Books and My Food: With Literary Quotations and Original Recipes for Every ..

THE apple-pie of our grandmothers was worth fighting over. These skilful ladies made a very short pie-crust of lard cut into sifted flour and wet into paste with ice-water. This they rolled out in a long, narrow strip, dabbed with butter, rolled together, and, standing it on edge, rolled it out flat again. For the upper crust this process was three times repeated. They filled the pie heaping full with tart, juicy apples, sliced, and buttered the edges of the under crust before laying on the upper crust. When the pie was baked this upper crust was deftly lifted off and a lump of butter, some sugar, and nutmeg were stirred into the apple filling. The crust was replaced and the pie eaten. NOVEMBER 28th "'Ye might ha' made the partridge worse,' she said to Dinah; 'I can ate it wi'out its tumin' my stomach. It might ha' been a trifle thicker an' no harm, an' I allays putten a sprig o' mint in mysen; but how's ye t* know that?*" — George Eliot ("Adam Bede"). A REALLY good porridge is not to be despised, either in sickness or health. If it is for an invalid the following rule is a good one: Wash a tablespoonful of rice and boil in a pint of water for fifteen minutes; add a pint of milk, in which a tablespoonful of flour has been stirred smooth; mix the flour with two or three spoonfuls of the milk before adding it to the remainder. Cook for an hour in a double boiler, season with a teaspoonful of salt. The same NOVEMBER 14TH "What will this sister of mine do with rice?" — Shakespeare ("Winter's Tale")* RICE served as a vegetable is improved by browning in melted butter after it has been carefully cooked without stirring in a double boiler. If the rice is the excellent South Carolina variety it will come out when perfectly tender with every grain unbroken. Stir into it as lightly as possible a tablespoonful of chives before browning. Heap on a platter and serve very hot. NOVEMBER isth "I have ordered twelve sorts of fish at the 'Peacock,' my Lord." — Charles Reade ("Peg Woffington"). IN a collection of twelve fish the oldfashioned smoked sturgeon ought to have a place. Cut it in steaks about an inch thick and broil it over charcoals. Rub butter and lemon juice over it in liberal quantities and eat with hot muffins, fried potatoes, and watercress for a Sunday morning breakfast. NOVEMBER i6rH "I'm blest if he didn't bring master a plate of cabbitch I " — Thackeray ("The Yellowplush Papers")' THE delicate variety of cabbage known as Brussels sprouts is much improved by careful cooking. The sprouts should be thoroughly washed and then thrown into an abundance of boiling water and boiled for eight minutes; then drained and thrown into cold water; drain again and cook for fifteen or twenty minutes in a large cupful of boiling veal stock. Before serving add salt and pepper and two tablespoonfuls of cream, and pour the stock into the dish with the sprouts. NOVEMBER 17TH ''There was a hot shoulder of mutton and onion sauce. " — ^Thackeray. TO prepare onion sauce peel the onions and boil until tender; drain, chop fine and add them to a rich white sauce, boil up once and serve with the meat. A turnip boiled with the onions, but not served, improves the flavor. DECEMBER ist "Dame Best . . . has had soup and pudding from the Hall every day; and once she went so far as to say it was not altogether a bad pudding." — Chasles Reade C'Peg Wofl&ngton").