FoodNet

Culinary jottings

1885

Page 77 · 4 recipe records on this page

Presented as published in 1885. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Old peas may be stewed (pet it spots accommodcs) thus : — Put a lump of butter into a stew-pan Avitli a Bombay onion sliced, a bunch of mint and paisley, and a tea-spoonful of salt ; cook this awhile till the onions take a pale colour, and then add the peas, vnih. as much broth as will just float them : simmer this patiently till the peas are thoroughly tender, then take up the pan, strain the liquor» spread out the peas on a dish and pick out the pieces of onion ; now thicken the liquor witli butter and flour, add- ing a tea-spoonful of sugarStewed Peas, and lastly, the peas again • stir well, bring the sauce-pan to steaming point, and serve. But, after all, there is no way of turning old peas to a satisfactory account as good as the puree. For this, boil them as previously described, and then work them through the sieve. When you have got them through, add butter, a little black pepper, salt, a very little sugar, with a spoonful of cream or good milk, and serve in a small mould. The flavour of lettuce is strongly recommended by some writers as a help to peas, and onions are also advocated. The lettuce should be shred, and put in Avith the peas to start with, and the onion should go in whole, both being removed when the peas are served. A slice of fat bacon is a capital thing to slip in with " jugged peas." Peas form a favorite entremets alone ; they should be, of course, carefully di-essed, and served as hot as possible. The following styles arc recommended : — 1. ''^ Petifs 20ois au he^trre,^' — boiled, or jugged peas, served with a pat of fresh butter melted in a small sauce- pan, and mixed with them at the last moment. OUR VEGETABLES. 137 2. " A la creme" — a coffee-cupful of boiling cream poured over tlieni just as you serve. 3. " Au jamhon,"" — finely minced liam, tossed in "butter and lightly fried, mixed with boiled, or jugged peas. 4. " Au lard,'^ — the same method, using bacon instead of ham. The bacon atoms should be nice and crisp. 5. The "p«?-ee," previously described. French beans (haricots verts,) are well worthy of our attention, for we can get them when other vegetables are out of season. They are, besides, the correct accompaniment of the roast saddle, the roast loin, and, of course, of venison. I^ow, there is a very common and very grievous mistake, which cooks — in India especially — are prone to make. They slice the pods of this bean into thin strips. By doing this, nearly all the flavour of the bean is lost. The pods, which must be gathered young, should be simply peeled all round to get rid of the delicate fibre, their ends should be nipped off, and they should then be plunged into toiling water : — a pinch of soda will preserve their bright green tint, and at least a tea-spoonful of salt and one of sugar should be mixed with the water. If quite young, there will be no fibre to remove. To preserve the green tint, the following plan is also recommended : — Put a large spoonful of wood ashes in a piece of linen, fold it up, and place it in a strainer, pouring the boiling water in which the beans are to be cooked over it. This plan is equally efi&cacious with globe arti- chokes, cabbages, &c. (Audot.)