The Queen Cook Book: A Careful Compilation of Recipes and Practical ...

narrow vessels about twenty inches deep, standing in ice water, or a very cold place. Not only does this low temperature reduce the process of change to a minimum, but quite unexpectedly, it also greatly facilitates the rising of the cream, as the cream is nearly all obtained in twelve hours. The butter churned from the product is not only pure in flavor, but has remarkable keeping qualities. The plan is spreading rapidly." This might work in a large dairy. Celery. Earthing up celery is necessary when it is wanted for autumn or early winter use; but for late winter and spring we never had clearer and whiter stalks than from those plants which were not earthed up at all. Just before winter sets in we had the plants carefully lifted out with a spade, the roots with the earth partly shaken off, the plants then neatly and compactly placed upright in a trench, in a hollow where the wind could not blow, and covered with a foot of dead leaves. They were perfectly blanched in this trench, and kept better than when the blanching had been previously done. This is easily taken out when wanted. An Ice House. Make a bin in the open air fourteen by sixteen feet, of hemlock boards, with four-inch scantling for posts, and roof it over, leaving the gable ends and three feet on the front side open. Fill in with six inches of course chips for drainage; and put on these ten inches of saw dust. Pack the ice in the center, and cover top and sides with eighteen inches of saw dust. The ice will keep perfectly. Build it in the shade if possible. ±4A The Queen Cook Book Gruels for the Sick. The lightest possible gruel is made by taking two heaping tablespoons of yellow corn meal, pour upon it one teacup cold water and stir well. Let settle a little and pour this water off into a teacup of water at a keen boU and scald for five minutes. A little salt. Milk Porridge. One pint of milk, wet one heaping teaspoon of flour with two tablespoons of the cold milk, a little salt, stir this into the boiling milk. Boil three to six minutes. Excellent for diarrhoea. Oat Meal Gruel. Into one quart of boiling water or milk as you like, stir in two tablespoons of oat meal and a little salt. Boil forty minutes and strain if you like. Indian Meal Gruel. 1 quart water or milk i tablespoon flour 2 tablespoons corn meal i teaspoon salt Wet the flour and meal and pour into the boiling water. Boil forty minutes. Cracker Panada. Put in double boiler one quart of milk or water as the patient can bear, stir in six tablespoons of sifted rolled cracker and one half teaspoon of salt. Let boil three minutes. Add a little nutmeg, sugar and wine if you like. The Queen Cook Book 245 Arrowroot Gruel. To one pint of milk or water, one teaspoon of arrowroot, a little salt; wet it with cold milk, stir it in the boiling milk, and boil ten minutes in double boiler. Ice Cream for the Sick. I cup milk I pint cream I teaspoon arrowroot % cup sugar Scald it all and freeze as directed. Veal Sweet Breads. These are considered a great delicacy by some. There are two in a calf, one from near the heart called the "heart sweet bread,'* the other from the neck called the " throat sweet bread. " The first is most delicate. They spoil very soon and need to be engaged beforehand, that the butcher may send them to you as soon as the animal is dressed. Put it immediately in warm water, to which add a tablespoon of salt, to soak out the blood; soak one hour, then wash it in cold water. Draw strips of salt pork through it and put in good soup stock or water and boil twenty minutes. As soon as cool enough remove the skinny portions and pipes. Cook in granite kettle and use a silver knife and fork, as they contain a peculiar acid that acts upon iron or tin. After it is thus prepared you can fricassee, slice and fry, broil or bake, after rubbing it with butter and seasoning.