FoodNet

Menus made easy, or, How to order dinner and give the dishes their French names

1894

Page 1

Presented as published in 1894. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Names given to quenelles, creams, etc., often have reference to the fancy moulds in which they are dressed. For instance, Petites cremes au Chevalier are creams steamed or set in moulds made to represent little horseshoes. So petites cignes, petits chevanx, papillons, etc., refer to the moulds. Even petites langues, petits jambonneaux, petits poulets, do not necessarily imply something made of tongue, ham, or chicken. Very few such names are introduced in these pages. They are obviously only the passing fashion of the moment, and do more credit to the PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION. ix skill of the ironmonger than to that of the cook. From the number of dishes described, it is hoped that it will be found easy to select such as shall be suited to the occasion for which they are re- quired, whether for homely dinners, or for more elaborate entertainments. Complete menus of the former class will be found in the author's " Daily Dinners," which, with the assistance here given, may be enlarged or varied without difficulty. In planning a dinner, ladies are reminded not to be content with dishes individually excellent, without regard to the contrast they bear to one another. Variety is required, not only in the material, but also in the style of dressing, and in the accom- panying sauces and garnishes. Light and dark dishes should as far as possible succeed one another. The same sauce should not appear twice. Several sorts of pastry should be avoided. "When cold dishes form part of the menu, they should be interspersed judiciously among the others. The author has adhered to her original inten- tion of giving descriptions rather than recipes. They will probably be sufficient, in most cases, to enable the mistress to give directions which a X PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION. fairly competent cook may carry out without the aid of a detailed recipe. But should they be found insufficient, recourse may always be had to some of the excellent cookery-books now published. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION , , . , PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION , , CHAPTER I. HORS D'CEUVRES CHAPTER II. SOUPS OB POTAGES— Clear and thick! 8 CHAPTER III. FISH OR POISSONS— Different modes of dressi ng Fish; Shell- Fish and Fish Entrees . . . . . 17 CHAPTER IV. ENTREES— Of Beef, Veal, Mutton, Lainb, Pork, Poultry, Game . . . . . . . . .46 CHAPTER V. REMOVES OR RELEVES — Of Beef, Veal, Mutton, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, Game 106 CHAPTER VI. ROASTS, OB ROTS 136 xii CONTENTS. CHAPTER VII. PAGE VEGETABLES, OR LEJUMES, AND SALADS . . . ,13!) CHAPTER VIII. EGGS AND OMELETTES . , . . . . , 1G1 CHAPTER IX. ENTREMETS— Cakes and Pastry, Puddings, Fritters, Compotes of Fruit, Creams, Jellies . . . 1C6 CHAPTER X. SAVOUET ENTREMETS , , , , , , . 201 CHAPTER XL ICES, OB Gf-ACES, AND SORBETS , , , , .211 CHAPTER XII. SAUCES AND GARNISHES , , , , . , .218 INDEX . 227 MENUS MADE EASY. CHAPTEE I. HOKS D'CEUVKES. A LAKGE dinner may begin with one of the following hors d'oeuvres : — Huitres au naturel. Oysters, served in the shells, with lemon, and slices of brown bread and butter.