Part 2 (1/2)

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.