FoodNet

Physical culture cook book

1901

Page 4

Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
understand that we do not in any way recom- mend the use of fried foods as the term is or- dinarily understood. Whenever this is men- tioned we mean that the tood is to be fried in a vessel containing sufficient pure vegetable oil to entirely immerse it, the oil being heated to a smoking degree. When the food is cooked in this manner a thin crust is formed imme- diately the oil comes in contact with it, and this crust prevents the oil from penetrating the food. If the oil is not heated sufficiently it will penetrate and saturate the food. Frequently through the book you will find baking powder mentioned. There are, of course, several good brands of baking powder on the market, but absolutely pure baking powder is easily made. It is composed of two parts of cream of tartar and one part bicar- bonate of soda. These two elements can be kept in every kitchen in separate bottles well corked, and may be used in proportion to suit. This baking powder is cheaper, purer and more reliable than any brand on the market. You will find a few recipes for "devilled" dishes. One hygienist remarked that all dishes THE PHYSICAL CULTURE COOK BOOK. 21 of this nature are so devilish that it would have been better to have left them out en- tirely. However, if our readers desire to run the risk it is their affair, though we desire to warn them that dishes of this nature can only be digested by strong stomachs. A good brand of yeast is put up in small dry cakes enclosed in round cans, and can be bought in most any grocery store, and can be used wherever yeast is recommended. We thoroughly realize that we cannot con- vert the public to the strictest hygienic meth- ods, and there are several recipes for dishes that we do not personally recommend and would not eat ourselves. Those, however, who are in the habit of using such dishes and must be regularly supplied with them will find the method of preparation here advised superior to the ordinary methods. For instance you will find recipes for pre- paring pork, lamb, and veal. Pork should never be eaten at any time under any circum- stances. Lamb, veal and all immature meats are preferably avoided. CHAPTER IV. A WORD ON COOKING. This little book has two chief aims. First, it is designed to serve as a guide to whole- some cookery and hygienic diet, and so dishes which contain much condiment, very high seasoning or unhealthful combinations are omitted. Since the chemistry of cooking is a study in itself, this book does not pretend to teach it thoroughly; but some hints have been given, in the various chapters, in regard to the value of foods, their proper combination, etc. Every housewife, hov/ever, ought to know something of the chemistry of cookery, and every member of the household should take enough interest in his own welfare to under- stand and follow a few of the simplest rules of hygiene. The most careful preparing will not make food digestible unless it be well masti- cated, for instance; nor can one continually THE PHYSICAL CULTURE COOK BOOK. 23 overeat of the simplest food with impunity. On the other hand, enough must be taken to nourish the system, and each must judge for himself just how much that should be. The proper combination of foods is another im- portant branch of the subject, and a few ex- planations, hints and examples will be found in the chapter on menus.