Marietta McPherson Greenough

“ Good meals depend not so much upon expensive material as upon care and good judgment in the use of ordinary material. The time-worn boarding-house jokes about prunes and hash mean simply that these foods, in themselves excellent, are poorly prepared and too frequently served.
It is the plan of this book to include a variety of (1) recipes which require only a small amount of meat; (2) recipes for vegetable dishes which can take the place of meat; (3) recipes for the economical use of cereals, dairy products, and other common inexpensive foods ”

“ Cheese is nutritious and, even at present prices, economical, as it contains a large proportion of protein in concentrated form. It can be successfully combined with many other foods, and every left-over bit should be so used; when partly dry it should be put through the food chopper, using a fine cutter; when very dry it should be grated and used in sauces, soufflés, soups, and many other dishes. Cheese is more readily digested if a pinch of baking soda is cooked with it. To keep cheese moist and fresh, brush the cut surface with melted paraffin. ”

“ Raisins, dates, and figs yield a large food value at comparatively low cost. Bananas, which contain more nutriment than most fresh fruits, should be used for salads or desserts when the other courses are light. In cooking acid fruits, such as cranberries, plums, and cherries, less sugar is required if added after cooking. Parings and cores from quinces and apples can be made into excellent jelly; the rinds of watermelons are the foundation of a delicious sweet pickle; orange and grape fruit peel, when candied, are well worth the trouble of making. ”

“ A reasonable equipment of kitchen utensils and a convenient, systematic arrangement of them will save time and strength. Kitchen scales are almost indispensable, and a cooking thermometer eliminates guesswork, especially in boiling sugar and heating fat for frying. Pans, molds, and cutters of various shapes prevent monotony; suitable baking dishes and covered casserole dishes simplify both cooking and serving ”

“ For those who would continue to serve their households well, and whose allowance for food has not kept pace with prices, there is only one alternative, and that is, to use more of the cheaper foods, and to prepare and combine them so skilfully that economy shall not be a hardship. ”

“ For coating croquettes, dilute each beaten egg with one-fourth cup of water or one-third cup of milk; cover unused yolks with water to prevent drying, and pour off water before using. Have both yolk and white of egg cold, so that they may be beaten more quickly; add a pinch of salt to whites of eggs which are to be beaten stiff, and beat in a current of air. Soft-boiled or dropped eggs not used at table should be put back in boiling water, cooked hard, and used for garnishing, egg sauce, etc. ”

“ All trimmings and bones, both cooked and uncooked, and any left-over bits of meat or gravy that are not needed for other dishes, should be put into the stock pot, covered with cold water, and simmered (not boiled) with soup vegetables and savory herbs for three or four hours. Almost any left-over vegetable can be added, including macaroni, rice, and the scrapings of the cereal cooker. If the family is small, the cereal cooker itself makes an excellent stock pot: to the remnants of breakfast cereal, add any soup material at hand ”

“ Boiling is cooking by immersion in water at 212° F. Examples: potatoes, cabbage, macaroni.
Braising is a combination of stewing on the top of the range, and baking in the oven, with or without vegetables. Examples: tough meats, fowl, whole liver.
Broiling or Grilling is cooking over or under direct heat, as over glowing coals or under a gas flame. Examples: steak, chops.
Fricasseeing is commonly a combination of stewing and sautéing. Examples: fowl, forequarter of lamb or veal.
Frying is cooking by immersion in hot deep fat. Examples: doughnuts, croquettes. ”

“ When the cogs of the egg beater slip, do not discard it, but tighten the rivet; keep knives well sharpened. Cream jars, jugs, bottles, or any other containers for which a charge is made, should be promptly returned to be credited.
FUEL
Do not waste fuel; concentrate your cooking; when a hot oven is needed for roasting meat or baking bread, plan to cook at the same time other things which require a high temperature; potatoes can be cooked in the pan with the meat; other vegetables and fruits can be cooked in the oven ”

“ With the steadily increasing cost of all staple foods the need of intelligent buying, cooking, and serving is greater than ever before: more money must be spent for food, or more consideration must be given to selecting and using it. ”

“ Ready cooked cereals, though they are convenient and give variety to the diet, are more expensive than raw cereals well cooked; not only do they yield less food value, but, being dry, they require more cream or milk to make them palatable. ”

“ Heat water and milk to the boiling point, add salt, and sift in corn meal very slowly. Cook over hot water two hours, or put into a fireless cooker for three hours. When cooked, add cheese, pour into a shallow pan until half an inch thick. When cold, cut into two-inch squares, dip in crumbs, then in egg, and then again in crumbs, and fry in deep fat. Or roll in flour and sauté in butter. Mustard, cayenne, Worcestershire sauce, etc., may be added if desired. ”

“ Wash meat, add vegetables cut fine, and boiling water, and cook slowly for four hours; remove meat, strain stock, remove fat, and add salt and pepper; cook drippings, flour, and sugar together until brown; add to stock, and stir until smooth; add vinegar, kitchen bouquet, and one-half cup each of liver and veal cut in small pieces. Serve a slice of egg in each plate. The left-over meat may be used for hash, croquettes, etc. ”

“ Economy, however, ought not to necessitate the total elimination of one's favorite cuts of steak, nor all of the little luxuries, because by the skilful planning of the majority of the meals the occasional use of these luxuries can be made possible. ”

