fruit into the jars and fill up Avith hot syrup. When cold, seal up. Spiced Currants. Four quarts ripe currants, three pounds brown sugar, one pint cider vinegar, one tablespoonful each of allspice and cloves, and a ,ittle- nutmeg and cinnamon. Boil one hour, stirring occasionally. Spiced Gooseberries. Six quarts of gooseberries, ripe or green, nine pounds of sugar, one pint of vinegar (not too strong), one tablespoonful each of 14 210 PRESERVES. cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Put the berries in the kettle with half the sugar and a little water; boil an hour and a half. When nearly done, add the rest of the sugar; set it off the fire and add the spices and vinegar. Spiced Grapes, Five pounds of grapes, three of sugar, two teaspoonfuls of cin- namon and allspice, half teaspoonful of cloves; pulp grapes; boil until tender; cook pulps and strain through a sieve; add to it the epices, put in sugar, spices and vinegar to taste; boil thoroughly and cool. Spiced Nutmeg Melon. Select melons not quite ripe; open, scrape out the pulp, peel and slice; put the fruit in a stone jar, and, for five pounds of fruit take a quart of vinegar and two and a half pounds of sugar; scald vin- egar and sugar together, and pour over the fruit; scald the syrup and pour over the fruit for eight successive days. On the ninth, add one ounce of stick cinnamon, one of whole cloves, and one of allspice; scald fruit, vinegar and spices together, and seal up in jars. This pickle should stand two or three months before using. Blue plums are very nice prepared in this way. Spiced Peaches. Five pounds peaches, two of brown sugar, one quart vinegar, one ounce each of cinnamon, cloves, and mace. Wipe the peaches and boil until done in the vinegar and sugar, then take out, put in spices, boil well and pour over. Spiced Plums. Spiced plums are delicious with cold meat. Cook the plums in a little water until they are soft; then, so far as possible, remove the stones, sweeten and spice to your taste, and boil until thick; put in iarge-mouthed bottles and seal, or can in the usual way. PRESERVES. 211 Spiced Plums, No. 2. Nine pounds blue plums, six pounds sugar, two quarts vinegar, one ounce cinnamon; boil vinegai', sugar and spice together, pour over plums, draw off next morning and boil; pour back on plums: repeat the boiling five mornings, the last time boiling the fruit about twenty minutes. CHAPTER XVIII. VEGETABLES. "JTE following excellent remarks on the cooking of vegetables are from the pen of Miss Corson: SjDinach is an excellent dish when well cooked; take two quarts, wash, boil for two minutes in salted boiling water, drain, chop and heat in a frying-pan for two minutes wath an ounce each of butter and flour; half a pint of meat broth is added, the com- pound is stirred and heated for five minutes, and served with small pieces of fried bread. Second only to sj^inach are beet sprouts ; we all know them boiled, but after they are boiled they gain in flavor by being fried for two or three minutes in butter. New cabbage scalded for five minutes in fast boiling water, coarsely chopped, sprinkled with flour, salt and pepper, and gently stewed for five minutes with milk or cream enough to cover it, is good. So, too, is red cabbage sliced, thrown for fifteen minutes into scalding salted water and vinegar, then drained and fried five minutes with butter, and served Avith a little hot meat gravy. Let- tuce, which seems devoted to "salad days," is excellent stuffed; it is well washed in salted cold water, the roots trimmed off, two tablespoonfuls of cooked force-meat of any kind, or chopped cold meat highly seasoned, inclosed within the leaves, which ai'e bound together with tape or strips of cloth; several heads thus prejsared are placed in a saucepan, covered with broth or cold gravy well reasoned, and set over the fire to simmer about five minutes; the tapes are then removed and the lettuce heads and sauce are served hot. A link between cabbage and lettuce are Brussels sprouts^ 212 VEGETABLES. 213 those tender, baby cabbages, which, stewed in cream, or quickly fried in butter, almost incline one's thoughts to vegetarianism. Beets are familiar enough boiled and sliced, either served hot Avith butter, pepper and salt, or pickled, but a novelty is a beet pudding, made by mixing a pint of cooked sugar beets, chopped, with four eggs, a quart of milk, a little salt and pepper, a table- spoonful of butter, and baking them about half an hour. Cold boiled beets sliced and fried with butter are palatable; to cook them so that none of their color shall be lost, carefully wash them without . breaking the skin or cutting off the roots or stalks, and boil them until tender, about an hour, in boiling salted water. Turnips, either white or yellow, stewed in gravy, are excellent. Choose a quart of small, even size; peel them; boil fifteen minutes in well salted boiling water; drain them; put them into a frying-pan with sufficient butter to prevent burning; brown them; stir in a tablespoonful of flour; cover them with hot water; add a palatable seasoning of salt and pepper, and stew them gently until tender. Or peel and cut them in small regular pieces; brown them over the fire with a little butter and a slight sprinkling of sugar; add salt and pepper and boiling water enough to cover them, and gently stew them until tender; serve them hot. Parsnips are not sufficiently appreciated, perhaps because of their too sweet taste; but this can be overcome to a palatable extent by judicious cookery; they are excellent when sliced, after boiling, and warmed in a sauce made by mixing flour, butter and milk, over the fire, and seaspning it with salt and pepper; as soon as wai-m they are served with a little chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice. For parsnips fried brown in an old-fashioned iron pot with slices of salt pork and a seasoning of salt and pepper, several good words might be said. Carrots boiled and mashed and warmed with butter, pepper and salt deserve to be known; or sliced and quickly browned in butter; ■or tossed for five minutes over the fire with chopped onion, parsley, butter, seasonings and sufficient gravy to moisten them; or boiled, 214 VEGETABLES. quartered, heated with cream, seasoned, and, at the moment of serving, thickened with the yolk of eggs. Onions are capital when sliced and quickly fried in plenty of smoking hot fat, or roasted whole until tender, and served with butter, pepper and salt; or chosen while still small, carefully peeled without breaking, browned in butter, and then simmered tender with just boiling water enough to cover them; or boiled tender in broth and then heated live minutes in nicely seasoned cream. Oyster plant, scraped under cold Avater, boiled tender in salted water containing a trace of vinegar, and then heated with a little highly seasoned melted butter, is excellent; the tender leaves which it often bears make a nice salad. Somewhat like oyster plant are Jerusalem artichokes, which are good and cheap in this market. Like oyster plant, they must be peeled under water, boiled tender^ and then served with melted butter, or quickly browned in butter, either plain or Avith chopped herbs, or served with an acid sauce of any kind. Celery we know best in its uncooked state, but it is very good stewed in any brown or white gravy or sauce, or rolled in fritter batter and fried brown. Squash and pumpkin are very good either boiled, sliced, and broiled or fried, or made into fritters like oyster plant. Potatoes, most important of all hardy vegetables. Lives there a cook with soul so dead as not to be willing to expend all the powers of fire, water and salt to produce mealy potatoes ? If so, the writing of her epitaph would be a cheerful task. And if cold ones are left they can rehabilitate themselves in favor by appearing chopped, moistened with white sauce or cream, and either fried in butter or baked quickly, with a covering of bread crumbs. Steam-fried, that is sliced raw, put into a covered pan over the fire, with butter and seasoning, and kept covered until tender, with only enough stirring to prevent burning, they are capital. To fry them Lyonnaise style they are cooled in their jackets to keep them whole, sliced about a quarter of an inch VEGETABLES. 215 thick, browned in butter with a little sliced onion, sprinkled with chopped parsley, pepper and salt, and served hot. Larded, they have bits of fat ham or bacon inserted in them, and are baked tender. Note well that the more expeditiously a baked potato is cooked and eaten the better it will be. Boiling is the ordinary mode of cooking vegetables. The rule is to throw them (whether the roots, flowers, foliage, or unripe seeds) into cold water, after trimming or other preparation; to let them lie there, if shriveled or drooping, until they liave recovered their natural crispness; then to throw them into soft water, or, if hard water, made soft by the addition of a small pinch of carbonate of soda; to keep them boiling without the lid (with roots this is imma- terial, though it is one means of keeping greens a good color) ; to remove all scum as it rises; to cook them enough; and to take them up as soon as they are done through, instead of leaving them to seethe, and lose their natural juices in the watei*. To this there are exceptions. Peas and beans may be thrown into cold water when they are dried, but when green are best not thrown into cold water; and the former should be boiled in the least quantity of water possible. Potatoes require different treat ment, according to their kind and the soil' in which they grew Very mealy or large potatoes, if thrown into boiling water, Avill fal) to pieces outside, while still raw in the center; while small, firm, or waxy varieties are best thrown into boiling salt water. If you buy of the grower, he will often tell you what treatment suits them. At any rate, an experiment both ways will soon settle the difficult)^ But the qualities of potatoes vary, not only with soil and kind, but also with the period in the season. We have known potatoes, waxy and watery when first dug up, become light and floury in February and March, after the eyes have sprouted three or four inches. The reason is plain: Superabundant moisture had beei; drawn off, and the starch, which forms one of its component ele ments, had had time to mature itself. 216 VEGETABLES. How TO Cook Potatoes. It is well known that a good potato may be spoiled by bad cook- ing; and by good management a bad one may be rendered com- paratively good. In fact, no vegetable depends more on the cooking than a potato. In the first place, if the skin is taken off them before boiling, it should not be peeled, but scraped, for the follow- ing reasons: If peeled, it is reduced in size considerably; besides, the outside removed is the very best pai't of the root. An iron saucepan is preferable to a tin one for cooking them, as it prevents their boiling so fast; but the best way is, first to wash them very clean, then to put them on the fire with just cold Avater enough to cover them; when it has begun to boil, throw in a handful of salt, and add a pint of cold water, which checks their boiling and gives them time to be done through, without allowing them to crack. As soon as done, rather under than over, which may be ascertained with a fork, pour the water off from them, and replace the pan on the fire for a short time, until the remaining moisture is evaporated. If not immediately wanted, do not place the lid upon them, or the steam will be confined, but cover them with a cloth. New potatoes require great caution not to over-boil them, or they will be tasteless and watery. Artichokes (Jerusalem), Fried. Pare and cut the artichokes into slices about an eighth of an inch in thickness, and fry them in sufficient boiling oil or lard for them to swim in until they are a rich brown. Strew a little salt over them, pile high on a dish, and send to the table hot. They may also be peeled and cut pear-shaped and stewed in a little salt water, to which a little butter has been added, and used as a garnish for a dish of mashed potatoes. Asparagus, Boiled. Choose bunches of asparagus which have been cut fresh and the heads straight. If the cut end is brown and dry, and the heads bent on one side, the asparagus is stale. It may be kept a day or VEGETABLES. 217 two with the stalks in cold water, but is much better fresh. Scrape off the white skin from the lower end, and cut the stalks of equal length; let them lie in cold water until it is time to cook them; put a handful of salt into a gallon of water, and let it boil; tie the asparagus into bundles and put them into it; toast a slice of bi-ead brown on each side, dip it in the water, and lay it on a dish. When the asparagus is sufficiently cooked, dish it on the toast, leaving the white ends outward each way. Serve with melted butter. Asparagus, Fricasseed. Wash twenty-five heads of asparagus, cut off the tender portion and lay them into cold water until they are required. Drain them and chop them with a young head of lettuce, half a head of endive and a small onion. Put a piece of butter the size of an egg into a saucepan, melt it, then mix with it smoothly a dessert-spoonful of flour, and half a pint of stock. Add the chopped vegetables, with pepper and salt, and let all stew gently until the sauce is thick and good. Serve hot. Time to stew, half an hour. Egg Broccoli. Take half a dozen heads of broccoli, cut off the small shoots or blossoms and lay them aside for frying; trim the stalks short and pare off the rough rind up to the head; wash them well, and lay them in salt water for an hour; then put them into plenty of boil- ing water (salted) and let them boil fast till quite tender. Put two ounces of butter into a saucepan, and stir it over a slow fire till it is melted; then add gradually six or eight well-beaten eggs, and stir the mixture until it is thick and smooth. Lay the broccoli in the center of a large dish, pour the egg around it, and having fried the broccoli blossoms, arrange them in a circle near the edge of the dish. Beets ajjd Potatoes, One of the most delicious ways to serve these early vegetables is this: Take new potatoes and young beets, boil until done in sepa- rate kettles, then slice into the dish in which they are to be put on :;il8 VEGETABLES. the table; first put a layer of potatoes, sprinkled with pepper and salt and little lumps of butter, then a layer of beets, treated in the same way, and so on until the dish is full, then pour over all a very little sweet cream or milk. Lima Beans. Shell, wash, and put into boiling water with a little salt; when boiled tender, drain and season them, and either dress with cream or large lump of butter, and let simmer for a few moments. String Beans. Choose fine young beans, and be careful they are the right sort. The best kind is the ease-knife, because they have no strings and need only to be broken in iavo and not cut. Should these not be obtainable take the youngest that can be procured; remove the thread or string that runs along the pod, then cut them in a slanting direction lengthwise in very thin slices, throw them into boiling water well salted, and to preserve their color boil wnthont the lid of the saucepan. When tender, drain in a colander, put in a small piece of butter and a dash of pepper, and give the whole a shake. This dish may be varied in a great many ways and with great success. Cold beans, with oil and vinegar, make an excellent and refreshing salad. They may also, when cooked and drained, be mixed with some good brown gravy, and served alone as a course after the meat. Brussels Sprouts. Pick, trim, and wash a number of sprouts. Put them into plenty of fast boiling Avater; add a tablespoonful of salt, keep the sauce- pan uncovered and boil very fast for fifteen minutes. Drain as soon as done and serve with melted butter. Stewed Carrots. Scrape and boil whole forty-five minutes. Drain and cut into round slices a quarter of an inch thick. Put on a cup of weak broth — a little soup if you have it — and cook half an hour. Then VEGETABLES. 21?^ add three or four tablespoonf uls of niillc, a lump of butter rollod in flour, with seasoning to taste. Boil up and disli. Celery. Wash, trim, and sci'ape the stalks, selecting those that are white and tender. Crisp by leaving in ice cold water until they are wanted for the table. Arrange neatly in a celery glass. Pas? between the oysters and the meat. Fried Celery. Boil the celery entire until tender; drain it, divide into small pieces and fry in dripping until lightly browned. Stewed Celery. Clean the heads thoroughly. Take off the coarse, green, outer leaves. Cut in pmall pieces, ;nd stew in a little broth. When tender, add some rich cream, a little flour, and butter enough to thicken the cream. »Season with pepper, salt, and a little nutmeg if that is agreeable. Cream Cabbage. Beat together the yolks of two eggs, one-half cup of sugar, one' half cup of vinegar, butter size of an egg, salt and a little Cayenne pepper. Put the mixture into a saucepan and stir until it boils; then stir in one cup of cream; let it boil, and pour over the cabbage w^hile hot. Cabbage a la Cauliflower. Cut the cabbage fine as for slaw; put it into a stewpan, cover with Avater and keep closely covered; when tender, drain off the water; put in a small piece of butter with a piece of salt, one-half a cup of cream, or one cup of milk. Leave on the stove a fe\V minutes before serving. Boiled Cabbage. Cut off the stalk, remove the faded and outer leaves, and halve, or, if large, quarter the cabbages; wash them thoroughly and lay 220 VEGETABLES. tlieni for a few minutes in water, to M'liich a tal^lespoonful of vin- egar has been added, to draw out any insects that may be lodging under the leaves. Drain them in a colander; have ready a large pan of boiling hot water, with a tablespoonful of salt and a small piece of soda in it, and let the cabbage boil quickly until tender, leaving the saucepan uncovered. Take them up as soon as they are done, drain them thoroughly and serve. Time to boil: young sum- mer cabbages, from ten to fifteen minutes; large cabbages, half an hour or more. Baked Cabbage. Cook as for boiled cabbage, after which drain and set aside until cold. Chop fine, add two beaten eggs, a tablespoonful of butter, pepper, salt, three tablespoonfuls rich cream; stir well and bake in a buttered dish until brown. Eat hot. PIoT Slaw. One small, firm head of cabbage, shred fine, one cup of "vinegar, one tablespoonful of butter, one tablespoonful of sugar, two table- spoonfuls of sour cream, one-half teaspoonful of made mustard, one saltspoonful of pepper, and the same of salt. Put the vinegar and all the other ingredients for the dressing, except the cream, in a saucepan and heat to a boil; pour scalding hot over the cabbage; return to the saucepan, and stir and toss until all is smoking again; take from the fire, stir in the cream, turn into a covered dish and set in hot water ten minutes before you send to the table. Cauliflower. This favorite vegetable should be cut early, while the dew is still upon it; choose those that are close and white, and of medium size. Whiteness is a sign of quality and freshness. Great care should be taken that there are no caterpillars about the stalk, and to insure this, lay the vegetable with its head downward in cold salt and Avater for an hour before boiling it; or, better still, in cold vinegar and water. Trim away the outer leaves, and cut the stalks quite close. Cauliflowers are in season from the middle of June till the middle of November. VEGETABLES. 221 Cauliflower a la Francaise. After preparing as above, cut the cauliflower into quarters and put into a stewpan and boil until tender; drain and arrange it neatly on a dish. Pour over it melted butter. Cauliflower with Stuffixg. Take a saucepan the exact size of the dish intended to be used. Cleanse a large, firm, white cauliflower and cut it into sprigs; throw those into boiling salt water for two minutes; then take them out^ drain, and pack them tightly with the heads downwards, in the saucepan, the bottom of which must have been previously covered with thin slices of bacon; fill up the vacant spaces with a stufiing made of three tablespoonfuls of finely minced veal, the same of beef suet, four tablespoonfuls of bread crumbs, a little pepper and salt, a teaspoonful of chopped parsley, a teaspoonful of minced chives, and a dozen small mushrooms, chopped fine. Strew these ingredients over the cauliflowers in alternate layers, and pour over them three well-beaten eggs. When these are well soaked, add suflficient nicely-flavored stock to cover the whole; simmer gently till the cauliflower are tnder, and the sauce very much reduced; then turn the contents of the saucepan upside down on a hot dish^ and the cauliflowers will be found standing in a savory mixture. Cauliflower with Sauce. Boil a large cauliflower — tied in netting — in hot salted water, from twenty-five to thii'ty minutes; drain, serve in a deep dish with the flower upwards and pour over it a cup of drawn butter in Jwhich has been stirred the juice of a lemon and a half teaspoonful of French mustard, mixed up v/ell with the sauce. Corn, for WrjrrER Use. Cut the corn from the cob (raw) befoi'e it gets too hard; to each gallon of cut corn add two scant cups of salt, pack tightly in a jar (don't be afraid of getting the jar too large), cover Avith a white cloth, put a heavy Aveight to keep the corn under the brine which 222 VEGETABLES. soon forms 5 noAV the must imj)ortant part is to wash the cloth every morning for two weeks, or the corn will taste queerly. If the corn is too salty, freshen before cooking. This is as good as canned corn, and is much easier put up. Put tomatoes in jugs and seal with good corks and sealing wax; get a large funnel, and you can put up as fast and as much as you please. Baked Corn. Grate one dozen ears sweet corn; one cup milk, small piece but- ter; salt, and bake in pudding dish one hour. Green Corn on the Cob. Take off the outside leaves and the silk, letting the innermost leaves remain on until after the corn is boiled, which renders the corn much sweeter. Boil for half an hour in plenty of water, drain, and, after removing \b.e leaves, serve. Corn Oysters. Eight ears of sweet corn, grated; two cups of milk, three eggs, salt and pepper; flour enough to make a batter. Put a tablespoon- ful of butter into a frying pan and drop the mixture into the hot butter — a spoonful in a place; brown on both sides. Serve hot for breakfast or as a side dish for dinner. Stewed Corn. Stew one quart of canned corn in its own liquor, setting the vessel containing it in an outer one of hot water; should the corn be dry, add a little cold water; when tender, pour in enough milk to cover the corn, bring to a boil, and put in a tablespoonful of butter rolled in flour, and salt to taste. Stew gently, stirring well, three or four minutes and turn into a deep dish. Keep the vessel containing the corn closely covered while it is cooking; the steam facilitates the process and preserves the color of the corn. Stewed Cucumbers. Cut the cucumbers fully half an inch thick right through; put VEGETABLES. 223 them in a saucepan, just covering tlieni Avith hot water, and let tliera boil slowly for a quarter of an hour, or until tender, but not so as to break them ; then drain them ; you want now a pint of good cream, and put your cream, with a teaspoonful of butter, in a saucepan, and when it is warm put in the cucumbers; season with a little salt and white pepper, cook five minutes, shaking the saucepan all the time, and serve hot. It is just as delicate as aspai*agus, and a very nice dish indeed. Celery. This vegetable imj^arts an agreeable and peculiar flavor to soups, sauces, etc. It is generally eaten raw, the brittle stalks with salt; but there are many ways in which it may be nicely prepared, and when cooked it is more digestible and equally palatable. When the roots are not to be had, the pounded seed is an excellent sub- stitute for flavoring. It is in season from October to February, and is better when it has Tjoen touched by the frost. Fried Celery. Cold boiled celery Avill answer for this purpose. Split the heads and dip them into clariLed batter, or dip them into a batter, and fry a light brown. GarnisK the dish prettily with parsley. Carrots. Tliis vegetable should be served with boiled beef. When the carrots are young they should be washed and rubbed, not scraped, before cooking, then rubbed with a clean, coarse cloth after boiling. Young carrots need to be cooked about half an hour, and full grown ones from one hour and a half to two hours. They are excellent for flavoring, and contain a great amount of nourishment. Carrots Boiled, Wash and prepare the carrots. Throw them into plenty of boiling water with salt. Keep them boiling till tender, and serve with melted butter; or they may be boiled with beef and a few placed ronnd the dish to garnish, and the rest sent to table in a tureen. 224 VEGETABLES. Dandelions. Cut off the leaves, pick over carefully, wash thoroughly, put into boiling -water and boil a half hour; drain well and put into salted boiling water and boil till tender. When done drain in a colander, season with butter, salt and pepper; or they may be boiled with ^alt pork or corned beef, omitting the butter. They are good from early spring until they blossom. Endive Stewed. Strip off the outer green leaves from the heads of endive. Wash thoroughly, soak in salted water to dislodge the insects; then drain and boil for twenty-live minutes in water salted slightly. Have ready a stewpan with an ounce of butter, drain the endive and put it into the pan, and add a saltspoonful of salt, pepper, and a gill of cream. Serve liot. Egg Plant. Pare and cut in slices half an inch thick; sprinkle with salt; cover and let stand for an hour. Rinse in clear cold water; wipe each slice dry; dip first in beaten egg, then in rolled cracker or bread crumbs. Season with pepper and salt, and fry brown in butter. Egg Plant, No. 2. Boil until quite tender, then mash and add bread cruijibs, pepper^ ialt, onions and butter or lard; put in a pan and bake until brown. You can put in all these things to your own taste, then you can boil and mash as before; season with salt and pepper, and add a little flour or meal as you like best. Make into little cakes and fry. These are nice. They should be picked when full grown, but before they are ripe. Fricasseed Egg Plant. Having peeled and sliced the egg plants, boil them in water with a saltspoonful of salt, until they are thoroughly cooked. Drain off the water, pour in sufficient milk to oover the slices, and add a few VEGETABLES. 225 bits of butter rolled in flour; let it simmer gently, shaking the pan over the fire till the sauce is thick, and stir in the beaten yolks of two or three eggs just before it is served. Stuffed Egg Plants. Halve and parboil. When soft enough to stick with a fork remove from the water and let cool. Then cut out the inside, being .careful not to break the skin. Next take bread that has been previously soaked in water. Squeeze as dry as possible and mix with the pulp of the vegetable. Add to that a good sized tomato, the juice of an onion, a little parsley and two or three eggs, season with pepper and salt, and the filling is ready for use. Before putting into the stove sprinkle with toasted bread crumbs. An- other and quicker way to make the stuffing is to mix the pulp with the juice of an onion, a tomato and a couple of eggs. Thicken with boiled rice and season to taste. Garlic. Garlic requires to be used most judiciously, or it will spoil what- ever is cooked with it. If used carefully, however, it will impart a most delicious flavor to salads and sauces; but it is so strong that, for many dishes, all that is necessaiy is to rub the dish which is to be sent to table sharply round with a slice of it; or, better still, to rub it on a crust of bread, and put the bread into the soup, etc., for a few minutes. A very genei'al prejudice exists against garlicy probably on account of its being used in the same way as an onion If it is desired to diminish the strength of the flavor, this may b.' fdone by boiling the garlic in two or three waters. Greens, Stewed. Take a bunch of fresh greens, wash in several waters ; drain theia well and throw them into plenty of fast boiling w^ater, salted and skimmed, and boil them for ten minutes. Take them up, press the water from them, and throw them into cold water for half an hour; drain them, cover with stock, and add a bunch of herbs, an onion, 15 226 VEGETABLES. one clove, a slice of fal bacon, and a little pepper and salt. Stew very gently until tender. Serve with mutton, lamb, or veal. Horse-radish as Garnish. Wash and scrub the horse-radish thoroughly; let it lie for an hour in cold water; ther- scrape it very finely with a sharp knife; arrange it in little bunches around the dish, or, if there is gravy with th© meat, put it in a small glass dish near the carver. Lettuce. There are two ports of lettuces, the cabbage and the cos. They >ire chiefly used for salad, but may be also boiled or stewed, and «crved as a vegetable. They may be had all the year, but are in full season from April to September. Lettuce, Stuffed. Wash four or five large heads of lettuce; boil them in plenty of salt and water for fifteen minutes; throw them at once into cold water, and afterwards let them drain. Open them, fill them with good veal forcemeat, tie the ends securely, and put them into a stewpan with as much good gravy as will cover them, a teaspoonf ul of salt, half a teaspoonf ul of pepper, and a teaspoonf ul of vinegar. Simmer gently for another fifteen minutes, remove the strings, place them on a hot dish, and pour the gravy around them. Macaroni. Three long stieks of macaroni, broken in small pieces; soak in a j'unt of milk two hours; grate bread and dried cheese. Put a layer of macaroni in a pudding dish; add pepper, salt and butter; then sprinkle the bread and cheese crumbs over it, and so continue until the dish is fiW^'l. Bake until brown. Macaroni as a Vegetable. Simmer one-half pound of macaroni in plenty of water till tender, b:?t not broken; strain off the water. Take the yolks of five and the whites of two eggs, one-half pint of cream, white meat and ham VEGETABLES. 227 chopped very fine, three spoonfuls of grated cheese; season with salt and pepper; heat all together, stirring constantly. Mix with the macaroni; put into a buttered mold and steam one hour. Macaroni with Oysteks. Boil macaroni in salt water, after which draw through a colander; take a deep earthen dish or tin; put in alternate layers of macaroni and oysters; sprinkle the layers of macaroni with grated cheese, bake until brown. Macaroni with Tomatoes. Boil one-half pound of macaroni till tender, pour off all the water, then add one-half cup sweet cream, one-third of a cup of butter, pepper and salt; let simmer for a short time, but be careful that it does not become much broken; turn into vegetable dish; have ready one pint stewed tomatoes, season with butter, salt and pepper, pour over the macaroni. Stewed Macaroni. Boil two ounces of macaroni in water, and drain well; put into a saucepan one ounce of butter, mix with one tablespoonful of flour, moisten with four tablespoonf uls of veal or beef stock, one gill of cream, salt and Avhite pepper to taste; put in the macaroni, let it boil up, and serve while hot. Boiled Onions. Skin them thoroughly. Put them to boil; when they have boiled a few minutes, pour off the water and add clean cold water, and set them to boil again. Pour this away, and add more cold water, when they may boil till done. This will make them white and clear, and very mild in flavor. After they are done, pour off all the water, and dress with a little cream; salt and pepper to taste. Boil in two waters, drain, and if they are large, cut into quarters and pour over them a cup of scalding milk in which a pinch of soda has been stirred; set over the fire, add a tablespoonful of butter, half teaspoonful corn starch wet with milk, a little minced parsley, Avith pepper and salt. Simmer and pour out 228 VEGETABLES. Boiled Okra. Put the younc>- and tender pods of long, white okra into salted boiling water in a porcelain or tin-lined saucepan (as iron discolors it), boil fifteen minutes, take off stems, and serve with butter, pepper, salt and vinegar if preferred; or, after boiling, slice in rings, season with butter, dip in batter and fry; season and serve; or stew an equal quantity of tomatoes and tender sliced okra, and one or two sliced green peppers; stew in porcelain kettle fifteen or twenty minutes, season with butter, pepper and salt and serve. Onion Oemoloo. Peel ten or twelve large white onions, steep them an hour in cold water, then boil them soft. Mash them with an equal quantity of boiled white potatoes, adding half a pint of milk and two or three well-beaten eggs. Stir the mixture very hard, season it with nutmeg, pepper and salt, and bake it in a quick oven; when half done pour a little melted butter or gravy over the top. Scalloped Onions, Boil till tender six large onions; afterward separate theiri with a large spoon ; then place a layer of onion and a layer of grated bread crumbs alternately in a pudding dish ; season with pepper and salt to taste; moisten with milk; put into the oven to brown. Wash but do not peel the onions; boil one hour in boiling water slightly salt, changing the water twice in the time; when tender, drain on a cloth, and roll each in buttered tissue paper, twisted at the top, and bake an hour in a slow oven. Peel and brown them ; serve with melted butter. Vegetable Oyster. One bunch of oysters; boil and mash. One pint sour milk, half a teaspoonful soda; flour to make a batter; add two eggs, beaten, and the oysters. Fry in hot lard — drop in spoonfuls. VEGETABLES. 229 Mock Stewed Oysters. One bunch oyster plant, eight teaspocafuls butter, a little flour •or corn starch, vinegar and water for boiling, pepper and salt, one- half cup milk. Wash and scrape the oyster plant very carefully; drop into weak vinegar and water, bring quickly to a boil, and cook ten minutes; turn off the vinegar water; rinse the salsify in boiling water; throw this out and cover with more from the tea-kettle; stew gently ten minutes longer; add pepper and salt and two tablespoon- fuls of butter; stew in this until tender. Meanwhile heat in a farina kettle the milk, thicken, add the remaining butter, and keep dry until the salsify is done, then transfer it to this sauce; pepper and salt; let all lie together in the inner kettle, the water in the outer at a slow boil, for five minutes; pour into a covered dish. Parsley. The foliage of parsley is of use in flavoring soups, etc.; it is nutritious and stimulating. Crisp Parsleys This is used for garnishing dishes. Pick and wash young parsley, shake it in a cloth to dry it thoroughly, and spread it on a sheet of clean paper and put in the oven. Turn the bunches frequently until they are quite crisp. Parsley is much more easily crisped than fried. Parsley, Fried, Wash and dry the parsley thoroughly; put it into hot fat and let it remain until it is crisp; take it out immediately and drain it in a colander. If the parsley is allowed to remain in the fat one moment after it is crisp it will be spoiled. Parsley is best fried in a frying basket. Parsnips. Parsnips may be dressed in the same way as carrots, which they very much resemble. When boiled, they are generally served with boiled meat, or boiled salt fish; when fried, with roast mutton. If 280 VEGETABLES. young, they require only to be washed and scraped before they are boiled. If old and large, the skin must be pared off, and the roots cut into quarters. Carrots and parsnips are often sent to the table together It should be remembered that parsnips are more quickly boiled than carrots. Fried Parsnips. Boil until tender in hot water slightly salted ; let them get almost cold, scrape off the skin, and cut in thick, long slices; dredge with flour and fry in hot dripping, turning as they brown; drain very dry in a hot colander; pepper and salt to serve. Parsnip Stew. Three slices of salt pork, boil one hour and a half; scrape five large parsnips, cut in quarters lengthwise, add to the pork and let boil one-half hour, then add a few potatoes, and let all boil together until the potatoes are soft; the fluid in the kettle should be about a cupful when ready to take off. Canned Pease. Open a can of pease an hour before cooking them, that there may be no musty, airless taste about thera, and turn into a bowl. When ready for them, put on a farina-kettle — or one saucepan within another — of hot water. If dry, add cold water to cover them, and stew about twenty-five minutes; drain, stir in a generous lump of butter; pepper and salt. French Way of Cooking Pease. Put your pease in a nice dish, where they will not turn black in cooking. Cut up fine one small head of lettuce; put in a few sprigs of parsley, tied up; salt and pepper; enough of water to cover the pease. Cook gently until tender, one and three-quarters of an hour, then drain off most of the water; dissolve one full teaspoonful of flour in water and stir in; add one-half tablespoonful of butter, one-half cup of sweet milk and one lump of sugar; cook about ten minutes; just before serving stir in one yolk of an egg, previously beaten with a little water. VEGETABLES. 231 No. 2. — Put some thin slices of bacon in a skillet and brown a little on both sides; then put in your pease, with one large onion cut in four, one head of lettuce, and a few sprigs of parsley, tied up, water enough to cover them; salt and pepper (not much salt, as the bacon salts them); cook one hour. Ten minutes before serving sprinkle a little flour to thicken the gravy. Remove the bunch of lettuce and parsley. Green Pease. Boil a quart of young, freshly-gathered pease in slightly salted water until they are tender; then drain them in a colander. Mell two ounces of fresh butter over the fire, mix smoothly with a dessert- spoonful of flour, and add very gradually a cup of thick cream, or, failing this, use new milk. When the sauce boils, put in the pease, stir them until they are quite hot, and serve immediately. Potato Balls. Bake the potatoes, mash them very nicely, make them into balls, rub them over with the yolk of an egg, and put them in the oven or before the fire to brown. These balls may be varied by the introduction of a third portion of grated ham or tongue. Browned Potatoes. While the meat is roasting, and an hour before it is served, boil the potatoes and take off their skins; flour them well, and put them under the meat, taking care to dry them from the drippings before they are sent to the table. Kidney potatoes are best dressed in this way. The flouring is very essential. They should always be boiled a little before being put into stews, as the first water in which they are cooked is thought to be of a poisonous quality. Potatoes when boiled, if old, should be peeled and put whole upon the gridiron until nicely browned. English Potato Balls. Boil some potatoes very dry; mash them as smoothly as possible; season well with salt and pepper; warm them, with an ounce of 232 VEGETABLES. butter to every pound of potatoes, and a few spoonfuls of goo^ cream; let them cool a little, roll them into balls; sprinkle over them some crushed vermicelli or macaroni, and fry them a light brown. Southern Baked Potatoes. Parboil, or take the cold ones left over from dinner; place in a deep pie pan; between each layer sprinkle sugar; over the top drop small drops of butter and more sugar, about one small cup of sugar and one spoonful of butter to a plate of potatoes. Then pour over all one-half cup of butter and set in oven to bake. The common pumpkin is delicious prepared in the same way, using, instead of sugar, syrup or molasses. The pumpkin must be thoroughly steamed before baking, and requires two hours' baking. Some cooks add spice. Cream Potatoes. Pare and cut the potatoes into small squares or rounds, cook twenty minutes in boiling water and a little salt. Turn this off, add a cup of milk, and when this bubbles iip a tablespoonful of butter, with a teaspoonful of water, wet up with cold milk; also a little chopped parsley; simmer five minutes and pour out. Potato Croquettes. Take six boiled potatoes, pass them through a sieve ; add to them three tablespoonfuls of ham grated or minced finely, a little grated nutmeg, pepper and salt to taste, and some chopped parsley; work into this mixture the yolks of three or four eggs, then fashion it into the shape of balls, roll them in bread crumbs, and fry in hot lard, and serve with fried parsley. Potato Cake. Take potatoes, mashed ones are best, but boiled ones can be mashed, immediately after dinner, before getting too cold; add about an equal amount of flour and a small piece of butter or lard; rub thoroughly together, roll out and cut as for biscuit — not too thick — and bake in a rather quick oven. When done to a light brown, cut open, butter and eat warm. VEGETABLES. 233 Fried Potatoes. Take cold boiled potatoes, grate them, make them, into flat cakes, and fry them in butter. You may vary these cakes by dipping them in the beaten yolk of an egg and rolling thera io bread crumbs, frying them in boiling lard. Fried Potatoes, No. 2. Raw potatoes, peel, cut in rings the thickness of a shilling, or cut in one continuous shaving; throw them into cold water until you have sufficient; drain on a cloth; fry quickly in plenty of hot fat, and with as little color as possible; dry them well from the grease, and sprinkle with salt. When nicely done, and piled up properly, they make a fine side dish, which is alw.^ys eaten with great relish. Or cut a potato lengthwise the size and shape of the divisions of an orange, trim them neatly and fry them; they are an excellent garnish for meat. Cold potatoes may be cut in slices somewhat less than an inch thick, and fried in like manner. They can also be fried with onions, as an accompaniment to pork chops, sliced cod, red herring, or with a rasher of bacon. Another nice way is to boil them and let them become cold, then cut them into rather thin slices. Put a lump of fresh butter into a stewpan, add a little flour, about a teasj^oonf ul for a moderate-sized dish; when the flour has boiled a short time in the butter add a cup of water and a little cream; boil all together; then put in the potatoes covered with chopped parsley, pepper and salt; stew them for a few minutes, aniJ then take them from the fire and send to the table. Mashed Potatoes. Steam or boil potatoes until soft, in salted water; pour off the water and let them drain perfectly dry; sprinkle with salt and mash; have ready some hot milk or cream in which has been melted a piece of butter; pour this on to the potatoes, and stir untiJ white and very light. 234 VEGETABLES. Potato Surprise. Scoop out the inside of a sound potato, leaving the skin attached At one side of the hole, as a lid. Mince finely the lean of a juicy mutton chop with a little salt and pepper; put it in the potato, fasten down the lid, and bake or roast. Before serving (in its skin) add a little hot gravy if the mince seems too dry. Potato Puff. Take two cups of cold mashed potato, and stir into it two table- spoonfuls of melted butter, beating to a white cream before adding anything else. Then put with this two eggs whipped very light and a cup of cream or milk, salting to taste. Beat ail well, pour into a deep dish, and bake in a quick oven until it is nicely browned. Potato Pie. Butter a shallow pie dish rather thickly. Line the edges with a good crust, and then fill the pie with mashed potatoes, seasoned with pepper, salt, and grated nut- meg. Lay over them some marrow, together with small lumps of but- ter, hard-boiled eggs, blanched almonds, sliced dates, sliced lemon and candied peel. Cover the dish with pastry, and bake the pie in a well-heated oven for half an hour or more, according to the size of the pie. Puree of Potatoes. Mash them and mix while quite hot with some fine white gravy drawn from veal, together with butter and cream. The puree should be rather thin and seasoned with salt and pepper. Potato Loaves. These are very nice when eaten with roast beef, and are made of mashed potatoes prepared without milk, by mixing them with a quantity of very finely-minced raw onions, powdered with pepper and salt; then beating up the whole with a little butter to bind it, VEGETABLES. 235 and dividing it into small loaves of a conical form, and placing them under the meat to brown; that is, when it is so nearly done as to impart some of the gravy along with the fat. Saratoga Potatoes. Pare and cut into very thin slices four large potatoes (new pota- toes are best) ; let stand for a few minutes in cold salt water, then take a handful of the potatoes, squeeze the water from them, dry in a napkin, and separating the slices, drop into a skillet of boiling lard, taking care that they do not stick together; stir till they are of a light brown color, take out with a wire spoon, drain well and serve immediately. Lyonnaise Potatoes, Boil the potatoes with their jackets on and allow them to cool in order to have them solid. Peel and cut into slices about a quartei of an inch thick; slice an ordinary sized onion for half a dozen potatoes. As soon as a tablespoonful of butter has melted in the pan, and the onion begun to color, put in the slices of potatoes. Stir them a little; season with salt and pepper; fry the potatoes until they are a golden brown, and then chop up a tablespoonful of parsley and sprinkle it over them just before taking them out. Old Potatoes. These can be made to look like young ones in this way: Wash some large ones and cut them into as many small slices as will fill a dish; boil them in two or three watei's about three minutes each time, the water being put to them cold; then let them steam until tender; pour a white sauce over them. Potatoes prepared in this way have been mistaken for young ones. Tossed Potatoes. Boil some potatoes in their skins; peel them and cut into small pieces; toss them over the fire in .. mixture of cream, butter rolled in flour, pepper and salt, till they are hot and well covered with t^e sauce. 236 VEGETABLES. Sweet Potatoes. Sweet potatoes require more time to cook than common potatoes. To Boil. — Take large, tine potatoes, wash clean, boil with the skins on in plenty of water, but without salt. They will take at least one hour. Drain off the water and set them for a few minutes in a tin pan before the fire, or in the stove, that they may be well dried. Peel them before sending them to the table. To Fry. — Choose large potatoes, half boil them, and then, hav- ing taken off the skins, cut the potatoes into slices and fry in butter, or in nice drippings. To Bake. — Bake as the common j)otato, except give them a longer time. Baked Sweet Potatoes. Select those which are nearly of a size, not too large; steam them until nearly done, and then bake them until they are soft at the heart. A Farmer's Dainty Dish. Peel and slice thin potatoes and onions (five potatoes to one small onion); take half a pound of sweet salt pork (in thin slices) to a pound of beef, mutton or veal; cut the meat in small pieces; take some nice bread dough and shorten a little; line the bottom of the stewpan with slices of pork, then a layer of meat, potatoes and onions, dust over a little pepper and cover with a layer of crust; repeat this until the stewpot is full. The size of the pot will depend on the number in the family. Pour in sufficient water to cover, and finish with crust. Let it simmer until meat, vegetables, etc., are done, but do not let it boil hard. Serve hot. This we are assured by one who knows is a dish fit to set before a king. Rice as a Vegetable. It should first be picked over, washed, and dried. Then put in boiling water, and salt and boil twelve minutes. There should be plenty of water. At the end of ten or twelve minutes, pour off the water, cover up the rice, and set on the back of the stove on a VEGETABLES. 