FoodNet

Principles of cookery

1910

Page 52

Presented as published in 1910. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
There are many compound flavors which every housekeeper should keep in her store closet, and use in her cooking instead of supplying a single perennial catsup on the table, such are curry, tabasco, tarragon vinegar, mushroom catsup, poultry seasoning, etc. Onion, celery, cheese, chocolate, coffee, meat ex- tracts, each may have an important place in our list of flavors. Sugar is an important food and also must be looked upon as a flavor, since it will often bring an insipid vegetable up to its normal condition. Common Flavoring- Material Condiments and Spices Sugar as Flavoring 132 PRINCIPLES OF COOKERY. Blended Flavors Adding Flavoring Reasons for the Use Of Flavoring French cooking excels in that blending of flavors which produces an agreeable effect, though no one is apparent. The best results are usually reached when the flavor- ing is combined with the food in the process of cook- ing, but there are right and wrong ways of doing this. If salt is put on the cut surface of a roast, juice will be drawn out, but if sprinkled over the fat will gradually flavor all. Whole herbs and spices, tied in a bit of cheese cloth may be left to cook in a soup stock or brown gravy until the desired flavor is attained and then withdrawn, leaving the stock clear. Ground spices would give a cloudy effect. The use of flavors is economic, for thus inexpensive foods are varied and made palatable. It is a part of the art of cooking, since nowhere are greater skill and intelligence required than in the distribution of these elusive yet powerful substances, and by discrim- ination in the use of condiments and spices our foods may be made more healthful. Buying FOOD FOR THE DAY In the preceding pages the most important foods, their composition and preparation for the table have been considered. Our study would be incomplete with- out some reference to their best combination for the daily meals that they may appeal to the palate and pro- mote health without exceeding the bounds of mod- erate incomes. There are three important divisions in the prepara- tion of food for a family, wise buying, good cooking, serving' and careful serving. When buying foods the house- keeper should know the sum available for feeding each person for the day or week, she must note the season of each food, and also adapt her choice to the climate and weather. She must remember the individual needs of each member of the household, depending upon age, health, and occupation. Tbe art of cookery finds its field between the . ; „ J Art of choice of food and the serving of the cooked dishes at cookery the table. As with other arts perfection can come only through constant practice in manipulation, and from continual adaptation of conditions to the desired end. No formulas for combinations of foods can be devised so complete that continuous care is not re- quired in every step of the process. m 134 PRINCIPLES OF COOKERY. Cost of Food 'Constants' Few housekeepers have the time or take the trouble to keep their accounts in such a way as to' know how much it costs 'to feed each person in their charge for a day, week, or month ; fewer still know anything of the relative proportion of protein, fat, and carbo- hydrate which is placed on the family table week by week.