o-ood wholesome household purees and broths, Ac., the bo e
Ld cold meat (which cannot be long kept in India)
ample. The cook will, of course, say it is impossible to ma
cleL soup out of bones and cooked meat, even if he does
not deny the possibility of its being made at all; but this
is a mistake. And in India, where eggs are so cheap, there
are always shells and whites waiting to be used.
Another barbarous extortion is a fixed price for
frying butter. A fixed sum may be given per month tor
suet; a better plan is to buy a fixed quantity yourself weekly,
and see it properly melted down. i r
It is well to bear in mind that ghee is a favourite article ot
your servants’ diet, and that a pot of it in the cookroom is
peculiarly handy for all sorts and conditions of men. In
trying to legislate for Supply, the following simple rules
known to all experienced housekeepers may be useful.
Average consumption per person : —
Bread (per week), one and a half quartern loafs
Sugar „ , ;
Tea „ {ample) . . • •
Butter (per week), exclusive of cooking, but inclu-
sive of afternoon tea . . • • ‘
Milk (per day), including cafe au lait for breakfast,
and a milk pudding.— (N.B. Never stint milk) .
Meat (per day), for a party of two, including soup,
per person . . . • •
Meat (per person) for a party ot four
6 lbs.
fib.
ilb.
ilb.
pints.
1 lb.
I lb.
40
The Complete Indian
(In a large household the meat item can easily he kept
down to J lb. per head per diem.')
In India bread is sold by the loaf. It is generally about
12 ounces in weight, and from 8 to 16 are given for the
rupee.
Furniture in the bazaar is cheap; if anything, below the
Madras prices — but ugly, of course, until the buyer puts his
or her taste into it. As a room, however, is worth nothing
unless it is, like the nautilus’ shell, a true guide to the growth
of its inhabitants, this is no drawback. Very often in taking
a house one is asked to take over the red screens (chicks) and
matting (chitai) of the former occupant. In this case be sure
both are in good repair, and remember that the former, when
new, cost from 8 annas to Rs. 1.4 each, and the latter is to be
had for Rs. 1 per hundred square feet. In bringing out cre-
tonnes, or, indeed, any kind of ornament, the height and size
of Indian rooms must be considered. They require boldness
both in colour and design.
Estimate fok Calcutta and Bengal.
lls.
House rent up country . . , . . . 60 to 70
„ in Calcutta (a flat) . . 200
Servants — four indoor, two outdoor, and washerman 58 to 80
Punkah coolies ....... 49
Stable servants 12
Keep of horse in Calcutta 20
,, ,, up country 10
Bazaar account in Calcutta 100
,, ,, up country 60
Fuel . . . '. .... 10 to 12
Estimate for furni.shiug house in Calcutta . . . 3000
Up country . . 1600
Calcutta-made furniture has an almost European finish,
and is proportionately dear.
In regard to Bengal the authors have great difficult}' in
giving estimates, owing to the great difference in the informa-
tion given by authorities. Calcutta is a very expensive place ;
apparently causelessly so, as the jirices of country produce are
(juite reasonable. House rent is ruinous in the well-drained
Housekeeper and Cook 41
Page 26
Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Good wholesome household purees and broths, Ac., the boiled cold meat (which cannot be long kept in India) ample. The cook will, of course, say it is impossible to make clear soup out of bones and cooked meat, even if he does not deny the possibility of its being made at all; but this is a mistake. And in India, where eggs are so cheap, there are always shells and whites waiting to be used.
Another barbarous extortion is a fixed price for frying butter. A fixed sum may be given per month tor suet; a better plan is to buy a fixed quantity yourself weekly,
and see it properly melted down. i r
It is well to bear in mind that ghee is a favourite article ot your servants’ diet, and that a pot of it in the cookroom is peculiarly handy for all sorts and conditions of men. In trying to legislate for Supply, the following simple rules known to all experienced housekeepers may be useful.
Average consumption per person : —
Bread (per week), one and a half quartern loafs
Sugar „ , ;
Tea „ {ample) . . • •
Butter (per week), exclusive of cooking, but inclusive of afternoon tea . . • • ‘
Milk (per day), including cafe au lait for breakfast, and a milk pudding.— (N.B. Never stint milk) . Meat (per day), for a party of two, including soup, per person . . . • •
Meat (per person) for a party ot four
6 lbs.
fib.
ilb.
ilb.
pints.
1 lb.
I lb.
The Complete Indian
(In a large household the meat item can easily he kept down to J lb. per head per diem.')
In India bread is sold by the loaf. It is generally about 12 ounces in weight, and from 8 to 16 are given for the rupee.
Furniture in the bazaar is cheap; if anything, below the Madras prices — but ugly, of course, until the buyer puts his or her taste into it. As a room, however, is worth nothing unless it is, like the nautilus’ shell, a true guide to the growth of its inhabitants, this is no drawback. Very often in taking a house one is asked to take over the red screens (chicks) and matting (chitai) of the former occupant. In this case be sure both are in good repair, and remember that the former, when new, cost from 8 annas to Rs. 1.4 each, and the latter is to be had for Rs. 1 per hundred square feet. In bringing out cretonnes, or, indeed, any kind of ornament, the height and size of Indian rooms must be considered. They require boldness both in colour and design.
Estimate fok Calcutta and Bengal.
lls.
House rent up country . . , . . . 60 to 70
„ in Calcutta (a flat) . . 200
Servants — four indoor, two outdoor, and washerman 58 to 80 Punkah coolies ....... 49
Stable servants 12
Keep of horse in Calcutta 20
,, ,, up country 10
Bazaar account in Calcutta 100
,, ,, up country 60
Fuel . . . '. .... 10 to 12
Estimate for furni.shiug house in Calcutta . . . 3000
Up country . . 1600
Calcutta-made furniture has an almost European finish, and is proportionately dear.
In regard to Bengal the authors have great difficult}' in giving estimates, owing to the great difference in the information given by authorities. Calcutta is a very expensive place ; apparently causelessly so, as the jirices of country produce are (juite reasonable. House rent is ruinous in the well-drained
Housekeeper and Cook 41