237 brick; let it steam there for fifteen minutes; if it has been in a sufficiently hot place to steam it will now be done, and every grain will be distinct ; pour off the water, and, for every cup of rice, add half a cup of milk and stir. The milk is better warmed before add- ing it to the rice. Succotash. Ten ears gi-een corn, one pint Lima beans; cut the corn from the cob, and stew gently with the beans until tender. Use as little water as possible. Season with butter, salt and pepper — milk, ii you choose. Spinach. When cooking spinach, substitute a little piece of bacon for th^ salt pork usually cooked with it to season it. The nicest way to serve it is to put a bit of the bacon in each dish. Hard-boiled eggs, sliced when cold, are also liked with the greens. Ceeam of Spinach. Take the leaves of spinach — no stalks — wash thoroughly; put them mto enough salt boiling water to cover them. When boiled tender, take them out and put them into cold water to fix the fresh green color. Let them remain until cold and then rub them through a colander with a potato-masher. The spinach is then ready for table use. Winter Squash. Pare, cut up and cook soft in boiling water and a little salt. Drain, mash smooth, pressing out all the water; work in butter, pepper and salt, and mound in a deep dish. Stuffed Squash. Pare a small squash and cut off a slice from the top; extract the seeds and lay one hour in salt water; then fill with a good stuffing of crumbs, chopped salt pork, parsley, etc., wet with gravy; put on the top slice; set the squash in a pudding dish; put a few spoonfuls of melted butter and twice as Tauch hot water in the bottom; cover 238 VEGETABLES. the dish veiy closely and set in the oven, two hours or until tender; lay within a deep dish and pour the gravy over it. Turnips. Pare and cut into pieces; put them into boiling water well salted, and boil until tender; drain thoroughly, and then mash and add a piece of butter, pepper and salt to taste, and a small teaspoonful of sugar. Stir until they are thoroughly mixed, and serve hot. Mashed Turnips. Pare, quarter and cook tenderly in boiling water; a little salL Mash and press in a heated colander; work in butter, pepper and salt; heap smoothly in a deep dish and put pepper on top. Tomatoes a la Cream. Pare and slice ripe tomatoes — one quart of fresh ones or a pound can; stew until perfectly smooth, season with salt and pepper, and add a piece of butter the size of an egg; just before taking from the fire, stir in one cup of cream, with a tablespoonful of flour stirred smooth in a part of it; do not let it boil after the flour is put in. Have ready in a dish pieces of toast; pour the tomatoes over this and serve. Browned Tomatoes. Take large round tomatoes and halve them, place them, the skin side down, in a frying-pan in which a very small quantity of butter and lard have been previously melted, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, and dredge well with flour. Place the pan on a hot part of the fire, and let them brown thoroughly; then stir, and let them brown again, and so on until they are quite done. They lose their, acidity, and their flavor is superior to stewed tomatoes. Baked Tomatoes. One can of tomatoes, stale bread crumbed fine, one tablespoonful of butter, pepper, salt, a little chopped parsley, and white sugar. Drain off two-thirds of the liquor from the tomatoes (the rest can VEGETABLES, 239 be saved for to-morrow's soup). Cover the bottom of a bake-dish with crumbs; lay the tomatoes evenly upon this bed; season with pepper, salt, sugar, and parsley, with bits of butter here and there. Strew bread crumbs over all, a thicker layer than at the bottom ; put tiny pieces of butter upon this and bake, covered, about thirty-five minutes. Take off the cover and brown upon the upper shelf of the oven. Do not let it stay there long enough to get dry. Baked Tomatoes, No. 2. Cut in slices good fresh tomatoes (not too ripe) ; put a layer of them in a dish suitable for baking; then a layer of bread crumbs over them, salt, pepper, and plenty of butter, another layer of tomatoes, and so on until the dish is full. Bake one hour. Broiled Tomatoes. Cut large tomatoes in two, crosswise; put on gridiron, cut surface down; when well seared, turn, and put butter, salt and pepper on, and cook with skin-side down until done. Fried Tomatoes. Cut the tomatoes in slices without skinning; pepper and sa 1; them; then sprinkle a little flour over them and fry in butter until brown. Put them on a hot platter and pour milk or cream into the butter and juice. When boiling hot, pour over the tomatoes Scalloped Tomatoes. Butter an earthen dish, then put in a layer of fresh tomatoes, sliced and peeled, and a few rinds of onion (one large onion for the whole dish), then cover with a layer of bread crumbs, with a little butter, salt and pepper. Repeat this process until the dish is full Bake for an hour in a pretty hot oven. Stuffed Tomatoes. Choose a dozen large, round tomatoes; cut them off smooth at the stem end; take out the seeds and pulp; take a pound of lean steak and two slices of bacon ; chop them fine, with the inside of 240 VEGETABLES. the tomatoes; season with a finely-chopped onion, fried, a dessert, tipoonful of salt, half a teaspoonful of white pepper, as much Cayenne pepper as you can take on the end of a knife and a table- spoonful of finely-chopped parsley; add four rolled crackers, and if too stiff, thin with stock, water or cold gravy; fill the tomatoes with this forcemeat, packing tight; sift cracker crumbs over the top, and bake for an hour in a moderate oven. French Batter for Frying Vegetables. Moisten a little flour with water, and add to it a small quantity of salt, a tablespoonful of olive oil, and a spoonful and a half of French brandy. Beat up the mixture thoroughly, and, when you are ready to use it, beat into it the white of an egg previously beaten to a strong froth. This batter may be used for frying sweet entremets, in which case sugar must be used instead of salt. Rules for Cooking Them. Green vegetables should be thoroughly washed in cold water and then dropped into water that has been salted and is beginning to boil. There should be a tablespoonful of salt to each two quarts of water. If the water boils long before the vegetables are put in, it has lost all its gases, and the mineral ingredients are deposited on the bottom and sides of the kettle, so that the water is flat and tasteless, then the vegetables will not look well or have a fine flavor. The time for boiling green vegetables depends much upon the age and time they have been gathered. The younger and more freshly gathered the more quickly they are cooked. Below is a very good time-table for cooking vegetables: Potatoes boiled, thirty minutes. Potatoes baked, forty-five minutes. Sweet potatoes boiled, fifty minutes. Sweet potatoes baked, sixty minutes. Squash boiled, twenty-five minutes. Green pease boiled, twenty to forty minutes. Shelled beans boiled, sixty minutes. VEGETABLES. 241 String beans boiled, one to two hours. Green corn, thirty to sixty minutes. Asparagus, fifteen to thirty minutes. Spinach, one to two hours. Tomatoes, fresh, one hour. Tomatoes, canned, thirty minutes. Cabbage, forty-five minutes to two hours. Cauliflower, one or two hours. Dandelions, two or three hours. Beet greens, one hour. Onions, one or two hours. Beets, one to five hours. Turnips, white, forty-five to sixty minutes. Turnips, yellow, one and a haK to two hours Parsnips, one or two hours. Carrots, one or two hours. 16 CHAPTER XIX. FISH. f[SH, when considered with reference to the nourishment which they contain, appear to rank between animals and vegetables. "Jijc) When fish is consumed as the principal article of food, larger quantities are required than when meat is used, owing to the smaller amount of nourishment that it contains. From this cause, and, also, because fish is so much more easily digested than meat, food is required much sooner after a meal of fish than when animal food is taken. Owing to its greater digestibility than meat, fish is better adapted to in valids, more especially as it does not produce f e verish- ness like meat diet. The most digestible kinds of fish arfe those with white flesh, such as the cod, turbot, sole, whiting, haddock and flounder, the flesh of all these presenting a whitish appearance. Of the fish just men- tioned, the whiting, haddock and flounder are easiest of digestion. The flesh of fish when in good condition is always fleshy and opaque; when it is of a bluish color, or appears slightly transparent after being boiled, it proves either that the fish is out of season, or of inferior quality. Sometimes fish have been found to exert a poisonous action on the system, producing headache, giddiness, and an eruption on the skin resembling that produced by being stung with nettles. In some cases, even death has been caused by this means. Although it may be true in some cases, that the ill effects produced by fish may be due to the bad condition of health in which the patient happens to be at the time, yet in most cases it can only be attrib- 242 FISH. 243 uted to some poisonous principle developed in the fish. This may- be due to their being eaten in a season when the fish is out of health, and, therefore, unfit for food, or it may be produced by the poison- ous nature of the food on which the fishes lived. Oysters, when fresh and in season, are very nutritious; when, however, they have a bluish appearance, they are liable to produce affections of the bowels. Salmon contains much nourishment, which is due to the oily matter which its flesh contains; and for this reason this fish is less suited for invalids than the white kind. Most kinds of fish lose their flavor soon after being taken from the water. The cod and one or two others are exceptions to this general rule. Fish are fresh when the eyes are clear, the fins stiff, the gills red, and without bad odor. Fresh shad have gills of quite a crimson red, bright scales and a firm body; and shad are unfit to eat when the gills are a whitish blue and the eyes are sunken. In a good salmon, when cut, the flesh should appear quite red, solid and flaky. The Dutch and French bleed the cod, which accounts for the better quality and whiteness of their codfish. All large fish, in fact, should be bled as soon as caught. Almost every kind of fish is either boiled, broiled or fried. Any small fish of the size of a smelt, or smaller, is better fried than pre- pared in any other way. Fish like salmon trout are best when baked and some fine sauce poured over them. A cup of diluted cream, in which is stirred two tablespoonfuls of melted butter and a little chopped parsley, makes an excellent sauce for salmon trout. Bass weighing from one-half pound to a pound are best fried; those weighing from one to three pounds are best broiled, and larger sizes are best when boiled. Very large bass are dry eating. They should be thoroughly cleansed, washed, and sprinkled with salt. Before broiling fish, rub the gridiron with a piece of fat, to pre- vent its sticking. Lay the skin side down first. The earthy taste often found in fresh-water fish can be removed by soaking in salt and water. 244 FISH ]Masc kinds of salt fish should be soaked in cold water for twenty- four hours — the fleshy side turned down in the water. Baked Fish. Stuff it with plain dressing; put in a pan with a little water; salt, pepper, and butter. Baste while baking. A fish weighing fouf pounds will cook in an hour. Garnish with hard-boiled eggs an(i parsley, and serve with drawn butter or egg sauce. To Boil Fish. Sew them in a cloth, and put in cold water, with plenty of salt^. Most fish will boil in thirty minutes. Boiled Fish. For four or five pounds of fish, nearly cover with water, and add two heaping tablespoonfuls of salt. Boil thirty minutes and serve with drawn butter. Baked Black Fish. Rub a handful of salt over the surface, to remove the slime pecu- liar to the fish. For the stufting, two ounces of beef drippings, two tablespoonfuls of chopped parsley, and one ounce of salt pork; put in a saucepan and fry brown; then add a teaspoonful of chopped capers, half a saltspoonful of white pepper, one-half teaspoonful of salt, five ounces of bread, and one gill of broth; then stir until scalding hot; place inside the fish; cut a quarter of a pound of pork in thin slices and lay on either side of the fish, holding in place by twine around it — a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper completing it for the baking pan. Bake in a hot oven one-half hour, and serve on slices of fried bread with a sauce made of stock seasoned with one tablespoonful each of walnut and Worcestershire sauce, one tablespoonful of chopped capers, and one tablespoonful of parsley. Brook Trout. If small, fry them with salt pork; if large, boil, and serve with drawn butter. FISH. 245 Flounders. These may be boiled or stewed; but we hold that they never do themselves so much credit as when making their appearance really well fried. Halibut. Of all flat fish, a halibut is the largest, measuring sometimes about seven feet in length, and weighing from three hundred to four hundred pounds. In its proportions, the halibut is rather longer than other flat fish. The flesh has not much flavor, but is light and wholesome. To boil halibut plain, after scaling the skin on both sides, salt it for six hours, and (unless the piece is very large) plunge it in boiling water. The time of boiling, of course, will depend on the size. Serve, accompanied by white sauce made with milk instead of water, liberally dosed with butter and slightly seasoned with salt and a small pinch of scraped horse-radish. Shrimp or anchovy sauce goes well with it. Where there are the means and skill of frying well, halibut, cut into steaks of the proper thickness, and so prepared, is both sightly s-.nd palatable garnished with fried parsley. Some well-buttered sauce is desirable, to obviate its natural dryness. Slices from the middle of a halibut may be divided and trussed into convenient sized cutlets, by cutting them into equal halves directly through Ihe vertebra. The same plan may be adopted with slices from the thick part of other large fish (cod, over-sized pike, and salmon), which it is customary to dress as steaks. We have never heard or read of halibut being in any way served whole. Perch, Eels and Small Pike Are excellent fried. Potted Eels. After cleaning your eels and cutting off their heads, cut them into pieces about two inches long. Put them into a brown earthen pot, to which, if there is not an earthen cover, have a tin one. Season them with salt, pepper, allspice, and a few sp'"^g£ of parsley 246 FISH, and thyme. Pour over the eels a little more vinegar and water than will cover them; put on the lid and set the pot into a slow oven. They should not be too much done. As soon as the flesh will come away from the bones they are done enough. Herrings may be potted in the same way. Collared Eels. These, though a little more trouble than potted eels, make a very good and handsome dish. For this, the larger the eels the better; quite small eels can hardly be collared. Clean the eel, cut off the head, open it on the under side the whole of its length, wash it, take out the backbone, tearing the flesh as little as possible. Dry it by pressing it with a coarse cloth. You will then have a flat strip of eel flesh, broad at one end and narrow at the other. Season the inner surface of eel by dusting it with salt, pepper, and allspice. Then roll it tightly upon itself, as you would a ribbon, beginning at the broad end, until you have rolled it into a lump something like a short, thick sausage, blunt at both ends; tie it with broad tape (not with string, which would cut into the flesh when cooked) to keep it from unrolling, and then cook in an earthen pot with a lid exactly as you do potted eels. Sturgeon. There are few people so poor that they will consent to eat stur- geon, yet this fish, if properly cooked, affords, it is said, a luxurious meal. Get a few slices, moderately thick, put them in a pot or pan of water, and parboil them to get rid of the oil; then roll in crumbs of cracker and egg, just as you would a veal cutlet, and fry. This makes a veal cutlet that beats the original by far, and you are sure that it is "full six weeks old," as the butcher always certifies in regard to the veal. Cods' Head. In some places, fishmongers take the heads off their codfish before they cut up the rest of the fish to retail it by the pound. In that case the heads are sold cheap; and when they can be thus had they FISH. 247 are well Avorth tlie buying. We have enjoyed many a cheap fish treat with a dish of cods' heads, Avhich contain several of the tit- bits prized by epiciu'es, namely, the tongue, the cheek-pieces, and the nape of the neck. After taking out the eyes, wash the heads, drain them, and, if you can let them lie all night with a little salt sprinkled over them, they will be none the worse for it. Put them into a kettle of boiling water and boil from fifteen to twenty minutes, according to size. Dish them on a strainer, if you can, and help with a spoon. For sauce, drawn butter is good. For sharp sauce, take a few tablespoonfuls of the cods' heads boilings; put them in a saucepan Avith a lump of butter or dripping and a tablespoonful of vinegar; thicken with a little flour and keep stirring in one direction till they are all raised smooth and come to M boil. Both these sauces go well Avnth any boiled fish. To these jve Avill add a third Avhich will be found equally simple and good. For brown sauce, put a good lump of butter or dripping into a ?aucepan. Set it on a brisk fire, shake it around now and then, and keep it there until it is browned, not burnt. Take it off the fire and stir into it a good tablespoonful of vinegar. When they are fvell mixed, pour into your sauce-boat and serve. The mixing of the vinegar with the hot fat had better be done out of doors, on account of the quantity of A^apor that arises when they are put together. Any meat remaining on the cods' heads after a meal should be separated from the skin and bone before it gets cold. This rule applies to all other fish. Arrange it neatly on a plate and dust a little pepper and drop a little vinegar over it. It will furnish a nice little delicacy when cold, or you may warm it up with mashed potatoes, adding any sauce that may be left; or, after putting on it the cold sauce left, or a little butter, you may cover Avith mashed potatoes and sprinkle over it bread crumbs; pour over it beaten egg and brown in the oven. 348 FISH. Fresh Codfish. Cut it in slices and fry or broil; if fried, roll it first in flour. Salt Codfish. Pick the fish up fine and let it soak for two hours, then rinse, and If fresh enough, cook in a little milk thickened with flour; add two tablespoonfuls of butter, and eggs to taste. The eggs may be beaten and stirred in, or dropped into boiling water, and then put into the codfish gravy whole, or laid on a platter and have the fish poured over them. It may also be boiled and served with a gravy made of melted butter and flour. Scalloped Codfish. Oae quart of pickled codfish, one pint of bread crumbs, or rolled crackers, one-half pint of cream, four ounces of butter, one tea- spoonful of pepper; wash and freshen the fish. When ready, put it into a baking dish with the crumbs in alternate layers, with a little butter and pepper; have the top layer of crumbs and cover with beaten egg, then pour the cream over all and bake half an hour. Codfish Balls. Pick the fish fine, and freshen. Boil potatoes and mash them; mix fish and potatoes together while potatoes are hot, taking two- thirds potatoes and one-third fish. Put in plenty of butter; make into balls, and fry in hot lard. Salt Mackerel. Soak for a day or two, after taking out of the brine, in cold water, or buttermilk; lay in a pan with the flesh side down, and change the water occasionally. Just before cooking, lay it into a shallow dish and cover with hot milk, which removes the strong taste. Take it out of the milk and wipe dry with a napkin. Then lay on a gridiron and broil the same as fresh fish and serve with sauce with lemon juice. FISH. 24P Baked Cod. When purchasing a foui--pound cod ask your fishdealer to send you three or four codfish heads. Rub a little salt on the fish, chop the heads into six pieces each, and sprinkle a little salt over thera. Place them in the center of the baking-pan (to be used as supj^orts for the fish), with two ounces of butter, one carrot, a turnip, a potato, and one onion cut into slices, two blades of mace, a tea- spoonful of white pepper, one tablespoonful of celery seed, six cloves, and a cup of red wine. Set the pan in the oven while you prepare the cod. Soak in cold water until soft a sufficiency of bread to fill the fish; drain off the water and pound the bread to a paste; mix with it two tablespoonfuls of melted butter, two raw eggs, a tablespoonful of Worcestershire sauce, with salt and pepper to taste. Put this stuffing inside the fish and sew it up; jjlace the cod in the pan with two or three pieces of butter on the top, and baste it frequently; when it is cooked lay the fish on a hot platter, and garnish with fried oysters if convenient. Add t\V'0 tablespoon- fuls of prepared flour to the pan, a wineglass of sherry; mix and strain the gravy into a sauce-boat. Boiled Pike. If the fish is sent home split through the underside sew it up. Then run a thread through the fish so as to draw it into the shape of a letter S. Tie it fast, and then tie it up in a cloth. Not having any fish kettle, lower it into the pot of boiling water if it is small or a small piece, if a large fish put it into cold water. If a large fish is put into hot water the outside cooks first, but in cold water it cooks evenly through. While boiling add a tablespoonful of salt, a slice of lemon or a half cup of vinegar and a few cloves. When done lift the fish from the pot upon a platter, untie the cloth, and by gently scraping the skin down the sides, from the top of the back, you can take the whole fish from the shell and place upoa a- dish for the table. 250 FISH. TUBBOT. Take a fine large whitefish, steam until tender; take out the bones and sprinkle with pepper and salt. For the dressing heat one quart of milk and thicken with a half or two-thirds of a cup of flour. When cool add two eggs and a quarter of a pound of butter; put in the baking-dish a layer of fish, then a layer of sauce, until full. Season with garlic, parsley and thyme. Cover the top with bread crumbs and bake three-fourths of an kour. To Fey White Fish. One of the best ways to fry white fish, or any other fish, is to first fry some slices of salt pork, then roll the pieces of fish in fine Indian meal, and fry in the pork gravy. About three slices of pork for a medium-sized fish. White fish needs less fat than almost any other. Fish needs to be cooked a long time and very slowly to make it flaky and white. Salmon-. A delicious way to cook salmon is to boil it and serve with a gravy made of butter, flour, pepper, salt, and plenty of oysters. Cook the oysters in a very little water, the" stir into the sauce. You may prepare canned salmon in this way. CHAPTER XX. SHELL FISH. Clams. (0 judge whether clams and oysters are fresh insert a knife, and if the shell instantly closes firmly on the knife the oysters are fresh. If it shuts slowly and faintly or not at all they are dying or dead. When the shells of raw oysters are found gaping open they are not good. Clam Bake. Lay the clams on a rock, edge downward, forming a circle; cover them with fine brush, cover the brush with dry sage, cover the sage with larger brush; set the whole on fire, and when the brush and sage are a little more than half burnt look at the clams by pulling some out, and if done enough brush the fire, cinders, etc., off; mix some tomato or cauliflower sauce or catsup with the clams after being taken out of their shells; add butter and spices to taste and serve. Clam Cho^vder. Put in a pot some small slices of fat salt pork, enough to line the bottom of it; on that a layer of potatoes cut in small pieces; on the potatoes a layer of chopped onions; on the onions a layer of tomatoes in slices, or canned tomatoes; on these a layer of clams, whole or chopped (they are generally chopped), then a layer of crackers. Season with salt and pepper, and other spices if desired. Then repeat this process, layer after layer, in above order, seasoning each, until the pot is full. When the whole is in, cover with waten 25i ^52 SHELL FISH. set on a slow fire, and when nearly done stir gently, finish cooking -and serve. When done, if found too thin, boil a little longer; if found too thick, add a little water, give one boil and serve. Fish Chowder is made exactly like clam chowder, except that fish are used instead of clams. Clam Fritters. Twelve clams, minced fine, one pint of milk, three eggs; add the liquor from the clams to the milk; beat up the eggs and add to this, with salt and pepper and flour enough for a thin batter; lastly add the chopped clams. Fry in hot lard, trying a little first to see if fat and batter are right. A tablespoonful makes a fritter of moderate size. Fry quickly and serve hot. Fried Clams. Take large soft-shell clams, dry them in a napkin, and dip them first in beaten egg and then powdered cracker or bread crumbs, and fry in sweet lard or butter or both mixed. Clam Pie. , Take a quantity of clams, if large chop them, put in a saucepan and cook in their own liquor, or, if necessary, add a little water; boil three or four medium-sized potatoes until done, then cut in slices; line a pudding-dish half way up its sides; turn a small teacup bottom up in the middle of the dish to keep up the top crust, put in first a layer of clams and then a few potatoes, season with bits of butter and a little salt and pepper and dredge with flour; add another layer of clams, and so on till the dish is filled; add the liquor in which the clams were cooked and a little water if neces- sary. There should be as much liquid as for chicken or other meat pie. Cover with top crust, cut places for steam to escape and bake three-fourths of an hour. Clam Stew. Vut the clams in a stewpan with about the same quantity of Wc "G. %s the juice of the clams. Boil twenty-five or thirty minutes; SHELL FISH. 253 remove all the scum that rises, and season with butter, salt and pepper. Clam Soup. Take the required number of clams, chop them fine, then cook in a little water with butter, pepper and salt; when almost done put in milk or cream, and in soup enough for four persons put one cup of rolled crackers. Serve hot. Crabs. To fit them for the table, living crabs require to be boiled in salt water; they are either placed in cold water which is then made hot or put at once into boiling water; crabs cooked by the latter method are found to have the finest flavor. The male crab is the most valuable for the table, and may be distinguished by possessing larger claws. In purchasing crabs in the living state preference should be given to those which have a rough shell and claws. When selecting a crab which has been cooked it should be held by its claws and well shaken from side to side. If it is found to rattle, or feels as if it contained water, it is a proof that the crab is of inferior quality. The crab may be kept alive, out of water, two or three days. Soft Crabs. Many will not eat hard-shell crabs, considering them indigestible, and not sufficiently palatable to compensate for the risk they run in eating them. And it must be owned that they are, at their best, but an indifferent substitute for the more aristocratic lobster. But in the morning of life, for him so often renewed, his crabship is a different creature, and greatly affected by epicures. Do not keep the crabs over night, as the shells hai'den in twenty- four hours. Pull off the spongy substance from the sides, and the sand-bags. These are the only portions uneatable. Wash well and wipe dry. Have ready a pan of seething hot lard or butter and fry them to a fine brown. Put a little salt into the lard; the butter will need none. Send up hot, garnished with parsley. 254 SHELL FISH. Scalloped Crab. Pick out all tlie meat of the crab and mix thoroughly; add to it one-third its quantity of bread crumbs, a good lump of butter, divided into little bits; season Avith salt and pepper, a dust of grated nutmeg and a dessertspoonful of vinegar or lemon juice sprinkled over the mass. Mix all equally together. Clean out the bottom shell of your crab, and fill it with the mixture; what is left you may put into scallop-shells or tins. Set them into a moderately hot oven. When hot through and slightly browned on the surface they are fit to serve on a dish covered Avith a napkin, the crab-shell in the middle and the scallop-shells around it, garnished with si:»rig8 of parsley. Frogs. Scald the hind quarters in boiling water, rub them with lemon juice and boil for three minutes, wipe them, dip them first in cracker dust, then in a mixture of two beaten eggs in half a cuj) of milk seasoned with pepper and salt, then again in cracker crumbs. When they are well covered with crumbs fry in a mixture of hot lard and butter. Lobster Croquettes. Chop the lobster very fine; mix with pepper, salt, bread crumbs and a little parsley; moisten with cream and a small piece of butter; shape with your hands; dip in egg, roll in bread crumbs and fry. Lobster Cutlets. Mince the flesh of lobsters fine; season with salt, pepper and tipice; melt a piece of butter in a saucepan; mix with it one table- spoonful of flour; add lobster and finely-chopped parsley; mix with some good stock; remove from the fire, and stir into it the yolks of two eggs; spread out the mixture, and, when cold, cut into cutlets, dip carefully into beaten egg, then into fine baked bread crumbs; let them stand an hour, and repeat, and fry a rich brown. Serve with fried parsley. SHELL FISH. 255 Fried Lobster. If, when making a salad, you liave more lobster than you wish to use for that, keep it in a cool place and fry in butter and bread crumbs for breakfast. Lobster Patties. Make some puff-paste and spread it on very deep patty pans. Bake it empty. Having boiled well two or three fine lobsters, extract all the meat and mince it very small, mixing it with the coral smoothly mashed, and some yolk of hard-boiled egg, grated. Season it with a little salt, some Cayenne, and some powdered mace or nutmeg, adding a little yellow lemon rind, grated. Moisten the mixture well with cream, fresh butter, or salad oil. Put it into a stewpan, add a very little water, and let it steam till it just comes to a boil. Take it off the fire, and the patties being baked, remove them from the tin pans, place them on a large dish, and fill them up to the top with the mixture. Similar patties may be made of prawns or crabs. Lobster Rissoles. Extract the meat of a boiled lobster; mince it as fine as possible; mix it with the coral pounded smooth, and some yolks of hard- boiled eggs, pounded also. Season it with Cayenne pepper, pow- dered mace, and a very little salt. Make a batter of beaten egg^ milk and flour. To each egg allow two large tablespoonfuls of milk, and a large teaspoonf ul of flour. Beat the batter well, and then mix the lobster with it gradually, till it is stiff enough to make into oval balls about the size of a large plum. Fry them in the best salad oil, and serve them up either warm or cold. Similar rissoles may be made of raw oysters minced fine, or of boiled clams. These should be fried in lard. Lobster Salad. Pick the meat from the shell, cut into nice square pieces, cut up some lettuce and mix. Make a dressing of four tablespoonfuls of oil, two of vinegar, one of mustard, the yolks of two eggs and pep- 25Q SHELL FISH. per and salt to taste; rub smooth together, forming a creamy look- ing sauce, and cover the lobster with it. Garnish with sliced cucumber pickles, egg-rings, parsley and cold beet cut in fancy shapes. Broiled Lobster. Cut the tail part of a lobster in two, rub a little sweet oil over the meat and broil. When done, brush a little butter over it with the juice of half a lemon and a very little Cayenne. Place the meat back into the shell and send to the table with a dish of broiled tomatoes and a fresh baked potato. Lobsters en Brochette. Cut up the tail of a lobster in square pieces; take a few thin slices of bacon and cut into lengths to match the lobster; place them on a skewer alternately and broil; baste as in broiled lobster and send to the table on a bed of water-cresses. Roasted Lobsters. When lobsters are half cooked, remove from the water and rub thoroughly with butter; lay before the fire; continue basting with butter until it has a fine froth and the shell becomes a dark brown. Place on a dish and serve with plain melted butter in a sauce-boat. Gratin of Lobster. Take out all the meat from a large lobster, then wash the body, tail, and shells, if the lobster is first cut in halves down the back, then dry and butter them and sprinkle with bread crumbs; chop the meat fine, with a little parsley and shallot, a few drops of essence of anchovies, a spoonful of vinegar, Cayenne pepper and salt, a little bechamel sauce, and boil all well together, add a yolk of ^gg, put it to cool, then fill your shells or paper cases, cover with bread crumbs and some pieces of butter; brown them in the oven, and dish on a napkin. Broiled Oysters. Drain select oysters in a colander; dip them one by one into SHELL FISH. 257 melted butter, to prevent sticking to the gridiron, and place them on a wire gridiron. Broil over a clear fire. When nicely browned on both sides, season with salt, pepper, and plenty of butter, and lay them on hot buttered toast, moistened with a little hot water. Serve very hot, or they will not be nice. Oysters cooked in this way and served on broiled beefsteak are nice. Oyster Chowder. Fry out three rashers of pickled pork in the pot you make the chowder; add to it three potatoes and two onions, boih sliced; boil until they are nearly cooked; soak two or three dozen crackers in cold water a few minutes, then put into the pot half a can of oys- ters, one quart of milk and the soaked crackers. Boil all together a few minutes; season with salt, pepper and butter. Fish chowder can be made the same way by using fresh fish instead of oysters. Oyster Croquettes. Take the hard end of the oyster, leaving the other end in nice ehape for a soup or stew; scald them, then chop fine and add an equal weight of potatoes rubbed through a colander; to one pound of this add two ounces of butter, one teaspoonful of salt, half a teaspoonful of pepper, half a teaspoonful of mace, and one-half gill of cream; make in small rolls, dip in egg and grated bread, fry in deep lard. Fricasseed Oysters, Drain the liquor from a quart of oysters, strain half a pint and put in a porcelain kettle, and when it boils put in the oysters. Have a tablespoonful of flour rubbed well into two tablespoonfuls of butter. When the oysters begin to swell, stir in the butter and flour, cook until the oysters are white and plump; then add a gill of cream and pepper and salt. Fried Oysters. Take large oysters, wash and drain. Dip them into flour; put in a hot frying pan with plenty of lard and butter; season with salt 258 SHELL FISH. and pepper; fry brown on both sides. Fried in this way, they are similar to broiled oysters. Fried Oysters, No. 2. Drain, remove all bits of shell, and sprinkle with pepper and salt, and set in a cool place for ten minutes. Then, if the oysters are small, pour them into a pan of crackers, rolled fine ; add liquor, mixi well and let stand five minutes; add a little salt and peppei*, mold into small cakes, with two or three oysters in each, roll in dry crackers and fry in lard and butter. Serve hot in a covered dish. Chicken and Oyster Pie. Parboil a chicken; cut up and place in a pie dish; cover with oysters and season to taste; add two hard-boiled eggs cut into slices, with a piece of butter, size of an egg, in the center; dust the whole with flour, and pour on one-half pint of milk; put on a puff- paste crust and bake about three-quarters of an hour in a moderate oven. Scalloped Oysters, Prepare stale bread-crumbs, season to taste with pepper and salt; butter a deep dish; cover the bottom with the crumbs; add a layer of large-sized oysters, with butter; fill the dish alternately with oysters, crumbs and butter. Bake in a hot oven until cooked entirely through; if they become too brown on the top, cover with paper. If preferred, scallop the oysters separately and serve in the shells, observing that the shells are well cleaned. Instead of crumbs use slices of well-buttered bread, if you like, or bake with a crust of puff-paste. Park Row Oyster Stew, Put the oysters into a stewpan with a little liquor to cover them; add a little butter, pepper and salt; stir every now and then while on the fire, and when poured into the dish, put in about a table- spoonful of milk to every ten oysters. Oyster soup is made in the same way, except that more liquor is SHELL FISH. 259 added, and a tablespoonful of pounded butter crackers; add plenty of milk the last thing when the oysters are cooked, and let it boil up once. Maryland Stewed Oysters. Put the juice into a saucepan and let it simmer, skimming it care- fully; then rub the yolks of three hard-boiled eggs and one large spoonful of flour well together, and stir into the juice. Cut in small pieces a quarter of a pound of butter, half a teaspoonful of whole allspice, a little salt, a little Cayenne, and the juice of a fresh lemon; let all simmer ten minutes, and just before dishing, add the oysters. This is for two quarts of oysters. Plain Stew. One quart of oysters with liquor, pint and a half of milk, piece of butter size of egg, pepper and salt; boil all together until done. Oyster Sauce. Set the oysters in their liquor over the fire for a few minutes; then remove them from the liquor and stir into it some flour and butter well rubbed together, add salt and pepper, and when it has boiled well for five minutes put in the oysters and s^vve immediately. Oyster Pie. Make a rich puff paste; roll out twice as thick as for a fru/, ove, for the top crust — about the ordinary thickness for the lower. X^ine a pudding dish with the thinner, and fill with crusts of dry Ijread , or light crackers. Some use a folded towel to fill the interioi of the pie, but the above expedient is preferable. Butter the ed,,^es of the dish, that you may be able to lift the upper crust without breaking. Cover the mock pie with the thick crust, ornamented heavily at the edge, that it may lie the more quietly, and bake. Cook the oysters as for a stew, only beating into them at the last, two eggs, and thickening with a spoonful of fine cracker crumbs or rice flour. They should stew but five minutes, and time them so 260 SHELL FISH. that the paste will be baked just in season to receive them. Lift the top crusty pour in the smoking hot oysters, and send up hot. Many consider it unnecessary to prepare the oysters and crust separately; but experience and observation go to prove that if the precaution be omitted, the oysters are apt to be wofully overdone. The maker can try both methods and take her choice. Pickled Oysteks, One ounce each of allspice, mace, cinnamon and cloves, one quart vinegar; scald all together, then put in the oysters, waiting until it is cool; next day scald all together. Oyster Patties. Line small patty-pans with puff paste; into eaok pan put six oysters, bits of butter, pepper and salt; sprinkle over a little flour and hard-boiled eggs, chopped (allowing about two eggs for six patties), cover with an upper crust, notch the edges and bake; serve either in the pans or remove them to a larger platter. Oyster Pot-Pie. Have ready nice light-raised biscuit dough, cut into small squares. Season the oysters well with butter, pepper and salt, and thicken them with a little flour; drop in the pieces of dough and boil till done. This may be baked in the oven in a pudding-dish, allowing the dough to brown on the top. Roasted Oysters. Take oysters in the shell, wash the shells clean, and lay them on hot coals; when they are done they will begin to open. Remove the upper shell, and serve the oysters in the lower shell, with a little melted butter poured over each. Oysters, Fancy Roast. Toast a few slices of bread, and butter them; lay them in a shallow dish; put on the liquor of the oysters to heat; add salt and pepper, and just before it boils add the oysters; let them boil up once, and pour over the bread. SHELL FISH. 261 Oyster a la Poulette. Scald a dozen oysters in their own liquor; salt and remove the oysters; add a tablespoonful of butter, the juice of half a lemon, a gill of cream, and a teaspoonful of flour. Beat up the yolk of one egg while the sauce is simmering; add the egg and simmer the whole until it thickens. Place the oysters on a hot dish, pour the sauce over them, sprinkle a little chopped parsley on the top and serve. Raw Oysters. For a party, serve on a handsome block of ice in which a cavity has been made with a hot flat-iron. Set the ice on a platter and garnish the edges with slices of lemon. Have pepper, salt and vinegar on hand; also serve with lemon juice. Oysters with Toast. Broil or fry as many oysters as you wish, and lay them on but- tered toast; salt and pepper; pour over them a cup of hot, rich cream; keep them perfectly hot until eaten. Oyster Flavor. A German cook has discovered a way to have oyster flavor all the year round. Take fresh, lai-ge, plump oysters, beard them and place them in a vessel over the fire for a few moments in order to extract the juice, then put them to cool, and chop them very fine wiih powdered biscuit, mace, and finely minced lemon peel; pound them until they become a paste; make them up into thin cakes, place them on a sheet of paper in a slow oven and let them bake until they become quite hard; pound them directly into powder, and place the powder in a dry tin box, well covered; keep in a dry place, and it will be very much appreciated when the true oyster flavor is imparted to fish, sauces and dishes. This makes a delicious .sauce for fresh cod. New Way of Preparing Oysters. The ways of preparing oysters are not many. This method. 