The art of living in Australia

When boiling meat for table plunge it into boiling water, and then reduce the heat ; but when broth or soup is to be jnade it must be put into cold water, so that the goodness may be drawn from it. Corned beef or pork should also be placed in cold water and heated gradually, so that some of the salt is drawn out. The frying-pan should be discarded from the kitchen, at least as far as steaks and chops are concerned ; grilling or broiling is by far the best method of cooking them. Meat unless it is very carefully fried is tough and greasy, yet the same piece of meat if grilled or stewed would be tender and nutritious. There is often a prejudice against meat twice cooked, but the most delicate entrees that are so highly esteemed by many are only recooked meat. It is the time and care expended on it that makes it so delicious. Even in plain cooking there is no reason why the homely dish of hash should not be appetizing and wholesome. I trust that the following recipes, if carefully carried out, will prove this to be true. STEAK AND KIDNEY PIE. 2 lbs. Steak bd, 2 Kidneys l\d. 1 lb. Flour -. ^ lb. Dripping I 1 gill Water p"^' Pepper and Salt . . . .J Total Cost — i\d. Time — One Hour and a Half. Mix a teaspoonful of flour in a plate with some pepper and salt, slice up the meat into pieces about three inches long by two broad, dip each piece lightly in the flour ; skin and slice up the kidneys, and cut the fat into small pieces. Roll a piece of kidney and a piece of fat alternately in the slices of meat, pile high in a dish, and pour in a gill of water or stock. Make a short crust by directions given for short pastry, Avet the edge of the dish and line it with a strip of the paste, wet this strip again with water and cover the dish with paste ; trim off the edge, cut a small piece out of the centre of the pie, and ornament it with a few leaves cut out of the paste trimmings. Brush over with water and bake in a moderate oven for one hour and a half. As soon as the crast has acquired some colour, cover with a piece of paper well rubbed with dripping. STEAK AND KIDNEY PUDDING. 2 lbs. Steak . bd. 2 Kidneys . . . lid. 1 lb. Flour . 2d. ^ lb. Suet ■1 \ pint "Water . . .\l\d. Pepper and Salt . . .J Total Cost— 10(Z. Time — Three Hours Make a dry crust, by directions given elsewhere, of the flour, suet, and butter. Rub the pudding basin well with dripping, roll out the crust, take two-thirds and line the basin, well pressing the crust in. Slice up the meat and kidney, season with pepper and salt, pile lightly in the basin, pour in half a gill of water, wet the edge of the crust. Roll out the piece left, and cover the pudding securely. Dip a cloth in boiling water, put it over the top, tie it round with string, and pin or tie the ends of the cloth over the top. Plunge into plenty of boiling water, and boil for three hours. Take it up, take off the cloth, turn it out of the basin on to a hot dish, and serve hot. ■2K STEWED KIDNEYS AND MACARONI. 6 Kidneys Qd. 1 gill Stock 1 oz. Butter 2 oz. Macaroni . Parsley, Pepper, and Salt Total Cost — 8ld. Time — 25 Minutes.