FoodNetArchive

Cassell's dictionary of cookery

1892

Page 2328 · 5 recipe records on this page

Presented as published in 1892. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Woodcock, Potted. — Take any niunber of fresh woodcocks. Pluck them carefully, and ciit oflE their legs and wings. Split the birds in halves, and lay them on a dish. Take away the gizzards with the point of a knife, and with this exception, leave the inside or trail undisturbed. Line the inside of an ordinary potting-pan with thin slices of fat bacon. Fill it with the woodcocks placed neatly and closely in layers upon the bacon, and season each layer with salt and black pepperWoodcock, Potted. WTien the pan is full, pour as much clarified butter over the woodcocks as will cover them, and cover the pan with a coarse paste of flour and water. Make a hole in the top of the Hd, and bake the woodcocks in a moderate oven. They must not be eaten tiU they are quite cold. "V^'^lcn a skewer can be pushed easily to the bottom of the pan, the woodcocks are sufiiciently baked. Woodcock, Potted (another way). — Pick and clean the bii-ds nicely, but do not draw out the trail ; fix the bills with small skewers to the thighs, and the legs on the breasts ; season them highly with mace, pepper, and salt, and put them into a deep pot with fresh butter to bake in a moderate oven. When done enough, take them out to drain on a sieve, and when cold, place them in pots, and cover them com- pletely with clarified butter. Tie them securely from the air with bladder, and set them in a dry place. Woodcock, Potted (another way).— Eub the woodcocks very well with seasoning, then surround each with a coating of butter, and then with a buttered paper, over which put a paste of flour and water. Lay them upon tins, and bake them. Do not take off the crust and paper tiU the woodcocks are cold. Put one in each pot, and cover it with clarified butter. The woodcocks must not be drawn. Woodcock Pudding.— Pluck a wood- cock very carefully, so as not to injure the tender flesh, and, without opening it, truss it for roasting. Line a pudding-basin with pastry. Put into it a slice of t(;nder rump steak seasoned with pepper and salt only, put in the woodcock, and place another steak over it. Pour over the meat a quarter of a pint of strong beef gravy, cover the basin with pastry, tie it rather loosely in a floured cloth, plunge it into boiling water, and keep it boiling tUl done enough. Take it up, let it stand a few minutes, turn it upon a dish, and serve. Time to boil the pudding, an hour and a half. Probable cost, woodcocks, seldom bought. Sufficient for four or five persons. Woodcock Puree (for patties, crou- stades, &c.).— Take the remains of dressed woodcock. Pick the flesh fi-om the bones, and put the skin, bones, and trimmings into a saucepan, pour over them a little stock or water, and add a shallot, a small piece of celery, a sprig of thyme, and tliree or four pepper- corns. Let the gTavy simmer gently till it is strong and good. Mince the flesh finely, and pound it in a mortar with a spoonful of stock and a little piece of butter. When reduced to a p^^lp, rub it through a hair sieve. Strain th« stock, free it entii-ely from fat, and boil tiU it is considerably reduced. Season with pepper, salt, and grated nutmeg, and mix with it double the quantity of white sauce. If this is not at hand, a quarter of a pint of cream and a small spoonfiil of flour will answer the same purpose.Woodcock, Potted (second method)