262 SHELL FISH, however, is not widely known: Take two dozen oysters and throw them in a large deep dish; then take a small bunch of parsley chopped fine, a little lemon rind grated, half a nutmeg grated, and the crumbs of a stale French roll, also grated; let the latter be well incorporated, adding some Cayenne. Have in readiness the yolks of three fresh eggs beaten up into a foam; dip each oyster sepa- rately into the eggs and roll them into the bread crumbs until they are all covered with a good coat. Put a quarter of a pound of butter in the oven till it is melted while arranging the oysters in the pan, then turn them continually until they assume a perfect brown and crusty appearance. When fully cooked serve them with some celery, salt and thin slices of Graham bread and butter. Scallops. The heart is the only part used. If you buy them in the shell, boil and take out the hearts. Those sold in our markets are gen- erally ready for frying or stewing. Dip them in beaten egg, then in cracker crumbs, and fry in hot lard. Or, you may stew them like oysters. The fried scallops are generally preferred. Terrapins, or Water Turtles. Land terrapins, it is hardly necessary to say, are uneatable, but the large turtle that frequents our mill-ponds and rivers can be converted into a relishable article of food. Plunge the turtle into a pot of boiling water, and let him lie there five minutes. You can then skin the under part easily, and pull off the horny parts of the feet. Lay him for ten minutes in cold salt and water; then put into more hot water salted, but not too much. Boil until tender. The time will depend upon the size and age. Take him out, drain and wipe dry; loosen the shell carefully, not to break the flesh; cut open also with care, lest you touch the gall-bag with the knife. Remove this with the entrails and sand-bag. Cut up all the rest of the animal into small bits; season with pepper, salt, a chopped onion, sweet herbs, and a teaspoonful of some spiced sauce, or a tablespoonful of catsup — walnut or mushroom. Save the juice that SHELL FISH. 263 runs from the meat, and put all together into a saucepan with a closely-fitting top. Stew gently fifteen minutes, stirring occasion- ally, and add a great spoonful of butter, or a teaspoonful browned flour wet in cold water, a glass of brown sherry, and lastly, the beaten yolk of an egg, mixed with a little of the hot liquor, that it may not curdle. Boil up once and turn into a covered dish. Send around green pickles and delicate slices of toast with it. CHAPTER XXI. GAME. To Select Game. |HEa&'a1^TS. — A young cock pheasant will have slw rt and blunt spurs, while an old one will have them long and! sharp. A hen pheasant may be known by its plumage, and its flavor is preferred by many, though not by all, except when almost ready to lay. Grouse. — These sare judged of the same as pheasants. Woodcock. — When these are fat they will feel thick and firm, and a streak of fat will appear on the side of the breast. Fresh birds will have supple feet, and the head and throat clear; whereas, when stale, the feet are stiff, and the head and throat nasty. Pigeons. — Tame pigeons, when fresh and in good order, are plump, and have their feet pliable and of a dusky white. Wild pigeons are not reckoned so good as tame, but they improve with keeping. They are not so lat but are to be chosen by the uame rules as the others. Hares. — An old hare does very well for soup, but for ordinary purposes it is by no means desirable. It will be distinguished by its dry, tough ears, its blunted claws and its widely-parted lips. A young hare has soft and tender ears, sharpish claws, and the parting of the lip close. Rabbit. — An old rabbit will have long, rough claws, and fur often inclining to grey. When fresh, the body will be rather stiff and the flesh dry and pale; but if stale, it will be limper and the flesh dark colored. %4 GAME. 265 Venison. — Choose the dark-colored meat, not the black, but the rich reddish-brown, with fine grain, and well coated with fat. Keep it hung up in a cool, dark cellar, covered with a cloth, and use as soon as you can conveniently. To Pot Birds. Pi'epare them as for roasting; fill each with a dressing made as follows: Allow for each bird the size of a pigeon one-half of a hard-boiled egg, chopped fine, a tablespoonful of bread crumbs, a teaspoonful of chopped pork; season the bii-ds with pepper and salt; stuff them and lay them in a kettle that has a tight cover. Place over the birds a few slices of pork, add a pint of water, dredge over them a little flour, cover, and put them in a hot oven. Let them cook until tender, then add a little cream and butter. If the sauce is too thin, thicken with flour. One pint of water is suf- ficient for twelve birds. Reed Birds. " These delicious lumps of sweetness, as they are appropriately called, ai-e always acceptable, but to thoroughly appreciate a reed bird dinner one must mingle with the gunners on the Delaware river as guest or member of one of the many clubs whose houses are situated within a few hundred yards of the hunting grounds. After the judge's decision as to who has high boat, the birds are plucked (and at some of the club houses drawn), arranged neatly in a dripping-pan with bits of fresh country butter between them. They are allowed to cook on one side a few minutes, and with a long-handled spoon are turned over to brown on the other side. A little salt is added and they are then placed on a hot platter en pyramicle and the gravy poured over them; they are then sent to the table with fried chipped potatoes." Reed Birds a la Lindenthorpe. On " ladies' day " the members of this club are more particular than on " member's day." They prepare the birds by drawing the trail and removing the head; thfy then take large sweet or Irish 266 GAME. potatoes, cut them in two, scoop out the insides, and put an oyster or small piece of bacon inside of each bird and put the birds inside the potatoes, tie them up with twine and bake until the potatoes are done. The common twine is then removed and the potatoes are tied with a narrow piece of white or colored tape in a neat bow- knot and sent to the table on a napkin. Roast Prairie Chicken. The bird being a little strong, and its flesh, when cooked, a little dry, it should be either larded or wide strips of bacon or pork placed over its breast. A mild-seasoned stuffing will improve the flavor of old birds. Dust a little flower over them, baste occasion- ally and serve. Pheasants may be managed in the same way. Prairie Chicken. Clean nicely, using a little soda in the water in which they are washed; rinse them and drain, and fill with dressing, sewing them up nicely, and binding down the legs and wings with cord. Put them in a steamer and let them cook ten minutes; then put them in a pan with a little butter, set them in an oven and baste frequently until of a nice brown. They should brown in about thirty-five minutes. Serve them in a platter with sprigs of parsley alternated with currant jelly. Partridges and quails may be cooked in the same manner. To Roast Partridges, Pheasants or Quails. Pluck, singe, draw and truss them, season with salt and pepper; roast for about half an hour in a brisk oven, basting often with butter. When done, place on a dish together with bread crumbs fried brown and arranged in small heaps. Gravy should be served in a tureen apart. Quail on Toast. Pick and clean, cut in the middle of back, fry in butter to a nice brown, salt and pepper; now put in an earthern or porcelain-lined GAME. 267 dish, one tablespoonful of nice butter and the same of flour: stir on a slow fire until butter is dissolved; then pour in slowly two-thirds glass of water and the same quantity of wine; salt and pepper; put in your birds that are nicely fried, simmer slowly one-quarter of an hour; toast some thin slices of bread (one toast to each bird); put in the dish you wish to serve, laying the birds on top; pour the gravy over all; serve very hot. To Broil Quail or Woodcock. After dresssing, split down the back, sprinkle with salt and pep- per, and lay them on a gridiron, the inside down. Broil slowly at first. Serve with cream gravy. Pigeon Pie. Dress and wash clean, split down the back, and then proceed as for chicken pie. Roast Pigeons. When cleaned and ready for roasting, fill the bird with a stufiing of bread crumbs, a spoonful of butter, a little salt and nutmeg, and three oysters to each bird (some prefer chopped apple). They must be well basted with melted butter, and require thirty minutes of careful cooking. They are best in the autumn, and should be full grown. To Roast Pigeons. They should be dressed while fresh. If young, they will be ready for roasting in twelve hours. Dress carefully, and after making clean, wipe dry and put into each bird a small piece of butter dipped in Cayenne. Truss the wings over the back and roast in a quick oven, keeping them constantly basted with butter. Serve with brown gravy. Dish them with young water-cresses. Pigeon Compote. Truss six pigeons as for boiling. Grate the crumbs of a small loaf of bread, scrape one pound of fat bacon, chop thyme, parsley, an onion and lemon — peel fine — and season with salt and pepper; 268 GA3IE. mix it up with two eggs; put this forcemeat into the craws of the pigeons, lard the breasts and fry brown; place them in a stewpan with some beef stock and stew them three-quarters of an hour, thicken with a piece of butter rolled in flour. Serve with force- meat balls around the dish and strain the gravy on to the pigeon. Wild Duck or Mallard. This is one of the best of wild fowl. Truss it as you would a tame luck, but it is not usual to stuff it. As soon as you have plucked ind emptied it, boil down the giblets with a little bit of beef, to make savory brown gravy, flavored with lemon juice and wine. Wild duck is better served a little more under-done than tame duck. Some carvers slice the breast, and dose it with Cayenne, lemon juice and its own roast gravy — a mode of dressing admissible only when everybody likes high seasoning. The bones of the wild duck are smaller than those of the tame. The teal, the jewel of water fowl, if fat, should be laid each on its slice of toast, roasted before the fire; turn it over now and then, and serve on the toast. The cftot, on account of its black and very downy skin, is best flayed, i;rit into joints, and stewed with wine as a matelote. It then becoiijys excellent eating. Wild Goose, When to T)e had, is a treat for lovers of wild fowl; and yet, strange to say, there is a prejudice against it, as fishy. Some few species of geese may indeed graze on seaweed, and perhaps even swallow a few shell-fish when they happen to alight on the shore, hard pressed by hunger; but, as a rule, there is no cleaner feeding bird than the goose, feeding upon herbs or grain, but preferring the former as the staple of its diet. We know of no wild goose which is not excellent to eat, when obtained at the proj^er age and in good condition. Wild geese are roasted and served in the same way as wild ducks. A satisfactory combination is made by taking a little bone, some ottrtilage or tendon for the sake of its gelatine, suflicient fat — to be GAME. 2b» supplied, if the meat has none, from white bacon or fresh pork — and plenty of the flesh of whatever constitutes the pate. Pack these closely together, filling the interstices with minced fresh pork or veal, season well, but not in excess; flavor with bay-leaf, chopped shallot or onion, and lemon peel; with bits of truffle (when possible), hard egg, and button mushrooms interspersed here and there through its substance, and half a tumbler of wine, with a little catsup poured in to prevent too much drying up. Bake this in a gentle oven, and let it stand at least twenty-four hours before cutting it up. It will keep some time, especially if untouched, and will be found improved and ripened at the end of three or four days. Roast Hare. Broil the hare slightly over the coals, to give firmness to the flesh, then cover it with slices of fat pork from the neck to the legs. Then roast it for an hour, and serve it with sance piquante ^rsTpared with the crushed liver. A Nice Way to Prepare Cold Hare. Remove the flesh from the roast hare, and cut it in strips. After- ward break the bones and cook with them some butter and flour, onions, parsley, thyme, chives, salt, pepper, red wine, and stock broth ; boil them down to one-fourth, and having strained the gravy, put the slices of hare into it and serve it up without again boiling it. Roast Rabbit. Rabbits are roasted in the same manner as directed for hare. Rabbit with Herbs. Cut a rabbit in pieces and place it in a stewpan with butter, parsley, chives, mushrooms, bay-leaves, and thyme, chopped fine. When done add a spoonful of flour to thicken it. Venison Chops. Broiled and served with currant jelly are not to be despised. Trim the ends as you would a French lamb chop. 270 GAME. Venison Epicurean. Cut a steak from the leg or a chop from the loin of venison about an inch and a half thick. Put a walnut of butter, salt, and pepper, into a chafing-dish; light the spirit-lamp under it, and when the butter melts put in the chop or steak; let it cook on one side a few minutes, then turn it over, and add a wineglassful of sherry or port and a tablespoonful of currant jelly. Simmer gently about seven minutes if it is to be eaten rare, and allow twelve minutes' cooking if required well done. Venison Patties. Make a nicely-flavored mince of the remains of cold roast venison; moisten it with a little sherry or gravy, and warm it in a saucepan; fill the patty-shells with the meat and serve, as oyster patties. CHAPTER XXIL MARKETING. „)EF0RE going to market it is a very good rule to determine P^ what shall be purchased and in what quantity. This is especially needful when the butcher is to be visited. An- other rule is to deal at shops where good articles only are sold, and, if possible, to take your money with you, because a ready-money customer will, as a rule, be the best served. It is not always safe to let the butcher, poulterer, fishmonger, or other provision dealer, choose for you, because he may be over anxious to sell what is not in the best condition, or what is from some other cause hardly salable. Experienced persons will not fail to observe carefully the quality of what they buy, and they will reflect upon the quan- tity of bone, gristle or other waste in it. They will also consider the requirements of the family and the uses to which they can put what is not consumed as soon as cooked. At the butcher's see the meat cut and weighed and placed ready to be sent home; you will then know what you have bought. Always buy good meat rather than inferior, and if possible from the best parts of the animal. To aid the inexperienced we will now enter somewhat into detail. Beef. — Young and well-fed ox beef is the best. It may be known by the lean being of a fine, smooth or open grain, and the fat of a yellowish white. When the fat is either a mottled yellow or white, the meat is doubtful. The suet, however, must be very white. Cow beef is inferior, its fat is whiter, the lean closer in the grain and not of so bright a red. Bull beef has white and shming fat, 271 272 MARKETING. close-grained lean of a dark red, and a stronger smell than other beef. The principal parts are as follows: SECTION OF BULLOCK. 1. Cheek. . 10. Surloin. 2. Neck or Sticking Piece. 11. Thin Flank, 3. Clod. 12. Rump. 4. Shin. 13. Aitch-bone. 5. Shoulder or Leg of Mutton Piece. 14. Round or Buttock. 6. Chuck Ribs. 15. Mouse Bullock. 7. Middle Ribs. 16. Veiny Piece. 8. Fore Ribs. 17. Thick Flank. 9. Brisket. 18. Leg. Besides the above there are the kidneys, heart, tripe, sweet' breads, tongue, and palate. Good beef is more elastic to the touch than that which is old or in bad condition, so that when pressed with the finger the impression will not be permanent. In poor meat, the lean is usually- dark, the fat skinny, and the sinewy portions distinctly shown, especially a horny texture in the ribs. Beef should be perfectly sound, sweet and fresh, as taint rapidly spreads, and if frosted it will not cook properly. It is, perhaps, scarcely needful to say, that several of the joints which are enumerated above, are readily and commonly divided by the butcher and sold in portions for the convenience of small families and slender purses. If, at any time, more is bought than is wanted for present use, care should be taken to let it be from such parts as may be cut into two, the one for MARKETING. 273 roasting and the other for salting and boiling; or let it he such as may he easily warmed a-fresh, or otherwise presented hot again at A. Rump. B. Mouse Buttock. C. Leg or Hock. D. Buttock or Round. E. Aitch-bone or Top. P. Surloin. G. Fore Ribs. H. Middle Ribs. I. Chuck Rib. J. Neck, Clod, or Sticking Piece, K. Shin. L. Shoulder or Leg of Mutton Piece. M. Brisket. N. Thin Flank. O. Thick Flank. P. Veiny Piece. table, which will be the case with such parts as are stewed, and such cheap portions as the heart, and cold roasted ox-heart cut into slices and warmed in gravy is as good as when first cooked. SECTIONS OF SHEEP, OR LAMB. 1. Leg. 5. Best end of loin 2. Shoulder. 6 3. Breast. 7 4. Chump end of loin. 8 18. Best end of neck. Scrag end of neck. Head. 274 MARKETING. Mutton. — Good mutton, of Avhatever breed, is known at a glance, the ham, dark, bright, crimson red; the fat, white and firm, ana never too deficient in quantity according to the joint. Bad mutton is of an unsightly brownish coloi-, and has a bad smell with a little fat, and that flabby and yellowish, often, but not always, the car- cass looks as if the beast had been devoured by consumptive lean- ness. If you can get a sight of the liver, its state will sometimes tell you tales of the creature's healthfulness or the reverse. Pork. — Pork, more than any other meat, requires to be chosen with the greatest care. The pig, from his gluttonous habits, is particularly liable to disease, and if it is killed and its flesh eaten when in an unhealthy condition, those who partake of it will prob- ably have to pay dearlj^ for their indulgence. It is generally understood that dairy-fed pork is the best. Where it is possible, therefore, it is always safest to obtain pork direct from some farm where it has been fed and killed. When this cannot be done, it should either be purchased from a thoroughly respectable and reliable person or dispensed with altogether. Pork is best in cold weather. It is in season from November to March. It should be ■avoided during the summer months. The fat should be white and firm, the lean finely grained, and the skin thin and cool. If any kernels are to be seen in the fat, the pig was diseased at the time it was killed. Pork should not be allowed to hang more than a day or two before it is cooked, as it will not keep unless it be salted. If cooked quite fresh, however, it will be hard. The head, heart, liver, etc., should be cooked as soon as possible. Care should be taken that the pork be thoroughly cooked. Veat is best when the animal is from two to three months old. Veal, like all yonvz m-izX^ has s, tendency to turn very quiukly It is both unpalatable and most unwlioiesome when -t is at all taiii\,o> .,, and it cannot be recovered, as brown meats sometimes can, by the use of charcoal. Therefore it ought not to be kept more than two days in summer and four in winter. If eaten cjiite fresh it is apt ^c be a little tous^h. MARKETING. 275 If there is any danger of the veal becoming tainted, wash it, and put it into boiling water for ten minutes. Plunge it into cold water till cool, wipe it dry, and put it into the coolest place that can be found. No meat is more generally useful for making soups and gravies than veal. SECTIONS OF CALF. 1. Loin, chump end. 7. Fore knuckle. 2. Loin, best end. 8. Breast, brisket end. 3. Neck, best end. 9. Breast, best end. 4. Neck, scrag end. 10. Blade-bone. 5. Fillet. 11. Head. 6. Hind knuckle. Turkeys. — A young cock-turkey is the best, and may be known by its smooth, black legs and short sj^urs. The spurs must be closely looked into, because it is an old trick of the dealers to cut and scrape them in order to get rid of old birds as young ones. If in good condition the eyes will be bright and full and the feet soft and pliable; whereas where stale the eyes will be dim and sunken and the feet stiff and dry. The beak of a young turkey is some- what soft, but hard and rigid in an old one. The legs of an old hen-turkey are red and rough. In other respects a hen-tui'key may be judged of as a cock-turkey, spurs excepted. Fowls. — A young cock will have short spurs, which will require the same inspection as turkeys. A fine bird will have a smooth comb, a full fat breast, and a large rump. The skin should be delicate and transparent. Pullets are best when about to lay, at, which time they have partially formed eggs inside. Fowls with black legs are best roasted. Game birds shoulc? "ilso, be roasted. 27Q MARKETING. Young Dorking, Spanish and Cochin should be provided for boil- ing. For broth, an old hen will do, if well cooked. Geese. — A young goose will have its beak and feet yellow with a very few bristles about them; but an old bird will have the feet and bill red and bristly. When fresh, the feet are pliable, but stiff and dry when stale. The fat of a young bird is whiter and softer than that of an old bird, and the breast is plump, as is the case with all poultry in good condition; knowing which the dealers have a trick of breaking the breast bones to deceive their custom- ers, and foist upon them old birds for young ones. Ducks. — The feet and legs of a fresh killed duck are pliable and soft, but those of a stale one are stiff and dry. Freshness of the eye is an indication of a fresh bird. A wild duck has rather small, reddish feet, while those of a tame duck are a dusky yellow, and somewhat large. An old duck should be kept hanging a few days before it is cooked; it will generally be lean and thin as compared Vith a plump young bird. CHAPTER XXIIL MEATS. '|!i Beef, Aitchbone of, to Carve. tN carving an aitchbone of beef it is necessary that it should be cut across the grain. In order to do this the knife should follow the line A to B in the illustration. The meat should be cut of a moderate thickness, and very evenly. Cut the lean and the fat in one slice, and if more fat is wanted it should be taken horizon- tally from the side. Before proceed- ing to serve, a slice of about a quarter of an inch in thickness should be cut from the top, so that the juicy part of the meat may be obtained at once. Brisket of Beef Stewed. Take six jjounds of beef, and, before dressing it, rub it over with vinegar and salt; place it in a stewpanwith stock or water sufficient to cover it. Allow it to simmer for an hour, skimming it well all the time. Put in six each of carrots, turnips, and small onions; and allow all to simmer until the meat is quite tender, which will require about two hours more. As soon as it is ready the bones should be removed. Boil for a few minutes as much of the gravy as will be required with flour and a little butter, and season it with catsup, allspice and mace. Pour a little of it over the brisket, and send the remainder to the table in a separate dish. Making Tough Steak Tender. Take one teaspoonful of salad oil, two teaspoonfuls* of vinegf^* 277 278 MEATS. and a very little Cayenne pepper. Lay the steak upon it and let it remain one hour; then turn it over and let it-lie an hour. Then fry or broil as usual. The vinegar softens the fibre and the oil keeps it soft. Steak may stand over night this way if turned about ten o'clock. Pounding steak is a great mistake; it breaks up the fibre, but drives out the juice and destroys much of its nutriment. Beef, Brisket of, to Carve, The accompanying engraving represents the appearance of a brisket of beef ready for the table. There is no difficulty in carving it. The only thing to observe is that it should be cut cleanly along the bones, in the direction indicated by the dot- ^^s ^ ted line, with a firm hand, in moderately thick slices. Cut it close down to the bones, so that they may not have a rough and jagged appearance when removed. Broiled Steak. Never put salt on a steak until after it is cooked. After trim- ming on each side equally, dress to taste with sweet fresh butter, pepper and salt, and add, if preferred, a teaspoonful of lemon- juice. Broiled Beefsteak. To cook a good, juicy beefsteak, never pound it, but slash it several times across each way; have a nice bright fire and broil as quickly as possible, without burning; if the coals blaze from the drippings, sprinkle on a little salt, which will instantly extinguish the flames. Steak should be turned constantly while broiling, and to be rare should not cook over three minutes; butter and salt after taking up. This should be served very hot. Rrnvrp Steak with Oyster Sauce. Let your oysters give a turn or two with plenty of butter in a frying-pan, then add pepper and salt, a little flour, and the juice of MEATS. 279 half a lemon, with enough water to make up the quantity of sauce you want, stir till the oysters are done, and serve with the steak broiled in the usual way. To Fry Steak, or Cook in Frying Pan. If you have not a broiler, steak may be cooked nearly as well by heating the frying pan very hot and just greasing it with a little butter, or a little of the chopped suet, and lay in the steak and keep turning until sufficiently cooked; then transfer to a hot platter and season with salt and pepper, and cover with butter and serve. German Way op Frying Beefsteak. Pound the cut steak a little, salt it and fry quickly with hot lard on both sides; pour off the lard and place the steak on the dish; put into the pan some fresh butter and fry with it some finely cut onions and pour this over the steak. Beefsteak Smothered with Onions. Melt a lump of butter in a frying pan; cover the bottom of the pan with onions sliced very thin; then lay the steak over them. When the onions are fried until they are tender, put the beef on the bottom of the pan and cover it with the onions; add butter or lard as you need it. Liver cooked in this way is nice also. When it is done, lay it on a platter and heap the onions on the meat. A very little gravy made in the pan in which you have cooked the meat and onions is an addition, but make only a little and turn over the meat, seasoning it well with salt and pepper. Beefsteak Pie, ' Cut the steak into pieces an inch long, and stew with the bone (cracked) in just enough water to cover the meat until it is half done. Line a pudding dish with a good paste. Put in a layer of the beef, with salt and pepper, and a very little chopped onion; then one of sliced boiled potatoes, with a little butter scattered u^son them, and so on until the dish is full. Pour over all the 280 MEATS. gravy in which the meat is stewed, having first thrown away the bone and thickened with flour. Cover with a crust thicker than the lower, leaving a slit in the middle. Ribs of Beef, to Caeve. The rib should be cut in thin and even slices from the thick end towards the thin. This can be more readily and cleanly done, if the carving-knife is first run along between the meat and the end and rib bones. To Roast Ribs of Beef. The best piece to roast is the fore-rib, and it should be hung for two or three days before it is cooked. The ends of the ribs should be sawn off, the outside fat fastened with skewers, and the strong sinew and chime bones removed. The joint should first be placed near the fire, and after a short time it should be drawn back and roasted steadily. Baste freely with clarified drippings at fii'st, as there will not be sufticient gravy when first put down; keep basting at intervals of ten minutes until done. Care must be taken not to allow it to burn, as it is easily spoiled. Serve with horse-radish sauce. To Roast Sirloiist of Beef. Take out the suet and lay it thickly over the fillet. Tie the flap under the fillet ard make all firm before it is put into the oven. Should die oven be very hot place a paper over the meat while yet raw, in which case it will need very little basting; or turn the rib side up toward the fire for the first tAventy minutes. The time it will take in cooking depends entirely upon the thickness of the joint and the length of time it has been killed. Skim the fat from, the gravy and add a tablesj^oonful of prepared brown flour and a glass of sherry to the remainder. MEATS. 281 Sirloin of Beef, to Carve. A sirloin should be cut with one good, firm stroke from end to end of the joint, at the upj^er portion, making the cut very clean from A, B to C. Then disengage it from the bone by a horizontal cut exactly to tlie bone, B to D, using the tip of the knife. Bad carving bears the hand away to the rind of the beef, eventually, after many cuts, peeling it back to the other side, leav- A ing a portion of the best of the meat adhering to the bone. Every slice should be ® clean and even, and the sirloin should cut fairly to the very end. Many persons cut the under side whilst hot, not reckoning it so good cold; but this is a matter of taste, and so is the mode of carving it. The best way is "first of all to remove the fat, E, which chops up well to make pud- dings, if noli eaten at table. Then the under part can be cut as already desci-ibed, from end to end, F to G, or downwards as shown by the marks at H. Beef Balls. Mince very fine a piece of tender beef, fat and lean; mince an onion, with some boiled parsley; add grated bread crumbs, and season with pepper, salt, grated nutmeg and lemon peel; mix all together and moisten it with an egg beaten; roll it into balls, flour and fry them in boiling fresh driiDping. Serve them with fried bread crumbs. Fillet of Beef. This is to be larded and dressed with a brown mushroom sauce. Trim the fat off a tenderloin of beef, and if you are going to dress it for dinner trim off the corners somewhat. It wants to be the shape of a fillet whole. A whole fillet is usually too large for a family dinner. Trim down the loin so it is smaller at each end. 282 MEATS. Save the pieces of meat tj-immed off, cut up In bits an inch square and make a stew with a iew mushrooms or potatoes. Never by any means throw them away. After the fillet is trimmed lard it by inserting little strips of fat salt pork over the upjDer surface with a larding needle. After larding lay on a baking-pan with thin slices of salt pork under it, and put bixttered paper over it to prevent burning the pork. Bake or roast it. It is usually served rare; then it should roast fifteen minutes to a pound. If it is to be well done it should roast twenty minutes for each pound. Season when brown, not before, with pepper and salt. A Good a^td Cheap Way to Cook Beef. A cheap dish can be made of a brisket or flank of beef. Cut a slice eight inches long and an inch thick, season highly, spread a stufting of soaked bread highly seasoned over it, tie it up and lay in water enough to cover, and cook slowly a long time. This makes a very nice dish and should be served with red cabbage. Cut u]) the cabbage as for cold slaw. Put in a saucepan one table- spoonful of sugar, one of butter, half a cup of vinegar, half a dozen pepper corns, and half a dozen cloves; then put in the cab- bage, cover tight and set on the back of the stove and let it steam an hour, when it will be tender. The beef may also be served with red beets, boiled till tender without breaking, peeled and laid around the dish of meat. A nice way to bake beef is to put in the pan under it a bed of vegetables and scraps of pork, a tablespoonful of carrot, turnip, sprigs of parsley, a half dozen cloves and a half dozen pepper corns; add a bay-leaf, if you wish, and a teaspoonful of onion. Yoxi will find that all these will give a nice flavor not only to the meat but also to the gravy made from the drippings. Beef a la Mode. Take a round of beef, remove the bone from the middle, also all the gristle and tough parts about the edges. Have ready half a pound of fat salt pork, cut into strips as thick and long as your MEATS. 283 finger. Prepare a nice dressing the same as for stuffing a turkey, With a thin sharp knife make perpendicular incisions in the meat about half an inch apart, thrust into them the pork, and work in with them some of the dressing. Proceed thus until the meat is thoroughly plugged. Put it into a baking pan with a little water at the bottom; cover tightly and bake slowly four hours; then uncover, and spread the rest of the dressing over the top, and bake until a nice brown. After taking up, thicken the gravy and pour o\er the beef. It should be sliced horizontally. Is good either hot or cold. Pounded Beef. Boil a shin of twelve pounds of meat until it falls readily from the bone; pick it to pieces; mash gristle and all very fine; pick out all the hard bits. Set the liquor away; when cool, take off all the fat; boil the liquor down to a pint and a half. Then return the meat to it while hot; add pepper and salt and any spice you choose. Let it boil a few times, stirring all the while. Put into a mold jr deep dish to cool. Use cold and cut in thin slices for tea, oi warm it for breakfast. Beef Coquettes. Use cold roast beef; chop it fine; season with pepper and salt; add one-third the quantity of bread crumbs, and moisten with a little milk. Have your hands floured; rub the meat into balls, dip it into beaten egg, then into fine pulverized cracker, and fry in but- ter; garnish with parsley. Deviled Beef. Take slices of cold roast beef, lay them on hot coals, and broil? season with pepper and salt, and serve while hot, with a small lumf of butter on each piece. Beef Sausages. To three pounds of beef, very lean, put one and one-half pounds of suet, and chop very fine; season with sage in powder, allspice, pepper and salt; have skins thoroughly cleaned, and force the meal into them. 284 MEATS. Beef au Gratin. Take cold beef, either boiled or roasted, and cut it in thin slices. (urease a tin pan with butter, dust with bread crumbs, put in a little chopped parsley, and lay on the slices of beef. Put salt, pepper, and parsley on top, dust with bread crumbs, drop on lemon- juice, md a little broth, just to cover the bottom of the pan, and place it in the oven. Beef Heart. Wash it carefully and stuff it nicely with dressing as for turkey; j-oast it about one and a half hours, and serve with the gravy, which should be thickened with some of the stuffing. It is very nice hashed. Dried Beef in Cream. Shave your beef very fine; pour over it boiling water; let it stand for a few minutes; pour this off and pour on good rich cream; let it come to a boil. If you have not cream, use milk and butter, and thicken with a very little flour; season with pepper, and serve on toast or not, as you like. Beef Omelette. Three pounds of beefsteak, three-foui-ths of a pound of suet, chopped fine, salt, pepper, and a little sage, three eggs, six Boston crackers, rolled; make into roll and bake. Broiled Beef Tongue. Put a fresh tongue on the fire with just cold water enough to cover it, and with it a carrot, an onion, a bay-leaf, a couple of slices of lemon, some black pej^per, salt and a little garlic. Let it simmer gently for about two hours till quite tender. Skin and trim it. Either serve it whole or cut it in slices, and arrange in a ring with the following thick sauce in the center: Strain the liquor in which the tongue was cooked (this should be reduced by simmering to a mere gravy) ; brown a large tablespoonful of flour in a good sized piece of butter; braize two or three cloves of garlic, and let them MEATS. 285 steam a little while in the browning; then add the strained gravy by degrees, stirring it quite smooth. Add a little lemon-juice or vinegar; and whether it be served whole or sliced, dish the sauce with the tongue. If garlic is objected to, make a sauce of grated horse-radish, a carrot bruised fine, capers and a little wine. Gar- nish with lemon slices and parsley. To Boil Beef. Put fresh beef into boiling water (unless you wish to make soup, then it should be put into cold water) and bring quickly to a boil, then set on back part of the stove and simmer gently till done. Corned beef, if very salt, should be soaked over night, then put into lukewarm, not boiling, water. Simmer from the time of boil- ing till it is served up. Skim the pot thoroughly and turn the meat twice during the simmering. The meat will be much better if allowed to cool in the liquor in which it is cooked. Tongue Roasted. Parboil a tongue that has been salted about ten days; roast, baste with red wine, and cover it at last with butter. Serve with a rich gravy and sweet sauce. Tripe. This may be served in a tureen, stewed tender with milk and onions, or fried in bits dipped in butter. In both the above ways serve melted butter for sauce. Or cut the thin parts in oblong bits and stew in gravy; thicken with butter rolled in a very little flour, and add a spoonful of mushroom catsup. Or boil it tender in milk, and serve in milk-white sauce. Tripe a la Lyoxnaise w^ith Tomatoes. This economical dish, which is in reach of every family, is also very fine. Take two pounds of dressed and boiled tripe, cut into small strips two inches long and put into a saucepan. Parboil and drain off the first water; chop a small onion fine, and let all stew twenty minutes; add half a cup of thickening and then stir in half 286 MEATS. a can of tomatoes; season with salt and pe2)per. This dish has become very popular in all the hotels throughout the country. BuLLOcrK's Heart, Roasted, Wash the heart in several waters, clean the blood carefully from the pipes, and put it to soak in vinegar and water for two hours or more. Drain it and fill it either with ham forcemeat or sage and onion stuffing. Fasten it securely, tie it in a cloth, j^ut into a pan of boiling water, and let it simmer gently for two hours. Take off the cloth and roast the heart while hot, basting it plentifully with good dripping for two hours longer. Serve with good brown gravy and currant jelly. The stewing may be omitted and the heart simply roasted for three or four hours, but the flesh will not then be so tender. Calf's Heart, Roasted. Wash the heart very clean, soak it in vinegar and water, fill it with a forcemeat made of four ounces of bread crumbs, two ounces of butter, two tablespoonfuls of chopped parsley, half a teaspoonful of finely-minced lemon rind, and a little salt and Cayenne. Fasten the heart securely and bake for two hours. Serve it with good melted butter, mixed with a tablespoonful of lemon-juice or vin- egar. A calf's heart is improved by partially boiling before it is roasted. Calf's Heart, Fried. Wash and soak the heart, cut it into slices about a quarter of an inch thick and fry these in a little hot dripping or butter. About five minutes before they are done, put a slice of bacon into the pan for each slice of heart and when they are sufficiently cooked, serve on a hot dish and cover each piece of heart with a slice of bacon. Boil two or three tablespoonfuls of thin fiour and water in the pan in which the meat was fried. Season it with pepper and salt; add one tablespoonful of red currant jelly and serve as hot as possible. The slices of heart will fry in fifteen minutes. MEATS. 287 Sheep's Heart, Baked. Vrash two or three sliee^Ds' hearts in lukewarm. wat(?r, fill them with Vfcal forcemeat, and skewer them securely. Fasten a rasher of fat bacon around each, place them in a deej) dish, and with thena a little good stock, and an onion stuck with two cloves. Bake in a moderate oven for two hours; draw off the gravy; thicken with a little flour and butter, and season it with salt and pepper and a tablespoonful of mushroom or walnut catsup. Put the hearts on a hot dish, pour the gravy over them, and send red cnri'ant jelly with them to the table. Sweetbreads, Svveetbi'eads should be chosen as fresh as possible, as they very quickly spoil. There are two sorts — heart sweetbreads and throat sweetbreads. The heart sweetbreads are the best. In whatever way sweetbreads are dressed, they should first be soaked in luke- warm water for a couple of hours. They should then be put into boiling water and simmer gently for five or ten minutes, according to size, and then taken up and laid in cold water. Sweetbreads are quite as frequently employed as ingredients in sundry made dishes as served alone, and as they do not possess a very decided natural flavor, they need to be accompanied by a highly seasoned sauce, or they will taste rather insipid. They are in full season from May to August. Sweetbreads Fried. Prepare them as usual. Cut them in slices, egg and bread crumb them, dip them in clarified butter, bread them again, and fry in plenty of hot fat till they are brightly browned on both sides. Drain them, and then dish on toast. Serve with cucumber sauce. Sweetbreads Baked. After preparing the sweetbreads as above, brush them over in every part with beaten egg, roll them in bread crumbs, sprinkle clarified butter over them, and bread-crumb them again. Put them 588 MEATS. in a baking-tin with about two ounces of butter, and bake in a well- heated oven; baste them till they are done enough and brightly browned. Take as many slices of hot toast as there are sweetbreads, put them in a dish, lay the sweetbreads upon them, jiour brown gravy round, but not over them, and serve immediately. Sweetbreads Broiled. Take moderate-sized sweetbreads and prepare them in the usual way. Stew them in good stock till they are done enough. Then drain them and press them between two dishes till they are cold. Split them in halves and trim them neatly; brush them over with butter, and broil them over a clear but very gentle fire. Have a plate Avith clarified butter on it near the gridiron and keep dipping the sweetbreads in it, turning them frequently. When they are brightly browned all over they are done enough. Dish the slices in a circle, and send brown sauce, flavored with lemon-juice, to table in a tureen. Sweetbreads and Cauliflowers. Take four large sweetbreads and two cauliflowers. Split open the sweetbreads and remove the gristle. Soak them awhile in luke- warm water; put them into a saucepan of boiling water, and set them to boil ten minutes. Afterwards lay them in a pan of cold water to make them firm. The parboiling is to whiten them. Wash, drain and quarter the cauliflowers. Put them in a broad stewpan with the sweetbreads on them; season with a little Cayenne and a little nutmeg and add water to cover them. Put on the lid of the pan and stew one hour. Take a quarter of a pound of fresh butter and roll it in two tablespoonfuls of flour; add this with a cup of milk to the stew, and give it one boil up and no more. Serve hot, in a deep dish. This stew will be found delicious. Tomato Sweetbreads. Cut up a quarter of a peck of fine ripe tomatoes; set them over the fire, and let them stew in nothing but their own juice till they MEATS. 289 go to pieces — then strain them through a sieve; have ready four or five sweetbreads that have been trimmed nicely and soaked in warm water. Put them into a stewpan with the tomato juice, and a little salt and Cayenne; add two or three tablespoonf uls of butter rolled in flour. Set the saucepan over the fire, and stew the sweetbreads till done. A few minutes before you take them up, stir in two beaten "yolks of eggs. Serve the sweetbreads in a deep dish, with the tomato poured over them. Kidneys, Broiled or Roasted. Split the kidneys in two without separating the halves; peel ofl the thin outer skin. Season them with salt and pepper; broil them, laying the flat sides first on the gridiron, to keep the gravy in; or, fry thera the same. Or place them with the flat side upwards in a baking dish and put them in the oven. "When done, serve in the same diah in which they were baked. Immediately before serving, put on each half-kidney a piece of butter and a little finely-chopped parsley. Stewed Kidneys. Split ihe kidneys and peel off the outer skin as before; slice them thin on a plate; dust them with flour, pepper and salt; brown some flour in butter in a stewpan; dilute with a little water; mix smooth and in it cook the sliced kidneys. Let them simmer, but not boil. They will cook in a very short time. Butter some slices of toast and lay on a hot dish and pour ovei* it the stewed kidneys, gravy and all. Fried Liver. Cut one pound of liver into slices one-fourth inch in thickness, and dredge some flour over them. Take an equal number of slices of bacon; fry the bacon first, and when it is done enough remove from the fat and place them on a hot dish. Fry the slices of liver in the same fat, and when lightly browned on both sides, dish bacon and liver in a circle, a slice of each alternately. Pour the fat from the pan and dredge a little flour into it; add a quarter of a pint of 290 MEATS. broth, a little salt and pepper and a tablespoonful of mushroom catsup. Stir smoothly together until the sauce boils, and pour into the dish with the liver. Garnish with sliced lemon. If liked, a tablespoonful of fine\y-mmced gherkins or pickled walnuts may be added to the sauce. Fried Liver, No. 2. Take one egg to one pound of liver; cut the liver thin, scald with hot water and wipe dry; beat up the egg, dip the slices of liver into the egg, then into powdered cracker, and fry brown. Roast Quarter of Lamb. Trim the joint and skewer three or four slices of bacon securely to the outer side, brush three ounces of clarified butter over the inner part and strew upon it a thick covering of finely-grated bread crumbs seasoned with pepper, salt and a little finely-minced parsley. Put in the oven, and when nearly done remove the bacon and baste the meat with the beaten yolk of egg mixed with the gravy, throw some more bread crumbs over it and let it remain until nicely browned. If liked, squeeze the juice of a hmon over it and serve with mint sauce. Lamb Cnops, Fried. Cut a loin or neck of lamb into chops from half to three-quarters of an inch in thickness. Dip each one into beaten egg and after- wards into bread crumbs, flavored as follows: Mix three ounces of finely-grated l)read crumbs with a saltspoonful of salt, half a salt- spoonful of pepper, a tablespoonful of finely-chopped parsley and a quarter of a teaspoonf ul of finely-niixed lemon rind. Fry the chops in good drippings until lightly browned on both sides. Serve on a hoi dish and garnish with slices of lemon or crisped parsley. MEATS. 291 Lam^b Chops, Broiled. Cut the chops about half an inch thick, trim them neatly, rt.^mov- ing the superfluous fat, place them on a hot gridiron over a clear fire and brown them nicely on both sides. Season them with salt and pepper, and serve as hot as possible. Garnish with parsley. Mashed potatoes, asparagus, green pease, or spinach, are usually served with lamb chops. Stewed Lamb with Gkeen Pease. Take two pounds of lamb, put it into a ?tewpan and cover with cold water; after removing the scum add a little pepper and salt, then let the meat stew for an hour and a half or nearly two hours; now add some boiling water (to make gravy); add your green pease (half a peck before shelling); let these cook about twenty minutes; stir up a tablespoonful of flour into half a cup of milli and mix with the stew. Let this cook two minutes Lamb Cutlets. Trim the slices free from fat, beat up the yolk of ?.n egg with rasped bread or crackers, seasons with pepper and salt, dip in the cutlets and fry in butter gently, until thoroughly dona Boiled Breast of Mutton. Take out the bones, gristle, and some of the fat; flatten it on the kneading-board, and cover the surface thinly with a forcemeat made of bread crumbs, minced savory herbs, a little chopped parsley, pepper, salt and an egg. The forcemeat should not be spread too near the edge, and when rolled, the breast should be tied securely, to keep the forcemeat in its place. If gently boiled, and served hot, it will be generally liked. Serve with good cape' sauce. Haunch of Mutton a la Venison. Mix two ounces of bay salt with half a pound of brown sugar; rub it well into the mutton, which should be placed in a deep dish 292 MEATS. for four days, and basted three or four times a day with the liquor that drains from it; then wipe it quite dry, and rub in a quarter of a pound more of sugar, mixed with a little common salt, and hang it up, haunch downwards; wipe it daily till it is used. In winter it •should be kept two or three weeks and roasted in paste, like ven- .jon. Serve with currant jelly. The paste (made with flour and water) should be removed fifteen minutes before serving. Breast of Mutton with Pease. ■ Cut about two pounds of the breast of mutton into small square pieces. Put them into a stewpan with about an ounce of butter, and brown them nicely, then cover with weak broth or water, and stew for an hour. Remove the meat from the stewpan, and clear the gravy from fat. Put the meat into a clean stewpan, add an onion or shallot sliced finely, a bunch of sweet herbs, some pepper and salt, and strain the gravy over all. Stew for another hour, then put in a quart of young pease, and serve in about twenty minutes. Macaroni may be used in the place of pease. Mutton Curried. Put four ounces of butter into a stewpan, and chop fine, or pound in a mortar four onions ; add the onions to the butter with an ounce of curry powder, a teaspoonful of salt, a dessertspoonful of flour, and half a pint of cream; stir until smooth. Fry two pounds of mutton — cut in neat pieces without bone — to a light brown color. Lay the meat into a clean stewpan, and pour the curry mixture over; simmer until the meat is done. Mutton Chops. First select well-fed mutton, but not too fat, and get the chops evenly cut; if not, beat them into shape with the chopper. Not more than one-third of the chop should be fat. Put an ou^ice of butter or lard into the frying-pan; when it is entirely melted seize the chop at the bone end with a fork, and dip it for half a minute into the fat, then turn on one side, sprinkle with salt and pepper. MEATS. 293 and if liked, finely-chopped shallot or onion, and savory herbs. In three minutes tui*n, and serve the other side the same; equalize the cooking by frequent turning, but give the chop altogether not more than ten minutes. A piece of garlic, if the flavor be approved, may be rubbed across the dish when hot, or it may be rubbed lightly across the chop. Serve with plain or maitre d'hotel butter. Mutton Cutlets a la Minute. The mutton for these cutlets should be cut from the middle of the leg, and sliced thin; season slightly with salt and pepper. Fry the meat quickly over a brisk fire, to make it crisp, turning it often. Let the cutlets be kept warm in the oven while the gravy is pre- paring. Have ready some mushrooms, chopped with a shallot, a sprig or two of parsley and thyme, minced fine. Stew these in the butter for a few minutes, and season with salt and pepper; add flour and water, strain and serve round the cutlets. Mutton Cutlets and Pukee of Potatoes. ■ Boil or steam two pounds of mealy potatoes, mash them smooth, put them into a stewpan with two or three ounces of butter, two or three tablespoonfuls of cream or broth, pepper and salt; make them hot, and pile them in the center of a hot dish. The cutlets may be bread-crumbed and fried, or, if preferred, broiled and served round the puree. Boiled Leg of Mutton. Cut off the shank bone, put it into a large stewpan or kettle, with as much boiling water as will cover it. When restored to its boil- ing state, skim the surface clean, and set the stewpan back and allow the contents to simmer until done. Allow for a leer of mut- ton of nine or ten pounds, from twc And a half to three hours from the time it boils. Boil very young turnips for a garnish, also boil larger turnips to mash. Place the young turnips, which should be of equal size, round the dish with xhe mutton and send the mashed ones to the table separately. Melted butter, with capers added. 294 MEATS. should accompany the dish. The liquor from the boiling may be converted into good soup at a trifling expense. Mutton Kebbobed. Take a loin of mutton; joint well; take the following dressing and put between each joint: Two tablespoonfuls chopped parsley, a little thyme, a nutmeg grated, a cup of bread crumbs; mix well with two eggs; roast one hour. If there is a large flap to the loin> some of the dressing may be put in and then skewered securely. Leg of Mutton, To Carve. The leg of mutton comes to the table as shown in Fig. 1. Take the carving fork, as usual, in your left hand, and plant it firmly in the joint, as shown by A, in Fig, 1, placing it rather over to the other side of the joint, and drawing the leg over toward you on the dish about one-third, which brings the position of the fork from A to B. Cut straight down across the joint at the line marked C, not quite to the bone. Make the second cut a little on the slant, as shown in D, and take the piece out; continue cutting from each ►■ide slantingly as the line marked D, either from the thick or the knuckle end, ac- cording to the taste of the per- son to be helped. LC a very small piece of the fat should be given with each slice of meat to those who like it. The knuckle, if any one asks for it, is first cut off in a lump, as shown by the circular line at F, and after- wards in slices. Mutton should be cut thick, but it should not be cut to the bone; the slice in the centre should not penetrate so far MEATS. 295 as the circular kernel of fat found there, and called the " pope's eye," which is generally considered best to leave for hashing. The back of a leg of mutton is not generally cut until cold, when it is best sliced lengthwise, as shown in Fig. 2 ; the meat is still cut thick, but not quite so thick as in the cuts previously described. Cold mutton should be served with mashed potatoes and pickles, a part called H the "crump bone" in a leg of mutton, which may be removed by a circular cut from H to J in Fig. 2; it is usually relished cold. Fig. 2 shows the joint when turned three parts over, held by the fork as previously described, and the dotted line at J indicates the direc- tion of the first cut. Roast Leg of Mutton. Get a leg of about eight pounds, which has hung at least a week, weather allowing. During hot summer weather this joint gets quickly tainted. Rub it lightly with salt, and put it at once into a hot oven for the first few minutes, then allow the oven to cool, and roast more slowly until done. Baste continually with a little good dripping until that from the joint begins to flow. When within twenty minutes to being done, dredge it with flour, and baste with butter or dripping; and when the froth rises serve on a hot dish. Make a gravy and pour round the meat, not over it. Mutton Cutlets with Provincale Sauce. Use one-fourth of a medium-sized onion, tablespoonful of butter; put over the fire and gradually add a spoonful of flour, cup of 296 MEATS. water, one-half cup thyme, season with pepper and salt and stir constantly; add the yolks of two raw eggs and cook until about as thick as cream. This sauce can be used on cold meats, or in cook- ing raw meat. When used in cooking cutlets or other meats, the meats should be very slightly cooked on both sides in a hot skillet, then have a pot of fat large enough for the meat to swim in. Dip the cutlets in the sauce and put them in the boiling fat. Take them out and r611 in cracker dust and bread crumbs; put them back, and do this occasionally until the meat floats on top of the fat. They are then done. Pork — To Keep Fresh in Summer. Take pork, when killed in the early part of the winter, and let it lie in pickle about a week or ten days, or until just sufliciently isalted to be palatable; then slice it up and fry it about half or two- thirds as much as you would for present eating; now lay it away in its own grease, in jars properly covered, in a cool place, as you would lard. Re-fry when ready to use. Pork, to Cook. Large pork, such as portions of the shoulder, loin, or spare-rib, of large bacon hogs, may be cooked as follows: Rub the joint with pepper and salt, and put it into a large saucepan with a closely- fitting lid. When nearly done, add two or three onions and cari-ots, with half a dozen sticks of celery, four sage leaves, a bunch of parsley, a small sprig of marjoram and thyme, and as much stock or water as will cover the whole. Let the liquors boil up; skim carefully; then set back and simmer gently for three or four hours, according to size of joint. When the pork is done enough, lift it out, put the vegetables round it, strain and thicken a portion of the gravy, and pour it boiling hot over the pork. When the pork is removed from the table, trim it neatly and place on a clean dish to be eaten cold, or thicken the rest of the gravy and pour over the meat to be warmed over. MEATS. 