FoodNet

The complete Indian housekeeper & cook

1898

Page 224 · 3 recipe records on this page

Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
1. Best Feuilletage. — Take 16 units flour and mix it to a stiff paste with water, 2 units egg, some salt, and | unit lemon juice. The amount of water cannot be given, as it varies both with the flour and the butter. The rule is, lay paste and butter before you, press each with the forefinger, using the same force. The dent should be the same depth— that is, paste and butter should be the same consistency. Form the paste into a ball, and press it out with the knuckles to a circle, thicker in the middle than the sides. Take 16 units of butterBest Feuilletage free from water, and as as possible ; make it into a ball, roll it in flour, and put it in the centre of the circle of dough. Fold the edges on it, taking care to cover the butter w'ell. Turn the whole upside down on a floured pasteboard, and press out with the knuckles carefully to an oblong. Give one roll, and again turn upside down. Fold in three. Shift it on the board, so that the folded edges are to your right and left hand, and roll out carefully to three-quarters of an inch thick, and about eighteen inches long. Fold again in three, and set aside for ten minutes in a cool place. Shift as before, and give two more rolls and turns. Set it aside again, and finish with three turns, or seven in all. The great art is not to let the butter break through the paste. To prevent this — 1. The butter must be solid. 2. It must be of like consistency with the dough. 3. It must be well worked, and not grainy in texture. It may be made easier to the beginner by dividing the flour and water paste into two equal j)ortions, and rolling each out like a platter to exactly the same size. Spread the butter on one, lay the other over as for a sandwich, pinch the edges, and proceed. 'I’liis pa.ste, well made, cannot ’he surpassed. It can he made 3“ X 322 The Complete Indian equally well with suet brayed in a mortar till of the consistency of butter, or with half butter and half suet. Proportions, 12 units to 16 of flour. It requires an even oven with a good top heat. In hot weather ice is a necessity to cool both dough and butter. Margarine makes excellent pastry. Proportions, 12 to 16. 2. Short Crusts for Sweet Tarts.— Sixteen units of flour, 8 of butter, 4 of sugar, 2 of yolk of egg, 5 of milk and waterShort Crusts for Sweet Tarts : mix all together to a paste. 3. Suet Crust. — For dumplings, &c. Sixteen units prepared patent flour (see Bread), 10 of finely chopped suet. Mix with milk to a paste not too stiff.Suet Crust Unsurpassed for roly-polys, meat puddings, and all things requiring a light suet paste. It can be boiled or baked. In the former case always use a tin mould with a cover instead of a basin and cloth ; even roly-polys are best made so by lining the mould with the paste, then filling with alternate layers ’am and paste. 4. Patties. — Do not fold the. feuilletage more than seven times, roll three-quarters of an inch thick, cut M'ith a round-fluted tin cutter two inches in diameter, and mark with a smaller one for the lid. Bake, and scoop out the inside. Patties may be filled with anything and everything. When filled with sweets they are called mirletons or cheese-cakes.