Reform Cookery Book Part 2

It is unnecessary to give every recipe in detail for these also, if a rich clear stock has been prepared according the directions, page 11. These of course may be varied according to taste or convenience, and all the ingredients specified are by no means indispensable. Some may be left out and others added as they are at hand or in season. When celery is not to be had celery seed or celery salt gives a good flavour. A hasty stock may be contrived at anytime with chopped onions, shred carrot, and some lentils--green or yellow or both. The vegetables should be lightly fried in a little b.u.t.ter, the lentils scalded or washed well, and all boiled together for an hour or even less with the required quant.i.ty of water. Strain without any pressure. Then a still more hasty stock can be had with any of the excellent "Extracts" which are on the market. Their flavour will be appreciated by all, and the fact that they are manufactured from pure, wholesome cereals--barley, chiefly, I believe--should go a long way to commend them to those who have no favour for the uric acid products of "Animal" Extracts.

Well, then, if a good, clear stock is prepared, all that is necessary to convert it into

Clear Soup a la Royale

is to prepare a savoury custard with two yolks and either a cup of stock, diluted "Extract," or milk. Steam in shallow, b.u.t.tered tin, cut in small squares, diamonds, &c., and put in tureen along with the boiling stock.

Julienne Soup.

Cut different vegetables--carrot, turnip, celery, &c., in thin strips about 1 inch long, boil in salted water, and add to boiling clear stock.

Spring Vegetable Soup.

Have an a.s.sortment of different young vegetables comprising as many distinct and bright colours as possible--green peas, French beans trimmed and cut diamond-wise, cauliflower in tiny sprigs, carrots, turnips, cooked beetroot stamped in fancy shapes or cut in small dice, and leeks, chives, or spring onions shred finely. Cook the vegetables separately, drain, and add while hot to boiling clear stock in tureen.

Thick Soups.

Most of the thick soups are so well-known that they need not be repeated here. Suffice it to say that they will gain both in purity and flavour by subst.i.tuting vegetarian stock for that usually made by boiling meat, ham bones, and the like. Great care should be taken with such soups as lentil, split-pea, potato soup, &c., to avoid a coa.r.s.e "mushy" consistency. This can be done by rubbing the peas, &c., through a sieve when cooked, and adding such vegetables as carrot, turnip, onions, &c., finely chopped, to the strained soup. Perhaps, however, I ought to give at least one typical recipe for

"Reform" Pea Soup,

and if nicely made it will be quite possible to allure some unsuspecting victims who have always declared they never could or would touch pea soup, into asking for another helping of "that delicious--ahem--what-do-you- call-it-soup."

Have ready a good-sized-soup pot with amount of water required boiling fast, and into this throw 1/2 lb. split-peas for every 2 pints water. The "Giant" variety is best as they are BO easily examined and cleaned. Rub in a coa.r.s.e cloth to remove any possible dust or impurity. This is much better than was.h.i.+ng or scalding, as the peas "go down" so much more quickly when put dry into the fast boiling water. Such a method will seem rather revolutionary to those who have been accustomed to soak peas over night, but a single trial is all that is needed to convince the most sceptical. Add 1/2 lb. onions, cut up-these may first be sweated for 10 minutes with a little b.u.t.ter in covered pan. Simmer gently but steadily 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Rub through a sieve and return to saucepan. When boiling add some turnip in tiny dice and some carrot in slices as thin as sixpence, also finely chopped spring onion, leeks or chives, according to season, and a little finely minced parsley five minutes before serving. Stock may of course be used for this soup, but is not at all necessary. With stock or even a little extract, a very good lentil or pea soup may be made at a few minutes' notice by thickening with

"Digestive" Pea Flour

or lentil flour, as the case may be. Such soups can be taken by those of weak digestion. No vegetables should be added in that case, or if so they should be strained out.

Mulligatawny Soup.

Chop up 2 apples and 1 Spanish onion and stir over the fire with 2 ozs.

b.u.t.ter till quite brown, but not burnt. Add 1 oz. flour (and if wanted somewhat thickened, one or two spoonfuls "Digestive" lentil or pea flour), 1 teaspoonful curry powder, and a cupful of milk, previously mixed together.

Stir till smooth and boil up, then add some good stock--brown would be best--and simmer for half an hour longer, removing the sc.u.m as it rises.

Serve with boiled rice, handed round on a separate dish.

Hotch-Potch.

This soup is to be had in perfection in the summer months when young, tender vegetables are to be had in great variety and abundance. The more different kinds there are the better, but care must be taken to give each just the proper amount of cooking and no more, or the result will be that by the time certain things are done, others will be mushy and insipid. Bring to boil the necessary quant.i.ty of clear stock--water will do. Have ready a cupful each of carrots and turnips in tiny dice--the smaller ends of the carrots being in thin slices--a cauliflower in very small sprigs, one or two crisp, tender lettuces finely shred, cupful green peas, some French beans trimmed and cut small, a dozen or so of spring onions, 2 tablespoonfuls each of lentils and rice, and any other seasonable vegetable that is to be had. Add each in their turn to the boiling stock, the time required being determined by age and condition. If very young and fresh, the carrots will require only 30 to 40 minutes, the turnips and spring onions rather less, and the cauliflower less still. French beans require about 20 minutes, peas and lettuce 15 minutes, while the rice and lentils should have about half an hour. Much must be left to the discretion of the cook, but one point I would emphasise is, don't over-boil the vegetables. There seems to be an idea that a safe rule for vegetables is the more you cook them the better, but the fact is they lose in flavour and wholesomeness every five minutes after they are done. This is why "second day's" soup so often disagrees when the first has been all right. A few slices of tomato may be added.