297 Pork, Belly Rolled and Boiled, Salt a belly of pork — young meat is the best — by mixing a salt- spoonful of powdered saltpetre with two tablespoonfuls of common salt, sprinkle the mixture over the pork, and let it lie for three days. When ready to dress the meat, wash it in cold water, and dry it with a cloth. Lay it, skin downwards, on the table, remove the bones, and cover the inside with pickled gherkins cut into thin slices. Sprinkle over these a little powdered mace and pepper. Roll the meat tightly and bind securely with tape. Put it into a saucepan with two onions stuck with six cloves, three bay-leaves, a bunch of parsley, and a sprig of thyme. Bring the liquid slowly to a boil, skim carefully, draw it to the back of stove, and simmer gently till the meat is done enough. Put it between two dishes, lay a weight upon it, and leave it until quite cold. The bandages should not be removed until the meat is ready to be served. Time to simmer, half an hour per pound. Pork Brawn. Take a small pig's head with the tongue, and two pig's feet. Clean and wash them, sprinkle two tablespoonfuls of salt over them, and let them drain until the following day; dry them with a soft cloth and rub into them a powder made of six ounces of common salt, six ounces of moist sugar, three-quarters of an ounce of saltpetre, and three-quarters of an ounce of black pepper. Dry the powder well, and rub it into every part of the head, tongue, ears, and feet; turn th^m over and rub them again every day for ten days. Wash the pickle from them, cut off the ears, and boil the feet and ears an hour and a half; then put in the head and tongue, cover with cold water, and boil until the meat will leave the bones. Take them up, drain, cut the meat into small pieces; first remove all bones, and skin the tongue. Season the mince with a teaspoonful of white pepper, three saltspoonfuls of powdered mace, one saltspoonful each of powdered nutmeg and Cayenne. Stir all well together, press the meat while warm into a brawn tin, and lay a heavy weight 298 MEATS. on the lid. Put it in a cool place until the following day; dip the mold in boiling water, turn the brawn out, and serve with vinegar and mustard. Pork Chops, Broiled, Cut the chops rather less than half an inch thick. Have a clear fire; make the gridiron hot before putting the chops on it; pepper the chops, and when nearly done sprinkle salt, and a little powdered sage over them. Let them be done through, turn frequently, and serve hot. Tomato sauce eats well with pork choiJS. Pork Chops, Fried. Cut pork chops a half an inch in thickness; trim them neatly; sprinkle them on both sides with a little salt and pepper. Melt a little butter in a frying-pan, put the chops in it and fry them until they are thoroughly done. If liked, a little powdered sage may be sprinkled over them before serving. Send apple sauce to table with them. Pork Cutlets, Broiled. Pork cutlets are best taken from the neck or fore loin of small dairy-fed pork, not very fat. Neatly trim them. Score the skin at regular intervals and flatten the cutlets with a cutlet-bat. Brush them over with oil, season with salt and pepper, and place them on a hot gridiron over a clear fire. Turn them occasionally, that they may be equally browned on both sides, and let them be thoroughly cooked. Put them on a hot dish, and send tomato, piquant or any appropriate sauce to table with them. Leg or Pork, Good as Goose. Parboil a leg of pork and take off the skin. Make a stufiing as\ follows: Mince two ounces of onion very finely; mix with it half a chopped apple, four ounces of bread crumbs,, half a dozen chopped sage leaves, an ounce of butter, and a little pepper and salt. Bind the mixture together with the yolk of an egg. Make a slit in the knuckle, put the stuffing into it, and fasten securely. Put the jjork into the oven and baste liberally. Half an hour before it is taken MEATS. 299 up, sprinkle over it a savory powder made of two tablespoonfuls of bread crumbs mixed with one tablespoonful of powdered sage, and a little pepper and salt. Do not baste the meat after the powder is put upon it. Serve with good brown gravy and apple sauce. Pork Cutlets, Fried. Melt two ounces of butter in a saucepan, and stir into it a tea- • spoonful of chopped parsley, a teaspoonf ul each of chopped sage, and minced shallot. Move these ingredients about for a few minutes, then add a little salt and pepper, and two well-beaten eggs. Dip the cutlets first into this mixture, then into finely-grated bread crumbs, and let them stand ten minutes. Melt a little butter in a frying-pan, fry the cutlets in it, and when thoroughly done, serve with a good brown sauce. Boiled Leg of Pork with Pease Pudding. Take a leg of pork and rub it over with salt; put it into a vessel and cover with salt and let it stand for ten days. At the end of that time boil it in soft water, and serve with cabbage all round it, and a pease pudding made as follows: Take a quart of dry pease, wash them, tie them in a clean bag, and boil with the pork. When the pease are done, strain them through a colander, put in a large lump of butter, some salt, and two yolks of eggs, and put back into the bag, and boil again for half an hour. The pease must be put into cold soft water for two hours before being boiled, otherwise they tvill never boil tender. Pork Pies. Make a crust as for chicken pies. Cut the meat into pieces the size of a small nut, and keep the lean and fat separate. Season the whole with pepper and salt and a teaspoonful of powdered sage. Pack the fat and lean closely into the pie in alternate layers until it is filled; put on the top crust and ornament according to taste; brush over with well-beaten egg, and bake in a slow oven as the meat is 3olid and requires to be cooked through, the outside pieces will be hard unless cut very small and pressed closely together. Take the 300 MEATS. bones and trimmings of the pork and stew them to make gravy; boil it until it will jelly when cold, strain, thicken and llavor, and when the pie is done raise the top crust and fill it with the gravy, and send the balance of the gravy to table in a tureen. Roast Loix of Pork, Score the skin of a fresh loin of pork at equal distances about a quarter of an inch apart. Brush it over with salad oil, season with salt and pepper, and place in a moderate oven. Baste liberally with butter or dripping at first, and when done serve on a hot dish, and serve with brown gravy and apple sauce. If liked, a little sage and onion stufling may be served on a separate dish. Pork Cake. Cut the meat, fat and lean, from a cold joint of roast pork, and mince it very finely; mix with it a couple of large potatoes freshly boiled and mashed, a little salt and pepper, a chopped onion, and a little powdered sage. Add two or three eggs, a little milk, suffi- cient to make a very thick batter. Fry the cake like an omelet, or bake in a buttered dish. Serve with pickled onions or gherkins. Pork Sausages. Have two-thirds lean and one-third fat pork; chop very fine. Season with one teaspoonf ul pepper, one of salt, three of pow- dered sage to every pound of meat. Warm the meat so that you can mix it well with your hands, do up a part in small patties, with a little flour mixed with them, and the rest pack in jars. When used, do it up in small cakes, flour the outside and fry in butter, or alone. They should not be covered, or they will fall to pieces. A little cinnamon to a part of them will be a pleasant addition. They should be kept where it is cool, but not damp. They are very nice for bi'eakfast. Pork and Beans. Take two pounds side pork, not too fat nor too lean, and two Quarts of marrowfat beans; put the beans to soak the night before MEATS. 301 you boil them in a gallon of milk-warm water. After breakfast, scald and scrape the rind of the pork, and put on to boil an hour before putting in the beans; as soon as the beans boil up, pour off the water and put on one gallon of fresh water; boil until quite tender, adding more water if necessary; great care must be taken that they do not scorch. When nearly as stiff as mashed potatoes, put into a baking-dish, score the pork and put in the center; brown in the oven one hour. If preferred use corned beef instead of pork. Pressed Head. Boil the several parts of the entire head and the feet, in the same way as for souse. All must be boiled so perfectly tender that the meat will separate easily from, the bones. After neatly separated, chop the meat fine while warm, seasoning with salt, pepper, and other spices, to taste. Put it in a strong bag, place a weight on it and let it remain till cold. Or put it in any convenient dish, placing a plate with a weight on it to press the meat. Cut in slices, roll in flour, and fry in lard. Boiled Pig's Feet. Take the fore feet, cut off the hocks, clean and scrape them well; place two feet together and roll them up tightly in common mus- lin; tie or sew them so that they will keep in perfect shape, and boil them seven hours on a moderate fire — they will then be very soft; lift them out carefully and let them cool off; then remove the muslin and you will find them like jelly. Serve with vinegar, or split them and roll in bread crumbs or cracker dust, and fry or broil them. Serve with a little tart sauce. Pig's Foot Cheese. Boil the hocks and feet of equal quantity loose in a pot till the meat will fall freely from the bones; season well with pepper and salt; put into a pan while hot and press it. Cut in slices and serve with vinegar or Worcestershire sauce. Both of the above are great delicacies if properly cooked. H02 MKATS. To KOAST A SUCKIXG PlG. If you can get it when first killed this is of great advantage Let it be scalded, which the dealers usually do; then put some sage, a large piece of stalish bread, salt and pepper in the inside and sew it up. Observe to skewer the legs back, or the underpart will not crisp. Lay it to a brisk fire till thoroughly dry; then have ready some butter in a dry cloth and rub the pig with it in every part. Dredge as much flour over it as will possibly lie, and do not touch it again till ready to serve; then scrape off the flour very carefully with a blunt knife, rub the pig well with a buttered cloth, and take off the head while at the fire; take out the brains and mix them with the gravy that comes from the pig. Then take it up and cut it down the back and breast, lay it into the dish and chop the sage and bread quickly as fine as you can, and mix them with a large quantity of melted butter, that has a very little floui'. Put the sauce into the dish after the pig has been split down the back and garnished with the ears and the two jaws; take off the upper part of the head down to the snout. Li Devonshire it is served whole, if very small, the head only being cut off to garnish with as above. It will require from an hour to an hour and a half to roast, accord- ing to size. To Cure Hams. Take coarse salt, with a sprinkle of saltpetre, pepper and sugar; powder and mix ; rub this in well a few times; smoke and wrap closely in paper of four folds or more; pack in dry ashes four inches thick around each ham. They will keep through the hottest of weather and be as good as new. Ham Pie. Make a crust the same as for soda biscuit, line your dish, put in a layer of potatoes, sliced thin, pepper, salt, and a little butter, then a layer of lean ham; add considerable water, and you will have an excellent pie. MEATS. 303 BpNED Ham; Fine Substitute for Turkey. Take a good salted but unsmoked ham, remove the bone so as to leave the meat as solid as possible. In place of the bone put dressing made same as for turkey, and bake. It is good hot or cold. Baked Ham. Make a thick paste of flour (not boiled) and cover the ham with it, bone and all; put in a pan on a spider or two muffin rings, or anything that will keep it g.n inch from the bottom, and bake in a hot oven. If a small ham, fifteen minutes for each pound; if large, twenty minutes. The oven should be hot when put in. The paste forms a hard crust around the ham and the skin comes off with it. Try this and you will never cook a ham any other way. Smoked Meat on Toast. Take a cold smoked tongue or ham that has been well boiled, and grate it with a coarse grater or mince it fine, mix it with cream and beaten yolk of egg, and let it simmer over the fire. Prepare some nice slices of toast, butter them rather slightly, lay them in a flat dish that has been heated over the fire, and cover each slice with the meat mixture, which should be spread on hot. Place on the table in a covered dish, for either breakfast or supper. Ham and Eggs. Cut the ham into thin slices and broil, and spread over it a little butter. Poach the eggs in salted water and lay neatly upon the ham. Boiled Ham. Soak twenty -four hours; put into a pot with cold water and boil gently for five or six hours; take it off the fire and let it remain in the water until cold. Peel off the skin and sprinkle with bread or cracker crumbs, and brown in the oven. Slice very thin for the table. 304 MEATS. Ham Balls, Take one-half cup of bread crumbs and mix with two eggs well beaten; chop fine some bits of cold boiled ham and mix with them. Make into balls and fry. Ham Garnishing and Ornamenting. The usual way of finishing a ham, when it is not glazed, is to draw off the skin carefully, dredge bread raspings all over the fat, and put the ham in the oven to become brown and crisp. Fasten a frill of white paper round the bone, and garnish with parsley or cut vegetables. To Glaze Hams. Remove the rind by caking hold of the thick end first. Trim it neatly, put it in the oven for a few minutes; and press a cloth over it to dry it; brush it over with a paste brush dipped in glaze (a strong clear gravy boiled down as thick as syrup). To melt the glaze, put the jar which contains it into a saucepan of boiling water, and stir until dissolved. Brush the ham with two or three coats. Collared Breast of Veal. Bone a breast of veal ; lay it on the table and spread on it a thick layer of oyster forcemeat {See oyster forcemeat)', roll the veal as tightly as possible, and bind it with a tape. Put it into boiling water; let it boil up once; skim the liquor carefully; set the sauce- pan back and simmer the contents gently until done; put the bones into a separate saucepan with a moderate-sized onion, a bunch of sweet herbs, and a little pepper and salt; let them simmer till the liquor is strong and pleasantly flavored; strain it, thicken with a little flour and butter, and stir into it two or three tablespoonfuls of thick cream, or, if milk has to be used, beat into it thr ^olk of MEATS 305 an egg. Serve toe meat on a hot dish with the sauce poured over. This dish may be garnished with forcemeat balls, and with the sweetbreads cut into slices, egged, and bread-crumbed and fried; or a little parsley and sliced lemon may be used instead. The meat may be baked instead of boiled, and then a little weak stock should be put into the pan with it, and it should be basted frequently. Boiled Breast of Veal. If the sweetbread is to be boiled with the veal, let it soak in water for a couple of hours; then skewer it to the veal. Put this into a saucepan, with boiling water to cover it; let it boil up, and care- fully remove the scum as it rises; add a handful of chopped parsley, a teaspoonful of pepper-corns, a blade of mace, and a little salt. Draw it back, and then simmer gently until done enough. Serve on a hot dish, and pour a little good onion sauce or parsley sauce over it. Send boiled bacon to the table on a separate dish. The sweetbread may, of course, be dressed separately. Ragout op Breast of Veal. Take off the under bone, and put the veal into a stewpan with as much boiling stock as will cover it; let the liquor boil up, then add a large carrot, sliced, three onions, a blade of mace, a bunch of sweet herbs, the thin rind of a lemon, and pepper and salt; skim the gravy and simmer it gently until the veal is quite tender- Thicken the gravy till it is of the consistency of sauce, and stir into it the strained juice of a lemon and a glass of sherry or Madeira. Put the veal into a dish, pour the gravy ovei* it, and garnish with savory forcemeat balls and slices of lemon. Roasted Breast of Veal. If the sweetbread is retained, skewer it to the back; season and cover with a buttered paper. Put it into a moderate oven and baste liberally till it is done. When it is roasted about an hour and a half, remove the paper, flour the joint and let it brown. Serve on a hot dish with melted butter poui-ed over. Garnish with sliced 20 306 MEATS. lemon. Forcemeat balls may be served with the veal and mush- room sauce sent to the table with it. Time, twenty minutes to the pound. Bubble and Squeak of Veal, Take the remains of cold veal; cut the meat into neat slices; fry them in hot fat; put them where they will keep hot. Take some boiled spinach, fry this, also, and when it is quite hot, pile it on a dish and arrange the pieces of meat around it. Send tomato or any kind of piquant sauce to table with it. Veal Cake. Butter a plain earthenware dish or mold; fill it with alternate layers of hard-boiled yolks of eggs, chopped parsley, and veal and ham, minced, seasoned highly, mixed thoroughly and beaten to a smooth paste. Pour a spoonful or two of seasoned stock upon the meat, cover the pan closely and bake in a gentle oven. When done enough, press firmly into the mold, put a plate with a weight upon it, and let it remain untouched until cold. Turn it out, garnish with parsley, and serve for luncheon or supper. Time to bake, about one hour. Veal Scallop. Chop fine some cold veal, and put a layer in the bottom of a pudding dish, and season with pepper and salt. Next put a layer of finely powdered crackers, and strew some bits of butter over it and wet with a little milk; then more veal, seasoned as before, and another round of cracker crumbs with butter and milk. When the dish is full, wet well with gravy or broth, and spread over all a thick layer of cracker, seasoned with salt, wet into a paste with milk and a beaten egg or two, and stick bits of butter thickly over it, and cover and bake a half or three-quarters of a hour; then remove the cover and brown nicely. Calf's Head, Boiled. Take a calf's head, cut it in two, and take out the brains; wash the head in several waters, and let it soak in warm water for a MEATS. 307 quarter of an hour. Place it in a saucepan of cold water, and when the water comes to the boil, skim carefully; season when nearly- done. Half a head, without the skin, will require from an hour and a lialf to two hours. It must stew gently till tendei-. If you wish it full-dressed, score it superficially, beat up the yolk of an eggy and rub it over the head with a feather. Powder it with a season- ing of finely-minced or dried and powdered winter savory, thyme, or sage, parsley, pepper and salt, and bread crumbs, and brown in the oven; when dry, pour melted butter over. You may garnish the dish with broiled rashers of bacon. Calf's Braixs a la Ravigote. Wash the brains in several waters, and free them from skin and fibre; boil them for ten minutes in salt and water mixed with a tablespoonful of vinegar, and when they are firm, cut them in slices, dip them in a batter, and fry them to a light brown. Place them in a circle on a hot dish with a little fried parsley in the centre, and send ravigote sauce [See Savory Sauces) to table with them. CHAPTER XXIV. POULTRY. Chicken Saute, a la Marengo. I AREFULLY pick and singe the chicken. Clean it with a wet towel, as washing takes away much of the nutriment. Cut the bird in pieces beginning with the wing. Cut a small piece of the breast out with the wing. This distributes the white meat with the wing, otherwise the wing is a poor part. Next cut off the wing side bone and then the legs, cutting the upper joint in two near the middle, and the lower the same, dividing the second joint, which many think the best j^art of the chicken. This is better than giving- all the best meat to one person. Next cut through the ribs, first one side then the other, taking the breast bone off and cutting it in. three equal parts, trimming off the ends of the rib bones. It will then be easy to remove the entrails. Then break the neck and cut the backbone in two pieces. Save the heart, liver and gizzard; cut out the little sand-bag from the latter, and remove it all, instead of splitting it open and leaving the skin. In removing the gall take a part of the liver to make sure of no accident. Then place all these pieces in a saucepan, moistened with salad oil. As soon as the chicken begins to be browned put in a tablespoonful of flour; stir together and let the whole become brown by cooking. Then cover the whole with hot water, and season well with salt and pepper. If too much salt should be added it may be counteracted by a little vinegar and sugar. If it is desired, olives or button onions may be added. If so, put them in when the hot water is put in and cook slowly. After the flour and water are added, stirring is necessary^ 308 5d X w H O M O C M ?^ M W 2 o POULTRY. 309 and it should be done with a flat wooden stick, which will not scratch the pan like metal. White pepper is better than black, as it is .more digestible and has not the hard pieces of shell. An apple corer can be used to take the stones out of the olives, but a more economical instrument is a small sharp knife with which the olive can be peeled off the stone. The onions should be used whole, carefully relieved of the dry shell. When the chicken is sufficiently cooked, add a glass of sherry or Madeira wine, but the wine should not be added until ready to serve. If the wine and olives are not used, you have a nice brown fricassee. Those chickens are the best which have small bones, short legs, and clean, white-looking flesh. Chickens with white legs should be boiled, those with black legs roasted. The flesh of chickens is generally considered more digestible than any other animal food. Capox Ran^aque. Use a capon or nice chicken. Have it carefully picked, singef and wiped with a wet towel; cut off the legs just below the joint; split down the back, and take out the crop; then bone the capon^ which is done in this way: Cut down the middle of the back all the w^ay; take out the crop, without breaking the skin of the neck; turn back the skin and cut the joint of the wing; then cut along ■close to the bone, until you have reached the leg joint, which twist out of joint -svhere it joins the body; cut down the side until you have reached the edge of the breast bone, taking care not to. cut the entrails; then go up the other side of the chicken in the same manner that you came down. Leave the leg and wing bones in; replace the bones taken out by stuffing, and sew up the carcass. For boned chicken, remove all bones from the inside. To stuff a capon you can use enough fresh pork and veal, in equal quantity, chopped fine, to fill up the place in the carcass. For every pound of forcemeat use one glass of wine and one whole egg; one tea- spoonful of salt, one teaspoonful of mixed ground spice, one-half saltspoonful of pepper. In the place of the spices you can use sweet herbs. You can use in the place of this forcemeat a nice 810 POULTRY. stuffing of bread. When finished bake slowly about two hours. To make the stuffing use fresh pork and veal in equal quantities, chopped fine. If you have a five-pound chicken three pounds of forcemeat will be enough. Make two-thirds the weight of the chicken. Lean veal and lean pork, both raw. For one pound of forcemeat use one glass of wine — sherry or Madeira, one egg, one teaspoonf ul of salt, one teaspoonf ul of mixed ground spice, and one- half saltspoonful of pepper. The spice may be cloves, allspice, and nutmeg, and any sweet herb you wish — thyme, summer savory, or sweet marjoram. A regular boned chicken should be boiled, stuffed and sewed up. For the Ranaque, stuff, then sew up. Leave long ends in sewing so they will be easy to remove when it is done. Push the legs up to the breast as far as possible. Run a trussing needle through with a cord attached, Avhich tie around the chicken. Then run a cord through the breast and wings, and pass it under the back and tie. A skewer may be used. Bake slowly two hours. It may be well to tie a slice of pork over the breast. Fricasseed Chicken. Cut up chicken, and boil with a slice or two of bacon in sufficient water to cover till quite tender. Fry some pork, and, when cooked a little, drain the chicken and fry with the pork till brown. Then take out and pour the broth into the frying pan with the pork fat, and make a gravy thickened with browned flour, season well with butter, and put the chicken into the gravy. Be sure and have the fat quite hot when the chicken is put in, so it will brown readily. Chicken Pie. Take two full-grown chickens, or more, if they are small, disjoint ■:kem and cut the backbone, etc., as small as convenient; boil them with a few slices of salt pork in water enough to cover them; let them boil quite tender, then take out the breast bone. After they boil and the scum is taken off, put in a little onion, cut very fine, not enough to taste distinctly, but just enough to flavor a little; rub some parsley very fine, when dry, or cut fine when green — this. POULTRY. 311 gives a pleasant flavor. Season well with pepper and salt, and a few ounces of good fresh butter. When all is cooked well, have liquid enough to cover the chicken; then beat two eggs and stir in some sweet cream. Line a five-quart pan with a crust made like soda biscuit, only more shortening, put in the chicken and liquid, then cover with a crust the same as the lining. Bake till the crust is done, and you will have a good chicken pie. Frying Chickens. Many people prefer chickens fried to any other way. Dissect, salt, and pepper; roll the pieces in flour and fry in lard. When done, pour off the lard and put in a quarter of a pound of butter, a cup of cream, a little flour, and some parsley, scalded and chopjjed fine for the sauce. Chicken Salad. Cut the meat from two chickens, or one, if you want a small dish. Add an equal quantity of shred lettuce, after you have cut the chickens into narrow shreds two inches long; stir in a bowl. Pre- pare a dressing thus: Beat the yolks of two eggs, salt lightly, and beat in, a few drops at a time, four tablespoonfuls of oil; then, as gradually, three teaspoonfuls of hot vinegar, and half a teaspoonful of best celery essence. The mixture should be thick as cream; pour over the chicken, mix well and lightly; put into a salad dish and lay sections of two hard-boiled eggs on top, with a chain of sliced whites around the edge. Chicken Croquettes. One cold, boiled chicken, chopped fine; then take a pint of sweet milk, and when the milk is boiled, stir into it two large tablespoon- fuls of flour, made thin in a little cold milk; after the flour is well cooked with the milk, put in a piece of butter the size of an eggy add salt and Cayenne pepper; stir all well into the chicken; roll up with your hand, and dip first into an egg beaten up, then into crackers rolled fine, and fry in hot lard, or lard and buttei-. 312 POULTRY. Baked Chicken. Split open in the back, season with salt and pepper, and plenty of butter; pour a little water into the pan, and, while baking, baste often, turning the chicken so as to nicely brown all over. When done, take up the chicken; thicken the gravy with a little flour and serve in a gravy boat. Chickens are nice stuffed and baked in the same manner as turkey. A Nice Way to Cook Chicken. Cut the chicken up, put into a pan, and cover with water; let it stew as usual. When done, make a thickening of cream and flour. Add butter, pepper and salt. Have ready a nice shortcake, baked and cut in squares, rolled thin as for crust. Lay the cakes on the dish, and pour the chicken and gravy over them while hot. Chicken PrDDiNG. Cut up the chickens and stew until tender. Then take them from the gravy, and spread on a flai dish to cool, having first well- seasoned them with butter, p pper and salt. Make a batter of one quart of milk, three cups of flour, three tablespoonfuls of melted butter, one-half teaspoonful of soda, one teaspoonful of cream of tai'tar, and a little salt. Butter a pudding dish and put a layer of the chicken at the bottom, and then a cup .f the batter over it. Pro- ceed till the dish is full. The batter must form the crust. Bake an hour, and serve the thickened gravy in a gravy boat. Jellied Chicken or Veal. Boil a chicken in as little water as possible, until the meat falls from the bones; chop rather fine, and season with pepper and salt; put in a mold a layer of the chopped meat and then a layer of hard-boiled eggs, cut in slices; then layers of meat and egg alter- nately until the mold is nearly full; boil down the liquor left in the pot one-half; while warm, add one-quarter of an ounce of gelatine, and when dissolved, pour into the mold over the meat. Set in a cool place over night, to jelly. POULTRY. 313 Scalloped Chicken. ]\Iince cold chicken and a little lean ham quite tine; season with pepper and a little salt; stir all together, add some sweet cream, enough to make it quite moist, cover with crumbs, put it into scallop shells or a flat dish, put a little butter on top, and brown before the fire or front of a range. Chicken Pot-Pie. Cut and joint a large chicken; cover with water, and let it boil gently until tender; season with salt and pepper, and thicken the gravy with two tablespoonfuls of flour mixed smooth in a piece of butter the size of an egg. Have ready a nice, light, bread dough; cut with a biscuit-cutter about an inch thick; drop this into the boiling gravy, having previously removed the chicken to a hot platter; cover, and let it boil from one-half to three-quarters of an hour. To ascertain whether they are done or not, stick into one of them a fork, and if it comes out clean, they are done. Lay on the platter with the chicken, pour over the gravy, and serve. Broiled Chicken. Only young, tender chickens are nice broiled. After cleaning and washing them, split down the back, wipe dry, season with salt and pepper, and lay them inside down on a hot gridiron over a bed of bright coals. Broil until nicely browned and well cooked through, watching and turning to prevent burning. Broil with them a little salt pork, cut in thin slices. After taking them from the gridiron, work into them plenty of butter, and serve, garnished with the pork, slices of lemon and parsley. Ducks a la Franc aise. Lard the breast of a duck with bacon and put it in the oven for an hour, and then put it into a stewpan of gravy previously pre- pared in the following manner: To one pint of beef gravy add two dozen chestnuts, roasted and peeled; two onions, sliced and fried in butter; two sage leaves, and a sprig of thyme; pepper and salt. 314 POULTRY. When the duck has stewed till tender put it on a dish, add a quarter of a pint of port wine to the gravy, a little butter, and flour to thicken; pour it over the duck and serve. Pressed Chicken. Boil two chickens until dropping to pieces; jjick meat off bones, taking out all skin; season with salt and pepper; put in deep tin mold; take one-fourth box of gelatine, dissolved in a little warm water, add to liquid left in kettle, and boil until it begins to thicken; then pour over the chicken and set away to cool; cut in slices for table. Duck a la Mode. Take a couple of ducks, divide them into quarters and lay them in a stewpan with a sprinkling of flour, pepper and salt. Put a large lump of butter divided into pieces at the bottom of the stew- pan and fry the ducks until they are a nice light-brown color. Remove the frying-pan and put in half a pint of gravy and a glass of port; sprinkle more flour and add a bunch of sweet herbs, two or three shallots minced fine, an anchovy, and a little Cayenne when the ducks have stewed in the gravy till tender, put them on a dish, take out the herbs, clear off any fat, and serve with the sauce thrown over them. Baked Duck. To cook a duck satisfactorily boil it first, until tender; this can be determined by trying the wing, as that is always a tough part of a fowl. When tender take it out, rinse it in clean water, stuff and put it in the oven for about three-quarters of an hour, basting it often. Braised Ducks. Prepare the ducks exactly like chickens for the dressing, which should be seasoned with butter, sage and onions, as well as salt and pepper. Put them in a pot Avith some chopped onions, a little butter and water enough to steam. Let them stew gently with the lid on, and then let the water evaporate and then brown them. Serve with green pease and jelly. POULTRY. 315 Braise of Duck with Turnip. Prepare a domestic duck as for roasting. Line a small pan, just large enough for the duck, with slices of bacon; strew over the bottom a little parsley, powdered herbs, and lemon peel; lay in the duck, and add a carrot cut into strips, an onion stuck with a few cloves and a dozen whole peppers; cover with stock and add a tablespoon- ful of strong vinegar; baste frequently and simmer until done. Fry some slices of turnip in butter to a light-brown, drain and add them to the stewpan after removing the duck, which should be kept hot. When the turnips are tender remove them, strain the gravy, thickening if necessary with a little flour or arrow-root; put the duck on a dish, turn the hot gravy over it, and garnish with the turnips. Fricasseed Duck. Most people think a duck must be roasted, but try this once instead: Cut a mallard or red duck into four quarters; chop an onion fine, and put all into a pot; cover with water, and add more as it boils away. Stir a little celery seed, or celery chopped up fine, three or four strips of salt pork, and when nearly done add a table- spoonful of Worcestershire sauce. Build a mound of mashed potatoes around your dish and carefully lay the contents of the fricassee in the center. Season with salt and pepper. This makes a juicy and delicious dish. Mock Duck. Take a round of beefsteak; salt and pepper; prepare a dressing as for turkey and lay it in the steak; sew up; lay two or three slices of fat pork upon it and roast; baste often and you cannot tell it from duck. Minced Fowls. Remove from the bones all the flesh of either cold, roast or boiled fowls. Clean it from the skin, and keep covered from the air until ready for use. Boil the bones and skin with three-fourths of a pint of water until reduced quite half. Strain the fJjravy and let cool. 316 POULTRY. Next, having first skimmed off the fat, put it into a clean saucepan with a half cup of cream, th»ee ounces of butter, well mixed with one tablespoonful of flour. Keep these stirred until they boil. Then put in the fowl, finely minced with three hard-boiled eggs, chopped, and sufficient salt and pepper to season. Shake the mince over the fire until just ready to boil. Dish it on hot toast, and serve. To Carve Roast Fowl. Insert the knife between the leg and the body, and cut to the bone; then turn the leg back with the fork, and, if the bird is not old, the joint will give way. The wing is next to be broken off, 5,;^^^_ »■ and this is done in the direction of A to B, only dividing the joint with a knife. The four quarters w having been removed in this way, take off the merry -thought and the neck bones; these last are to be removed by putting the knife in at C and pressing it, Avhen they will break off from the part that sticks to the breast. Next separate the breast from the body of the fowl by cutting through the tender ribs close to the breast, quite down to the tail. Turn the fowl now back upwards; put the knife into the bone midway between the neck and the rump, and on raising the lower end it will separate readily. Turn the rump from you and take off very neatly the two sidesmen, which completes the operation. The breast and wings are considered the best parts of a roast fowl, but in young fowls the legs are most juicy. In the case of a capon or large fowl, slices may be cut off the breast. Croquettes. Chop fine any cold pieces of cooked meat or chicken, or whatever you may wish to use, first removing all fat, bone, etc. ; add half the quantity of fine bread crumbs, one ^^^, pepper and salt; make into balls and cook in a buttered spider; serve hot. POULTRY. 317 To Carve Roast Goose. Begin by turning the neck end of a goose toward you, and cut- ting the whole breast ii. long slices, from one wing to another. {See the lines A B,) To tak^ off th' le. , insert the fork in tho small end of the bone, pressing it to the body; put the knife in at A, turn the leg back, and if ^ the bird be young it will easily come away; if old, we will not answer for it. To take off the wing, insert the fork in the small end of the pinion, and press it close to the body; put the knife in at B and divide the joint. When the leg and wing are off one side, attack those on the other; but, except when the company is very large, it is seldom necessary to cut up the whole goose. The back and lower side-bones, as well as the two side-bones of the wings, may be cut off; but the best pieces of a goose are the breast and thighs, after being separated from the drumstick. Serve a little of the seasoning from the inside, by making a circular slice in the apron at C, Should there be no stuffing, a glass of wine, a little orange gravy or vinegar, may be poured into the body of the goose at the open- ing made at the apron by the carver. To Boil Goose. Pick and singe a goose carefully. Let it soak in lukewarm milk ind water for eight or ten hours. Stuff and truss it securely; put it into a saucepan with as much cold water as will cover it; bring to a boil, and let it simmer gently till lone enough. Send good ouxon sauce to the table with it. Time, from an hour to an hour and a half after it has boiled. Roast Goose. Pluck the goose, carefully remove the quill-sockets and singe off the hairs; cut off the neck close to the back, leaving the skin long 318 POULTRY. enough to turn over. After drawing, wash and wipe tlie bird hotK inside and out, and cut off the feet and jnnions at the first joint; pull out the throat and tie the end securely; beat the breast-bone . fiat with a rolling-pin; draw the legs up closely, and put a skewer through them and through the body; cut off the end of the vent and make a hole in the skin large enough for the rump to go through. This will prevent the seasoning from escaping. Make a stuffing of bread crumbs, onions and potatoes cut fine; season with pepper, salt, sage, and butter the size of an egg; fill the goose and tie down the wdngs; roast two hours and a half. Boil the liver and heart and add to the gravy, which must be thickened wath flour. Send to table with apple sauce and mashed potatoes. Stuffing with Sage and Onion. Boil four large onions until tender; drain them from the water, and mince them finely with four resh sage leaves, or six dry ones, four tablespoonfuls of bread crumbs, a teaspoonful of salt, a tea- spoonful of made mustard, and a teaspoonful of moist sugar, one- half teaspoonful of pepper, a large ipple, pared and cored, and a quarter of a nutmeg, grated, m y be added, if approved. Turkey. The turkey is highly esteemed and usually commands a high price, especially ::t Christmas, when most extravagant prices are often demanded and otained for large and well-fed birds. Turkeys are in season from September to March, and are at their best in December and January. If the weather is suitable hey should be hung nilly a week before being dressed. In very cold weather care must be taken that they are nut frozen in hanging, and if this is the case, they should be brought into a warm place for some hours before being cooked, or they will be spoilt. The hen bird is considered the best. " The turkey is the largest and, if not the most delicate, at least the most savory, of domestic poultry. It enjoys the singular advantage of assembling around it every class of society. When POULTRY. 319 oixr farmers regale themselves on a winter's evening, what do we see roasting before the kitchen fire, close to which the white-clothed table is set ? A turkey. When the useful tradesman or the hard- worked artist invites a few friends to an occasional treat, what dish is he expected to set before them? A nice roast turkey, stuffed with sausage meat and Lvons chestnuts. And in our highest gastronomical society, when politics are obliged to give way to dissertations on matters of ta'ste, what is desired, what is awaited, what is looked out for at the second course? A truffled turkey. In my 'Secret Memoirs ' I find sundry notes recording that on many occasions its restorative juice has illuminated diplomatic faces of the highest eminence." Caevin^g of Turkey. The breast of a turkey is so large that slices taken neatly from it and from the wings generally suffice for all the company. They should be taken from each side alternately, beginning close to the wings, and a little forcemeat and a small portion of liver should be served to each guest. When it is necessary that the legs should be used, they should be separated from the body with a sharp knife and cut in slices, but it should be remembered that they, with the gizzard, will make an excellent devil. Boiled Turkey or Capon. When the poultry is plucked quite clean and singed, see that it is neatly trussed, and, before finally closing the vent, stuff the bird inside with as many raw oysters of the best quality as can be pro- cured, adding to the same a lump of fresh butter, and a portion of bread crumbs from a stale loaf. Remove the turkey or capons into a clean cloth, fold them up carefully, place them into a saucepan of cold water, and let them boil over a moderately-heated fire until they are thoroughly done. Have a stick of white blanched celery at hand and chop it up very small; place it in a quart of new milk in a saucepan, and let it boil gently with a few black pepper corns, till the quantity is reduced to one pint; keep stirring the esculent 320 POULTRY. up with the milk until it assumes the character of a consistent pulp. Thicken the whole with the yolk of a fresh egg, well beaten up, with half a cup of fresh cream. Have upon the table a sauce-boat of strong veal gravy. Roast Turkey, A young turkey, weighing not more than eight or nine pounds, is the best. Wash and clean thoroughly, wiping dry, as moisture will spoil the stuffing. Take one small loaf of bread grated fine, rub into it a piece of butter the size of an egg, one small teaspoon- ful of pepper and one of salt; sage, if liked. Rub all together, and fill only the breast of the turkey, sewing up so that the stuffing cannot cook out. Always put the giblets under the side of the fowl, so they will not dry up. Rub salt and pepper on the outside; put into dripping-pan with one cup of water, basting often, and turn- ing it till brown all over. Bake about three hours. Have left in the chopping-bowl a little stuffing; take out the giblets and chop fine. After taking out the turkey, put in a large tablespoonful of flour; stir until brown. Put the giblets into a gravy-boat, and pour over them the gravy. Roast Turkey, No, 2, Rinse out the turkey well with soda and water, then with salt, lastly with clear water. Stuff with a dressing made of bread crumbs, wet up with butter and water and season to your taste. Stuff the craw and tie up the neck. Fill the body and sew up the vent. We need hardly say that the strings are to be clipped and removed after the fowl has been roasted. Tie the legs to the lower part of the body that they may not " sprawl " as the sinews shrink. Put into the dripping-pan, pour a cup of boiling water over it, and roast, basting often, allowing about ten minutes' time for every pound. Be careful not to have your oven too hot — especially for the first hour or so. The turkey would, otherwise, be dry and blackened on the outside and raw within. Much of the perfection of roasting poultry depends upon basting faithfully. Boil the POULTRY. 321 giblets tender in a little water. "When the turkey is clone, set it where it will keep warm; skim the gravy left in the pan; add a little boiling water; thicken slightly with browned flour; boil up once and add the giblets minced fine. Season to taste; give another boil, and send to table in a gravy-boat. Boiled Turkey. Stuff the turkey as for roasting. A very nice dressing is mad« by chopping half a pint of oysters and mixing them with bread crumbs, butter, pepper, salt, thyme, and wet with milk or water. Baste about the turkey a thin cloth, the inside of which has been dredged with flour, and put it to boil in cold water with a tea» spoonful of salt in it. Let a large turkey simmer for three hours. Skim while boiling. Serve with oyster sauce, made by adding to o» cup of the liquor in which the turkey was boiled the same quantit^f of milk and eight oysters chopped fine; season with minced parsley, stir in a spoonful of rice or wheat flour wet with cold milk; a table- spoonful of butter. Boil up once and pour into a tureen. Turkey Dressed with Oysters. For a ten-pound turkey take two pints of bread crumbs, half a cup of butter cut in bits (not melted), one teaspoonful of powdered thyme or summer savory, pepper, salt, and mix thoroughly. Rub the turkey well inside and out with salt and pepper, then fill with first a spoonful of crumbs, then a few well-drained oysters, using half a can for a turkey. Strain the oyster liquor and use to baste the turkey. Cook the giblets in the pan, and chop fine for the gravy. A fowl of this size will require three hours in a moderate oven. Deviled Turkey. The legs, back, gizzard and rump of cold dressed turkey may be used for this dish. Score the meat along in a cross at regular dis- tances, three-quarters of an inch apart, and thi*ee-quarters of an inch deep. Rub into the gashes a well-mixed seasoning made of a saltspoonful of white pepper, a saltspoonful of salt, a quarter of a 822 POULTRY. saltspoonful of Cayenne, and the strained juice of a lemon, and cover with freshly-made mustard. Brush the pieces of meat over with butter or oil and broil over a clear fire till they are brown and crisp without being at all burnt, and turn them over that they may be equally .done on both sides. Send to table on hot dish with little pieces of butter on them. Dry toast may be served as an accompaniment. The devil will be all the more savory if it is pre- pared some hours before it is broiled. If liked, half a clove of garlic may be minced and mixed with the seasoning. Turkey Scallop. Pick the meat from the bones of cold turkey, and chop it fine. Put a layer of bread crumbs on the bottom of a buttered dish, moisten them with a little milk, then put in a layer of turkey with some of the filling, and cut small pieces of butter over the top; sprinkle with pepper and salt; then another layer of bread crumbs, and so on until the dish is nearly full; add a little hot water to the gravy left from the turkey, and pour over it. Then take two eggs, two tables2:)Oonfuls of milk, one of melted butter, a little salt, and cracker crumbs as much as will make it thick enough to spread on Vvdth a knife, put bits of butter over it, and cover with a plate. Bake three-quarters of an hour. About ten minutes before serving, remove the plate and let it brown. Plain Stuffing. Take stale bread, cut off all the crust, rub very^fine and pour over it as much melted butter as will make it crumble in your hands; salt and pepper to taste. Apple Stuffing. Take half a pound of the pulp of tart apples which have been baked or scalded: add two ounces of bread crumbs, some powdered sage, a finely-shred onion; season well with Cayenne pepper. For roast goose, duck, etc. POULTRY. 