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Cassell's dictionary of cookery

1892

Page 596 · 1 recipe record 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.
should be quite firm and smooth. Leave it in the bowl, make one or two shght gashes with a knife on the surface, cover it with a cloth, and, if it be winter time, leave it near the fire to rise, but not sufficiently near to make it hot. In about an hour it will have risen consider- ably, and be ready for making into loaves of any size that may be desired. Let them rise a minute or two after being put into the tins, and prick them lightly in one or two places with a fork, to let the steam escape. Bake in a good oven. Time to bake, about two hours for a quartern loaf. It is to be added that if a larger quantity of flour is used, so that all the dough cannot be baked at once, that which is left in the bowl must be kept in a moderate temperature, neither very warm nor very cold. Gherkins. — Gherkins are young cu- ciimbers, and are only used for pickling. They should be gathered on a dry day, and those in one bottle should be, as nearly as possible, uniform in size. They are not really good for much in flavour until they are about three and a half inches long, and three-quarters of an inch in diameter. They may be had in July and August, and the best time for pick- ling them is about the end of August, or the beginning of September. Like other pickles, their excellence depends, in a great measure, on their being kept covered with vinegar. A mixture of French beans and gherkins makes a nice pickle. Gherkins, Pickled.- Put the gherkins into a large stone jar, and cover them with brine strong enough to carry an egg. Place the co^'er on the jar, and leave it for two or three days, until the gherkins begin to turn yellow; then drain them, and pour boiling vinegar over them. Put bay-leaves on the tojD, keep the jar in a warm place, and heat the vinegar afresh every day, till the gherkins turn as green as you wish. Boil fresh vinegar, and with it one large blade of mace, two ounces of whole pepper, four bay-leavesGherkins, Pickled, and half a dozen small sdycr onioias to each quart. Put the gherkins into wide-mouthed bottles, pour the vinegar over them, first allowing it to cool a little, or it will orack the bottles, r.nd cork seemely when cold. Time, from a week to a fortnight. Probable cost. Is. j^er pint bottle. If the vinegar be boiled in a copper saucepan, it will make the gherkens a beautiful colour, but poisonous. Gherkins, Pickled (French method). — TliTOw the gherkins into a saucepan of boiling water, let them boil one minute, then take them out, and throw them at once into plenty of cold water ; change the water once or twice, and when the gherkins are quite cold, spread them on sieves to dry. Put them into a large bowl, and pour over them as much boiling vinegar as will completely cover them. Let them stand in this for twenty-four hours, and repeat the process for three days. The last time, boil in the vinegar one ounce of salt, half an ounce of whole pepper, a few sprigs of tanagon, a large blade of mace, and four bay-leaves, with every quart of liquid. Put the gherkins into the boiling vinegar, let them remain for two minutes, then place them in wide-mouthed GIB (252) GIB tottles, and pour the vinegar over them. Cork the bottles securely, and put away for use. More vinegar must be added when required. Probable cost, Is. per pint bottle.