the yolks lightly (twelve beats is said to be the magic number), as
too much beating makes them thin and de-
stroys the appearance of the omelet, then add
the milk, the salt, pepper, and flour if any is
used, and lastly the whites beaten to a stiff
froth. Some claim that salt mixed with the omeict Pmn.
eggs prevents them from rising and gives the omelet a flabby ap-
pearance, and so sprinkle with a little salt just before turning out on
dish, or salt at table. Have the frying or omelet pan hot and dry.
The best way to insure this is to put a smjiU quantity of fat into the
pan, let it simmer a few minutes, then pour it out, wipe the pan dry
with a towel, and put in a tablespoon butter or American Cooking
Oil and pour in the omelet, which should at once begin to bubble
and rise in flakes ; care should be taken that the butter does not burn,
thereby spoiling the color of the omelet. Slip under it a thin,
broad-bladed knife, and every now and then raise it up to prevent
burning, but never turn, as this flattens and toughens it. As soon
as the under side is hard enough to hold togetjier, and the eggs be-
gin to " set," fold over, shake the skillet so as to entirely free the
omelet, carefully slide it on a hot platter, and serve at once. It
should be cooked in from three to five minutes. Properly made,
omelets are not exactly rolled up, but there is a knack to be learned
of shaping in the pan by shaking them while cooking over to one
side of pan, the side farthest away, while the handle is uplifted ;
loosen the edges with a knife when it is cooked nearly enough to
shake ; this is especially the case if a large pan is used, so that the
eggs will cook in a small space upon one side of pan instead of
spreading all over and becoming too dry, but a small-sized omelet
pan, six or eight inches in diameter, is best, so that the mixture when
put in /pan may be at least half an inch thick. One reason of ome-
lets and all fried eggs sticking to the frying-pan is allowing the pan
to get too hot. They seldom stick when poured into a pan that *8
kept not too hot till wanted. The pan should be used for no other
purpose, and should be rubbed smooth, or polished, after using. To
bake an omelet, place in the frying-pan on top of stove until it be-
gins to "set" in the middle, then place in a rather hot oven ; when
slightly browned, fold if liked, or turn a hot dish on top of the pan,
upset the latter with a quick motion, and so dish the omelet with
the under side uppermost. It should be baked in from fiv^ to ten
EGGS. 2C1
minutes. When a large quantity of eggs is used, instead of mak-
ing into one large omelet, divide and make several, sending each to
the table as soon as done. Three or four eggs make a good-sized
omelet, either fried or baked ; some think it an improvement to add
a tablespoon cream to every two eggs✪ Making Omelets. Ham, chicken, and all kinds
of meat omelets are made by chopping the meat fine and placing
between the folds before dishing. In making vegetable (asparagus,
tomato, cauliflower, etc.) omelets, cook the vegetables as if for the
table ; place them in the center of the omelet just before folding, or
scald a little parsley, pour off water, chop and mix with omelet just
before cooking ; old cheese grated and added to a plain omelet
is also a favorite dish.
Page 165 · 2 recipe records on this page
Presented as published in 1890. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
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the yolks lightly (twelve beats is said to be the magic number), as
too much beating makes them thin and de-
stroys the appearance of the omelet, then add
the milk, the salt, pepper, and flour if any is
used, and lastly the whites beaten to a stiff
froth. Some claim that salt mixed with the omeict Pmn.
eggs prevents them from rising and gives the omelet a flabby ap-
pearance, and so sprinkle with a little salt just before turning out on
dish, or salt at table. Have the frying or omelet pan hot and dry.
The best way to insure this is to put a smjiU quantity of fat into the
pan, let it simmer a few minutes, then pour it out, wipe the pan dry
with a towel, and put in a tablespoon butter or American Cooking
Oil and pour in the omelet, which should at once begin to bubble
and rise in flakes ; care should be taken that the butter does not burn,
thereby spoiling the color of the omelet. Slip under it a thin,
broad-bladed knife, and every now and then raise it up to prevent
burning, but never turn, as this flattens and toughens it. As soon
as the under side is hard enough to hold togetjier, and the eggs be-
gin to " set," fold over, shake the skillet so as to entirely free the
omelet, carefully slide it on a hot platter, and serve at once. It
should be cooked in from three to five minutes. Properly made,
omelets are not exactly rolled up, but there is a knack to be learned
of shaping in the pan by shaking them while cooking over to one
side of pan, the side farthest away, while the handle is uplifted ;
loosen the edges with a knife when it is cooked nearly enough to
shake ; this is especially the case if a large pan is used, so that the
eggs will cook in a small space upon one side of pan instead of
spreading all over and becoming too dry, but a small-sized omelet
pan, six or eight inches in diameter, is best, so that the mixture when
put in /pan may be at least half an inch thick. One reason of ome-
lets and all fried eggs sticking to the frying-pan is allowing the pan
to get too hot. They seldom stick when poured into a pan that *8
kept not too hot till wanted. The pan should be used for no other
purpose, and should be rubbed smooth, or polished, after using. To
bake an omelet, place in the frying-pan on top of stove until it be-
gins to "set" in the middle, then place in a rather hot oven ; when
slightly browned, fold if liked, or turn a hot dish on top of the pan,
upset the latter with a quick motion, and so dish the omelet with
the under side uppermost. It should be baked in from fiv^ to ten
EGGS. 2C1
minutes. When a large quantity of eggs is used, instead of mak-
ing into one large omelet, divide and make several, sending each to
the table as soon as done. Three or four eggs make a good-sized
omelet, either fried or baked ; some think it an improvement to add
a tablespoon cream to every two eggs. Ham, chicken, and all kinds
of meat omelets are made by chopping the meat fine and placing
between the folds before dishing. In making vegetable (asparagus,
tomato, cauliflower, etc.) omelets, cook the vegetables as if for the
table ; place them in the center of the omelet just before folding, or
scald a little parsley, pour off water, chop and mix with omelet just
before cooking ; old cheese grated and added to a plain omelet
is also a favorite dish.