323 Potato Stuffing. Take two-thirds bread and one-third boiled potatoes, grated, batter size of an egg, pepper, salt, one egg and a little ground sage; mix thoroughly. Chestnut Stuffing. Boil the chestnuts and shell them; then blanch them and boil until soft; mash them fine and mix with a little sweet cream, some bread crumbs, pepper and salt. For turkey. For other stuffings, see " Forcemeats,^^ CHAPTER XXV. SALADS. Anchovy Salad. 'ASH six anchovies in water, remove the bones and the insiQ>?s> (^l)ffl^ and also the heads, fins, and tails. Put them on a dish with two large heads of lettuce, cut small, half a dozen young onions, a saltspoonful of chopped parsley, and a sliced lemon. Pour over them the juice of a lemon mixed with salad oil, and Hend to table. Artichoke Salad. Wash thoroughly and quarter some very young artichokes, and serve them with salt, pepper, vinegar, and oil. They make a nice relish. Beetroot Salad. To some nicely-boiled and well-sliced beetroot, lay alternate rows of onions, also sliced, and pour over them any salad sauce, or simply oil and vinegar. Garnish with curled parsley. Celery Salad. Cut nice blanched salad very small. Wash clean and dry it: pour over it a Mayonnaise sauce {See Savory Sauces), or any salad dressing, and garnish with green celery leaves. Chicken Salad. Use the white meat of two good-sized chickens, and celery enough to make the proportion one-tliird chicken and two-thirds celery; boil ten eggs hard, rub the yolks perfectly smooth with a silver spoon, adding gradually four tablespoon fuls of olive oil, one SALADS. 325 tablespoonful of made mustard, two teaspoonfuls of salt, one tea- spoonful of black pepper, half a teaspoonful of Cayenne pepper, and one tablespoonful of sugar; add sweet cream by degrees until ^bout the consistency of batter. Just before sending to the table, mix the dressing with the chicken and celery, and moisten with sharp vinegar. The juice of two lemons is an improvement. Chicken Salad, No. 2. Boil the white meat of two large chickens; cut it coarse, and add the white part of celery, cut coarse; a little more chicken than celery. Dressing. — Three yolks of eggs, well beaten; one pint of oil -added drop by drop, and beaten; the juice of two lemons, one tea- spoonful of dry mustard, a little Cayenne pepper, a little salt. If not moist enough, beat the whites of two eggs and add to it. Cabbage Salad. To a dish of chopped cabbage, four teaspoonfuls of celery seed^ or one bunch of celery. Put in a bowl, yolks of two eggs, one tea- spoonful of sugar, one teaspoonful of butter, one teaspoonful of pepper, one teaspoonful of salt, one teaspoonful of made mustard, one-half cup of vinegar. Set the bowl into hot water, and stir care- fully until it begins to thicken. Let it get cold, and pour over the cabbage. If it does not moisten it enough, put in a little more vinegar. Fish Salad. This consists of cold fish of any kind, mixed with well-dried •salad, pickled gherkins, or any other green pickle. Oysters or shrimps may be added to the other fish, which should be separated neatly into flakes, and the whole moistened with a salad dressing. ^\ji room as to have the chairs and sofa or couch covered with ^^ stiff unfriendly-looking linen; but pretty furniture that is used every day must be protected in some way, and there are many coverings which are really ornamental. For instance, a couch may be kept from fading by taking a piece of Turkish toweling the required length — that is, a little longer than the couch, so that it will fall over the ends, and not slide down and wrinkle; put scallops of flannel on the edgf , A border or centre-piece, or simply a vine workiid in some brignt color across the ends, make a pretty addi- tion to it. Tidies that are very serviceable may be made of brown linen with an applique stripe of cretonne flowers. The easiest and most satisfactory way to prepare cretonne for transferring is to first work the figure which is to be cut out with the button-hole stitch, and then cut around that. When it is placed upon broadcloth, or any material which will not require washing, sew it with long stitches on the wrong side; but when transferred to linen, sew it firmly, so that it will keep its place when washed. The tidies may be finished by putting fringe or yellow lace across the ends; turn down and hem on the sides, and feather-stitch with worsted or working cotton or silk. The Use of Varnish, No one knows until she has tried it how much she may change the aspect of things about the house by using a little varnish. On 354 FURNITURE. 355 a sunshiny day take the old chairs and tables out on the porch, or by an open door, and after thoroughly dusting and wiping off with a damp cloth, apply a thin coat of varnish, and so cover up scratches and marred spots of all kinds. It will dry in a very short time, and you will be surprised to see how much good you have done. A flannel cloth wuh a very little linseed oil is good to rub furniture with, but the greatest care must be exercised to prevent any oil being left on the wood to attract dust. It must be rubbed until you would not know, except by the improved appearance, that any oil had been used. How TO Make an Ottoman. A neat and useful ottoman may be made by taking a box in which fine-cut tobacco is packed, and covering it with cretonne. The top may be taken off and put on without difficulty if, after covering, a narrow ruffle to fall over the edge is tacked on. An ottoman of this sort is convenient in the bedroom, where it may serve as a receptacle for stockings. If one does not care to buy cretonne, bits of carpet may be used for the covering. Burlap also makes a pretty cover, worked in some simple but showy pattern. To Render New Mahogany like Old. This is of service in the case of furniture repaired, or when lacquered handles have been changed for mahogany ones. Soap and water will darken to some extent; but if darker is required, use oil; or for very dark, use lime-water. To Clean Furniture. The cleaning of furniture should depend on the mode in which the f urnitui-e was originally polished. The method at present most generally adapted is French polishing and in such cases a little spirits of turpentine should be employed, which will clean off grease a " dirt without softening the varnish: it should, however, be rapidly done. If the furniture was originally polished with furni- ture paste (composed of bees'-wax dissolved in sinrits of turpentine 556 FURNITURE. by means- of heat, and a little copal varnish, or finely-powdfiLil rosin, with a little Indian red added) it should be renovated by the same means. In the case of furniture polished with oil, renovating should be effected by means of linseed oil, slightly colored by a little alkanet root, which dissolves in oi., aided by slight heat. DiETT OE StAIJ^^ED FuEOTTUEE. If the furniture is in a bad state, but i>ot stained, it will be suffi- cient to clean it by washing it well with spirits of turpentine, and afterwards polishing with linseed oil colored with alkanet root. When, however, the furniture is stained or inky, it should be washed with sour beer or vinegar, warm; afterwards rubbing the stains with spirits of salts, rubbed on with a piece of rag, which will remove all the stains. The wood may then be polished, either with linseed oil colored with alkanet root, or with bees'-wax dis- solved in turpentine, with a little cold varnish or rosin added. To Clean Paint. Provide a plate with some of the best whiting to be had, and have ready some clean warm water and a j^iece of flannel, which dip into the water and squeeze nearly dry; then take as much whiting as will adhere to it, apply it to the ;jainted surface, when a little rubbing will instantly remove any dirt or grease. After which, wash the part well with clean water, rubbing it dry with a 5oft chamois. Paint thus cleaned looks as well as when first laid i>n, without injury to the most delicate colors. It is far better than tfsing soap, and does not require more than half the time and labor. To Make Glue. The gloe, as bought, should be broken up small, first cuv- ered with cold water, and allowed to soak for a few hours. It should then be placed near the fire, and allowed to simmer. The addition of a few drops of linseed oil will improve it; and, when made, it should be kept in a dry place, as damp will destroy its tenacity and render it useless. FURNITURE. 557 To Revive Gilt Frames. One ounce of soda beaten up with the whites of three ounces of eggs. Blow off the dust with a pair of bellows from the frames, then wasli them over with a brush dipped in this mixture, and this will render them fresh and bright. Magic Furniture Polish. Half pint alcohol, half ounce rosin, half ounce gum-shellac, a few drops aniline brown; let stand over night and add three-fourths pint of raw linseed oil and half a piu.t of spirits turpentine; shake well before using. Apply with co*'t?v flannel, and rub dry with another cloth. CHAPTER XXVIII. HOUSE PESTS. Camphor, a Remedy for Mice. Any one desirous of keeping seeds from the depredations of mice, can do so by mixing pieces of camphor gum in with the seeds. 358 HOUSE PESTS. 359 Camphor placed in drawers or trunks will prevent mice from doing them injury. The little animal objects to the odor, and keeps a good distance from it. He will seek food elsewhere. Rats — To Drive away Alive. If you choose to drive them away alive, take potash, pulverized, and put quite plenty of it into all their holes about the house. If the potash is pulverized and left in the air, it becomes pasty; then it can be daubed on the boards or planks, where they come through into rooms. How TO Deal with Rats. A writer in the Scientific American says : " We clean our prem- ises of these detestable vermin by making whitewash yellow with copperas and covering the stones and rafters in the cellars with it. In every crevice in which a rat may go we put the crystals of the copperas and scatter in the corners of the floor. The result Avas a perfect stampede of rats and mice. Since that time not a footfall of either rats or mice has been around the house. Every sjjring a coat of the yellow wash is given the cellar, as a purifier, and a rat exterminator, and no typhoid, dysentery or fevers attacks the family. Many persons deliberately attract all the rats in the neighborhood by leaving fruits and vegetables uncovered in the cellar, and sometimes even the soap is left open for their regale- ment. Cover up everything eatable in the cellar and pantry, and you will soon starve them out. These precautions, joined to the service of a good cat, will prove as good a rat exterminator as the ehemist can provide. We never allow rats to be poisoned in our dwelling, they are so apt to die between the walls and produce much annoyance." To Destroy Bed Bugs, Moths, and Other Vermin. Dissolve alum in hot water, making a very strong solution ; apply to furniture or crevices in the walls with a paint brush. This is sure destruction to those noxious vermin, and invaluable because easily obtained, is perfectly safe to use, and leaves no unpleasant traces 360 HOUSE PESTS. behind. When you suspect moths have lodged in the borders of carpets, wet the edges of the carpets with a strong solution; wheu ever it reaches them, it is certain death. Hellebore, rubbed over with molasses, and put round the plac«* that cockroaches frequent, is a very effectual poison for them. Arsenic, spread on bread and butter, and placed round rat or mouse holes, will soon put a stop to their ravages. Quicksilver and the white of an egg, beat together, and laid with a feather round the crevices of the bedsteads and the sacking, ia very effectual in destroying bugs in them. To kill flies, when so numerous as to be troublesome, keep cobalt, wet with spirit, in a large shallow plate. The spirit will attract the flies, and the cobalt will kill them very soon. Black pepper is said to be good to destroy them; it should be mixed, so as to be very strong, with a little crccim and sugar. Great care is necessary in using the above poisons, where there are any children, as they are so apt to eat anything that comes in their way, and these poisons will prove as fatal to them as to ver- min (excepting the pepper). The flour of sulphur is said to be good to drive ants away, if sprinkled round the places that they frequent. Sage is also good. Weak brine will kill worms in gravel walks, if kept moist with it a week in the spring, and three or four days in the fall. Cedar chests are best to keep flannels, for cloth moths are never found in them. Red cedar chips are good to keep in drawers, wardrobes, closets, trunks, etc., to keep out moths. To Prevent Red Ants. Put one pint of tar in an earthen vessel, pour on it two quarts of boiling hot water, and place it in your closet. How TO Get Rid of Flies. A clergyman, writing from Ireland, says: "For three years I have lived in town, and during that time my sitting room has been free from flies, three or four only walking about my breakfast table. HC DSE PESTS. 361 while all ray neighbors' rooms were crowded. I often congratu- lated myself on my escape, but never knew the reason of it until two days ago. I then had occasion to remove my goods to another house, while I remained on for two days longer. Among other things moved were two boxes of geraniums and calceolarias, which stood in my window, the latter always being open to its full extent top and bottom. The boxes were not gone half an hour before my room was as full of flies as those around me. This, to me, is a new discovery, and perhaps it may serve to encourage others in that which is always a source of pleasure, and which now proves also to be a source of comfort, viz., window gardening." Mosquitoes. Mr. I vers "VV. Adams writes from Bathurst, N. B., to Forest and Stream, that he tried a dozen prescriptions for repelling mosquitoes, flies, and similar pests, and found none of them effective until he came across the following, which are dead sure every time: "Three ounces sweet oil, one ounce carbolic acid. Let it be thoroughly applied upon hands, face, and all exposed parts (care- fully avoiding the eyes) once every half hour, when flies are troublesome, or for the first two or three days, until the skin is filled with it, and after this its application will be necessary only occasionally. Another receipt, equally eflicacious, is: Six parts sweet oil, one part creosote, one part pennyroyal. Either of these is agreeable to use, and in no way injurious to the skin. We have both of these in our camp with us, and all flies keep a safe distance." CHAPTER XXIX. TOILET. Cleaning Gloves. ,!N excellent preparation for cleaning gloves can be bought for a small sum at any drug store: Get one quart of deodorized benzine, one drachm of sulphuric ether, one drachm chloro- form, and two drachms alcohol. Cologne water can be added if desired. Pour a little of this into a clean bowl, and wash the gloves in it as you would wash anything. After the dirt is nearly out, rinse in more of the clean fluid. Usually one rinsing is enough, but if the gloves are very much soiled, rinse the second time. If the gloves are of cheap kid it is best to dry them on the hands, but a nice glove, after having been rubbed with a soft cloth to smooth out the wrinkles, may be hung on a line to dry. This preparation is ar excellent thing to keep in the house, not only for cleaning gloves, but for taking out grease spots from carpets and clothing, and for sponging coat collars and felt hats. Haie Receivers. The little Japanese jDarasols, which oan be bought for four or five cents, make very pretty hair receivers. Open them about half their extent; if necessary to make them stay half open, catch them with a few stitches. Put a loop of ribbon around the handle and hang them up. Toilet Cushions. Pretty covers for toilet cushions can be made of bits of muslin and lace that are not large enough to do anything else with. First make the cushion; fill it with sawdust which has been heated until 362 TOILET. 363 it IS perfectly dry, otherwise the sawdust will shrink and the cushion be spoiled. Sawdust is preferable to bran, for there is danger of mice destroying the cushion if it is filled with bran. Cover the cushion with silk, or even pretty cambric or cashmeri*i will do. Then make a square of the little pieces of lace and muslin and put over. Finish the cushion with a muslin ruffle edged wit!^ narrow Italian lace, which costs a few cents a yard. Shaving Cases. The prettiest shaving cases I have ever seen are made by using for a foundation little Japanese paper fans. Cover the fan with silk or silesia, or combine; cut a piece of pasteboard the size of the fan, and, as this is to be the outside of the case, cover it with silk or satin, trim the edge with narrow lace or with plaited ribbon, ornament it with a bow, or paint a spray of flowers on it, or put on neatly a pretty transfer picture, or an initial, according to the means and taste of the maker. Fasten the paper leaves which may be pinked to the fan part, and then put on the cover, catching it with silk to the upper part of the fan near the handle. Put a loop of ribbon or chenille at the end of the handle to hang it up by. This is an acceptable gift for a gentleman. To C leax Haie-Beushes and Combs. Dissolve potash in boiling water, and rub the brush with soap: dip the brush into the solution, and draw it through the comb frequently, taking care to keep the wood dry. Lastly, rinse the hair in cold water, and dry; or, use spirits of ammonia and hot water; Avash them well and shake the water out, drying on a coarse towel; they will look white and clean as new. Little or no soap is needed. To Clean Jeweley. Wash in soap suds; rinse in diluted alcohol, and lay in a box of dry sawdust to dry. As simple as this seems, it is the very ni(!est way possible to clean gold chains or ornaments of any kind. 364 TOILET. Cologne Water. One drachm oil lavender, one drachm oil bergamot, two drachms oil lemon, two drachms oil rosemary, fifty drops tincture of musk, eight drops oil of cinnamon, eight drops oil of cloves, one pint of alcohol. Cologne Water, No 2. Take of essence of bergamot and of citron each five drachms, essence of lemon four drachms, essence of rosemary two and one- half drachms, essence of orange flower three drops, alcohol one quart; mix together. Those who prefer a fuller perfume may add five drachms of lavender. Cold Cream. Take of the oil of almonds two ounces, of spermaceti half an ounce, and white wax half an ounce. Put them in a close vessel, and set the vessel in a skillet of boiling water. When melted, beat the ingredients with rosewater until cold. Keep it in a tight box, or wide-mouthed bottle, corked up close, ' Lip Salve. Dissolve a small lump of white sugar in a tablespoonful of rose- water (common water will do, but is not so good). Mix it with a couple of large spoonfuls of sweet oil, a piece of spermaceti, of the size of half a butternut. Simmer the whole well together eight or ten minutes, then turn it into a small box. Lavender Water, Take one pint of spirits of wine, one-half ounce of lavender oil, one-half ounce of bergamot, one shilling's worth of musk; mix all together in a bottle, and shake it occasionally. The longer it is kept the better it becomes. To Cleait Gold Chains. Let the article required to be cleaned, stand for some time in a ■solution of caustic potash, until all the adhering dirt is removed. TOILET. 365 It should then be taken out of the water with a piece of stick, and rinsed in a large quantity of cold water, and placed on a soft clean cloth to dry. This method must not be used for rings or other articles that contain jewels, either gems or paste, or the silica, which is the principal ingredient in their composition, would be corroded by the potash. To Clean Gilt Jewelry. Wash the brooch, eari-ings, etc., with soap and water; rinse, and with a small, soft brush wash the article with spirits of hartshorn. To Remove a Tight Ring. If the finger on which the ring has been placed has swollen, and there seems a difficulty of removing the ring, pass a needle and cotton under it, pull the cotton up towards the hand and twist the remaining cotton round the finger several times until it reaches the nail. By taking hold of the end nearest the hand it is generally an easy matter to slide the ring off the finger, however much difficulty there may have appeared in doing so before the experiment was tried. Grease Eraser. Benzine, alcohol, ether, equal parts; mix; apply with sponge (patting the spot) ; put a piece of blotting paper on each side and iron with a hot flat iron. Cure for Chapped Hands. Glycerine applied over the hands at night is an excellent remedy. This remedy is very much employed in Russia during the preva- lence of severe frosts, to protect the skin of the face when exposed to the weather. Care of the Teeth. The teeth require to be kept particularly clean, rather than the api^lication of mouth washes and elaborate dentifrices. The more simple the ingredients used, the better. Unless recommended by a 366 TOILET. good dentist, all tooth powders reputed to have beautifying effects should be used with caution. Washing the teeth night and morn- ing is the best preservative of their beauty and soundness. Offensive Feet. Take one part of muriatic acid to ten parts of water. Rub the feet every night with this mixture before retiring to bed. For Freckles. One quart i*ain water, one ounce benzoin, one ounce aqua ammo- nia, one ounce rosewater, two ounces glycerine; mix well; shake before using. Care of the Nails. The finger-nails should be trimmed to the shape of the fingers'- ends, leaving them moderately long, but not projecting beyond the tips of the fingers. Nails should not be cleaned with sharp-pointed scissors and pins — a soft nail brush is the right means. If the hands and nails have become unusually soiled, they should be rubbed with a little sweet oil or pomatum before washing with soap, and afterwards cleaned in tepid water. In wiping the hands the " crescent " of the nails should be preserved by gently pushing it back with the towel. CHAPTER XXX' KITCHEN. Care of Silver. ''HEN putting away the silver tea or coffee pot, which is not ^^ used every day, lay a little stick across the top under the cover; this will allow fresh air to get in and will prevent mustiness. It will then be ready for use at any time, after having first been thoroughly rinsed with boiling water. Nothing is better to clean silver with than alcohol and ammonia. After rubbing with this, take a little whiting on a soft cloth and polish. Even frosted silver, which is so difficult to clean, may be easily made clear and bright. New Kettles. The best way to prepare a new iron kettle for use is to fill it with clean potato peelings, boil them for an hour or more, then wash the kettle with hot water, wipe it dry and rub it with a little lard; repeat the rubbing for half an dozen times after using. In thia way you will prevent rust, and all the annoyances liable to occur ip the use of a new kettle. To Purify "Water. A large spoonful of pulverized alum sprinkled into a hogshead of water (the water stirred round at the time), will, after the lapse of a few hours, so purify it that it will be found to possess nearly the freshness and clearness of finest spring water. A pailful containing fonr gallons may be purified by a single spoonful; or a mixture of one part chalk and two of alum will be still better, 367 368 KITCHEN. Washing Dishes. Dishes should always be rinsed in clear, hot water after Having been washed in soap suds. Nothing is more unpleasant at the table than to notice a certain stickiness that the soap is likely to leave. It is necessary also from a sanitary point of view; the caustic alkali is corrosive and unwholesome, and the grease is often impure. Cleaning Tinware. Do not set apart one day on which to clean your silver or scou: your tinware; there is danger of its not being done at all. Have your cleaning material ready, and when you are " doing up " the dishes after each meal, clean and polish the silver or tin you have l)een using. This is a pood habit to cultivate. To Make Hard Water Soft. Fill the wash-boiler or tank with hard water; then put half a cup of wood ashes into a woollen bag; cover this with cotton cloth to prevent ashes sifting out; let this lie in the water until that is warm enough to use. The Griddle. Rub your griddle with fine salt before you grease it, and your cake will not stick. When walnuts have been kept until the meat is too much dried to be good, let them stand in milk and water eight hours, dry them, and they will be as fresh as when new. Coal Ashes Good to Scour With. The fine, soft coal ashes which are found in the pipe in the spring, and which sift under the pan, will clean and brighten tin- ware. Take a piece of old flannel, dip lightly into soft soap, and rub, afterwards using a clean piece of flannel to polish with. How TO Triumph over Absent-Mindedness. Many of the difiiculties arising from absent-mindedness in hired help may be removed if the mistress of the house has a habit af KITCHEN. 369 making a regular programme for the day's work. A bit of personal experience may not be amiss. I had a girl who was one of the most obliging persons I ever saw, but she could not remember the common and usual order of the morning's work. Thino-s were always going wrong, unless at just such an hour I appeared in the kitchen and directed that the vegetables be prepared for dinner etc. At last we hit upon the plan of hanging a written j^rogramme of the work to be done, and the order in which it ought to be done over the sink. This worked so well that when without help I keep up the jDractice, for I confess to the fact that when I am out of the kitchen ray mind is out of it too, and I have wasted some valuable time standing around in corners of the pantry and kitchen tryin^^ to reproduce the conditions which gave rise to thoughts of work that ought to be done; but with the help of the programme made out the night before, and changed as circumstances seem to require next morning, have been able to do many things which otherwise would have been forgotten, or remembered when it was too late or very inconvenient to do them. An Economical Crumb-Cloth. A red table-cloth that is too much faded to be used on the table makes a good crumb cloth. Starch it as stiff as you can easily, iron perfectly smooth, taking care to pull the edges straight and even, pin it to the carpet instead of tacking it, as then it will not be so much trouble to take it up, and you will wash it just as soon as it needs it. It will keep clean a long time, and, even if you can afford a handsome cloth, it is convenient to use this when the other is up to be cleaned. Scraping Kettles. A clam shell is more convenient for scraping kettles and frying pans than a knife. It does the work in less time. How TO KEEP Lamp Chimneys Clean. After the lamps are filled and the chimneys cleaned and put ou the shelf, take pieces of newspaper and roll in the form of a chim- 370 KITCHEN. ney and slij) over chimney and lam]). It will protect from dust and flies, and when the lamps are lighted one will be rewarded by find- ing them as clean and bright as when first put in order. How^ TO Start a Fire. Keep the kerosene can in the wood-house. If you have no kind- ling, and feel that oil must be used to start the fire, try this method: Take a small paper bag, pour a little oil into it, and run with it to the stove; in this way you can start a fire quickly without dropping oil on the floor, or endangering your life. It would be better not to use oil at all for this purpose. To Make Fire Kindlers. Take a quart of tar and three pounds of resin; melt them, bring to a cooling temperature, mix with as much coarse saw^dust, with a little charcoal added, as can be worked in; spread out while hot upon a board. When cold, break up into lumps of the size of a hickory-nut, and you have, at a small expense, kindling material enough for a household for a year. How TO Polish a Stove Easily. If a little vinegar or some cider is mixed with stove polish it will not take much rubbing to make the stove bright, and the blacking is not likely to fly off in fine dust. How TO Use the Oil Stove. A few suggestions in regard to the use of the oil stove may be of value to some one who does not succeed well in using it. Com- plaints are frequently made that a meal can not be put hot upon the table if cooked on the single oil stove. My plan is this: If 1 am to get breakfast by it, the first thing is to boil the water for coffee, have the coffee in the pot, with some soft paper stuffed in the nose. When the water boils, pour a little on the coffee, cover closely, and set it one side. Then warm the potatoes; when thor- oughly cooked, cover them and set one side. If beefsteak is pre- ferred to cold meat, cook that; the stove being very hot, it will KITCHEN. 371 cook quickly. Then as you take the steak off with one hand, with the other set the potatoes back on the stove. While you are preparing the steak for the table, the potatoes will be getting hot; while taking them off, set the coffee-pot back on the stove. Of course, one must be very quick in her movements. Dinner may in the same way be put smoking on the table, and the housewife, cool and fresh, will enjoy the meal as well as any member of the family. Any one who keeps plants in a room where there is no fire at night, or in a bay window, may prevent their freezing by lighting the oil stove and placing it near them. Canned fruit and vegetables may, also, in this way be kept from freezing. One who has never tried it will be surprised to nqtice how much heat is given out. Blacking Stoves. Every woman owes it to her family as well as to herself to simplify her Avork as much as possible, and not to do things that are unnecessary; for instance, it is a waste of time and strength and blacking to black and polish the top of the kitchen stove after each meal is prepared; and yet there are women who will bo shocked to read this assertion. Other parts of the stove can be kept nice with very little trouble; and, if the top is kept clean till her fire is out for the day, that ought to satisfy the most pains' taking woman. A convenient arrangement for washing the top of a hot stove is to have a smooth, round stick, with a soft cloth tied securely to it. A cloth is better than a brush for cleaning corners. How TO Clean Mica. Every woman who has been obliged to spend half a day several times during the winter cleaning the mica in her coal stove, usually by taking them out and washing them in soap-suds, will rejoice to know there is a much easier way to clean them, and that there is no need to take them out or let the fire burn very low in order to do it successfully. Take a little vinegar and water and wash the mica carefully with a soft cloth; the acid removes all stains, and if a little pains is taken in cleaning the corners and in wiping them dry 372 KITCHEN. the mica will look as good as new. It is a great care to see tliat etoves are kept in pr.p r order, and not many servants can be trusted to do it as it shoi.xtl bo done. The task might be made somewhat easier by choosin™ stoves which are not too highly orna- mented. Unless the trimmings are ke^.t absolutely spotless and bright, which is a very difficult thing to accomplish, they cannot lay the least claim to being ornamental; indeed, a stove which, by reason of its excessive decoration, is rendered the most prominent feature of the room, demanding attention the moment one enters, is certainly in bad taste, A clean, well-polished stove, with graceful shape, which fulfills the end of its being by heating the house, is all that a stove should be. The fire may be, as it has been called, the soul of the room, but it ought not to ask too much attention to its body. To Clean Knives. Scrape at one end of the knife-board a little heap of Bath brick* rub on a piece of red flannel some yellow soap; lay the knife flat on the board; dip the soaped flannel in the brick-dust, and rub it on the knife. When clean, wash the knives in warm water, but be careful not to let it touch the handle. This method saves the knives as well as the labor of cleaning in the usual way. To Keep a Kitchen Table Clean. A cook should always keep a piece of oil cloth ready, to put her saucepans and stewpans on when necessary; the oil cloth can be so much more easily cleaned than the table. A few common straw mats are also very handy in a kitchen, to save the table fi*om being soiled. CHAPTER XXXI. THE LAUNDRY. To Clean Colored Fabrics. [EARLY all colored fabrics stain the suds used to clean them, and that without losing their own brightness in any way. No article of a different color must be plunged into a rinse or wash so stained, but must have fresh ones; and no colored article must be rinsed in blued suds. Scarlet is particularly pi-one to color a wash. Different colors are improved by different substances being used in the wash or rinse; sugar of lead has the credit of fixing all colors -when first cleaned, and may be used to those likely to run. To l)righten colors, mix some ox-gall ; but, of course, the quantity must be regulated by the quantity of suds in the Avasli and rinse. For "buff and cream-colored alpaca or cashmere, mix in the wash and rinse some friar's balsam. For black materials, some ammonia. For violet, ammonia or a small quantity of soda in the rinsing water. There are some violets and raauves that fade in soda. For green, vinegar in the rinse, in the proportion to two tablespoonfuls to a quai-t of rinse. For blue, to one dress, a good handful of common salt in the rinse. For brown and grey, ox-gall. Fot white, blue the wash with laundry blue. Dresses, mantles, shawls, opera cloaks, underskirts, articles ■embroidered with silk, self-colored or chintz-colored damask cur- tains, moreen and other woollen curtaining, may all be cleaned as specified so far. Blankets should be cleaned in the same way. Pull them out well, whilst wet, at both sides and both ends, between 373 374 THE LAUNDRIJ. two personSo When half dry, it is a good plan to take them off the line, and pull them again; when quite dry just give them a little more pulling out. This keeps them open and soft. Blankets are not blued so much as flannels, presently described. Never use soda to them, and never rinse them in plain water, or rub on soap. The dyers and cleaners have a mode of pressing articles which gives to many of them, such as damask and moreen curtaining and paisley shawls, a superior appearance to anything that can be achieved at home; but some of them will press articles at a ^xed price for persons cleaning them at home. Muslin Dresses, Even of the most delicate colors, can be cleaned in ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, without losing their color. Melt half a pound of soap in a gallon of water, empty it in a washing tub; place near two large tubs of clean water, and stir into one a quart of bran. Put the muslin in the soap, turn it over and knead it for a few minutes; squeeze it out well, but do not wring it, lest it get torn; rinse it about quickly in the bran for a couple of minutes. Rinse again well for a couple of minutes in clean water. Squeeze out dry and hang it between two lines. A clear, diy day should be chosen to wash muslin dresses; half a dozen may be done this way in half an hour. The last rinse may be prepared the same way as the rinses for woollen fabrics. A colored pattern on a white ground must not be blued. The bran may here be dispensed with. When the dress is dry, make the starch; for a colored muslin white starch, and unboiled, but made with boiling water, is best. Stir the starch with the end of a wax candle. Dip the dress. Hang it again to dry. When dry, rinse it quickly and thoroughly in clear water. Hang it to dry again. Sprinkle and roll it up; after- wards iron it with a very hot iron. Hot irons keep the starch stiff. This rinsing after starching is called clear-starching; none of the stiffness, but much of the unsightliness of the starch is removed in this way. THE LAUNDRY. 375 All kinds of white muslins, lace cui-tains, cravats, etc., may be washed in a thick ley of soap as described, well rinsed, blued, and starched, like the muslin dresses above named. Use blue starch to white. Book muslin should be very slightly blued as blue-looking muslin is very unbecoming to the complexion; a slight creamy tinge is pi-eferablo. Morning cambric dresses may be washed the same way as musli^ dresses; but they do not generally clean so readily, and, perhaps, may nee^ rubbing a little in places that are soiled. The advantage of thus cleaning dresses instead of washing them is, first, if colored, the process is so rapid that there is not time for the colors to run. Secondly, the fabric is not rubbed, and there- fore not strained and worn out. Thirdly, the process saves nearly all labor, and is so quickly done, that any lady may manage it for herself in the absence of a laundry-maid. Many ladies make a strong solution of sugar of lead; stir it well when dissolved, and let the dress, muslin or cotton, soak a couple of hours to set the colors before washing it the first time. It does not need to be repeated. Those using sugar of lead should be care- ful not to do so if they have any scratches, abrasions, or wounds about their hands. Chintz may be cleaned the same way as muslin and print dresses. Laces. Laces of all kinds can, with a little care, be rendered equal to new. Make a strong solution of soap, as described for woollen materials. The laces may all be put in at once. Squeeze them in and out. They generally, become free from dirt by once passing through. They may then be thoroughly rinsed, blued, and starched; but if at all discolored and bad looking, must first be boiled. Soap each article thoroughly all over; fill a basin or jar with water as blue as possible, and lumps of soda and soap; put the lace in the basin; put the basin in a saucepan of water just large enough to hold above by the rim (like a glue-pot), and put the saucepan lid on the basin. Boil two or three hours, taking care the water 876 THE LAUNDRY. doP3 not boil out of the saucepan and let it burn; if need be, ieplenish it; turn out the lace in the basin; rinse it well; blue it with the finest blue that can be procured, but not much; get a bottle of the best drawing gum in solution from an artists' colorman (common liquid gum will not do); put a teaspoonful of this to a pint of water; stir it well; stiffen the laces in it; squeeze them dry; lay them on a clean dry towel; fold them up till most of the moisture is absorbed. While still dry, pin out each piece of lace by each point, stretching it equal to new, but not straining any part, on a cushion which has first been covered with a clean cloth. The right side of the lace should be up. Leave it till quite dry, which will probably not be till the next day. If it is Cluny lace with raised spots, take a pin and raise all the spots as it lies on the cushion. Remove all the pins, and pick out every part and corner of the lace with the fingers. If raised, raise it by draw- ing it over the thumb-nail. Brussels lace and Honiton lace look better ironed whilst a little damp, instead of being pinned out in this way. Arrange these, also, with the finger, both before and after ironing. Crochet may be pinned out, or left to dry, pulled out with the fingers only, or pulled out whilst still damp and ironed. It is, also, a matter of fancy whether it is starched or not. To Bleach Lace, Etc. After washing and boiling let it lie all day in excessively strong blue-water; lay it out all night on the grass to dry. Boil again with soap, without soda or blueing; rinse well. It must not, how- ever, be forgotten that too much soda turns linen, etc., yellow. To Stttfex Li:n'en-, Such as cuffs that require to be very firm, boil the starch after mixing it cold. Into a pint of starch drop a bit of white wax half the size of a small hazle-nut and a teaspoonful of brandy. The spirit is to retain the stiffness and increase it, the wax to save the starch from sticking to the iron. AVhen an iron sticks to starch, soap the bottom of the iron. THE LAUNDRY. 377 To Clean Cloth. A contemporary recommends the following plan: Moisten a sponge with pure water, press it in a clean towel till it becomes neany dry; then sponge, one place after the other, the cloth; all the dust will enter the sponge; wash the sponge afterwards with water. This method of cleaning wears cloth out less than brushing. Many spots also disappear with pure water. To Clean Black Silk. Take entirely to pieces the dress, jacket, etc., and well shake each piece; then spread over a table and over it spread a newspaper, or sheet of clean paper, and on it lay a breadth of the silk. Brush it well both sides with a fine soft brush — a hat-brush would very well answer the purpose. Shake it again; fold together in half, and place it on one side of the table. In the same manner shake, brush, and shake again, each piece of silk. Remove the paper, and place on the table a clean sheet. On the paper again place a breadth of the silk, and into a clean quart basin pour a half pint of cold water adding a half pint of good sweetened gin, which is better for the purpose than unsweetened, as the sugar stiffens the silk. These are the proportions for any quantity required. Have ready a piece of black crape, or black merino, about a half yard square; dip it well into the liquid, and thoroughly wash over the best side of the silk. Be careful that it be well cleaned, and, if possible, wash it from edge to edge, and wet it well all over. Then fold over the silk in half; then again, till the folds are the width of those of new silk. Place it in a clean towel, and clean each piece of the silk in the same manner, laying one piece On the other; and remembering by a mark which is the last piece done, as that must be the last ironed. Let the silk be folded in the towel till a large iron is well heated; but be careful that it is not too hot; try it first on paper, or a piece of old dampened silk. Use two irons. Open the towel when the iron is ready, and place the piece of silk that was first cleaned on an old table-cloth or sheet folded thick; iron the wrong 378 ■ THE LAUNDRY. side quickly, from edge to edge, until dry. Fold the silk over lightly to the width of new silk, and place it on one end of the table till all are done. This simple process stiffens, cleans, and makes the silk look new. . To Clean Black Merino, or any Woollen Stuff. Purchase at a drug store two cents worth of carbonate of ammonia. Place it in a clean quart basin, and pour upon it a pint of boiling water; cover it over with a clean plate, and let it stand till cold. Then proceed the same as directed for cleaning black silks. Gentlemen's clothes can thus be cleaned without taking to pieces, or ironing, unless quite convenient. Vests and coat collars are thus easily renovated, the color is revived, grease spots and white seams removed. To Renovate Crape. Brush the crape well with a soft brush, and hold tightly over a wide-mouthed jug of boiling water, gradually stretching it over the jug. If a strip of crape, it is very easily held tightly over the water, letting the portion done fall over the jug until all is com- pleted. The crape will become firm and fit for use, every mark and fold being removed. White or colored crape may be washed and pinned over a newspaper, or towel, on the outside of a bed, until dry. Crape that has been exposed to rain or damp — veils especially — may be saved from spoiling by being stretched tightly on the outside of the bed with pins, until dry; and no crajDC should be left to dry without having been pulled into proper shape. If black crape, lace, or net, is faded or turned brown, it may be dipped into water, colored with the blue-bag, adding a lump of loaf sugar to stiffen, and pinned to a newspaper on a bed. Washing Clothes. If pipe clay is dissolved in the water, the linen is thoroughly cleaned with half the labor and a saving of one-fourth of soap; and the clothes will be improved in color equally as if bleached. The pipe clay softens the hardest water. THE LAUNDRY. 379 Washing Chintzes. These should always be washed in dry weather, but if it is very cold, it is better to diy them by the fire than risk spoilinjy the colors from freezing in the open aii*. It is better, if possible, lo defer their washing till the weather is suitable. To Remove Spots of Wax. Place a piece of soft soap on each spot and warm it slightly before the fire, or in the sun (if hot). Wash the spot afterward with. soft water, and it will disappear. Another Recipe. Cover the spot with spirits of wine or turpentine, and rub the place gently with a soft rag. Continue the same process until the spot disappears. To Clean Carpets. When the carpet is well beaten and free from dust, lay it tightly down, and scrub it with soap, dissolved in soft water mixed with bullock's gall — about four gallons of water to a pint of gall. This will restore the colors of the carpet to their original brightness, and make it look almost like new. The brush employed should be of soft character, with long bristles. For Bleaching Cotton Cloth. One pound chloride of lime, dissolved and strained; put in two or three pails of water; thoroughly wet the cloth and leave it over night; then rinse well in two waters. This will also take out mil- dew, and is equally good for brown cotton or white that has become yellow from any cause, and will not injure the fabric. To Clean Light Kid Gloves. Magnesia, moist bread, and India rubber, are all of them good t(? clean light kid gloves. They should be rubbed on the gloves thor- oughly. If so much soiled that they cannot be cleaned, sew up the tops of the gloves, and rub them over with a sponge dipped in i 380 THE LAUNDRY. decoction of saffron and water. The gloves will be yellow or brown, according to the strength of the decoction. To Clean White Silk Lace. The lace is stretched over small clean slips of wood to keep it evenly spread out, laid over night in warm milk, to which a little soap has been added, rinsed in fresh water, laid for the same length of time in warm soap-lye, and finally rinsed without any friction. Linen lace is best cleaned by covering the outside of a large glass bottle smoothly with stout linen or white flannel, upon which the lace is sewn in a number of coils, and over the whole some coarse open tissue is secured. The bottle thus dressed is allowed to soak for a time in lukewarm soft water, and the outside wrapping is then rubbed with soap and a piece of flannel. After this the bottle is laid to steep for some hours in clean soft water. It is then rolled between dry towels, dipped in rice water, and rolled again. Finally the damp lace is unfastened from the bottle and ironed between linen cloths. Stakch Polish. White wax, one ounce; spermaceti, two ounces; melt them together with a gentle heat. When you have prepai'ed a suflicient amount of starch, in the usual way, for a dozen pieces — put into it a piece of the polish the size of a large pea; more or less, according to large or small washings. Or, thick gum solution (made by pouring boiling water upon gum arable), one tablespoonful to a pint of starch, gives clothes a beautiful gloss. Washhstg Fluid. Dissolve in a gallon of hot Avater one pound of concentrated lye, one-half ounce salts of tartar, one-half ounce liquid ammonia; when cool, bottle for use. Soak the clothes over night; wring out and add a cup of the fluid to a boiler of water; put in the clothes and boil one hour; rub them as much as is necessary, and rinse well in two waters, with a little bluing in the last. But little rubbing is necessary, and this method will certainly save clothes, tinje, and THE LAUNDRY. 