Thursday 17 February 2011

Hash, to Prepare (and More)

This hash is for using up the end of the joint. From the Woman's Own Book of the Home, 1932.

1 1/2lb cold meat
2 oz butter/dripping
2 oz flour
1 onion
1 1/2 pints stock
1 dessertspoon ketchup
toast
parsley

Remove all fat and gristle from the meat and cut it into neat pieces. Make the fat hot and fry the onion a nice brown. Remove it and fry the flour, brown it welll, being careful not to burn it. Add the stock gradually, stir till it boils, return the meat and onion, add the ketchup and seasoning, thoroughly reheat it, but do not allow it to boil. Serve with snippets of toast or fried bread dipped in chopped parsley. (Mrs Beeton called them "sippets".)

And here are a couple of useful tips on cleaning hats:

Hats, bowler, to clean brims of First rub well with a little fresh butter and clean it off with a solution of 2 oz rock ammonia dissolved in 1/2 pint hot water. Then hold the hat under running water for a minute or two. Wipe with a soft, clean cloth, brush well with the nap, and hang out to dry.

Hats, felt and velour, to restore Thoroughly beat and brush the hat to remove all dust and to raise the surface. Hold it over boiling water and steam thoroughly from the inside. Turn the hat slowly so that it shall be steamed all over. shake well. Give a good final brushing when the hat is dry.

Hedgehogs, the care of Keep in a cage during the day and release at night if it is desired to use them as beetle-catchers. Feed on bread and milk and an occasional earthworm.

Friday 4 February 2011

Jacques Tati Soup


From The Camping Cook Book by Annie Bell, 2009

Extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, slice
1 tsp Middle Eastern Spice blend
1/3 mug green lentils
1/3 mug basmati rice
1/3 mug bulgur wheat
sea salt
lemon juice

Heat a slug of oil in a saucepan and fry the onion until golden. Stir in spice blend, add the lentils, rice and bulgur. Add 5 mugs water and a stock cube and salt. Bring to the boil, half cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Dish up with some olive oil poured over and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Middle Eastern Spice Blend

1 1/2 tsp cayenne
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp coriander

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Mexican Shrimp Polenta

From The Encyclopedia of World Cookery, circa 1950

1 pint shrimps
4 oz maize flour or semolina (or polenta)
2 onions finely chopped
2 tbsp tomato puree
1/2lb ham, diced
1/4lb mushrooms, sliced
3 rashers bacon

Pour 1 pint boiling water onto the semolina and cook slowly until thick. Chop the bacon and fry lightly. Add the tomato puree, mushrooms, onion and ham. Simmer in 1/4 pint water for 10 minutes. Fill a buttered fireproof dish with alternate layers of semolina, tomato mixture and shrimps. Cover the dish, cook in a moderate oven for 30 minutes.