“ It is not necessary or desirable that the exact amount of each class of foods should be reckoned daily; but by the general study of foods and their nutritive value, and the food requirements of the [Pg 3] body, which vary with age, sex, and conditions, the housekeeper may serve her family with the kinds and amount of food best suited to their needs. She should plan to use in a week as large a variety of food as possible, and to avoid an excess of any one class. ”

“ The General Suggestions for Economy (Chapter I) are not all new, but are liable, through disuse, to be forgotten by the present generation. Spasmodic economy counts for little in the long run; only systematic and continued watchfulness is really worth while. ”

“ When fresh asparagus is served as a vegetable, cook the tough ends in the same water, which should be lightly salted. Press through a sieve, add the water, and for each three cups add one-half teaspoon of onion juice and one cup of hot milk. Thicken with one tablespoon of butter and two tablespoons of flour blended together. Add pepper, and salt if necessary. ”

“ After a little practice even the most elaborate candies can be successfully made at home, and the difference between the cost of a pound of the best ready-made candy and the cost of the raw materials is astonishing. ”

“ Economize gas by using the minimum amount necessary to keep food cooking at the desired temperature. When the boiling point is reached a small supply of gas will maintain the temperature.
Fireless cookers save much fuel and unnecessary heat, and are especially useful for any food which requires long, slow cooking, or for those foods of strong odor which so often scent up the whole house. ”

“ To the taste of the average person, there is no real equivalent for the flavor of fine creamery butter, but, for cooking, excellent results may be obtained by the use of cheaper shortening, beginning with the common household fats which are so often discarded. ”

“ Do not use more baking powder than is necessary for good results; two level teaspoons to each cup of flour is the usual allowance, but one and one-half teaspoons each to each cup will be sufficient if the muffins, biscuits, or cake are quickly and lightly handled and properly baked.
FLAVORING EXTRACTS
When volatile flavoring extracts are used in cake, much of their strength is wasted during baking; grated rind or spices could well be used in their place, or only the icing or filling flavored. All desserts, whenever practicable, should be flavored when cold. ”

“ Watch the bread-box, and see that every bit of bread is used in some way; the unused crusts should be dried, rolled, sifted, and kept in a covered jar for stuffing, crumbing croquettes, brown bread, puddings, or other dishes in which the color is not objectionable; cold toast or cut slices should be made into croutons, or used for canapés or French toast; other pieces should be used for croustades, or made into crumbs, both coarse and fine, for use in fondues, griddle cakes, omelets, sauces, and soups. Bits of crackers should be dried, rolled, and used the same as bread crumbs. ”

“ The shells of Edam or pineapple cheeses should not be thrown away, but be filled with creamed macaroni, spaghetti, or rice, covered with crumbs, and baked in a hot oven.
FRESH VEGETABLES
A variety of vegetables should be served daily, and those which contain a large amount of protein, such as beans, [Pg 8] lentils, and peas, should be used not only as an accompaniment to meat, but, in combination with other vegetables, sauces, bacon or other fats, as the substantial dish of the meal. ”

“ Left-over vegetables and cereals, even in small quantities, should be saved for use in entrées, desserts, salads, sauces, and soups. Celery tops should be saved for flavoring and garnishing, the root stalk chopped and added to the stock pot, and the outside stalks stewed, creamed, or used for cream soup. The outside leaves of lettuce should be shredded for salad, or, for any large quantity, cooked the same as spinach. ”

“ The exact amount of flour will depend upon the quality; but enough should be used to make a smooth, soft dough which after kneading is not sticky. Cover, and let rise in a warm room until double in bulk; cut down, knead well, and shape into loaves; cover, let rise until double in bulk, and bake in a hot oven about fifty minutes. To hurry the rising of the bread increase the quantity of yeast. Bread mixed with two yeast cakes may be made and baked in about three hours.
378.—BRAN BREAD (Yeast)
Mix water, milk, shortening, molasses, and salt ”

“ Heat fat in the omelet pan; beat the eggs until yolks and whites are well mixed, but not light; add seasonings and hot water, pour into hot pan and cook slowly; pick up with fork while cooking, letting the uncooked mixture run into the place of the cooked; when firm and lightly browned, fold double, and serve plain on a hot platter; [Pg 91] or spread before folding with left-over bits of meat chopped, such as ham, bacon, or sausage, or with grated cheese or jelly.
220.—FRENCH CHEESE OMELET
Mix in order given, pour into a hot greased omelet pan ”

“ When eggs are relatively cheaper than cream, the stiffly beaten white of an egg may be used to advantage to mix with beaten cream. Thin cream whipped with a whip churn is lighter and less expensive than heavy cream beaten. ”

“ Scald the milk; mix sugar, salt, and cornstarch, add to beaten egg yolks, and stir into the hot milk; cook over hot water ten minutes, stirring constantly until thickened; beat with egg beater; strain, cool, and add vanilla. To vary the flavor, the sugar may be caramelized, or other extracts may be used. Serve in glasses with a meringue made of the whites of eggs beaten stiff and sweetened with two tablespoons of sugar. Garnish with dots of red jelly.
569.—COFFEE AND RICE JELLY
Soak gelatine in cold coffee five minutes ”