381 labor. Lace curtains may be washed in the same way. Starch them and press out all that is possible in a towel; pin sheets on the carpet; spread out the curtains carefully, shaping every scallop on the sheets; pin them in place and leave them until dry. Gem Washing Fluid. One pound salsoda, one ounce borax, one ounce salts of tartar, one ounce ammonia, three quarts of rain water. Put the rain water over the fire, then put in the salsoda, borax, and salts of tartar. Do not put in the ammonia until it gets cold. Put one cup into the- boiler Avhen you boil your clothes. Hard Soap. It is a simple matter to make hard soap, which is not only agi'ee- able to use, but which has the great m ri' of cleanliness. To seven pounds of tallow use three pounds of rosin, two pounds of potash, and six gallons of water; boil for three hourc, or, better still, for five; turn from a kettle into a wash-tub; let it stand all night. In the morning cut into bars, and lay them on a table or board in the sun to harden for two or three days. This quantity will last a family of four persons a year, if used for ordinary household purposes. Soft Soap. Take six gallons of soft or rain water, add three pounds of best- hard soap (cut fine), one pound salsoda, four tablespoonfuls of hartshorn; boil the whole till perfectly dissolved; pour into vessels, and when cold it is fit for use. This makes fifty pounds of fine jelly soap. How TO Wash Flannels. There are many conflicting theories in regard to the proper way to wash flannels, but I am convinced, fi-om careful observation, that the true way is to wash them in water in which you can comfort- ably bear your hand. Make suds before putting the flannels in, and do not rub soap on the flannel. I make it a rule to have only one piece of flannel put in the tub at a time. Wash in two suds if 382 THE LAUNDRY. much soiled; then rinse thoroughly in clean, weak suds, wring and hang up; but do not take flannels out of warm water and hano- out in a freezing air, as that certainly tends to shrink them. It is better to dry them in the house, unless the sun shines. In washing worsted goods, such as men's pantaloons, pursue the same course; only do not wring them, but hang them up and let them drain; while a little damp, bring in and press smoothly with as hot an iron as you can use without scorching the goods. The reason for not wringing them is to prevent wrinkles. How TO Keep Black Gloves from Crocking. Black cotton gloves will not crock the hands if scalded in salt and water before wearing. The salt prevents fading. When almost dry, one should put them on, in order to stretch them and keep them in good shape. Some one may wish to know how to wash a linen duster in sucli a way that it will not look faded. All old colored linen should be washed in lukewarm water. If thex-e are any grease spots, use a little hard soap, or, better still, remove them with benzine. Rinse thoroughly in water in which a third of a cup of salt has been dis- solved; the last water must be very blue, and a small handful of starch put in. Hang in a shady place; and, as soon as the duster is dry, take it down, so that the wind will not blow the starch out. If dampened with warm water, it will soon be ready to iron. To Remove Scorches. Spi-ead over the cloth a paste made of the juice pressed from two onions, one-fourth ounce white soap, two ounces fuller's earth, and one-half pint vinegar. Mix, boil well, and cook before using. Washing Towels. Towels with handsome, bright borders should never be boiled, or allowed to lie in very hot water; they should not be used till they are so much soiled that they need vigorous rubbing to make them clean. It is better economy to use more towels than THE LAUNDRY. 383 to wear out a few in a short time. A gentle rubbing in two suds, and then conscientious rinsing in warm water and then in cold, ought to be all that is required. How TO DO UP Shirt Bosoms. " Take two ounces of fine white gum arabic powder; put it in a pitcher and pour on a pint or more of boiling water, according to the degree of strength you desire, and then, having covered it, let it stand all night. In the morning pour it carefully from the dregs into a clean bottle, cork, and keep it for use. A tablespoonful of gum water stirred in a pint of starch, made in the usual manner, will give to lawn, either white or printed, a look of newness, when nothing else can restore them after they have been washed." If your flat-irons are rough and smoky, lay »■ little fine salt on a flat surface and rub them well; it will preven* *hem from sticking to anything starched, and make them smooth. CHAPTER XXXII. SEWING ROOM. Saving Thread, HEN raveling out a fringe on mats or tidies made of Java or }[L honeycomb canvas, save the threads. You may use them to feather-stitch bands of white cotton cloth for trimming. They are serviceable on children's underwear, at the top of Ham- burg ruffles, and will last longer than insertion. Window Shades. Scarlet holland shades, trimmed across the ends with antique lace^ are very pretty and serviceable for a dining-room, giving a soft and warm light to the room. Scrap-Bags. It is a good plan to have pretty scrap-bags in sitting-room, bed- room, and dining-room, and to hang one near the sewing-machine. They may be ornamental, and are certainly useful. Since trying this I have saved paper rags enough to buy all the new tin-ware needed in the house, and have occasionally bought a broom also. Every bit of cloth, every postal-card and circular, that would otherwise have been put into the stove as not being worth the trouble of a walk to the regular rag-bag, finds its way into the little scrap-bag. It is a good plan to keep your different kinds of pieces, tape, thread, etc., in separate bags, and there is no time lost looking for them. Pretty bags are made of perforated paper, with a simple vine 3&4 SEWING ROOM. 385 worked around the top, the bottom of the bag being of silk or merino, and the top finished with a crocheted scallop; or they may be made of Java canvas, with wire around the top to keep it in shape ; a piece of old hoopskirt may be used for this purpose. Sewing on Buttons. ; When sewing buttons on children's clothes where there will be touch strain on the button, the danger of tearing the cloth out will be greatly lessened by putting a small button directly under the larger outside button. This applies, of course, only to buttons with boles through them. Marking Handkerchiefs. A plain hem-stitched pocket-handkerchief can he ornamented prettily by putting a row of feather-stitching, in white or colored working cotton, just above the hem. This is a good way to mark handkerchiefs for the wash, providing, of coui-s^j, that the washing is done at home. Table Covers. Simple and tasteful table covers for bed-rooifls may be made of pale blue Canton flannel, trimmed with antique lace, or with velvet ribbons feather-stitched on, and finished witli fringe made of blue split zephyr or Shetland wool. Table cov-ers made of blocks of cretonne are very handsome. If two or thr&e persons wish to make them, they can buy the materials to bettei- advantage. Let each one get several kinds of cretonne, a quarter of a yard of each kind ^ ' Jhen they can arrange to have each block different. Stitch the ^blocks on a lining made of unbleached cotton or of colored cam- bric. Then, when the blocks are joinc'd, sew on narrow braid, which can be bought at any furniture store, or use narrow black velvet, worked in fancy stitches, or common black dress braid, feather-stitched with canary-colored silk. When cutting out the blocks, if a little care is exercised in placing the pattern on the cloth, strips will be left with a suitable figure which can be sewed 386 SEWING ROOM. together to make a lambrequin. Have the strips about five inches wide. One thing should be thought of when beginning to do fancy work, and that is, if you have not time to do it well, do not under- take it; it cannot be slighted or hurried over without entirely spoiling the effect. In making the spread, unless the blocks are exactly square, and the edges not stretched, your spread will not hang well on the table. Taking Cark of Stockings. Before the children's stockings begin to be thin at the knees and to need darning, put a piece of cloth under and sew with fine stitches, so that they will not show. Soft flannel, or pieces of old stockings which are strong enough to be worth using, are better than any heavier cloth. By taking the trouble to do this, the stockings can be made to last twice as long as without it. Putting away Stockings. When putting away summer stockings, see that they are clean and whole. It is a great comfort to find them ready for use in the spring. Have a calico or cambric bag to hold the stockings of each member of the family. Label each one, in order to save time, and not be obliged to look into each to find the ones you wish to use. In summer keep the winter stockings in them. To Preserve Old Stockings. Pale blue stockings which have faded can have the color restored by dipping them into hot water in which common bluing has been poured, and some lumps of alum dissolved. Old white stockings can be colored in this way, and do a good deal of service. Home-made Work-Baskets. Pretty little work-baskets may be made of — what do you think? the paper pails used to carry oysters home from the market in ! I saw one a few days ago; it was lined with pale pink silk, the soft silk used for linings. The silk was turned over the outer edge and shirred around it. The wire handle was taken off, and a narrow SEWING ROOM. 387 strip of canvas used in place of it. This was covered with silk and ornamented with a tiny bow. On each side of the pail was pasted a pretty picture. One would not guess of what the basket was made. Harmonious Color Contrasts. The following list of harmonizing colors will be found very useful in selecting wall decorations or colors for any purpose. Red with green, blue with oi'ange, yellow with violet, black with warm brown, violet with pale green, violet with light rose, deep blue with golden brown, chocolate with light blue, deep red with gray, maroon with warm green, deep blue with pink, chocolate with pea green, maroon with deep blue, claret with buff, black with warm green. CHAPTER XXXIII. DYEING, ETC. e?/ VERYTHING should be clean. The goods should be scoured in soap and the soap rinsed out. They are often steeped in soap lye over night. Dip them into water just before putting them into preparations, to prevent spotting. Soft water should be iised, sufficient to cover the goods well — this is always understood where quantity is not mentioned. When goods are dyed, air, rinse well, and hang up to dry. Do not wring silk or merino dresses when scouring or dyeing them. If cotton goods are to be dyed a light color, they should first be bleached. Silks. Black. — jMake a weak dye as for black on woollens; work goods in bichromate of potash a little below boiling heat, then dip in the logwood in same way; if colored in blue vitriol dye, use about same heat. Brown on Silk or Cotton — Very Beautiful. — After obtain- ing a blue color as above, run goods through a solution of prussiate of potash, one ounce, to water, one gallon. Crimson. — For one pound goods — alum, three ounces; dip at hand heat one hour; take out and drain while making new dye by boiling ten minutes, cochineal, three ounces, bruised nut-galls, two ounces, and cream of tartar, one-fourth ounce, in one pail of water; when little cool, begin to dip, raising heat to boil; dip one hour; wash and dry. Green — Very Handsome. — For one pound goods — yellow oak DYEING, ETC. 389 bark, eight ounces; boil one-half hour; turn off liquor from bark and add alum, six ounces; let stand until cold; while making this, color goods in blue-dye-tub a light blue; dry and wash; dip in the alum and bark dye. If it does not take well, warm the dye a little. Light Blue. — For cold Abater, one gallon, dissolve alum, one-half tablespoonf ul, in hot water, one cup, and add to it, then add chemic, one teaspoonful at a time to obtain the desired color — the more chemic, darker the color. Old Gold. — Take green horse-radish leaves, steep them in water and make a strong dye. After dipping the silk or satin into the dye thoroughly, wash in soft soap-suds. Iron while damp, laying a cloth over the silk or ribbon. This should always be done when ironing silk or ribbon, even if it has not been washed, but simply sponged. Black silk may be sponged with cold coffee and ammonia. Orange. — For one pound goods — annotto, one pound; soda, ono pound; repeat as desired. Purple. — For one pound goods. First obtain a light blue, b^ dipping in home-made dye-tub; then dry; dip in alum, four ounces, with water to cover when little warm. If color is not full enough, add chemic. Sk\ Blue on Silk or Cotton — Very Beautiful. — Give goods as much color from a solution of blue vitriol, two ounces, to water, one gallon, as it will take up in dipping fifteen minutes, then run it through lime water. This will make a beautiful and durable sky blue. Yellow. — For one pound goods — alum, three ounces; sugar of lead, three-fourths ounce; immerse goods in solution over night; take out; drain and make a new dye with fustic, one pound; dip until required color is obtained. 390 DYEING, ETC. Woollen Goods. Blue — Quick Process. — For two pounds goods — alum, five ounces; cream of tartar, three ounces; boil goods in this one hour, then put goods into warm water which lias more or less extract of indigo in it, according to the depth of color desired, and boil again until it suits, adding more of the blue if needed. Chrome Black — Best in Use. — For five pounds goods — blue vitriol, six ounces; boil a few minutes, then dip goods three-fourths hour, airing often; take out goods, make a dye with three pounds logwood, boil one-half hour; dip three-fourths hour and air goods, and dip three-fourths hour more. Wash in strong suds. This will not fade by exposure to sun. Green. — For each pound of goods — fustic, one pound, with alum three and one-half ounces; steep until strength is out, and soak goods until a good yellow is obtained; then remove the chips and add extract of indigo or chemic, one tablespoonful at a time, until color suits. Madder Red. — To each pound of goods — alum, five ounces; red, or cream of tartar, one ounce. Put in goods and bring kettle to a boil for one-half hour, then air them and boil one-half hour longer; empty kettle and fill with clean water; put in bran one peck; make it milk-wai-m, and let it stand until bran rises, then skim off the bran and put in ^/ne-half pound madder; put in goods and heat slowly until it boils and is done. Wash in strong suds. Orange. — For five pounds goods — muriate of tin, six tablespoon- fuls; argal, four ounces; boil and dip one hour, and add again to the dye one cup madder; dip again one-half hour. Cochineal; about two ounces, in place of madder, makes a much brighte: color. Pink. — For three pounds goods — alum, three ounces; boil and dip the goods one hour; then add to the dye, cream of tartar, four ounces; cochineal, well pulverized, one ounce; boil well and dip the goods while boiling until the color suits. DYEING, ETC. 391 Scarlet — Very Fine, — For one pound goods — cream of tartar, one-half ounce, cochineal, well pulvei'ized, one-half ounce, muriate of tin, two and one-half ounces; boil up the dye and enter the goods; work them briskly for ten or fifteen minutes, then boil one and one-half hours, stirring goods slowly while boiling. Wash in clear water and dry in the shade. Snuff Brown — Dark, — For five pounds of goods — camwood one pound; boil it fifteen minutes, then dip goods for three-fourths hour; take out goods, add to the dye, two and one-half pounds fustic; boil ten minutes and dip goods three-fourths hour; then add blue vitriol one ounce, copperas four ounces; dip again one-half hour. If not dark enough ; add more copperas. Another Method — Any Shade. — Boil goods in a mordant of alum two parts, copperas, three parts; then rinse them through a bath of madder. The tint depends on the relative proportions of the coppera,s and alum; the more copperas the darker the dve. Joint weight of both should not be more than one-eighth of weight of goods. Mixtures of reds and yellows with blues and blacks, or simple dyes, will make aiiy shade. "WnTE Color. — For five pounds goods — camwood, two pounds; boil fifteen minutes, and dip goods one-half hour; boil again and dip one-half hour; then darken with blue vitriol one and one-half ounces; if not dark enough, add copperas, one-half ounce. Crimson. — Work for one hour in a bath with one pound cochi- neal paste; six ounces dry cochineal; one pound tartar; one pint protochloride of tin. Wash out and dry. Dove and Slate Colors of all Shades. — Boil in iron vessel a cup of black tea with teaspoonf uls of copperas, and suflicient water. Dilute till you get the shade wanted. Purple. — For each pound goods — two ounces cudbear; rinse goods well in soap suds, then dissolve cudbear in hot suds — not q«ite boiling — and soak the goods until of required color. The color is brightened by rinsing in alum water. 392 DYEING, ETC. Salmon. — For each pound goods — one-fourth pound annotto; one-fourth pound soap; rinse goods in warm water, put them into mixture and boil one-half hour. Shade will be according to amount of annotto. Yellow — Rich. — Work five pounds goods one-half hour in a boiling bath with three ounces bichromate of potassa and two ounces alum; lift and expose till well cooled and drained, then work one-half hour in another bath with five pounds fustic. Wash out and dry. Cotton Goods. BlaCK. — For five pounds goods — boil them in » decoction of three pounds sumac one-half hour, and steep twelve hours; dip in lime water one-half hour; take out and let them drip one hour; run them through the lime water again fifteen minutes. Make a new dye with two and one-half pounds logwood (boiled one hour), and dip again three hours; add bichromate potash, two ounces, to the logwood dye and dip one hour. Wash in clear cold water and dry in shade. Only process for permanent black. Green. — Dip goods in home-made blue; dye until blue enough is obtained to make the green as dark as required; take out, dry and rinse a little. Make a dye with fustic, three pounds, logwood, three ounces to each pound goods, by boiling dye one hour; when cooled so as to bear hand, put in goods, move briskly few minutes, and let lie one hour; take out and thoroughly drain; dissolve and add to the dye for each pound of cotton, blue vitrol, one half ounce, and dip another hour. Wring out and let dry in th^ shade. By adding or diminishing the logwood and fustic, any shade may be had. Orange. — For five pounds goods — sugar of lead, four ounces; boil few minutes; when a little cool, put in goods; dip two hours; wring out; make a new dye with bichromate potash, eight ounces; madder, two ounces; dip until it suits; if color is too red, take small sample and dip into lime water and choose between them. DYEING, ETC. 393 Red, — Muriate of tin, two-thirds cup; add water to cover goods; raise to boiling heat; put in goods one hour; stir often; take out, empty kettle, put in clean water with nicwood, one pound, steep one-half hour at hand heat; then put in goods and increase heat one hour — not boiling. Air goods and dip one hour as before. Wash without soap. Sky Blue. — For three pounds goods — blue vitrol, four ounces; boil few minutes, then dip goods three hours; then pass thera through strong lime water. A beautiful brown can be obtained by next putting goods through a solution of prussiate of potash. Yellow. — For five pounds of goods — seven ounces sugar of lead; dip goods two hours; make new dye with bichromate of potash, four ounces; dip until color suits; wring out and dry. If not yellow enough, repeat. Coloring Cotton Carpet Rags. Blue. — For five pounds of cloth, take five ounces of copperas, with two pails of water in a tin or copper boiler; set it over the fire till the copperas is dissolved and it begins to heat, then put in the cloth, stirring it frequently till it boils, one-half or three-fourths of an hour; then remove the cloth where it can drain; pour away the copperas water and take two ounces of prussiate of potash in about two pails of water in the same vessel; when it is well dis- solved and hot, put in the cloth from the copperas water, stirring it thoroughly till it boils, one-half an hour, then remove the cloth; add (with care and caution, on account of the spattering which ensues) one tablespoonf ul of oil of vitrol, and stir it well in the dye; replace the cloth, stirring it briskly till it has boiled one-half an hour. Should be well rinsed and M'"ashed in clear water to pre- vent the dye from making it tender after coloring. Yellow. — For five pounds of cloth dissolve one-half pound ol sugar of lead in a tub of warm water and twelve ounces of bichro- mate of potash m another tub of cold water; soak, rinse, and wring 394 DYEING, ETC. the cloth in the lead water first, then in the other, and return from one to the other, till the right shade of color is obtained. Orange, — Dip the yellow colored cloth into strong lime water; if it should not turn, boil it; rinse all well. Green. — Put your blue cloth in the yellow dye in the same manner as for coloring yellow. Old calico will take a darker shade of blue or green in the same dye with the white cloth. To REiroYE Stains. We shall commence by dealing with the most common stains, namely: Ink Stains in Woollen Table-Covers and Carpets may be removed by washing the spots with a mixture of a teaspoonf ul of oxalic acid in a cup of warm water, after which the places must be rinsed with clean cold water to take out the acid. Another Method. — Pour milk upon the ink directly and rub it with a damp flannel; repeat until the ink disappears. Then wash with flannel and water, and rub dry. When milk is at hand, place a plate under the ink spot and pour milk on the ink. Allow it to lie in the milk, and when removed from the table, if not free from ink, dip it in a cup or basin of milk and rinse in cold water. To Remove Ink Stains from Floors or Mahogany. — Rub on with a cork a little spirits of wine, and wash it off with water. To Remove Stains of Port Wine. — Wet the stain with sherry or bleaching liquid. To Remove Mildew. — Wash in bleaching liquid. Stains in Silk. — Stains in colored silk dresses can often be removed by pure water. Acid, Tea, Wine, and Other Stains. — Stains caused by acids, tea, or fruits, can often be removed by spirits of hartshorn, diluted with an qual quantity of water. To remove tar, pitch, or turpen tine t(^-^ spot may be saturated with sweet oil, or a little tallow may DYEING, ETC. 395 be spread upon it, after which it must remain for twenty-four hours. If the article is of linen or cotton, it must be washed in the usual way; but if silk or worsted, it is to be rubbed with ether or spirits of wine. Pure spirits of turpentine will remove recent spots of oil-paint by rubbing. Wax and spermaceti should be scraped off and the places where they have been should be rubbed with spirits of wine, spirits of turpentine, or mephuric ether. Grease spots can commonly be taken out of silk by means of French chalk as follows: Scrape a little chalk upon the spot and place underneath a warm iron or water plate filled with boiling water. The heat melts the grease, which is absorbed by the chalk and it can be removed by rubbing or brushing. It may be needful to repeat the process. A very good stain mixture is made with half an ounce of salts of tartar, half an ounce of sal-ammonia and half a pint of soft water. Places to which this is applied should be washed afterward in clean water. The mixture of oxalic acid and water above described will remove ink stains and iron mould from linen and calico. The article must be wetted with it and held over the steam of hot water, after which it must be washed with pure 5vater. If necessary the process may be repeated; but it must be Qoted that the preparation is highly poisonous. Stains Caused by Scorching. — For whitening scorched linen, it is often sufiicient to wet it with soap-suds, and lay it in the hot sun. Another method, where milk is plentiful, is to put one pound of white soap into a gallon of milk and boil the scorched article in it. Another plan is to squeeze out the juice of two middle-sized onions, which is boiled in half a pint of vinegar, with one ounce of white soap and two ounces of fuller's earth; the mixture is applied cool to the scorched part, and when dry, washed off with pure •water. How TO Restore Stained and Discolored Muslins. — Dis- colored muslins may be whitened if they are laid in a flat dish with suds made of white soap, and set out in the sun. This takes time and the suds have to be renewed daily. In the country, away froro 396 DYEING, ETC. the smoke of towns, white linen may be bleached by being wetted with soap-suds and spread out upon the grass in the sun. Stains Caused by Mildew. — Mildew is removed in several ways from linen. Some dip the article in sour buttermilk, lay it in the sun to whiten, and then wash in clean water. Others apply soap and chalk, or soap and stai-ch, adding half as much salt as there is starch, and the juice of a lemon. Linen. — Stains in linen can often be removed by rubbing them with soft soap, after which a starch paste is put on and the articles are dried in the sun. This process may need to be repeated several times. The soap and starch are to be washed off with pure cold water. Stains on Mahogany, Etc. — The marks made by cups of hot water on varnished tables may be taken out with a little oil which must be rubbed on, after which a little spirits of wine must be also rubbed in. A teaspoonful of oil of vitriol in a tablespoonf ul of water, or the mixture of oxalic acid and water, above described, will take ink stains out of mahogany. The application is to be made quickly with a brush, or piece of flannel, and then washed off with milk. Silver and Electro-plate Stains. — The obstinate dark stains upon silver and electi'o-plate may almost always be removed by means of a little diluted sulphuric acid. Pour the acid into a saucer, and, with a linen cloth wetted in it, rub the stain till it is gone. The article should afterwards be treated to a coat of fine whitening and spirits of wine. Let this remain on for half an hour; then wipe it off with a silk cloth and polish with soft wash- leather or a plate-brush. To Take Ink Stains from Mahogany. — Oil of vitriol with water, in the proportion of about one of the former to two of the latter, may be used for this purpose. Dip a feather into it, just touch the stains with the end of the feather, and at once rub it quickly off. In most cases the ink stains will be removed with it; DYEING, ETC. 397 if this, however, should not be the case, repeat the process. If the vitriol is not at once removed, there is a probability of its merely substituting one defect for another — a white mark for a dark stain. Oil Stains. — Oil stains in floors and carpets may be treated with a paste made of fuller's earth and water, which will have to be applied several times. If this paste is applied to colored textures, the addition of a little ox-gall will preserve the colors from injury. The paste, when dry, can be removed with a brush. a CHAPTER XXXIV. ODDS AND ENDS. How TO Protect the Dress. ADIES who do their own work will find that, in addition to a long apron, a pair of calico sleeves, with a rubber cord at the top, is a disj^enser of happiness. One can slip them on over cuflfs and nice dress sleeves, get tea, and even wash the tea dishes, without injuring the dress. PrrTTTN'G Up CiTETAmrs. When putting up curtains, which are draped, in a Iom' room, put the cornice to which the curtain is to be fastened close to the ceiling, even if the window is put lower down, as it gives the effect of greater height to the room. The curtains meeting at the top will conceal the wall. Window Gardens. Pretty window gardens may be made by taking the tin boxes in tvhicli mackerel is put up, paint them green or scarlet, and put in some plants that grow well together. When watering them do not use more water than will be absorbed during the day. A few experiments will soon enable one to judge correctly in regard to the amount, and it is surprising to see how the plants will thrive in utter defiance of all the wise things that are said about drainage. The tin or zinc cases in which thread is packed will also, when painted and placed in a stand, make very good window gardens. Water in which gridiron and frying-pan have been washed is an excellent fertilizer. 098 ODDS AND ENDS. 399 To Keep Boys and Girls at Home. An excellent and well-tried recipe for keeping boys and girls out of mischief in the long winter evenings is to give them something suitable and interesting to do. Set them to making scrap-books. If there are two or three children, let each one take a subject, and see what and how much each can collect upon that for his book. For example, we have what we call an " Animal Scrap-Book," in which is pasted every fact, incident, and anecdote we can find relating to animals. We have a dog department, a horse depart- ment, etc. It is a valuable book for purposes of illustration or reference. Lining Stair Carpets. It is a common practice to use bits of old carpet as a lining for stair carpets, but a much better way is to take strips of an old bed- quilt, have them not quite the width of the staircase, wash and dry first, then put smoothly over the stairs, tacking in a few places. It is softer than old carpet, and will not wear the outer one nearly so much. Of course this is a hint for those who cannot afford the nice linings that are made on purpose. Putting Away Woollen Clothes. Great care must be exercised in putting away winter clothes. Clean paper sacks, or old cotton or linen pillow cases, will do to hold them, providing there are no holes in them. Take the gar- ments that are to be laid away out doors on a summer day, let them hang on a line for several hours, brush and beat all the dust out, then put into the bags; tie them up so that no moth can get in, then lay them on clean, dry shelves, or hang them up. Pretty and Simple Ornaments. A pretty decoration for the corner of a room is a bunch of ripe wheat tied with a bright ribbon; or divide the wheat across the Bteras, tie, and hang over a picture. The beauty of common things is now fully established; cat's-tails, sunflowers, and dandelions are 400 ODDS AND ENDS. at length appreciated. Acorns may also be used to good advantage for trimming fancy baskets for waste paper; take a piece of wire and fasten around the stems, and you can ai-range them in any way to suit yourself. They are pretty bronzed, or may be used in the state of nature, as they were picked up in the woods. To bronze them, get a little bronze powdered at a drug store, mix it with varnish, and apply with a soft cloth. The powder must be used very quickly after mixing with the varnish, or that will harden so that it will be impossible to use it. How TO Make an Old Japanese Umbrella Useful. Shut it partly together, then put a wire around the top, tie a ribbon to the handle, and use it for a scrap-bag or a waste-paper bag. To Remove Paint and Putty from Window Glass. Put sufficient pearl ash into hot water, to make a strong solution; then saturate the paint which is daubed on the glass with it. Let it remain till nearly dry, then rub it off hard, with a woollen cloth. Pearl ash water is also good to remove putty before it is dried on the glass. If it dries on, whiting is good to remove it. To Preserve Natural Flotteus. Dip the flowers in melted paraffine, withdrawing them quickly. The liquid should be only just hot enough to maintain itrs fluidity, and the flowers should be dipped one at a time, held by the stalks and moved about for an instant to get rid of air bubbles. Fresh- cut flowers, free from moisture, make excellent specimens in this way. Eggs — :To Preserve for Winter Use. For every three gallons of water, put one pint fresh slaked lime, and common salt, one-half pint; mix well, and let the barrel be about half full of this fluid, then with a dish let down your fresh eggs into it. tipping the dish after it fills with water, so they roll out without cracking the shell, for if the shell is cracked the egg will spoil. ODDS AA'D ENDS. 401 Charcoal for Flowers. It is an ascertained fact that powdered charcoal, placed around rose bushes and other flowers, has the effect of adding much to their richness. To Revive Gilt Frames. Take white of eggs, two ounces; chloride of plaster or soda, onft. ounce; mix well; blow the dust from the frame, and apply with i\ soft brush. Floor-cloths. Do not put carpets in your closets; oil cloth or matting is much better, and can be easily kept free from dust. Matting after being swept should be wiped with a damp cloth. Hot salt and water will thoroughly cleanse it and will not discolor it. To Pot Butter for Winter Use. Mix a large spoonful of salt, a tablespoonf ul of powdered whit^ sugar, and one of saltpetre. Work this quantity into six pounds o5 fresh made butter; put the butter into a stone pot, that is thor^ oughly cleansed. When you have finished putting down youv butter, cover it with a layer of salt, and let it remain covered unt/i cold weather. To Prevent Rust. To prevent metals from rusting, melt together three parts of laro and one of rosin, and apply a very thin coating. It will preserve Russia iron stoves and grates from rusting during summer, even iy damp situations. The effect is equally good on brass, copper, steei, etc. The same compound forms an excellent water-proof paste for leather. Boots, when treated with it, will soon after take the usuai polish, when blacked, and the soles may be saturated with it. Paste. How many little things are left unmended for the want of some ready-made paste in the house. Liquid glue is often not strong enough to hold thick material together; but dextrine answers all pur- se 402 ODDS AND ENDS. poses. It is very cheaj^, is mixed with cold Avater, and keeps better than paste till next wanted. Keeping some of the powder in the house And a sj^ecial pot or jar for mixing, will be found most convenient. It can be made thick or thin, to suit what it is required for. French Polish. Boil in a quart of liquid, consisting of two parts of vinegar, and one part of water, one-fourth pound of glue and the same quantity of logwood chips, with about the sixth part of an ounce of the following ingredients: Soft soap, isinglass, and finely-powdered indigo. When boiled for a quarter of an hour it should be strained off, and when cold be fit for use. It should be applied with a piece of soft rag or sponge, the shoes being quite dry and free from dirt. To Preserve Steel Articles from Rust. Paint the articles over with white beeswax dissolved in benzole. The benzole rapidly evaporates, leaving the steel covered with a thin coating of the wax. As the solution is very volatile it should be kept in a bottle tightly corked. To Preserve Flowers. Take a jar sufficiently large to contain the flower to be preserved, and in the bottom place a lump of clay or some similar substance in which the flower must be stuck upright. Then pour in carefully fine dry sand till the flower is completely embedded in it. This must be done very slowly and cautiously so as not to disturb the leaves of the flower. Dried in this way, flowers preserve their form and much of their color for months, and are interesting and pretty for the winter decoration of rooms. Incombustible Dresses. Ladies' dresses, even of the lightest and most inflammable nature, may be rendered almost completely fire-proof by being dipped in a solution of the chloride of zinc. When they are thus treated, it will be found almost impossible to make them blaze by contact ODDS AND ENDS. 403 with flame; or either of the following will answer the same pur- pose : Dissolve half an ounce of alum or sal-ammoniac, and mix it with the water in Avhich the dress is rinsed. Half the Aveight of whiting mixed with the starch will render lace, net, muslin gauze, or any other light stuff, perfectly unin- flammable. Home-Made Table Syeup. Take one pint and a half of water, four pounds of sugar, one teaspoonful of pulverized alum, put in a kettle and boil three minutes. Strain while hot. For maple syrup, one quart of water for four pounds of sugar. The Chromograph, The copygi'aph, chromograph, and a variety of other names have been given to the simple arrangement by which letters, drawings, plans, music, etc., can be copied at a slight cost. The process has been patented in England, but in advance of any patent in this country, a number of persons have made the article and advertised it for sale at prices varying from three dollars to seven dollars and fifty cents, according to size, in either case allowing very handsome profits. A tablet of gelatine is prepared thus: Take one part by weight of gelatine (glue will do just as well), soak in two parts of water till melted, to which add four parts of glycerine, with a few drops of carbolic acid, and sufficient whiting or white lead to give the whole a milky appearance. Pour the mixture into a shallow zinc or tin dish, and it will be ready for use in about twelve hours. The use of the whiting or white lead is to show up the writing on the composition, and to enable the washing off to be observed more easily. The ink used is made of one part violet methylated aniline (Hoffman's purple), seven parts distilled water, and one part alcohol; but acetic rosaniline, boiled down in alcohol till it does not run in writing, forms a capital red ink. To use the process, write on a hard-finished paper with the ink, taking care that the writing is 404 ODDS AND ENDS. thick enough to show a green lustre Avhen dry. When thoroughly 4i-y place it face downwards on the jelly, rub it gently to bring it well into contact, and leave for three minutes, then peel it off. It will leave a portion of the ink neatly transferred to the jelly; then place the paper to be printed on the writing and pass the hand over, bring it well in contact as before, peel it off, and it will bring away a perfect copy of the original. In this way sixty to eighty copies may be made; by using a thick pen and plenty of ink one hundred good copies may be taken. If the original still shows a green lustre, another transfer may be made. When exhausted, wash off the ink from the jelly with a sponge and cold water. A layer of the compound one-quarter of an inch thick would give five thousand copies at least, if not twice that number. If the jelly is injured it can easily be melted down over a spirit lamp or in an oven. After melting, and in the first instance after making, the surface should be washed with cold water. Lime Water. One of the most useful agents of household economy, if rightly understood, is lime water. Its mode of preparation is as follows: Put a stone of fresh unslacked lime about the size of a half -peck measure into a large stone jar or unpainted pail, and pour over it slowly and carefully (so as not to slacken too rapidly), a teakettle full (four gallons) of hot water, and stir thoroughly; let it settle, and then stir again two or three times in twenty-four hours. Then bottle carefully, all that can be poured off in a clear and limpid state. Uses. — It is often sold by druggists as a remedy for children's summer complaints, a teaspoonful being a dose in a cup of milk,, and when diarrhoea is caused by acidity of the stomach, it is an excellent remedy, and when put into milk gives no unpleasant taste, but rather improves the flavor. When put into milk that might curdle when heated, it will jjre- vent its so doing, and can then be used for puddings and pies. A ODDS AND ENDS. 405 little stirred into cream or milk, after a hot day or night, wil) pre- vent its turning when used for tea or coffee. It is unequalled in cleansing bottles or small milk vessels, or babies' nursing bottles, as it sweetens and j)urifies withuut leaving an unpleasant odor or flavor. A cupful, or even more, mixed in the sponge of bread or cakes made over night, will prevent it from souring. Pekservixg AuTUMisr Leaves. These may be easily preserved and retain their natural tints, or nearly so, by either of the following methods: As they are gath- ered they may be laid between the leaves of a magazine until thtf book is full, and left Avith a light weight upon them until the mois' ture of the leaves has been absorbed; two or three thicknesses of paper should intervene between the leaves. If the leaves are large or in clusters, take newspapers, lay them on a shelf and use in the same manner as above. Then dip the leaves into melted wax (such as is used for moulding fruits, etc.), into which you will have to put a few drops of turpentine and lay ujjon newspapers to harden perfectly. This will make the leaves pliable and natural, and give sufficient gloss. Great care should be taken that the wax is of the right temperature. This can be ascertained by the first leaf which is dipped in. Draw out gently over the pan both sides of the leaf and hold it up by the stem. If the wax is too hot, the leaf will shrivel — if too cool, it will harden in lumps on the leaf. Another method is to iron each leaf with a middling hot iron until the moisture is all out of them. Are best without varnish. Skeleton Leaves, Boil the leaves in equal parts of rain water and soft soap until you can separate the pulp from the skin; take them out into cleai water; lay the leaf to be cleaned on glass, the upper side of the leaf next to the glass; then with a tooth brush remove all pulp and skin, turn the leaf and repeat the process; when thoroughly done put the leaf to bleach in this solution: One i>ound sal soda, dis- 406 ODDS AND ENDS. solved in five pints rain water; one-half pound chloride of Wuxx. m three pints water; allow twenty-four hours for the latter to dissolve. Strain out the sediment, and pour out the clear solution of lime into the solution of sal soda. The result will be a thick buttermilk solution, otherwise the lime was not strong enough. Filter this until it is perfectly clear. For leaves, use one part of solu- tion to one part of water; for ferns, use the solution full strength. When perfectly white, remove to clear water; let stand for several hours, changing two or three times; the last water should be a little blue; float out on paper, press in books when nearly dry. In mounting use mucilage made of five parts of gum arable, three parts white sugar, two parts of starch; add a very little water, boil and stir until thick and Avhite. To Restore Frozen Plants. As soon as discovered, j^our cold water over the plant wetting every leaf thoroughly. In a few moments it will be crystallized with a thick coating of ice. In this state place it in the dark, care- fully covered with a newspaper. The ice will slowly melt, leaving the plant in its original state of health. For Crystallizing Grass. Take one and one-half pounds of rock alum, pour on three pints of boiling water; when quite cool put into a wide-mouthed vessel, hang in your grasses, a few at a time. Do not let them get too heavy, or the stems will not support them. You may again heat alum and add more grasses. By adding a little coloring it will g:vs variety. Frosting for Windows. To shut out a disagreeable view from a back window, the glass may be rendered ornamental, and the obnoxious objects shut out, by a very simple plan, which makes a fair imitation of ground glass. By washing the glass over with a hot saturated solution of Epsom salts, or sal-ammoniac, or Glauber's salts, or blue stone, very beau- tiful effects of crystallization can be obtained by which the above- ODDS AND ENDS. 407 purpose is sei'ved and the window has also a very ornamental appearance. By a saturated solution is meant one containing as much of the salt as the water will dissolve. The solution must be applied while hot and with a brush. Black Tkacing Paper, Rub smooth a little lampblack and mix with sweet oil. Paint over the paper, and dab it dry with a fine piece of linen. Put this under the pattern, and upon the material to which you wish the pattern transferred, and go over the lines with a hard point of wood or metal. If you wish it, the transferred lines may be fixed by using a pen with a kind of ink composed of a little stone-blue well mixed with water in a cup, vvdth a small piece of sugar added to it. Sympathetic Ink. One of the best known kinds of sympathetic ink consists of a weak solution of chloride or nitrate of cobalt. Writing executed with such a solution is invisible until warmed, when it appears green or bluish, disappearing on exposure to moist air. Valuable Cement. Two parts, by weight, of common pitch, and one part gutta percha, melted together in an iron vessel, makes a cement that holds together, with wonderful tenacity, wood, stone, ivory, leather, porcelain, silk, woollen, or cotton. It is well adapted to aquariums- Cement for Rubber or Leather. Dissolve one ounce of gutta percha in one-half pound chloro- form. Clean the parts to be cemented, cover each with the solu- tion and let them dry twenty or thirty minutes, warm each part in the flame of the candle, and press very firmly together till dry. Diamond Cement. Dissolve thirteen ounces of white glue in a glue-pot containing a pint and a half of soft water; when the glue is dissolved, stir in 408 ODDS AND ENDS. three ounces of white lead, and boil till well mixed; remove from the fire, and, when cool, add half a pint of alcohol; bottle immediately and keep well corked. Weights and Measures. Ten eggs are equal to one pound. One pound of brown sugar, one pound of white sugar, powdered or loaf sugar broken, is equal to one pint. One pound of butter, when soft, is equal to one pint. One pound and two ounces Indian meal is equal to one quart. One pound and two ounces of wheat flour is equal to one quart. Four large tablespoons are equal to one-half gill. Eight large tablespoons are equal to one gill. Sixteen large tablespoons are equal to one-half pint. A common-sized wineglass holds half a gill. A common-sized tumbler holds half a pint. Four ordinary teacups of liquid are equal to one quart. Care of Tools. In visiting families in this and many other States, one would hardly come to the conclusion that it takes money to buy tools. Judging from the care, or rather lack of care, which some men give them, one would naturally infer that they were worthless. I have frequently seen a mower and reaper, as well as plows, harrows, etc., left right in the field where last used. But a few days ago, I saw a mower half buried in the snow in a back field. It seems strange that this should be so. Are men in northern Michigan more careless of tools than men in other States ? There is no reason why they should be. Nothing would pay better than to shelter tools from rains, frosts and snows. Rust wears out tools much faster than ordinary use. When a tool is not wanted for a while, if it is properly dried, oiled or painted, as circumstances demand, then put away in a dry, sheltered place, it will keep in better condition, and be read}' for use when wanted. ODDS AND ENDS. 409 Sheltering tools is certainly good economy, and it is also good economy to examine them often, tightening nuts, and making any needed repairs. Tools that are intended to be sharp, cut much better if thej^ are sharp, and not dull. Reapers, mowers, drills, and all the larger implements, when not needed any more for the season, should be taken apart, thoroughly cleaned, each bolt dipped in castor oil or melted tallow, and then replaced. Every portion of the wood-work should be covered with a good coating of paint, and the iron work well oiled with castor oil or crude petroleum. Wagons and sleighs should also be properly housed and cleaned. The economizing man will always see that his tools are properly cared for. Caee op the Hands and Nails. Housekeepers often have to deplore the unsightly condition into which hard, and often rough, work brings their hands. A little careful daily attention to these useful members will insure at least more comfort, if not positive beauty. Because you wash dishes, and clothes, and floors, you need not of a necessity have a pair of red, hard hands, if you heed the following suggestions: Whenever you wash your hands, use tepid soft water, if possible, and a good soap; strong, cheap soap will always make them rough. Wash them clean, too; it chaps them to leave them half clean. A very little ammonia in the water helps the process materially. Always dry them thoroughly on a soft towel. In washing dishes or anything else, avoid putting the hands into hot water. It is just as well to use water at a comfortable temperature. Avoid, also, going out of doors with wet hands. It will pay to take the trouble to dry them. If in cold weather, put on a pair of mittens or gloves to do any work out of doors, particularly to hang up clothes on wash-day, when the skin is more sensitive from having been in water. If with a-11 your care, the hands become chapped or cracked, as delicate skin is apt to do, heal them with glycerine and rose water; a few drops of rose water will be enough for an ounce of 410 ODDS AND ENDS. glycerine. The addition of a little ammonia to the same lotion makes a preparation that will keep the hands invariably soft, if from a few drops to half a teaspoonful is rubbed into them every night before retiring. The hands should be moist upon applying, and the rubbing should be continued until the lotion is all absorbed. Sweet cream is also excellent for badly chapped or cracked hands; some prefer pure vaseline. As a dry application, powdered starch is both healing and soothing. An important part of a beautiful hand is a row of rosy, w^ell- kept nails. When the hands are dried after washing them, always press back the skin around the nail with the towel. Never cut it, as that causes hang-nails, and makes the finger inflamed. There should be a half moon at the base of every healthy nail. Keep pushing the skin back, a little every day, till it is so. Keep the nails of a uniform length, not by cutting, but by filing. Nearly every pocket knife is furnished with a nail file, and a manicure file is not very expensive. Never file the nail itself, only, the end. Oil the nail with a little vaseline, and polish with a polisher, or with a piece of chamois leather or firm soft flannel, to make them smooth and rosy. Beds. So much of our time is passed in bed, that it is well to consider the beds upon which we repose. Let us examine this elaborate pile, designed to cushion our motionless forms, and lure the goddess of sleep. The prime requirement made by most of us is that the bed shall be comfortable. So there is usually heaped together an immense amount of springs, sacks of straw, sacks of feathers, bolsters, sheets, comfortables, blankets, spreads, and pillows, ad libitum. These are arranged with the utmost care, in such a manner as will best suit our tired frames, and give us a sense of present ease. We do not usually think farther. Seldom is asked the question, " How will this seem- ingly delightful couch affect my health ? " What we want is a comfortable bed. If it is so, why trouble ourselves farther ? If ODDS AND ENDS. 411 we get our present enjoyment at the expense of our future health, surely something is wrong. Good comfortable beds certainly are very desirable; but it is not necessary that health should be sacrificed in the enjoyment of them. It is too often the case that fine snowy sheets cover a vast amount of impurity. Many housekeepers who are models of neatness in all other respects, fail to make their beds fit resting places for the bodies of those who sleep therein. Many an inviting feather bed, upon which we throw ourselves with a grateful feeling of repose, has not been renovated for years. It is filled with an immense amount of impurity, drawn from the bodies of those who have slept thereon. Now we envelop ourselves in this sack of poison, simply because it is soft and covered with clean sheets. When we arise, we wonder at the depressing headache, and fail to account for the strange languor that has taken possession of us. All beds, no matter of what material they are composed, need renovating thoroughly and often. If any one has been ill with a contagious disease, the bed upon which he has lain should either be entirely discarded or thoroughly cleansed, and disinfected by soaking in water where there is either carbolic acid or spirits of ammonia. It should be afterward dried in the sun. Beware where you sleep! Better rest your weary frame upon a hard mattress than upon downy cushions filled with disease. Puke Water. Neither man nor beast can live long without this necessity. Pure water, like pure air, is indispensable to good health. To impure water can be directly traced many of the ills of life. It is both detrimental and dangerous to the life of man or beast. Then since it is so important that all should have their supply of water just as pure as possible, we cannot be too careful about it, so much is involved. Water is the most universal and powerful solvent known. 