FoodNet

A manual of home-making

1919

Page 290

Presented as published in 1919. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
For good rpsolts in popping, t he main rcquif^itcs are good vom and a good hot fire. In popping?, certain precautions may be observed to good advantage. Too much pop-eom should not be taken at one \um% not more than enough hai'ely to ^ovev the bottoiu of the popper one kernel deep. The popper should be held high enougJi al>o%^e the fire or heat to keep from hurnirig the kernels or scorching them too quickly. The right degree of heat for best results in popping should make good corn (M^gin to pop in 13 2 minutes. This should give tlie maximum volume increase in popping. If it begins to pop in less time or if a large quantity of corn is put into the popper, it will not pop yp so crisp and flaky. If it takes much longer for the popping to be- gin» the heat is probably not great enough or the pop-corn is of poor quality, or there may be other mterfering causes, such as drafts of cold air. To preserv^e the snow}^ whiteness of the popped kernels, the flame must be kept from striking them. This can be done by placing a plate of iron or a stove lid between the com and the fire if a wire fjopper is used or by using a pan popper if popping directly over a flame. If the pop-corn is in first-class condition and the heat properly applied, 1 pint of mipopped com should give 15 to 20 pints of popped corn. I • Hartley, C. P., and Willier, J. G, Agr. Farmej3* Ball. 553» U. S. Dept. of CHAPTER XXVI MEAT AND POULTRY By LuciLE Brewer Although meat is not a necessity in the diet (page 410), the estimate is thut in the United States about one-third of the total expcnciiture of money for food is for meat. This countr>' 8how8 the highest per capita consnmptitm. Douhdess one of tho reasons for this large eonsiuiiption is that meat has an appetij^- ing flavor and is ejisily cooked, esijceialiy tlie tender cuts. Amer- ican cooks have not yet acquired the skill of European and Oriental cooks in flavoring foods, nor do they, under ordinary conditions, devote sufficient time and t!iou(?ht to the prepara- tion of meat-suhstiiute dishes. However, with the rising cast of meat, more attention is Ijeinf^ paid tn the totigh, and cooae- quently, cheaper, cuts and to the complete utihzation of all meat bought* SELECTION OP MEAT BY APPEARANCE Beef should Ik? 6rm and fine-grained in texture. It should have a bright red color and be well mottled with fat. The fat of beef should be hnn an<l of a yellowish color. Suet should be dry and should crumble reathly. For cuts of beef, see Fig. 118. Veal should be of a pinkish color. The fat should he firm and white. MuHon should be a bright pink color and fine-grained. The fat of mutton should be hard and flaky. The outside akin ahould come off easily. For cuts of nmtton, see Fig. 119. Lamb, — The bones of lamb are reddish in color while thoae of mutton are white. 610 I I I MEAT AND POULTRY 511 Pork. — The skin of pork should lje white and clear. The flesh should be of a pinkish tint. For cuts of pork see Fig. 120. WKl ^ \ ^^'^■ p 1 / LOU ■A 1 R^IIA Nil ibnouLDtF NwK Fio. 118.-— Cuto of beef. Fio. 119. — CiiU of mutton. Pm//fr?/.— Chickens should have soft feet, a smooth skin, and soft cartilage at the eml of the breast bone. An al>untjajice of pin feathers indicates a young bird. Long hairs indicate age. 512 A MANUAL OF HOME-MAKJNO ontfl