They should be fried in a little b.u.t.ter, cut small, and added shortly before serving, also some chopped parsley.

Winter Hotch-Potch.

This also may be very good. All the vegetables will require much longer cooking. Some will not be available, but in their place will be celery, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, leeks, &c. Dried green peas, soaked for 12 hours, can be used, or a good canned variety, and I may say that many delicious vegetables are now to be had in tins, or, better still, in gla.s.s jars.

Scotch Broth.

For this wash well a cupful good fresh _pot_ barley, bring to boil in plenty of water, pour that off and put on with clean cold water. Simmer for 2 hours and then add a selection of vegetables given for Hotch-Potch.

Mock c.o.c.k-a-Leekie

or Leek Soup (_maigre_) is an excellent winter soup. Take a dozen or more crisp fat leeks--flabby, tough ones are no use--trim away all coa.r.s.e pieces, chop up the tender green quite small and simmer in covered pan with a little b.u.t.ter. Add to quant.i.ty required of either white stock or plain white soup, which should be boiling. Shred down the white of the leeks, fry in a little more b.u.t.ter, and add twenty minutes later. Cook till quite tender. If stock is used, some well-washed rice should be added about 30 minutes before serving. If white soup is prepared, it is best to cook the leeks thoroughly before adding, then merely bring to boil and serve.

Green Pea Soup.

This is a delicious summer soup. Have a clear stock made with fresh green vegetables, such as lettuce, green onions, spinach, bunch parsley, sprig mint, &c., the sh.e.l.ls wiped clean and about half of the peas--about 2 lbs.

will be needed--reserving the finest. Rub through a sieve, return to saucepan and bring to boil. Add remainder of peas, boil 15 minutes, and pour into tureen over an ounce or so of b.u.t.ter. Some may prefer cream in place of b.u.t.ter, in which case add just before serving, and do not allow to boil up.

Mock Hare Soup.

Prepare a rich well-flavoured brown stock, rubbing through the greater part of the German lentils, &c., to make it of a thick creamy consistency. The flavour will be best if such vegetables as carrot and onion are sliced and fried brown before boiling. Toast two tablespoonfuls oatmeal and one of flour to a light brown, mix with it a teaspoonful ground Jamaica pepper and smooth with a little cold water. Add to the boiling soup and stir till it boils up again. Mushroom ketchup, a few fried mushrooms, some piquant sauce, "Extract," &c., &c., may be added or not at discretion.

German Lentil Soup.

Scald 1/2 lb. German lentils for a minute in boiling water, drain and put on with quant.i.ty of boiling water required. Fry some onions, celery, and tomatoes--if to be had--in a little b.u.t.ter till brown, and add. Simmer about 2 hours, and rub through a sieve. Add a little ground rice, cornflour, &c., to keep the pulp from settling to the bottom. A little milk or cream or ketchup may be added if liked.

b.u.t.ter Peas Soup.

Cook b.u.t.ter peas as for stew, [Footnote: See page 35. [b.u.t.ter Peas or "Midget" b.u.t.ter Bean, below]] pulp through a sieve and add to quant.i.ty of liquid required, which may be white stock or milk and water, and should be boiling. Add a small white cauliflower, cut in tiny sprigs (or any tender fresh vegetables cut small and parboiled separately). Simmer till cauliflower is just cooked, add some chopped parsley, and serve.

Mock Turtle Soup.

Prepare a quant.i.ty of strong, clear, highly-flavoured stock of a greenish-brown colour. The colour can be obtained by boiling some winter greens or spinach along with the other things. A few chopped gherkins, capers, or chillies will give the required piquancy. Have 4 ozs. tapioca soaked overnight, add to the boiling stock and cook gently till perfectly clear. Some small quenelles may be poached separately and put in tureen.

Tomato Soup.

When this soup is well made it is a general favourite, but it must be well made, for it is impossible to appreciate the greasy, yellow, dish-water-looking liquid which is sometimes served in that name.

Put in a saucepan 2 ozs. b.u.t.ter, and into that shred finely 1/2 or 1 lb.

onions. Add half or more of a tin of tomatoes or about 1 lb. fresh ones sliced, and a cup of water or stock. Simmer very gently for an hour and rub through a wire sieve, pressing with the back of a wooden spoon to get all the pulp through. _Everything_ should go through except the skin and seeds. Return to clean saucepan with stock or water, and two tablespoonfuls of tapioca, previously soaked for at least an hour. Stir till it boils and is quite clear. This soup may be varied in many ways, as by subst.i.tuting for the tapioca, crushed vermicelli, ground rice, cornflour, &c. Some chopped spring onions, chives or leeks, added after straining are a great improvement, also chopped parsley, while many people like the addition of milk or cream.