412 ODDS AND ENDS. Not only does it necessarily become impregnated with some of the materials of the strata through which it flows, even in deep wells, but it will be contaminated by putrifying organic substances on the surface of the earth near the well. Wells should be as far as possible from barn-yards, outhouses, and marshes, and should be on ground elevated above them. The earth is the great percolator; but although liquids may be filtered through several strata, their component parts will not be changed. So if a well is where the waste water from the house can filter into it, or filth from any other source, the water becomes heavily charged with impurities, and is thus ladened with germs of disease, which are sources of great danger. Typhoid fever and diphtheria often start in this way, depriving families and neighborhoods of many a loved one. The use of impure water for stock, while it is better than no water, is often attended with danger and damage. The disease germs will affect animals as well as men. Not long ago, several persons in one house were threatened with typhoid fever. The attending physician examined the surroundings, the well included, and found it full of typhoid germs. He carried home a little of the water, and placed some of the germs upon a piece of potato, which was given to a dog to eat after a few hours. The dog died the next day. Be careful about your water supply. Boots and Shoes. In all civilized and enlightened lands, people wear either boots or shoes; and it is desirable that all should understand how important to perfect health it is that the foot covering should be sensible and comfortable. They should be neither too large nor too small, too thick nor too thin. In this, as in all other matters, common sense should be exercised, and not pride or vanity. A boot or shoe very much too large will gall the foot: but there is not half the danger of getting them too large that there is of their being too small. A boot too thick and heavy is not a pleasant or comfortable thing to wear; but there is less ODDS AND ENDS. 41:^ danger of erring in this direction than of having them too thin. Shoes too thin and too low is the rule, and is where the danger lies. I want to emphasize this. Upon the sole of every low-cut shoe should be stamped, "Danger! Be careful!" Many a daughter has been carried to her grave, because she wore low-cut shoes unadvisedly. The danger has been pointed out time and again by observing physicians and sensible people; but does it do any good to raise the red flag and cry, Beware? Let the hectic flush, the pale cheek and the hollow cough of many of our girls who should be pictures of health, serve to emphasize the danger, and let their thin transparent hand point toward it. It may be then that others will select a shoe not quite so low, not quite so thin, not quite so narrow and pointed. It may be they will realize that they must be more careful about wearing slippers or thin soles in damp, cold weather, or on the dewy lawn. Boots and shoes with high, small heels are unhealthful things to wear. They bring the weight of the body upon the sensitive part of the foot, instead of upon the tougher heel. Who wonders so many ladies are nervous and irritable when the nerves, centering in the hollow part of the feet, are under constant irritation and strain? There are also many other troubles which are directly caused by French heels, and the unnatural gait they necessitate. A broad low heel is better, will give more comfort, and not so many a sprained ankle. In winter and wet weather a medium weight boot, with high top and thick soles, is the best for both sexes. Boots can be kept soft and pliable by an occasional application of castor oil; and if wet inside can be nicely dried without shrinking, by filling them wdth hot oats, and letting them stand a few hours. Cisterns. In this age of great improvements, a cistern is a necessity, not only to the house but often to the barn. As they are not expensive, all can afford them. The best ones have a wall either 414 ODDS ANDE NDS. of stone or brick, cemented on the inside. They are supplied in nnaiy instances with an appropriate filter, which is a great advantage. These are usually cheap arrangements, which let the water pass through sand, gravel or charcoal, or better still, all three combined. Should the water become stale or impure, it can be deodorized and purified by charcoal, which can be put loose into the water, or into a not too thick bag, and then sunk in the water. Where the water seems roily, it can be settled by pouring in pulverized alum, and letting it settle. The water should occasionally be all pumped or drawn out, the cistern rinsed well in clean water and wiped out dry. Cellars. The cellar is a convenient room, which should be kept dry and clean. If under the house, as most cellars are, it should be kept sweet by the admission of plenty of pure air and as much sunshine as possible — these are the two great renovators for cellars. Let no vegetables decay there, or rubbish decompose. Danger lurks in deep, dark, damp, unventilated cellars. Typhoid fever and diphtheria often generate there. A foul cellar poisons the whole house, and affects its inmates, fre- quently causing untimely death, which we lay to Providence. Then clean up and clean out. Sweep down cobwebs, carry out rubbish, w^iitewash the walls and ceiling. Disinfect with copperas, lime, carbolic acid, chloride of lime, or bromo chlo- ridum. Let in plenty of pure air and the health-bringing sunshine. The less wood in a cellar, the better it is. The floor should not be of wood, or at least it is better if made of stone. Cobble- stones placed upon the bottom of a cellar after it is properly graded, and pressed down into the earth, so as to make a firm foundation, then cemented over on top, makes a cheap, durable, and healthful cellar bottom. Out-door cellars can be cheaply made by digging into a bank, if there is one handy; or it can be made on a level, either partly ODDS AND ENDS. 415 below the surface of the ground or wholly above it. It cau be made perfectly frost-proof by haviug a double wall of stoue, brick, or timber, so that there is a free space for the air to circulate between the inner and outer walls. A cellar can also be made under a barn, where it will be serviceable for keeping roots and vegetables for stock, and will be easily accessible when wanted. Fires. Fire is a good servant, but a hard master. As the destruction of property by this means is often accidental, a few suggestions may help to guard you against carelessness in this direction, and also to know what to do should a fire break out. In seasons of the year when stubble, leaves and grass are very dry, care should be taken about setting fires, both in city and country, for fear of not being able to control them. Never permit any one to smoke in or around barns, shops, or buildings where there is litter which could be easily ignited. Be careful about leaving matches w^here mice or young children can get at them. Be careful about leaving young children, who lack judgment, alone with candles, lamps, or fire in any shape. In case of fire, remember that water, and the absence of air, are the great extinguishers. Do not open doors and windows, but keep them closed as much as possible. If it is from kero- sene oil, to smother with a cloth of some kind, or by pouring on flour, is better than to use water, which may only scatter the flames. If your clothing is on fire, do not run about getting more air to feed the flame, but smother it with a quilt, blanket, rug, or any heavy garment you can get hold of ; then pour on water to cool the clothing and skin, and the hot, burnt cinders, that will eat into the flesh. If a barn or stable containing horses is burning, throw some- thing over their heads to blind them before trying to lead them out, and when safely out, remove to some distance or conflne them so that they cannot rush back into the burning building to their destruction. 416 ODDS AND ENDS. Care of Wounds. In ordinary cuts, there is nothing better than glue or varnish. Press the parts together and apply. Where support and pres- sure are needed, and at the same time the wound must discharge, use mosquito netting, which is cool and not cumbersome. If there is no discharge from the wound, you can use the ordinary bandage. Pain from wounds can be much relieved by holding them in a smoke of wool or brown sugar on live coals. Vaseline is an excellent unguent for any wound. To prevent the discoloration of a bruise, there is nothing^ better than frequent applications of hot water. Bites of insects and bee stings are relieved by the application of aqua ammonia. For burns and scalds, one pint of sweet oil, and two drachms of carbolic acid, well mixed, makes a good application. Shake each time before using. Or, one teaspoonf ul of finely pulverized alum, mixed thoroughly with the whites of two eggs and a teacupful of fresh lard is excellent for a burn. Spread on a cloth and apply. The whites of eggs alone may be used for the same purpose. Another remedy is to cover with finely pulver- ized charcoal, or common cooking soda. Lime water and sweet oil used in equal parts are often applied with good result. Where the burn or scald involves a large portion of the body or limbs, the bran poultice is excellent. Simply apply moistened bran. It can be changed when desired, but not removed from the surface of the burn, as this often disturbs the patient^ prolonging the suffering. Cleaning Coat Collars. Take a piece of ammonia stone (carbonate of ammonia) the size of a walnut, and put it in a cup of warm water. When dissolved, take a piece of clean flannel and dip it into the solu- tion and rub the collar thoroughly. It will remove the gloss from seams and elbows. Aqua ammonia or benzine may be used. They are not expensive, and will not change the color of ODDS AND ENDS. 417 goods like soap-suds. Do not use benzine in a room where there is a light or a fire, as it is very inflammable. The Feet. The care of the feet is an important item in securing good health. This is a matter that receives far too little attention. r-Many of the hard colds that people take, that often injure the health and even destroy life, are traceable to improper care of the feet. Thin shoes or wet and cold feet do the mischief. Cold feet indicate an unbalanced circulation. Use a warm foot- bath, then dry and rub the feet with a coarse towel till the skin glows; this increases the circulation, and invites the blood to the extremities. Children should never be compelled or permitted to go to bed with cold, damp feet. Those in charge should see that the feet are warm and dry, if they would save them from croup, diph- theria, or fatal sore throat. Thick woolen stockings and strong boots with substantial heels must be worn whenever the weather is cold or damp. Attention to this will be a great saving in point of health, this being especially true of young ladies and children. Carpets. In sweeping, a carpet sweeper is best for brussels carpet. If a common broom must be used, it should be fine and light. In sweeping ingrain or rag carpets, coarse salt, slightly dampened and scattered over the carpet, will be found a great help in removing dust. The sweeping must, however, be very thorough, or the carpet will be sticky. Carpets should be aired and dusted often, as the fine dust and sand which gather on them cut the threads. Heavy brown paper is better than straw to place between the carpets and floor. A carpet paper is now made which is moth proof. If you have a spare bedroom, seldom used, you can make a cheap carpet that will last for years in this way. Go to the paper hangers, and select paper resembling carpet as nearly i.s 27 418 ODDS AND ENDS. possible. First paper the floor with heavy brown paper, then over this paste your wall paper. When the floor is all covered, size and varnish. Use dark glue and common furniture varnish. By putting rugs in front of the larger pieces of furniture, you have as pretty a floor as you can wish, and at a trifling expense. Cement foe Kerosene Lamp. Three parts of resin, one of caustic soda, and five of water. This composition is mixed with half its weight of plaster of Paris. It sets firmly in about three-quarters of an hour. Floors. Every home has a floor of some kind. If not carpeted, it should be oiled or painted, not only to look better, but to be more easily cared for. The painting may be done by a profes- sional painter, with the best of materials, or it can be done by home help, using cheaper material. Here is a very good recipe for a cheap floor paint: Soak half a pound of glue in water over night, then boil it to a jelly, using the water in which it was soaked. Mix yellow ochre and whiting with a little water to a light tint, and stir it into the glue. Apply when warm to the floor, which must be dry and free from grease. It quickly dries, when it needs a coating of linseed oil. A second coat can be applied if desired, after the first is thoroughly dried. Whitewash. Slake good stone lime by pouring on only a very little water at a time, continually repeating it, and never letting it get dry, as this burns the life out of it. When slaked, pour on water until it is of the consistency of milk, then to every three gallons, add half a pound of sulphate of zinc, stirring it well. It is then ready for use. Glue. An excellent liquid glue is made by dissolving glue in nitric ether. The ether will dissolve only a certain amount of ODDS AND ENDS. 419 glue, consequently the glue cannot be made too thick. Glue thus made is about the consistency of molasses and is doubly as adhesive as that made with hot water. If a few bits of India rubber are added, and the solution allowed to stand a few days, with frequent stirring, it will be all the better, and will resist dampness much better. Spontaneous Combustion. Spontaneous combustion is a source of great danger, and partly because it is not very well understood by the masses. Old clothes or rags, especially if saturated with grease or oil, should never be allowed to lie around loose or be stowed away closely in the garret or any other place. Whether dry or wet, they might take fire spontaneously; it is not improbable that many mysterious fires have been originated in this way. Then be careful about such rubbish and save yourself such a misfortune. Carpet rags, old carpets, paper rags, or any such thing, if stored in quantities, especially if crowded into small compass, are all liable to spontaneous combustion, and may do great harm. Great care should be taken in regard to the matter, and if such things must be stored in large quantities, an out-of-the-way building should be used. Cement for Broken China. Make a thick solution of gum arabic in water, then stir in plaster of Paris until the mixture becomes a sticky paste. Apply with a brush to the broken edges; stick them together and in three days the article cannot be broken in the same place. Useful Hints. Cultivate a habit of observation, that you may not go through the world without knowing what there is in it. Never fold down corners of book leaves. Never mark, deface or lend a borrowed book. Never handle a book with dirty hands. 420 ODDS AND ENDS. Mark all your linen — bed, table and personal linen — with indelible ink. It will prevent many losses. A common new steel pen may be used, or glass pen, which is more expensive. If you are a Christian, show your colors; you will command the respect of your conscience and associates, and the approval of God. Eat nuts with salt. It is a preventive of, and a remedy for indigestion, resulting from eating them. A little milk instead of soap may be used in washing dishes. Dampers in stove pipes, while they save wood, are injurious to health, by not permitting the pernicious gas generated by the combustion of fuel to escape from the room. Do not keep them closed tight, especially if burning coal. Keep grain bags clean and whole, and in a place where you can readily find them. You will save yourself much annoyance thereby. Never put pins or needles in the mouth; much suffering is often caused by their being accidentally swallowed. By all means preserve your family record. Sometime you may need it greatly. A suitable place for all writings and papers of importance is desirable. They can thus be kept together, saving much time and anxiety. A cloth sack filled with sand or bran and heated, is excellent as a means of artificial heat for the sick. Danger often arises through carelessness with matches. Keep them in a metal box, if possible, away from children and mice; and when you light one, be careful where you throw the burning stub. Raw onions grated fine and used warm make a good poultice to allay pain. They are excellent in a severe cold. Teach children method and order in all things from the first. Preserve your marriage certificate; you or your children may need it. ODDS AND ENDS. 421 Swimming ought to be a part of the education of every boy and girl. Many valuable lives may be saved yearly were all boys taught to swim. It is a strange fact that not one-half of our sailors know how to swim. No town in the land should be without its public swimming bath. To make a sewing machine run easy, oil the bearings with kerosene oil, and run the machine a few minutes; then wipe the gum and dust from the bearings, and oil with pure sperm oil. Kerosene should not be allowed to remain on the machine, as it gums up quicker than other oil. Never use anything but the purest oil, and the machine will rarely become gummed. A good fire-kindler is made by soaking a corn cob in kerosene oil. When needed, put in a cob, set fire to it, lay on the fuel, and your fire will burn. To loosen a fruit jar cover, place the top in hot water for a minute or two; it will then unscrew easily. To bake milk, put it in a jar or dish, cover with writing paper or otherwise, and let it stand in a moderately heated oven from six to ten hours. It will be very much like cream and is very nutritious. When churning butter, have the cream at the temperature of 55 degrees, or as near that as possible. Hot alum water is very useful to destroy insects. Put the alum into hot water, and let it boil until the alum is dissolved. Apply hot with a brush and you will destroy them. Scald floors while the carpets are up, to prevent moths. To keep cheese from molding, saturate a cotton or linen cloth with strong vinegar, and cover the cheese closely. Renew occasionally. It will prevent mold, and if well covered will keep flies and insects away. If you wish a good crop of strawberries, give them plenty of water. Continue the watering as long as they need it. To keep fish sweet, put a little vinegar on them. They will keep almost as good as on ice, some think even better. 422 ODDS AND ENDS. Intekest Tables. It very frequently occurs that the lady of the household finds it necessary to figure interest, and to make this book useful to her in that direction, very simple but complete tables at 6 and 7 per cent, are given: Example : Desired to obtain the interest on $1,111,00, for 1 year. 4 months, and 27 days, at 6 per cent. Turning to the tables you will see that the time is given in the left-hand column, the amounts on which you desire to find the interest are given at the heads of the various right-hand columns, the sum sought is found at the meeting of the lines to the right of the time, and down from the amount, as follows: The interest on |1,000, 1 year, at 6 per cent $60 00 100, " 10, " 1, " 1,000, 4 months, " 100, " 10, " 1, " 1,000, 27 days, " 100, " 10, " 1, " Whole sum of interest sought ^93 88 In the same manner, proceed with any other amounts, and if for more than one year, multiply the interest for one year by the number of years for which the interest is sought; if for twenty, thirty, sixty, or any other amount between ten and one hundred dollars, multiply the interest on ten dollars, by the number of tens in the amount, which gives you the whole sum of interest sought; the same rule holds good on hundreds, between one hundred and one thousand, and, also, on thousands. And, of course, the principle works the same on all of the tables, for the different rates of per cent. As the legal rate of interest in all States is six or seven per cent., we give these two tables only: 6 00 60 06 20 00 2 00 20 02 4 50 45 05 00 ODDS AND ENDS. 423 Interest Table, Six Per Cent. TIME 11 $2 |3 $4 $5 $6 $7 $8 $9 110 $100 $1000 1 DA-; -. ... 2 17 2 " .... 3 33 3 " .... 5 50 4 " .... 7 67 5 " .... 8 83 6 " .... 10 1 00 7 " .... 12 1 17 8 " .... 13 1 33 9 " ... 2 15 1 50 10 " .... 2 2 17 1 67 11 " .... 2 2 18 1 83 12 " .... 2 2 2 20 2 00 13 " ... 2 2 2 2 22 2 17 14 " .... 2 2 2 2 23 3 33 15 " .... 2 2 2 2 3 25 2 50 16 " .... 2 2 2 2 3 27 2 67 17 " .... 2 2 2 3 3 28 2 83 18 " .... 2 2 2 2 3 3 30 3 00 19 " .... 2 2 2 3 3 3 33 3 17 20 " .... 2 2 2 3 3 3 33 3 33 21 " .... 2 2 2 3 3 4 35 3 50 22 " .... 2 2 3 3 3 4 37 3 67 23 " .... 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 38 3 83 24 " ... 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 40 4 00 25 •• .... 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 42 4 17 26 '■ .... 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 43 4 33 27 " .... 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 45 4 50 28 " .... 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 47 4 67 29 " .... 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 48 4 83 1 MO .... 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 50 5 00 2 " .... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 00 10 00 3 " .... 2 3 5 6 8 9 11 12 14 15 1 50 15 00 4 " .... 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 2 00 20 00 5 " .... 3 5 8 10 13 15 18 20 23 25 2 50 25 00 6 ' . . 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 3 00 30 00 7 " .... 4 7 11 14 18 20 25 28 32 35 3 50 35 00 8 " ... 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 82 36 40 4 00 40 OO 9 " .... 5 9 14 18 23 27 32 36 41 45 4 50 45 00 10 " .... 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 5 00 50 Ort 11 " .... 6 11 17 22 28 33 39 44 50 54 5 50 55 00 1 TEA B... 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 6 00 60 00 424 ODDS AND ENDS. TIME 1 DAY 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 YEAR. $1 $2 . Interest Table, $3 $4 $5 Seven Per |6 $7 $8 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 2 2 2 2 2 4 5 7 9 11 12 14 16 18 19 21 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5 7 9 12 14 16 17 21 23 26 28 12 15 18 20 23 26 29 32 35 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 7 11 14 18 21 25 28 32 35 39 42 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 o u 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 8 12 16 20 25 29 33 37 41 45 49 Cent. |9 $10 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 9 14 19 23 28 33 37 42 47 51 56 37 42 47 53 58 63 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 11 16 21 26 29 32 35 2 3 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 12 18 23 41 47 53 58 64 70 $100 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 19 31 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 54 56 58 1 17 1 75 2 33 2 92 3 50 4 08 4 67 5 25 5 83 6 42 7 00 19 39 58 78 97 1 17 1 36 1 56 1 75 1 94 2 14 2 33 2 58 2 72 2 92 3 11 3 31 3 50 3 69 3 89 4 08 4 28 4 47 4 67 4 86 5 06 5 25 5 44 5 64 5 83 11 67 17 50 23 23 29 17 35 00 40 83 46 67 52 50 58 33 64 17 70 00 The Sick-Room — Make it Cheerful. — Mrs. St owe. CHAPTER XXXV. THE SICK ROOM. " E find the following^ excellent article in Common Sense in the fL Household , Xi^ " The sick chamber should be the most quiet and cheerful in the house — a sacred isle, past which the waves of domestic toil and solicitude glide silently. This is not an easy rule to obey. Whoever the invalid may be, whether the mother, father, or the sweet youngling of the flock, the foundations of the household seem thrown out of course while the sickness lasts. You may have good servants and kind friends to aid you, but the hitch in tlie machinery is not to be smoothed out by their efforts. The irregularity does not annoy you; you do not notice it if the attack be severe or dangerous. All other thoughts are swallowed up in the all-absorb- ing, ever-present alarm. You count nothing an inconvenience that can bring present relief, or possible healing to the beloved one; disdain for yourself, rest or ease while the shadow hangs above the pillow crushed by the helpless head. But when it passes, when the first transport of thankfulness has subsided into an abiding sense of -safety, the mind swings back to the accustomed pivot, and your eyes seem to be suddenly unbound. You find, with dismay, that the children have run wild, and the comfort of the whole family has been neglected during your confinement to the post of most urgent duty; with disjjleasure, that the servants have, as you con- sider, taken advantage of your situation to omit this task, or slur over that — in fine, that nothing has been done well, and so many 426 THE SICK ROOM. things left altogether undone, that you are Avorried out of your senses — a phase that too often signifies out of your temper. "And it is just at this juncture — when you are called to fifty points at once, and are on the verge of despair at the conglomera- tion worse conglomerated arising before you; fidgeting to pick up dropped stitches in the web you were wont to keep so even — that the invalid becomes most exacting. ' Unreasonable,' you name it to yourself, even though it be John himself who calls upon you every third minute for some little office of loving kindness; who wants to be amused, and fed, and petted, made generally comfort- able, as if he were a six-months-old baby; who never remembers that you must be wearied out with watching and anxiety, and that everything below-stairs is going to destruction for the Avant of a balance-wheel. The better he loves you the more apt is he to fancy that nobody but you can do anything for him; the more certain to crave something which no one else knows how to prepare. And when you have strained muscle and patience a little further to get it ready, and with prudent forethought made enough to last for several meals, it is more than probable that his fickle taste will suggest something entirely different for 'next time.' 'Just for a change, you know, dear. One gets so tired of eating the same thing so often! ' " He might be more considerate — less childish — you think, turn- ing away that he may not see your change of countenance. When you have taken so much pains to suit him exactly! It is harder yet when he refuses to do more than taste the delicacy you hoped would tempt him. " ' It is very nice, I suppose, my love,' says the poor fellow, with the air of a martyr, ' but it does not taste right, somehow. May be the children can dispose of i*. If I had a lemon ice, or some wine jelly, such as my mother used to make, I am sure I could relisli it. I always did detest sick people's diet!' " If he is very much shaken as to nerves, he will be likely to say, ' messes.' THE SICK ROOM. 427 "'I am fairly wild!' said a loving wife and mother and thrifty- housekeeper to me one day, when I called to see her. "She had just nursed her husband and three children through the influenza. All had been down with it at once. That form of demoniacal possession is generally conducted on the wholesale principle. " ' I am fairly wild!' said the worthy creature, with tears in her eyes. ' I cannot snatch a minute, from morning until night, to put things straight, and yet I am almost tired to death! I was saying to myself as you came in, that I wouldn't try any longer; I would just sit still until the dirt was piled up to my chin, and then I would get upon the table! ' " How often I have thought of her speech since, sometimes with a smile — more frequently with a sigh. But with all my pity for the nurse and housekeepei-, I cannot conceal from myself — I would not forget, nor let you forget for a moment — the truth that the sick one is the greater sufferer. It is never pleasant to be laid upon the shelf. The resting-place — falsely so-called — is hai'd and nari'ow and uneven enough, even when the tramp of the outer world does not jar the sore and faded frame; when there is no apparent need for the sick person to be upon his feet, and for aught that others can see, or he can say, he might just as well stay where he is for a month or two. But when, the rack of pain having been removed, the dulled perceptions of the mind re-awaken to sensitive- ness, and there comes to his ear the bugle-call of duty — sharp, imperative; — when every idle moment speaks to hira of a slain opportunity, and the no longer strong man shakes his fetters with piteous cries against fate, do not despise or be impatient with him. He is feverish and inconsiderate and capricious, because he is not himself. You see only the poor wreck left by the demon as he tore his way out of hira at the divine command. Gather it up lovingly in your arms and nurse it back to strength and comeliness. The sicTc should always be the chief object of thought and care Avith all in the household. If need be, let the dirt lie chin-deep everywhere 428 THE SICK ROOM. else, so long as it is kept out of that one room. There be jealous in your care that nothing offend sight or smell. " There should be no smell in a sick-room. To avoid this, let in the air freely and often. Cologne water will not dispel a foul odor, and disinfectants are noisome in themselves. Bathe the patient as frequently and thoroughly as prudence will allow, and change his clothing with the bed-linen, every day. Do not keep the medicines where he can see them, nor even let him witness the mixing of that which he is to swallow. As soon as his meals are over, remove every vestige of them from the room. Even a soiled spoon, lying on table or bureau, may offend his fastidious appetite. Cover the stand or waiter from which lie eats with a spotless nap kin, and serve his food in your daintiest ware. " My heart softens almost to tearfulness when I recall the hours, days, weeks, I have spent in the chamber of languishing, and the ingenuity of tenderness that, from my babyhood, has striven to cheat the imprisonment of weariness, and make me forget pain and uselessness. The pretty sur])rises daily invented for my entertain- ment; the exceeding nicety with which they were set out before me; the loving words that nourished my spirits when the body was faint unto death,~these are events, not slight incidents, in the book of memory. AVhen I cease to be grateful for them, or to learn from them how to minister unto others of the like consolation, may my heart forget to beat, my right hand lose her cunning. " Do not ask your charge what he would like to eat to-day. He will, of a surety, sicken with the effort at selection, and say, 'Nothing.' But watch attentively for the slightest intimatiL>n of a desire for any particular delicacy, and if you are assured il cannot hurt him, procure it, if you can, without letting him guess At your intention. Feed him lightly and often, never bring more into his sight than he can safely eat. A big bowl of broth or jelly will either tempt him to imprudence, or discourage him. ' Am I to be burdened with all that? ' cries the affrighted stomach, and will have none of it. While he is very weak feed him with your own hand. THE SICK ROOM. 429 playfully, as you woxild a child, talking cheerily of somethiiio- besides his food, and coaxing him into taking the needed nutriment as only a wife and mother can, or as nobody but John could beguile you to effoi't in the same direction. "Study all pleasant and soothing arts to while away the time, and keep worry of every kind away from him. A trifle at which you can laugh will be a burden to the enfeebled mind and body, and he has nothing to do but lie still and roll it over until it swells into a mountain. When he can be removed without danger, let him have his meals in another room, changing the air of each when he is not in it. Every one who has suffered from long sickness knows the peculiar loathing attendant upon the idea that all food is tainted Avith the atmosphere of the chamber in which it is served, and if eaten in bed tastes of the mattrass and pillows. The room and all in it may be clean, fresh, and sweet, but fancy cannot be dismissed. And it is wiser to humor than to reason with most sick fancies. " A hired nurse is a useful, often a necessary thing, but while you are upon your feet, and mistress of your own house, delegate to no one the precious task of catering for the dear sufferer. It is an art in itself. I hope a practical knowledge of it will be taught iu Women's Medical Colleges, when they are an established ' insti- tution' with us." Panada. Two thick slices of stale bread half an inch in thickness; cut ofi the crust, toast them a nice brown, cut them into squares of two inches in size, lay them in a bowl, sprinkle a little salt over them, and pour on a pint of boiling water. Arrow-Root Jelly, One cup boiling water, two heaping teaspoonfuls of best Bermuda arrow-root, one tea,:,poonf ul lemon-juice, and two teaspoonfuls white sugar. Wet the arrow-root in a little cold water, and rub smooth. Then stir into the hot water, which should be on the fire and 430 THE 6ICK ROOM. actually boiling at the time, with the sugar already melted into it. Stir until clear, boiling steadily all the while, and add the lemon- juice. Wet a cup in cold water, and pour in the jelly to fonn. Eat cold with sugar and cream, flavored with rosewater. Beef Tea. Cut all the fat from a pound of fresh beef, then cut the lean meat into small dice-like pieces; add one pint of cold water to draw out the juices; boil twenty or thirty minutes, skimming it carefully, then strain, and salt to taste. Another, better for the very sick, or for weak stomachs: Put the cut beef, prepared as above, into a wide-mouthed bottle, cork it so no water can enter; place it in a kettle of cold water; prop it so that it will stand firmly, and boil one hour; then set the kettle aside to cool. When cold, you can safely remove the bottle, and you have the simple juice or essence of beef. Beef Tea, No. 2. To one pound of lean beef add one and one-half tumblers of cold water; cut the beef in small pieces, cover and let it boil slowly for ten minutes, and add a little salt after it is boiled. Excellent. Chicken Panada. Skin the chicken and cut it up into joints; take all the meat off the bones, and cut up into small pieces; put it into a jar with a little salt, tie it down, and set it in a saucepan of boiling water. It should boil from four to six hours; then pass it through a sieve with a little of the broth. It could be made in a hurry in two hours, but it is better when longer time is allowed. Do not put the wings m the panada. Egg Cream. Beat a raw egg to a stiff froth; add a tablespoonful of white sugar, and half a glass of home-made blackberry or black cherry wine; beat well; add half a glass of cream; beat thoroughly and use at once. This is a full meal for an invalid, and is especially THE SICK ROOM. 431 good where trouble of throat, mouth or stomach prevents solid food being used. Soup for an Invalid. ■Cut in small pieces one pound of beef or mutton, or a part of both; boil it gently in two quarts of water; take off the scum, and, when reduced to a jiint, strain it. Season with a little salt, and take a teacupful at a time. Gruel. Mi.i: it tablespoonful of corn meal with a little cold water; add a eimall pinch of salt, and stir it smoothly into a pint of boiling water, and let it boil ; being constantly stirred for six or eight minutes. If sugar is desired, put it in with the cold meal and water, but add any flavor, as nutmeg or cinnamon, after removing it from the stove. Gruel should be very smooth, and should not have the faintest suspicion of a scorch about it. Always serve it neatly. Egg Gruel. Boil eggs from one to three hours until hard enough to grate; then boil new milk and thicken with the egg, and add a little salt. Excellent in case of nausea. Gruel for Infants. To make a gruel for infants suffering from marasmus, take one pint of goat's milk and the yolks of two eggs boiled sufiiciently bard to reduce to an impalpable powder; add a pint of boiling water, a little salt or sugar, and administer by a nursing bottle. Beef Jelly for Intaltds. Three small onions, three small or one and one-half large carrots, a few whole cloves and black pepper, one small teaspoonful of sugar, one slice of ham, two calf's feet, one and one-half pounds of beef. Put in the onions and other ingredients in succession. Place the ham on top, then the calf's feet, and lastly the beef; no water; put on the side of the range, and let is stand until reduced to a soft mass, then add a quart of water and let it boil one hour; strain and let stand until coid, then take off the fat. Use by dissolving a little in hot water. CHAPTER XXXVI. HEALTH ITEMS AND GRANDMOTHER'S , MEDICAL RECIPES. Receipt foe Cold. |NE pound of liverwort put into four quarts of water and boiled down to one quart; add, while warm, a quarter pound of ball liquorice and a quarter pound of loaf sugar; when cool add a half jDint of gin. Dose — half a large wineglass half an hour before each meal. Cough Mixture. Two ounces of gum arable, one ounce of paregoric elixir, two ounces of sugar, juice of one lemon; mix with six glasses of hot water. One wineglass to be taken morning, noon, and night. To Remove Warts. A daily application of either of the three following remedibs is effective in dispersing warts; Touch the wart with a little nitrate of silver (lunar caustic) ; or with nitric acid or aromatic vinegar. The lunar caustic pi'oduces a black, and the nitric acid a yellow stain, which passes off in a short time; the vinegar scarcely dis- colors the skin. Sparks of frictional electi'icity, repeated daily, by- applying the warts to the conductor of an electrical machine, have been also successfully employed as a cure for these troublesome and unsightly excrescences. To Prevent Nail Growing into the Toe. If the nail of your toe be hard, and apt to grow round, and into she corners of your toe, take a piece of broken glass and scrape the top very thin; do this whenever you cut your nails, and, by con- 432 HEALTH ITEMS. 433 stant use, it makes the corners fly up and grow flat, so that it is impossible they should give you any pain. Do not fail to try this. To Prevent the Nightmare. To prevent the nightmore, mix together ten grains carbonate of soda, three drachms compound tincture of cardamoms, one drachm simple syrup, and one ounce peppermint water. ^Repeat for several 'nights in succession; afterwards use for a few weeks the tonic aromatic mixture. Also a little Cayenne in scullcap tea will pre> vent an attack. Those who are habitually subject to nightmare should not sleep in a room alone, but have some person near them to arouse them when attacked with it. A person is most liable to nightmare when sleeping on his back; in fact, it rarely occurs iu any other posture. Those subject to it should therefore avoid sleeping in a bed which is hollow in the center, as this induces the sleeper to lie on his back. The bed should be level and not too soft, and the pillow moderate in thickness, so that the head is not raised too high. The Use op a Raw Egg. How often we hear women who do their own work say that bj the time they have prepared a meal, and it is ready for the table, they are too tired to eat! One way to mitigate this evil is to take, about half an hour before dinner, a raw egg, beat it until light, put in a little sugar, flavor it, and drink it down. It will remove the faint, tired-out feeling, and will not spoil your appetite for dinner.. Plenty of frpsh air in the kitchen does a good deal to relieve this> trouble, and you do not then take your dinner in " at the pores," a?- Dickens's old Joey declared he took in the wine. How TO Make a Sanb-Bag. Get some clean, fine sand, dry it thoroughly in a kettle on the- stove. Make a bag about eight inches square of flannel, fill it with the dry sand, sewing the opening carefully together, and cover the bag with cotton or linen cloth. This will prevent the sand from sifting out, and will also enable you to heat the bag quickly by 28 434 HEALTH ITEMS. placing it in the oven, or even on the top of the stove. After once using this no one will ever attempt to warm the feet and hands of a sick person with a bottle of hot water or a brick. The sand holds the heat a long time, and the bag can be tucked up to the back without hurting one. It is a good plan to make two or three of these bags, and keep them ready for use. Children with toothache can be put to sleep many a time with one. WoEM Remedy. One of the simplest and best remedies to be given to children, if they are troubled with worms, is poplar bark. A well-known phy- sician has used this for years with marked success. It can be bought at any drug store, and a little paper, costing five cents, will often prevent sickness, and possibly save a large doctor's bill. If a child looks white around the mouth, with flushed cheeks and bad breath, it is safe to infer that he is afflicted with worms. Take a little pinch of the bark, about as much as one would naturally take up on the point of a penknife, and give it before breakfast; it has a clean, bitter taste, and there is no difficulty in getting a child to take it if you explain what it is for. A good way to regulate a child's stomach and bowels is to give him a little bowl of oatmeal and milk every day, for breakfast or dinner; see that it is well salted, as salt promotes digestion. The ailments of a child who is in a normal condition almost always proceeds from the stomach, and much may be done for our children by paying some attention to their diet, and so avoid giving medicine as much as po^ible. Sleep as a Medicine. A physician says that the cry for rest has always been louder than the cry for food. Not that it is more important, but it is often harder to obtain. The best rest comes from sound sleep. Of two men or women otherwise equal, the one who sleeps the better will be the more healthy and efficient. Sleep will do much to cure irritability of temper, peevishness, and uneasiness. It will restore vigor to an over- worked brain. It will build up and make strong a HEALTH ITEMS. 43^ weak body. It will cure a headache. It will cure a broken spirit. It will cure sorrow. Indeed, we might make a long list of nervous* and other maladies that sleep will cure. The cure of sleeplessnes*' requires a clean, good bed, sufficient exercise to promote weariness pleasant occupation, good air, and not too warm a room, a clear conscience, an avoidance of stimulants and narcotics. For those who are over-worked, haggard, nervous, who pass sleepless nights, we commend the adoption of such habits as will secure sleep. New' Cure for Wounds. As soon as a wound is inflicted, get a little stick — a knife or a file-handle will do — and commence to tap lightly on the wound. Do not stop for the hurt, but continue until it bleeds freely and becomes perfectly numb. When this point is reached you are safe — all that is necessary is to protect it from dirt. Do not stop short of the bleeding and the numbness, and do not on any account close the opening with plaster. Nothing more than a little cerate on ? clean cloth is necessary. We have used and seen this used on al? kinds of simple punctures for thirty years, and never knew a single instance of a wound becoming inflamed or sore after treatment as above. Among other cases: A coal -rake tooth going entirely through the foot, a bad bite of a sucking pig, several instances of file-shanks through the hands, and numberless cases of rusty nails, awls, etc., but we never knew a failure of this treatment. A Mustard Plaster. How many people are there who really know how to make 9 mustard plaster? Not one in a hundred at the most, perhaps, and vet mustard plasters are used in every family, and physicians pre- 'cribe the application. The ordinary way is to mix the mustard with water, tempering it with a little flour. Such a plaster as this makes is abominable. Before it has half done its work it begins to blister the patient, and leaves him finally with a flayed, painful spot, after producing far less effect in a beneficial way than was intended. Now, a mustard plaster should never blister at all. If 436 HEALTH ITEMS. a blister is wanted, there are other plasters far better than mustard plasters. Then use no water, but mix the mustard with the white of an egg, and the result will be a plaster that will " draw " per- fectly, but will not produce a blister on the skin of an infant, no matter how long it is allowed to remain on the part, A Cure for Diphtheria. Dr. Chenery, of Boston, has lately discovered that hyposulphite of soda is the specific remedy against diphtheria — that so much dreaded ailment, which of late years has carried off many valuable lives. He reports a very large number of cases (one hundred and fifty within his own practice) saved by the use of this remedy. The dose of the hyposulphite is from five to fifteen grains or more in syrup, every two to four hours, according to age and circum- stances. It can do no harm, but if too much is given it will purge; as much as the patient can bear without purging is a good rule in the severer cases. The solution or mixture can be used in doses of five drops to half a drachm in milk. Bilious Headache. Dissolve and drink two teaspoonfuls of finely-powdered charcoal in one-half a tumbler of water. It will relieve in fifteen minutes; take a Seidlitz powder one hour afterward. A Remedy for Cold Feet. Every night on going to bed, dip the feet in shallow, cold water, X.WO or three times quickly, then rub briskly with a coarse towel till dry; then take hold of eadh end of the towel and draw it back and forth through the hollow of the foot until a glow is excited. The Opium Habit. An eminent New York physician writes to the Sun that the only sure cure for the opium habit is in "tapering off," diminishing eaob dose by infinitesimal deductions, so that the system may adapt, itself to the change. He cured himself in this manner, and ha? discovereKl that many of the advertised remedies proceed on the HEALTH ITEMS. 