FoodNet

Middle class cookery book

1912

Page 58

Presented as published in 1912. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Spinach requires very careful cooking. When well prepared and served very hot, it is a delicious vegetable, but a very little carelessness in the preparation spoils the dish. No vegetable requires such careful cleansing to free it from sand and grit ; when picked (see p. 34) it should be put into a large bowl of cold water, well rinsed, and lifted into another bowl of clean water ; and if not thoroughly clean, put back into the first bowl, after the bowl has been washed out and refilled with 1 Always heat the colander before you drain the vegetables. CHAP. VIII VEGETABLES 119 clean water. When clean, put the spinach into a large uncovered saucepan without any water ; let it boil for about ten minutes, pressing it down, and stirring occasionally to prevent it from burning. When tender, drain it through a colander, pressing the water that has come from the spinach well out ; chop the spinach very fine ; put it into a stewpan with the butter, pepper, and salt ; when very hot, put it into a hot dish, and serve quickly. A poached egg is sometimes placed on the spinach, and sippets of bread put round. French Beans and Scarlet Runners French Beans Boiling Water 1 oz. Batter to 1 lb. Beans 1 Dessertspoonful Salt to a Quart of Water Very Small Piece of Soda Pepper, Salt Prepare the beans (see p. 34) ; cut them into thin strips ; throw them as they are cut into cold water in which a little salt has been put ; drain them. Let them boil for ten minutes if young, longer if old ; when done, they sink to the bottom of the saucepan ; drain through a colander ; put the beans on a hot dish ; place the butter in the middle ; sprinkle a little pepper and salt over; serve hot. French Beans a l’Allemand 1 lb. Beans 1 oz. Butter J Teaspoonful Sugar 1 oz. Flour 4 Pint Milk Pinch of Sal t Boil the beans as above, until they are nearly done ; drain them ; make a sauce with the butter, flour, milk, sugar, salt, and a small quantity of the water the beans are boiled in ; stir it well ; put in the beans when the sauce boils ; let them simmer for about ten minutes. Cauliflower can be cooked in this way. 120 MIDDLE CLASS COOKERY BOOK part n Broad Beans Shell the beans, which should be young ; put them into boiling water ; let them boil quickly for a quarter of an hour if young, longer if old ; when tender they are done. Serve with parsley and butter sauce (see p. 124). Boiled bacon is usually eaten with these beans, To Boil White Haricot Beans 1 Pint Beans | 2 Quarts Cold Water i oz. Butter Soak the beans in cold water the night before they are to be used ; pour away the water ; put them into a saucepan with the cold water and butter ; let them boil for two hours, or till soft, but not broken. Drain them in a colander ; serve with parsley and butter sauce (p. 124). White Haricot Beans to serve with Hashes, etc. 1 Pint Haricot Beans 1 oz. Butter 2 Quarts Cold Water 4 ,, Flour 1 Teaspoonful Pepper