FoodNet

Manual for army cooks

1896

Page 24 · 5 recipe records on this page

Presented as published in 1896. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Pick over the beans, wash, and soak them over night in cold water ; scrape the pork clean and cut it into thin slices. Drain the beans and put them into a pot with the cold water and bicarbonate of soda. Cover the pot, heat gradually, and boil gently for thirty minutes; remove the scum as it rises. Turn off the water and replenish with six quarts of fresh bcjiling water. Cover, and boil slowly and gently for one and a half hours, stirring the beans fre- quently to prevent scorching, then put in the sliced pork. As soon as the beans become tender and crack, take out the pork and mash the beans into a 68 MANUAL FOR AEMY COOKS. paste with a wooden masher, while in the pot, or press them through a colander, using a wooden masher or heavy iron spoon. The skins of the beans will be left in the colander to be thrown away. Pnt the pork and beans back into the pot and complete the boiling. Season lightly and serve. This soup can be made richer by adding a half pound of lean beef for every quart of water. It is put into the pot with the pork. Bean soup is apt to burn, and great care must be taken to prevent it by not exj)osing it to too great a heat and by frequent stirring. If soda is not used a longer time will be required to make this soup. PEA SOUP. 2 quarts split peas. 1 pound fresh lean beef. 1 pound salt pork. 6 quarts cold water. PepperPea Soup and salt. Time, three hours. Pick over the peas, wash, and soak them over night in cold water. Scrape the pork clean and cut it and the beef into pieces. Drain the peas and put them with the cut -up meats into a pot with the water. Cover the pot, heat gradually, and boil gently. Remove the scum as it rises ; stir frequently from the bottom to prevent scorching. About the second hour, or when the peas have become soft, take out the meats and with a wooden masher mash the peas, then put the meats back into the soup and complete the boil- ing. When cooked season lightly and dish. Have ready some slices of fried bread cut into square pieces. Scatter them on the surface of the soup and serve. Do this quickly, as pea soup cools and thickens rapidly. Pea soujd is apt to burn, and great care must be taken to prevent it by not exposing it to too great a heat and by stirring it frequently. MANUAL FOR ARMY COOKS. 69 OYSTER SOUP (COVE OYSTERS). 6 cans cove oysters. 4- pound butter. 1 gallon milk. 1 pound rolled crackers. Pepper and saltOyster Soup (Cove Oysters). Drain the liquor from the oysters and pick them over. Put tlie milk and butter into a vessel and heat gradually to a boil. Stir in very gradually the liquor, then the rolled crackers. Let it boil up once, then stir in the oysters ; let it remain two minutes. Season and serve at once. Success in making oyster soup depends upon cook- ing it just enough. Too much cooking hardens the oysters, while if underdone it is not palatable. OYSTER SOUP (FRESH OYSTERS). 4 quarts fresh oysters. 1 pound butter. 2 gallons milk. 2 i)ounds rolled crackers. Pepper and salt. Drain the liquor from the oysters. Put the milk and butter into a vessel and heat gradually. When warm stir in the liquor ; do this very gradually to prevent the milk curdling ; then the rolled crackers. Let it come to a boil, then add the oysters. In four or five minutes, or when the edges of the oysters become curled, season and serve. MOCK OYSTER SOUP. Mock Oyster Soup