437 aame principle. His habit was to put thii-ty grains of morphine in an eight ounce bottle, and take a teaspoonful of the mixture, con- taining one grain of morphine, four times a day. In his next bottle he put but twenty-nine grains, in the next but twenty-eight, and so on. The change was very gradual, and caused no shock to the system; and the habit never returned. Antidotes for Poison. Soda, salt, vinegar, chalk, raw eggs, mustard, sweet oil, soap, and milk, are powerful remedies for poisons, and are in every house. Send for a doctor, but do not wait for dootor or druggist; go to work. If the poison is an alkali, vinegar is a remedy. Freely drinking of new milk, continuing to drink even when the stomach returns the milk, will destroy even arsenic poisoning. If sulphuric or oxalic acid has been taken, swallow a quantity of chalk; the whites of raw eggs stirred up and swallowed, taking six, eight or more successively as fast as possible, will destroy poisons, as corrosive sublimate; mustard, stirred in soft water and freely drunk, will cause vomiting and destroy poison. Any kind of oil, as olive, linseed or common lard oil, will also destroy poison. Phosphorus, as when children suck matches, give a tablespoonful of magnesia and then freely gum arable water; less magnesia if only a little phosphorus is taken. Opium, as laudanum poisoning, needs a strong emetic; a table- spoonful of mustard in a glass of warm water, or a half teaspoonful of powdered alum in as little water or coffee as will carry it down, and repeat the dose. Strychnine also demands a very quick emetic, as above, or a heavy dose of ipecac. Opium poison needs also friction, fanning, shak- ing, cold water on the head, and all efforts to arouse the patient. Nitrate of silver needs warm salt water until a free vomit. Ammonia taken raw by accident; give new milk, olive oil, in ice bits, bind ice on the throat. Sugar of lead needs lemon-juice, vinegar, raw tomatoes, and finally a good dose of Epsom salts. 438 HEALTH ITEMS. Piusi-iio acid, or fruit-stone poisoning, demands a good emetic, end administer freely ammonia and water. Antimony is corrected by very strong green tea, and alum water. After all these remedies, empty the stomach by a clear, warm- irater emetic, and keep the patient in bed on a raw-egg diet for thirty hours. External Use of Castor Oil. The London Medical Journal gives reports from various prac- titioners who have found purgative results follow the inunction of castor oil. One writer states that he has frequently applied this oil to the abdomen, under spongiopiline or other waterproof material, in cases where the usual way of administering by tlie mouth seemed undesirable, and with the most satisfactory consequences. In a case of typhoid fever, also, half an ounce of castor oil was apj^lied in this manner, under a hot water fomentation, the effect of this being as represented, to relieve the constipation and tympanitic distention that had been present, without undue purging or irritation of the bowels. Treatment of the Supposed Drowned. Dr. Benjamin Howard, in a lecture delivered before the British Medical Association on the "Direct Method of Artificial Respira- tion for the Treatment of the Supposed Drowned," gives some very useful hints for this emergency. Dr. Howard, finding that the directions recommended by the Royal Humane Society worked unsatisfactorily, were in many respects difficult for other than medical men to follow out and required the co-opei"ation of at least two persons, investigated the whole question of the treatment of the apparently di'OAvned, and sets forth his objections to the whole system, and his arguments in favor of that proposed by himself. His rules are short and simple, being as follows: Instantly turn the patient downwards with a large roll of clothing under stomach and chest. Place one of his arms under his forehead so as to keep his mouth off the ground. Press with all your weight two or three times, for four or five seconds each time, upon the patient's HEALTH ITEMS. 439 back, so that the water is j^ressed out of lungs and stomach, and drains freely out of the mouth. Then quickly turn patient's face upwards, with roll of clothing under back, just below the shoulder blades, and make the head hang back just as low as possible. Place patient's hands above his head, kneel with patient's hips between your knees, and fix your elbows firmly against your hips. Now — grasping lower part of patient's naked chest — squeeze his two sides together, pressing gradually forward with all your weight for about three seconds, until your mouth is nearly over mouth of patient; then, with a push, suddenly jerk yourself back. Rest about three seconds; then begin again, repeating these bellows- blowing movements with perfect regularity, so that foul air may be pressed out and pure air be drawn into the lungs about eight or ten times a minute, for at least one hour, or until the patient breathes naturally. These directions must be used on the spot, the first instant the patient is taken from the water. A moment's delay, and success may be hopeless. Prevent crowding around the patient; plenty of fresh air is important. Be careful not to interrupt the first short natural breaths. If they be long apart, carefully con- tinue between them the bellows-blowing movements as before. After breathing is regular, let patient be rubbed dry, wrapped in warm blankets, take hot spirits and water in small occasional doses and then be left to rest and sleep. Cure fob Burns. The following cure was successfully tried by a lady upon one of her own children, who was severely burned by a little companion: She wrapped it up completely with cotton wool or wadding, so that not a breath of air could touch the body, and night and day kept it saturated with vinegar, which caused the pain to cease immediately. She persevered until the fresh young skin had formed a sufficient covering of its own underneath. Her husband, who did not enter quite so readily into her system, lifted a little of the wadding from the cheek one day when she was out, and was charmed to see the 440 HEALTH ITEMS. new skin growing so well; but the spot on the cheek was the only- scar the child had when quite recovered. A quill leading to the mouth served for it to breathe and be fed by. Grandmother's Salve for Everything. Two pounds of rosin and half a cup of mutton tallow after it is hard, half as much beeswax, and half an ounce of camphor gum; put all together into an old kettle, and let it dissolve and just come to a boil, stirring with a stick ; then take half a pail of warm water, just the chill off, pour it in and stir carefully until you can get your hands around it. Two persons must each take half and pull like candy until quite white and brittle; put a little grease on your hands to prevent sticking, and keep them wet all the time. Wet the table, roll out the salve, and cut it with a knife. Keep it in a cool place. Cholera RemedYo Mix in a small bottle equal parts of tincture of opium (lauda- num), rhubarb, capsicum, camphor, spirits of nitre, and essence of peppermint, double strength. Shake well, and cork tight. Doser From five to thirty drops every fifteen minutes. Dose for children' From two to ten drops. Fig Paste for Constipation. One-half pound of good figs chopped fine, one-half pint of molasses, two ounces powdered senna leaves, one drachm finely-pow- dered coriander seed, one drachm finely-powdered cardamom seed. Put the molasses on the stove and let it come to a boil, then stir in all the rest and bring to a boil again. A teaspoonful once in a while is a dose. It will keep, when covered, for a year. Cure for Chilblains. Place red hot coals in a vessel, and throw upon them a handful of corn meal; hold the feet in the dense smoke, renewing the coals and the meal, till the pain is relieved. This has been known to make very marked cures when all other remedies had failed. HEALTH ITEMS. 441 For Canker Sore Mouth. Burn a corn cob and apply the ashes two or three times a day. Cube for Corns. The strongest acetic acid, applied night and morning, will cure hard and soft corns in a week. Ring Worm, Put a penny into a tablespoonful of vinegar; let it remain until it becomes green, and wash the ring worm with this two or three times a day. Cure For Rheumatism and Bilious Headache. Finest Turkey rhubarb, half an ounce; carbonate of magnesia, one ounce; mix intimately; keep well corked in glass bottle. Dose: One teaspoonful, in milk and sugar, the first thing in the morning; repeat till cured. Tried with success. For Felon. As soon as the pulsation which indJcates the disease is felt, put directly over the spot a fly blister about the size of your thumb nail, and let it remain for six hours, at the expiration of which time, directly under the surface of the blister, may be seen the felon, which can be instantly taken out with the point of a needle or a lancet. For Felon, No. 2. Take common rock salt, as used for salting down pork or beef, dry in an oven, then pound it fine and mix with spirits of turi)en- tine in equal parts; put it in a rag and wrap it around the parts affected; as it gets dry put on more, and in twenty-four hours you are cured. The felon will be dead. Toothache. At a meeting of the London Medical Society Dr. Blake, a distin- guished physician, said that he was able to cure the most desperate 442 HEALTH ITEMS. case of toothache, unless the disease was connected with rheuma- tism, by the application of the following remedy: Alum reduced to an impalpable powder, two drachms; nitrous spirits of ether, seven drachms; mix and apply to the tooth. Tried with success. Cure eor Neuralgia. A friend who suffered horrible pains from neuralgia, hearing of a noted physician in Germany who invariably' cured the disease, went to him, and was permanently cured after a short sojourn. The doctor gave him the remedy, which was nothing but a poultice and tea made from our common field thistle. The leaves are macerated and used as a poultice on the parts affected, while a small quantity of the same is boiled down to the proportion of a quart to a pint, and a small wineglass of the decoction drank before each meal. Our friend says he has never known it to fail of giving relief, while in almost every case it has effected a cure. God gave herbs for the healing of the nations. Tincture of Iodine on Corns. Dr. Bajis states that corns may be rapidly cured by the applica- tion of the tincture of iodine; the corn disappearing in the course of a few days, if touched with the tincture several times a day. If the corn be situated between the toes, it should be covered with a piece of linen steeped in a mixture of the tincture and glycerine. Smallpox Remedy. The following remedy a friend tried in Ohio in a case of con- fluent smallpox, when the doctor had little hope of saving the patient, and it saved the 'woman's life. The remedy is sure in scarlet fever. " I herewith append a recipe which has been used to my own knowledge in a hundred cases. It will prevent or cure the smallpox, even though the pittings are filling. When Jenner discovered cow pox in England, the world of science hurled an avalanche of fame upon his head, and when the most scientific school of medicine in the world (that of Paris) published this pan- HEALTH ITEMS. 443 acea for the smallpox, it passed unheeded. It is as unfailing as fate, and conquers in every instance. It is harmless when taken by a well person. It will also cure scarlet fever. Take sulphate of zinc, one grain; fox glove {digitalis) one grain; half a teaspoonful of water. When thoroughly mixed, add four ounces of water. Take a spoonful every hour, and either disease will disappear in twelve hours. For a child, smaller doses, according to age." For Hydrophobia. Franklin Dyer, a highly respectable farmer of Galena, Kent County, Md., gives the following as a sure cure for the bite of a mad dog. He has tested it with most gratifying results: Elecam- pane is a plant well known and found in many gardens. Imme- diately after being bitten, take one and a half ounces of the root of the plant, the green root is preferable. The dried, to be found in drug stores, will answer; bruise it, put it in a pint of fresh milk, boiled down to half a pint, strain, and when cold drink it, fasting at least six hours afterwards. The next morning repeat the dose, fasting, using two ounces of the root. On the third morning, take another dose prepared as the last, and this will be sufficient. After each dose, nothing to be eaten for at least six hours. I had a son who was bitten by a mad dog eighteen years ago, and four other children in the neighborhood were also bitten. They took the above, and are now alive and well. I have known many who were cured. It is supposed that the root contains a principle, which, being taken up by the blood in its circulation, counteracts or neu- tralizes the deadly effect of the virus of hydrophobia. I feel so much confidence in this simple remedy that I am willing you shouM give my name in connection with this statement. Flaxnels for Fomttittation. Fold the flannel the size to fit over the top of a pot of boiling water, and cover with a lid; in a few minutes it will be hotter than if wrung out of boiling water and yet dry at the corners; roll it up covered, and convey quickly to the patient. 444 HEALTH ITEMS. Foe Hoarseness. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon in a pint bowl, add loaf sugar (two tablespoonfuls), one teaspoonful of glycerine, and one table- spoonful of whiskey; pour over this boiling hot water to nearly fill the bowl, and drink hot just before going to bed. Foe Soee Throat. Cut slices of salt pork or fat bacon; simmer a few moments in hot vinegar, and apply to throat as hot as possible. When this is taken off, as the throat is relieved, put around a bandage of soft flannel. A gargle of equal parts of borax and alum, dissolved in water, is also excellent. To be used frequently. Healing Lotion. One ounce glycerine, one ounce rose-water, ten drops carbolic acid. This preparation prevents and cures chapping of the skin, and at the same time bleaches it. It is also excellent for sore lips and gums. To Prevent Contagion feom Eeuptive Diseases. Keep constantly, in plates or saucers, sliced raw onions in the sick room, if possible. As fast as they become discolored, replace by fresh ones. During any epidemic of skin diseases that are eruptive, onions, except those taken fresh from the earth, are unsafe, as they are i^eculiarly sensitive to disease. Foe Toothache. Of powdered alum and fine salt, equal quantities; apply to the tooth and it will give speedy relief. Foe Headache. Pour a few di'ops of ether on one-half ounce of gum camphor and pulverize; add to this an equal quantity of carbonate of ammo- nia pulverized; add twenty droj^s peppermint; mix and put in an open-mouthed bottle and cork. HEALTH ITEMS. 445 To Stop Bleeding. A handful of flour bound on the cut. To Restore from Stroke op Lightning. Shower with cold water for two hours; if the patient does not show signs of life, put salt in the water, and continue to shower an iour longer. Salve for Chilblains. Fry out nicely a little mutton tallow; into this while melted, and after it is nicely strained, put an equal quantity of coal oil; stir well together while it is cooling. To Remove Discoloration from Bruises. Apply a cloth wrung out in very hot water, and renew fre- quently until the pain ceases. Or, apply raw beefsteak. Cure for Wasp Sting. Apply a poultice of saleratus water and flour, and bind on the sting. Apply slices of raw onion for a bee sting. Cure for Summer Complaint. Two ounces tincture rhubarb, one of paregoric, one-half of essence of peppermint, one-half of essence of anise, one half of prepared chalk. Dose for adult, one teaspoonful in a little water; take as often as needed. The Best Deodorizer. Use bromo-chloralum in the proportion of one tablespoonful to eight of soft water; dip cloths in this solution and hang in the rooms; it will purify sick rooms of any foul smells. The surface of anything may be purified by washing well and then rubbing over with a weakened solution of bromo-chloralum. A weak solu- tion is excellent to rinse the mouth with often, when from any cause the breath is offensive. It is also an excellent wash for sores and wounds that have an offensive odor. CHAPTER XXXVI L CARE AND CULTURE OF CHILDREN, SleePo ^ N infant in sound health will sleep almost continually during 3!^\^ the first four or five weeks of its life. All that is necessary in the interval is to guard against accidents likely to create disturbancCo Of these injurious incidents, deficiency of warmth, want of ^cleanliness, and over-fatigue, are the most liable to occury converting the happiest period of development into a restless state /)i being, alike pernicious to parent and child. As though to indicate the necessity for this lengthy repose, the sense of hearing in a new-born babe is very dull. Ordinary con- versation does not disturb an infant's slumbers, although loud, sudden noises may have that effect. In most instances, a babe does not appear to be conscious of sounds until about the fifth or sixth week of its existence. In the meantime the necessary disturbances are confined to being suckled, washed, and changed; for which duties occasion should be taken during the short wakeful intervals which happen when hunger prevails. So valuable is the repose which sleep affords throughout the whole period of early childhood, that too much pains cannot be taken to cultivate the habit from the earliest moment; for, be it <)bserved, sleep is essentially a habit of our nature, and its recur- rence depends chiefly on regularity of living and good health. At appointed times, and certain places, infants should be encouraged to submit to sleep. Let them understand that, after food and exercise, it is time to go to bed; and a lesson will have been learned 446 CARE AND CULTURE OF CHILDREN. 447 wbich will require no undue force to put into practice during the term of nursery life. Infants born in the winter and during the cold months of spring, require to sleep at the mother's side for the first few weeks; accord- ing to one authority, " for the first few months, as it requires the warmth of another person's body, especially in winter," But t'ua strength of the child, as well as the weather, must carry thei^ due weight in determining the length of the time. Doctors differ on this point. At all events, it should lie alone when sufticiently sti'^ng 448 CARE AND CULTURE OF CHILDREN. to bear it; when sleeping with the mother it should not, on that account, be the oftener suckled; the mischief of the latter habit does not end with the over-taxed digestion of the child. Few mothers are able to stand the drain thus made upon their strength, and in consequence, " nursing " has to be given up much sooner than would otherwise be necessary. The natural time for slumber, in very early life, is immediately after taking food. As the young of almost all creatures show this disposition, there can be no harm in following the dictate. Oppor- tunity, then, should be taken to lay the child in its bed, whether awake or not, after having been fed. A little later in life, when digestion is stronger, and the stomach is better able to dispose of a heavy meal, an interval is necessary between taking nourishment and going to sleep. The utmost vigilance is generally necessary to prevent the habit of sleeping in the nurse's arms from being contracted. Most nurses enjoy a doze in front of the fire — a luxury well earned by, perchance, a broken night's rest; but with infants no such necessity is felt. Still, if they are once allowed to feel the soothing influence of the fire's warmth, combined with the soft and pleasant mechanical movement of the nurse's knees, they speedily get rebellious against attempts to make them lie alone in the crib. In engaging a nurse, it is advisable to have it clearly understood that the babe is not to be nursed on the lap when asleep. The best-trained child, however, will not return peacefully to its cot if the bedding is not perfectly dry and comfortable. After the child has been lifted out, " changed," and fed, the pillow and mat- tress should be well shaken and, if necessary, wet blankets replaced by dry ones. Having put the infant back, the light should be par- tially screened or extinguished. These arrangements require to be made in a very methodical manner, and will have to be repeated a few times to be fully understood by the child. If, at the outset, a cry of resistance should be heard when it is time to go back to bed, a wise mother will conceal herself from sight, and turn a deaf ear CARE AND CULTURE OF CHILDREN. 449 Sooner or later this hreaking-in will have to take place, and the longer it is delayed, the greater will be the trouble. About the age of three months, an infant does not usually require night-feeding more frequently than when the mother retires to rest, and again toward five or six in the morning. At this age the faculty of observation begins generally to show itself, and affords a golden opportunity to convey right impi-essions to the plastic infant mind. The first objects of which a child takes notice are those which are employed in supplying its personal wants. Thus the sight of a nursing-bottle wi?l generally set a child to crying for food. In like manner it is a good plan to appropriate certain coverings to the use of an infant when " sleeping-time " is in question. The writer has known a gaily-colored knitted rug to set the tiny inmates of a nursery yawning from the mere associations which the familiar wrapper suggested. Each infant in turn had been enveloped in that rug preparatorj'- to going to sleep, and they had not a thought of resisting its influence. The habit of taking a mid-day nap may be advantageously observed till the age of three or four years has been attained. Even if the child be not sleepy it is advisable to let it lie in its cot for a certain time after having taken exercise, and before dinner. If any inducement is necessary, there is no reason why a few toys or a picture-book should not be allowed in bed. Pretending to hush a doll to sleep, for instance, will often send the child itself to sleep, and is as good a ruse as can be adoj^ted. Before putting the inmates of a nursery to bed, the room should be darkened, and the nurse should betake herself, if possible, to an adjoining room for any occupation she may have to fulfill. Care is needed not to arouse a child too suddenly from its slumbers. Allow it, on all occasions to waken of its own accord. A notion is prevalent that much sleeping by day lessens the power of sleeping by night; but this is an error. As a general rule the more a child sleeps the more it wants to sleep. Wakefulness is generally caused by over-fatigue and excitement, and is a posi' 450 CARE AND CULTURE OF CHILDREN. lively painful state to the sensitive organism of a young child. This description of suffering admits of no alleviation but from sleep; reprimands and additional food only inci'ease the sufferer's torment. It ought not to be necessary to point out the danger of giving narcotics to young children. But so long as such remedies as "teething powders," etc., are recommended, we must not be sup- posed to ignore the fact that the true nature of such drugs is, not to facilitate the process of cutting teeth, but to lull restless infants into an unnatural sleep. Long before any disturbance of a child's health is likely to occur from teething, these compounds are apt to be administered simply to secure a quite night's rest. The restlessness complained of arises, nine times out of ten, from flatulence and indigestion. A fit of sleeplessness may, in very many instances, be terminated by wrapping the infant in a warm covering, and exer- cising it in an apartment of lower temperature than the nursery. In more advanced childhood than we have hitherto spoken of, the importance of sleep is undiminished, and should be observed with regularity. No invariable rule can be laid down for general observance, but most children between the ages of four and seven years require, at least, twelve hours' sleep. Ten hours are supposed to be needful for school boys, and eight for adults. Few childrer* under ten years of age can be kept out of their beds after ten o'clock without injury to their health. When once awake in the morning, they should be accustomed to rise at once. Most parents go to their childrens' rooms before retiring. The chief object in these visits is to see whether the little ones be sufli- ciently covered, and that no draughts be felt from open windows and doors. In the winter, a few hours after being put in bed, most young children require a little additional covering, owing to the body having lost some of its warmth during sleep. Another precaution to be taken is, that the children's heads be suflicientl}^ raised to prevent their breathing the air emitted from their lungs. This CARE AND CULTURE OF CHILDREN. 451 habit, if not necessarily fatal, is certainly liable to lay the seeds of a consumptive state, and to produce an impaired constitution, A single small pillow is generally sufficient. One blanket should always be placed with the selvage ends across the bed, in order to allow ])lenty of room to turn in under the mattress. Children generally sleep more comfortably, and suffer less from cold feet, if their bedding be slightly raised at the foot. Exercise. During the first few weeks of life, the disposition to sleep indi- cates the necessity for avoiding anything like excitement to prema- ture activity. With limbs and muscles undeveloped, and mental powers unformed, the only exertion to which a very young child should be subjected is that which is occasioned by being washed and dressed. Gentle chafing of the limbs before a fire may be practiced morning and evening with benefit and pleasure to the babe. Not until an infant voluntarily seeks movement, or the dawning intelligence evinces pleasure in passing objects should any attempt be made to disturb the order of things established by nature. This change may generally be observed about the third month. In the meantime, the more tranquil an infant can be kept, both in mind and in body, the greater ai'e the chances of unchecked development at the proper period. The practice of too many nurses is at variance with these simple rules. Uninformed, generally, respecting the structure of the human frame, they are apt to apply principles of exercise totally unfitted to the tender organism of infancy. Hence the objection' able habit of jog-trotting on the knee, together with the pernicious practice of inducing the babe to sujjport its head before the spine is strong enough to bear the weight. The period when it is safe to encourage an infant to sit upright is at the age of seven months. Previously to that time the body should be held only in a semi- erect posture, either by resting across the nurse's shoulder, or by placing the distended palm of her hand against the child's chest. It is more necessary to observe these precautions against spinal 452 CARE AND CULTURE OF CHILDREN. weakness in time, because children who may have been injurionslj managed at the outset become restless when it is attempted to keep them in a reclining posture. An exercise very congenial to the inclination of a baby consists- in spreading cushions upon the floor for it, upon which to spread itself. If no cushion be at hand, a clean cot mattress will answer equally well. All little ones revel in freedom from the restrained posture of the nurse's arms. The above exercise is the first step toward learning to creep — the most healthful and natural mode of progression in babyhood. Some over-anxious j^arents check this habit, lest it should bring the infant into danger. Harm, however, seldom results, provided common precautions be taken. Another prejudice sometimes entertained against creeping is that, if a child finds how easy it is to get along on the hands and knees, it will not try to walk. Here, again, the fears are unfounded. All children are anxious to get upon their feet as soon as they feel themselves strong enough to do so; but many children do not walk before they are from twelve to fourteen months old. In the meanwhile creep- ing brings every limb into play in manner proportionate to an infant's strength. The best dress for the creeping age is the one in which little French children are usually attired — a sort of Knicker- bocker suit, warm and loose, with trousers and vest all of one piece. The stage at which infants begin to walk demands the exercise of a considerable amount of self-control on the part of the parents,, inasmuch as falls are inevitable. These appear to a looker-on to be of a more serious nature than they really ai*e. Provided a child does not fall from a greater elevation than his own height, injury very seldom occurs from these tumbles. The most dangerous falls are those from spring mattresses and seats. The suddenness of the jerk prevents a child from saving itself by the exercise of the momentary instinct which is usually displayed in other cases of impending danger. Left to themselves, little folks generally fall neatly, and manage to keep their heads uppermost. The cry which is heard after these accidents arises from surprise and mortification.. Put the Children to Bed Happy, and They Will Rise Cheerful in the Morning. — Franklin. CARE AND CULTURE OF CHILDREN. 453 and the trouble is best treated as a joke. If, instead of catching the child iip in her ai-ms and smothering it with caresses, accompa- nied with expressions of sympathy, the nurse said, in a cheerful voice, "Jump up, and see where you sat last," the child's mind would be diverted, and braced to fresh exertions. As soon as the child is able to leave the house, it should pass as much of the time as possible in the open air. Even sleeping out of -doors does no harm provided proper clothing be w^orn. Warm <3lothing for the chest, arms, legs, feet, and loins is essential. The head should be kept cool, and the face covered with a light gauze material only. As a general rule, the head-gear of an infant should admit of the free passage of the air inhaled and exhaled both by day and by night. Perambulators, under careful guidance, are a real boon to both jiurse and child. If the babe be healthy, and the weather suitable, there is no reason why infants should not, almost from the com- mencement, take daily exercise in a perambulator. Children from the age of a year old thrive better when exercised in the open air in a perambulator than when carried in the nurse's arms. Less fatigue in carrying ensures less risk from nurse sitting down to rest. It is seldom that cold is taken when passing briskly through the air; standing still in draughty places is always most carefully to be guarded against. Two little ones can be exercised in a double .perambulator at an age when two nurses would be required to afford separate exercise to each child. When the exercise of walking ceases to be a pleasurable excite^ ment, some inducement is needful to get little folks along. The daily walk consequently becomes a trial of patience to nurse and child. The best way to obviate this difficulty is to make the walk a secondary object, and some attendant amusement the ostensible one, such as playing at horses, etc. Muscular exercise, adapted to more advanced childliood, has received an important accessory in the form of gymnastic appa- ratus, of great variety and simplicity. They are made for diffei<* Fruit cup 14*> Cream of tartar drink 147 Jelly drinks 147 Simon-pure lemonade 147 Jelly lemonade 147 Ginger lemonade 148 Berry sherbet 14S Excellent mead 14^ IX. Eggs and Omelettes. Remarks 140 Breaded eggs 150 Egg a la mode 150 How to bake eggs 150 Egg baskets 150 To pickle eggs 151 Scrambled eggs — 151 To poach eggs 151 Stuffed eggs 15'-i Omelette (2) 1?5 Apple omelette l->' Oyster omelette 153 Omelette souffle 1};^ French omelette 153 Omelette with ham 154 Eggs a la bonne femme 154 X. Fresh Fruits. Pine-apples 155 A nice way to prepare apples 15o To stew apples 155 Bananas and cream 155 To crystallize fruit 155 To keep grapes 15o Melons 15° Oranges 1™ Candied cherries 15?. Stewed pears 15' Glace cherries 157 Candied lemon-peel 1-" XI. Canning Frcit. General directions 159 Table for canning fruit Iw Apple sauce IJ^O Canning pine-apple J™' Canning pine-apple IJ;} Canning berries ijj} Canning pears 1*' J Canning peaches it;i Dried peaches • — i*"* xn. Ices anp Ice-Creams» Remarks — 1^'] Berry cream ijl* Buml i^'xiifr *.o»-o"<»ajn 1" Pagb Chocolate ice-cream 164 Coffee ice-cream 164 Lemon ice-cream 164 Peach ice-cream 165 Pine-apple ice-cream 165 Orange ice-cream 165 Strawberry and raspberry ice-cream. . . 165 Vanilla ice-cream 165 Cocoanut ice-cream 165 Frozen tapioca custard 166 Frozen rice custard 166 Frozen sago custard 166 Water-ices 166 Cherry water-ice and nut cream 166 Strawberry water-ice 167 Raspberry water-ice 167 Burnt almond ice-cream and orange ice. 167 Biscuit glaces 168 Rateffe biscuit cream 168 Tutti frutti 168 Gelatine paste for ornamenting ices. . 169 Pine-apple sherbet 169 To color ice creams or water-ices 169 xni. Icings. Remarks 1^1 Almond icing 171 Boiled icing (2) 171 Chocolate icing (2) 171 Chocolate icing Ii^ Clear icing for cake 172 Icing for cakes 172 Tutti frutti frosting l;i^2 Lemon frosting 172 Ornamental icing 1;;,* Yellow icing 1 ^3 Rose coloring 1 ' 3 XTV. Jams and Jellies. Remarks 174 Apricot jam 1;|.5 Marmalades and jams 1;;^5 Apple jams ._ 1^5 Berry or currant ]am i • o Grape, gooseberry, or plum jam 176 Apple marmalade 176 Orange marmalade 176 Pine-apple marmalade 177 Peach marmalade 177 Quince marmalade 177 Plum marmalade 178 Pumpkin marmalade 1 ' 8 Apple jelly.... 1^^ Blackberry Ijelly Ji^ Cranberry jelly 1^^ Crab-apple jelly ^^^ Currant jelly J'^ Currant nelly ]^ Grape jelly ]^ Peach jelly }^} Pie-plant jelly ■ ■ ]%} Quince jelly (2) 181 Coffee jelly. 1^^ Lemon snow jelly ^^ Lemon jelly ig Orange jelly i|? Wine jelly ]^l Mouldiness ^ 468 CONTENTS. XV. Mushrooms. Page Remarks 184 Mushrooms au gratin '.'....'.'. 184 Mushrooms a la provincale 185 Mushrooms a la ere me 185 Mushrooms, baked 185 Mushrooms, breakfast [ 185 Mushrooms, curried [ 186 Mushrooms en caisse 186 Mushroom catsup .' 186 Mushrooms en ragout .' 187 Mushrooms with bacon 187 Mushroom stems 187 Mushrooms, to stew ...'.'. 188 Mushrooms, to pot .'..'. i88 Mushrooms and toast (3) ! . 388 Mushrooms, to pickle (2) 189 XVI. Pickles. Remarks • . . . . 190 Pickled artichokes .* .' 191 Pickled butternuts and walnuts ... .....' 191 Pickled beans . . , 192 Pickled beets '.'.'.' 192 Pickled broccoli ....'.' 192 Bottled pickles ,'.., 192 Mary's pickled blackberries 193 To put up cucumbers in briae . 193 Pickled cabbage (2) I94 Pickled cauliflower (2) .[[[ I94 Pickled cucumbers '.'.'.'.'. 194 Chow-chow (2) [\][ 195 Pickled cherries .' .' ' ' 195 French pickles .!..'.'.' 196 Pickled grapes (2) ,[ 196 To harden pickles 196 Lemon pickles 196 Mangoes of melons [ 197 Imitation pickled mangoes 197 Pickled nasturtiums I97 Pickled onions (2) ' " . 197 Pickles [[ 198 Stuffed peppers '....'. 198 Mixed pickles (2) ] " 193 India pickles .'.',',[.[ 199 Pyperpickles ......,', 199 Ragan pickles .'.'" 199 Sweet pickles ...'.'.'.'. 199 Sweet apple pickles 200 Sweet tomato pickles '.'..'.'. 200 Green tomato pickles ." ' 200 Picalilli , '[' 20J Picklette '.'.'......... 201 Spiced vinegar for pickle.'^ generally ! . . . 201 Pickled peaches 201 Pickled peaches that wiU keep ...... 202 To pickle plums 202 Green tomato soy '.'..'.'.'. 202 To keep >x3matoes whol« !!!!.!."! 203 Pickled tomatoes .'.,, 203 XVII. Ppeserves. Apple y reserves (2). • 204 Apricot preserves !'.!!!."! 204 Citron preserves .'.*".' 204 Currant preserves !!!!!!! 205 Citron preserves 205 Lemon preserves _[[[ 205 Era'viiec'i berries ir cherries ...... 205 Preserved oranges ao6 Preserved pine-apple .[ 2O6 Preserved plums or cherries. 206 Preserved purple plums 207 Preserved pears ' 207 Preserved peaches 207 Brandy peaches '.'.'.'.'.'. 207 Quince preserves ...'.'.'.'. 208 Preserving strawberries 208 Green tomato preserves .' 209 Ripe tomato preserves ...'. 209 Spiced currants ...'........'. 209 Spiced gooseberries '..'.'.'..'.'.'. 209 Spiced grapes 210 Spiced nutmeg melons 210 Spiced peaches [[[[ 210 Spiced plums '.'.'..'..... 210 Spiced plums 211 XVIII. Vegetables. Remarks 212 Potatoes, how to cook '.'.'.'.'. 216 Artichokes, fried '. 216 Asparagus, boiled ...' 216 Asparagus, fricass6ed 217 Egg broccoli 217 Beets and potatoes .'..'. 217 Beans, Lima 2I8 Beans, string \ gig Brussels sprouts '....'. 218 Carrots, stewed 2I8 Celery 219 Celeiy, fried 219 Celery, stewed .'..'.'.'. 219 Cabbage, cream 219 Cabbage k la cauliflower 219 Cabbage, boiled 219 Cabbage, baked 220 Hot slaw 220 Cauliflower 220 Cauliflower ft, la Francaise 221 Cauliflower with stuffing 221 Cauliflower with sauce 221 Corn, for winter use. 221 Corn, baked 222 Com, green on the cob 222 Corn oysters 222 Corn, stewed 222 Cucumbers, stewed 222 Celery 233 Celery, fried 233 Carrots 223 Carrots, boiled 223 Dandelion 224 Endive, stewed 224 Egg plant (2) 224 Egg plant, fricassfied 224 Egg plant, stuffed 225 Garlic 225 Greens, stewed 225 Horse-radish as garnish 226 Lettuce 226 Lettuce, stuffed 226 Macaroni 226 Macaroni as a vegetable 226 Macaroni with oysters 227 Macaroni with tomatoes 227 Macaroni, stewed 227 Onions, boiled 228 Onions, ormaloo 228 CONTENTS. 469 Page Onions, scalloped 228 Okra, boiled 228 Vegetable oysters 228 Mock stewed oysters 229 Parsley 229 Parsley, crisp 229 Parsley, fried 229 Parsnips 229 Parsnips, fried 230 Parsnip stew 230 Pease, canned 230 Pease, French way of cooking 230 Pease, green 231 Potato balls 231 Potato balls, English 231 Potatoes, browned 231 Potatoes, southern baked 233 Potatoes, cream 232 Potato croquettes 232 Potato cake 232 Potatoes, fried (2) 2:33 Potatoes, mashed 233 Potatoes, surprised 234 Potato puff 2:34 Potato pie 234 Potato, purge of 2;W Potato loaves 234 Potatoes, Saratoga 2;35 Potatoes, Lyonnaise 235 Potatoes, old 235 Potatoes, tossed g;35 Potatoes, sweet 236 Potatoes, sweet, baked 236 A farmer's dainty dish 236 Rice as a vegetable 236 Succotash 237 Spinach 237 Spinach, cream of 237 Squash, winter 237 Squash, stuffed 237 Turnips 238 Turnips, mashed 268 Tomatoes d, la creme 238 Tomatoes, browned 238 Tomatoes, baked 238 Tomatoes, baked 239 Tomatoes, broiled 239 Tomatoes, fried 239 Tomatoes, scalloped 2;W Tomatoes, stuffed 239 French butter for frying vegetables 240 Eules for cooking vegetables 240 XIX. Fish. Remarks S42 Fish, baked 244 Fish, to boU 344 Fish, boiled »44 Fish, baked black 244 Trout, brook 244 Flounders 845 Halibut 345 Perch, eels, and small pike 245 Eels, potted 245 Eels, collared 246 Sturgeon 246 Cod'a head 246 Codfish, fresh 248 Codfish, salt 248 Codfish balls 348 Page Mackerel, salt 248 Cod, baked 249 Pike, boiled 249 Turbot 250 Whitefish, to fry 250 Salmon 250 XX. Shell Fish. Clams 251 Clam bake 251 Clam chowder 251 Clam fritters 252 Clams, fried 252 Clam pie 252 Clam stew 252 Clam soup 253 Crabs 253 Crabs, soft 253 Crabs, scalloped 254 Frogs 254 Lobster croquettes 254 Lobster cutlet 254 Lobsters, fried 255 Lobster patties 255 Lobster rissoles 255 Lobster salad 255 Lobster, broiled 256 Lobsters en brochette 256 Lobsters, roasted 256 Lobsters, gratin of 256 Oysters, broiled 256 Oyster chowder 257 Oyster croquettes 257 Oysters, fricasseed 257 Oysters, fried 257 Oysters, fried 2.58 Oyster and chicken pie 258 Oysters, BcaDoped 858 Oyster stew. Park Row 258 Oysters, Maryland stewed 259 Oysters, plain stew 259 Oyster Bauce 259 Oyster pie 259 Oysters, pickled 260 Oyster patties 860 Oyster pot-pie 860 Oysters, roasted 860 Oysters, fancy roast 860 Oysters a la Poulette 261 Oysters, raw 861 Oysters with toast 861 Oyster flavor 261 Oysters, new way of preparing 261 Scallops 862 Terrapins, or water turtles 862 XXI. Game. Game, to select 864 Birds, to pot 865 Birds, reed 265 Birds, reed, k la Lindenthorpe 265 Prairie chickens, roast 866 Prairie chicken 266 Partridges, pheasants, and quails, to roast 266 Quail on toast 266 Quail, or woodcock, to broU 267 Pigeon pie 267 Pigeon, roast (2) 267 Pigeon compote 267 470 CONTENTS. Page Duck, wild aeS Goose, wild 268 Hare, roast 269 Hare, a nice way to prepare cold 269 Rabbit, roast 269 Rabbit, with herbs 269 Venison chops 269 Venison, epicurean 270 Venison patties 270 XXIT. Makketing. Remarks— beef 271 Sections of bullock 272 Sections of sheep and lamb 273 Mutton 273 Pork 274 Veal 274 Veal, section of 275 Turkeys 275 Fowls 275 Geese 276 Ducks 276 XXIII. Meats. Beef, aitchbone of, to carve 277 Steak, to make tough tender 277 Beef, brisket of, to carve 278 Steak, broUed(2) 278 Steak, rump, with oyster sauce 278 Steak, to fry 279 Steak, German way of frying 279 Steak smothered with onions 279 Steak pie 279 Beef, ribs of, to carve 280 Beef, ribs of, to roast 280 Beef, sirloin of, to roast 280 Beef, sirloin of, to carve 281 Beef balls 281 Beef, fillet of 281 Beef, a good and cheap way to cook . . . 282 Beef a. la mode 282 Beef pounded 2&3 Beef croquettes 283 Beef, deviled 2a3 Beef sausages 283 Beef au gratin 284 Beef heart 284 Beef, dried, in cream 284 Beef omelette 284 Beef tongue, broiled 284 Beef, to Doil 2a5 Beef tongue, roasted 285 Tripe ... 285 Tripe a. la Lyonnaise with tomatoes 285 Bullock's heart, roasted 286 Calf's heart, roasted 286 Calf's heart, fried 286 Sheep's heart, baked 287 Sweetbreads 287 Sweetbreads, fried 287 Sweetbreads, baked 287 Sweetbreads, broiled 288 Sweetbreads and cauliflower 288 Sweetbreads, tomato 288 Kidneys, broiled or roasted 289 Kidneys, stewed 289 Liver, fried 289 Liver, fried 290 Lamb, roast quarter of. 290 Lamb chops, fried 290 Page Lamb chops, broiled 291 Lamb, stewed with green pease 201 Lamb cutlets 291 Mutton, boiled breast of 291 Mutton, haunch of, k la venison 291 Mutton, breast of, with pease 292 Mutton, curried 292 Mutton chops 292 Mutton cutlets a, la minute 293 Mutton cutlet and purge of potatoes 293 Mutton, boiled leg of 293 Mutton kebobed 294 Mutton, leg of, to carve 294 Mutton, leg of, roast 295 Mutton cutlets with Provencale sauce . . 295 Pork, to keep fresh in summer 296 Pork, to cook 296 Pork, belly, rolled and boiled 297 Pork brawn 297 Pork chops, broiled 298 Pork chops, fried 298 Pork cutlets, broiled 298 Pork, leg of. good as goose 298 Pork cutlets, fried 299 Pork, boiled leg of, with pease pudding. 299 Pork pies 299 Pork, roast loin of 300 Pork cake 300 Pork sausage 300 Pork and beans 300 Pressed head 301 Pig's feet, boiled 301 Pig's feet cheese 301 Pig, to roast a sucking 302 Hams, to cure 303 Ham pie 302 Ham boned 303 Ham baked 303 Ham and eggs 303 Ham boiled 303 Smoked meat on toast 303 Ham balls 304 Ham garnished and ornamented 304 Ham, to glaze 304 Veal, collared breast of 304 Veal, boiled breast of 305 Veal, ragout of breast of 305 Veal, roasted breast of 30S Veal, bubble and squeak of 306 Veal cake 306 Veal scallop 306 Calf's head, boUed 306 Calf's brains 6. la ravigote 307 XXTV Poultry. Chicken saute a la Marengo 308 Capon ranaque 309 Chicken f ricass6ed 310 Chicken pie 310 Chicken, frying 311 Chicken salad 311 Chicken croquettes 311 Chicken, baked 312 Chicken, a nice way to cook 312 Chicken pudding 312 Chicken or veal jellied , 312 Chicken scalloped 313 Chicken pot-pie 313 Chicken broiled 313 Ducks a, la Frangaise 313 CONSENTS. 471 Page Ducks k la mode 314 Ducks, baked 314 Ducks, braised 314 Chicken, pressed 314 Ducks braised with turxiips 315 Ducks, fricasseed 315 Ducks, mock 315 Fowls, minced 315 Fowls, roast, to carve 316 Croquettes 316 Ooose, roast, to carve 317 Goose, to boil 317 Goose, roast 317 Stuffing 318 Turkey 318 Turkey, carving of 319 Turkey or capon, boiled 319 Turkey, roast (2) 320 Turkey, boiled 321 Turkey dressed with oysters 321 Turkey, deviled 321 Turkey scallop 322 Stuffing, plain 322 Stuffing, apple 322 Stuffing, potato 323 Stuffing, chestnut 323 XXV. Salads. Salad, anchovy 324 Salad, artichoke 324 Salad, beetroot 324 Salad, chicken 324 Salad, chicken 325 Salad, cabbage 325 Salad, fish 325 Salad, hot egg 325 Salad, endive with winter 326 Salad, lettuce (2) 326 Salad, lobster 326 Salad, game 327 Salad, orange 327 Salad, potato 327 Salad, salmon 328 Salad, Russian 328 Salad, summer 828 Salad, Sidney Smith's dressing for 329 Salad and vegetables 829 Salad, water-cress 3^30 Salad dressing (2) 330 XXVI. Sauces, Soups and Forcemeats. General remarks 831 Stock S-n Soup, bean 334 Soup, asparagus 3:^4 Soup, beef 3.35 Soup, common 335 Soup, clam 335 Soup, com 336 Soup, French vegetable 336 Soup, egg 336 Soup, cnicken 336 Soup, cabbage 337 Soup, green pea 337 Soup, gumbo 337 SouD, gumbo, plain 338 Soup, lobster 338 Soup, macaroni (2) 338 Soup, mock terrapin 3:^9 Soup, mock turtle 339 Page Soup, mutton 3;J9 Soup, mushroom 340 Soup, ox-tail 340 Soup, oyster 340 Noodles for soup 340 Okra gumbo 340 Soup, potato 341 Soup, tomato 341 Southern gumbo fela 341 Soup, tomato 342 Soup, turkey 342 Soup, green turtle 342 Soup, Soy er's cheap 343 Soup, Soyer's cheap 344 Aspic jelly for garnishing 345 Aspic jelly, stock 345 Sauce, bechamel 345 Sauce, anchovy M6 Sauce, bread 546 Sauce, brown 346 Sauce, cucumber 346 Sauce, Chili 347 Sauce, caper .347 Sauce, celery 347 Sauce, egg 347 Sauce, fish 347 Sauce, HoUandaise 347 Sauce, hot, for meats 348 Sauce, horse-radish 348 Sauce, mushroom 348 Sauce, mint 348 Sauce, mustard 349 Mustard, prepared 349 Mustard, made 349 Sauce mayonnaise 349 Sauce maitre d' hotel 350 Butter maitre d' hotel 350 Sauce, oyster 350 Sauce, piquant 350 Sauce, tomato 351 Forcemeat, almond 351 Forcemeat, chestnut 351 Forcemeat balls 352 Forcemeat for fish, etc 352 Forcemeat for game 352 Forcemeat for turkey 352 Forcemeat, oyster 353 XXVII. Furniture. Furniture covers 354 Use of varnish 354 How to make an ottoman 355 To render new mahogany like old 355 To clean furniture 355 Dirty or stained f lu-niture 356 To clean paint 356 To make glue 356 To revive gilt frames 357 Magic furniture polish 357 XXVm. House Pests. Camphor a remedy for mice. 358 Rats, to drive away alive 359 Rats, how to deal with 359 To destroy bed bugs, moths, and other vermin 359 To prevent red ants 360 How to get rid of flies 360 Mosquitoes 361 472 CONTENTS. XXIX. Toilet. Page Cleaning gloves 362 Hair receivers 362 Toilet cushions 362 Shaving cases 363 To clean hair-brushes and combs 363 To clean jewelry 363 Cologne water (2) 364 Cold cream 364 Lip salve 364 Lavender water 364 To clean gold chains 364 To clean gilt jewelrjr 365 To remove a tight rmg 365 Grease eraser 365 Cure for chapped hands 365 Care of the teeth 365 Offensive feet 366 For freckles 366 Care of the nails 366 XXX. Kitchen. Care of silver 367 New kettles 367 To purify water 367 Washing dishes 368 Cleaning tinware 368 The griddle 368 Coal ashes good to scour with 368 How to triumph over absent-mindedness S68 An economical crumb-cloth 369 Scraping kettles 369 How to keep lamp chimneys clean 369 How to start a fire 370 To make fire kindlings 370 How to polish a stove easily 370 How to use the oil stove 370 Blacking stoves 371 How to clean mica 371 To clean knives 372 To keep a kitchen table clean 372 XXXI. The Lauitory. To clean colored fabrics 373 Muslin dresses 374 Laces 375 To bleach laces, etc 376 To stiffen linen 376 To clean cloth 377 To clean black silk 377 To clean black merino, etc 378 To renovate crape 378 Washing clothes 378 Washing chintz 379 To remove spots of wax (2) 379 To clean carpets 379 For bleaching cotton cloth 379 To clean light kid gloves 379 To clean white silk lace 380 Starch polish 380 Washing fluid 380 Gem washing fluid 381 Hard soap 381 Soft soap 381 How to wash flannels 381 How to keep black gloves from crocking 382 To remove scorches 382 Washing towels 382 How to do up shirt bosoms . 383 XXXn. Sew\^q Room. Page, Saving thread 384 Window shades 384 Scrap bags 384 Sewing on buttons 385 Marking handkerchiefs 385 Table covers 385 Taking care of stockings 386 Putting away stockings 38ft To preserve old stockings 386 Home-made work baskets 386 XXXin. Dyeing, Etc. Remarks 388 SUks— Black 388 Brown— very beautiful 388 Crimson 388 Green— very handsome 388 Light blue 389 Old gold 389 Orange 389 Purple 389- Sky blue 389 YeUow 38» Woollen goods — Blue—