Vegetarian Cook Book — Vegetables

VEGETABLES

The term "vegetable," as here used, is applied to such plants (grains, nuts, and fruits excepted) as are cultivated and used for food.

The use of a large variety of vegetables in our food assists in promoting good health.

To get the best results, they should be judiciously combined with nuts, fruits, and grains.

Green vegetables are rich in potash salts and other minerals necessary to the system, and in such a form as to be easily assimilated.

Starchy vegetables, as potatoes, supply energy and heat, and give necessary bulk to the food.

Peas, beans, and lentils contain a large amount of proteid, used in building and repairing tissue, and are therefore used in place of meat.

For weak stomachs they are more easily digested in the form of purees and soups, with the outer indigestible covering removed.

All vegetables should be fresh; for in spite of all that may be said to the contrary, all vegetables, whether roots, leaves, or any other kind, begin to lose bulk and flavor as soon, as removed from the ground.

The kind that suffer least in this respect are beets, potatoes, carrots, etc. Those which are most easily affected are cabbage, lettuce, celery, asparagus, etc. Vegetables that have been touched with the frost should be kept in a perfectly dark place for some days.

The frost is then drawn out slowly, and the vegetables are not so liable to rot.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR VEGETABLES

Fresh green vegetables should be cooked as soon after being gathered as possible.

Those containing sugar, as corn and peas, lose some of their sweetness by standing.

Wash thoroughly in cold water, but unless wilted do not soak.

It is better not to prepare fresh green vegetables until they are needed; but if they must be prepared some time before cooking, cover with cold water.

Most vegetables should be put into fresh, rapidly-boiling water, and if cooked in uncovered vessels, they will retain a better color, as high heat destroys their color.

In no instance permit them to steep in the warm water, as this toughens them, and in some instances destroys both color and flavor.

The salt hardens the water, and also sets the color in the vegetable.

For peas and beans do not add salt to the water until they are nearly done, as they do not boil tender so readily in hard water.

Corn should not be boiled in salt water, as the salt hardens the outer covering of skin and makes it tough.

Cook the vegetables rapidly till perfectly tender, but no longer.

If vegetables are cooked too long, flavor, color, and appearance are all impaired.

To judge when done, watch carefully, and test by piercing with a fork.

The time required to cook a vegetable varies with its age and freshness; therefore, the time tables given for cooking serve only as approximate guides.

Delicate vegetables, as green peas, shelled beans, celery, etc. , should be cooked in as little water as possible, toward the last the water being allowed to boil away till there is just enough left to moisten.

In this manner all the desirable soluble matter that may have been drawn out in cooking is saved.

Strongly flavored vegetables, as cabbage, onions, etc. , should be cooked in a generous quantity of water, and the water in which onions are cooked may be changed one or more times.

The general rule for seasoning vegetables is as follows:-- To two cups small whole vegetables, or two cups of vegetables mashed or sliced, add a rounding teaspoonful of butter, and half a level teaspoonful of salt.

To beans, peas, and squash, add one-half teaspoonful of sugar to improve them.

Add milk or the vegetable liquid when additional moisture is required.

POTATOES

Pre-eminent among vegetables stands the potato.

The solid matter of potatoes consists largely of starch, with a small quantity of albumen and mineral salts.

Potatoes also contain an acid juice, the greater portion of which lies near the skin.

This bitter principle is set free by heat.

While potatoes are being boiled, it passes into the water; in baking it escapes with the steam.

New potatoes may be compared to unripe fruit, as the starch grains are not fully matured.

Potatoes are at their best in the fall, and they keep well during the winter.

In the spring, when germination commences, the starch changes to dextrin or gum, rendering the potato more waxy when cooked, and the sugar then formed makes them sweeter.

When the potatoes are frozen, the same change takes place.

In the spring, when potatoes are shriveled and gummy, soaking improves them, as the water thus absorbed dissolves the gum, and makes them less sticky.

At other times, long soaking is undesirable.

Soak about half an hour in the fall, one to three hours in winter and spring.

Never serve potatoes, whether boiled or baked, in a closely covered dish, as they thus become sodden and clammy; but cover with a folded napkin, and allow the moisture to escape.

They require about forty-five minutes to one hour to bake, if of a good size, and should be served promptly when done.

BAKED POTATOES

Potatoes are either baked in their jackets or peeled; in either case they should not be exposed to a fierce heat, inasmuch as thereby a great deal of the vegetable is scorched and rendered uneatable.

They should be frequently turned while being baked, and kept from touching one another in the oven or dish.

When they are pared, they should be baked in a dish, and oil of some kind added, to prevent their outsides from becoming burned.

MASHED POTATOES

Pare and boil or steam six or eight large potatoes.

If boiled, drain when tender, and let set in the kettle for a few minutes, keeping them covered, shaking the kettle occasionally to prevent scorching.

Mash with a wire potato masher, or, if convenient, press through a colander;

add salt, a lump of butter, and sufficient hot milk to moisten thoroughly.

Whip with the batter whip, or wooden spoon, until light and fluffy.

Heap up on a plate, press a lump of butter into the top, and send to the table hot.

POTATO PUFFS

Potatoes, prepared as for mashed potatoes, 2 cups.

Cream or milk, ¾ cup.

Melted butter, 2 tablespoonfuls.

Eggs, yolks and whites beaten separately, 2. Salt.

Mix and beat up thoroughly, folding in the beaten whites last.

Make into balls, put into greased pans, brush with beaten egg, and bake a light brown.

MINCED POTATOES

Mince six large, cold potatoes.

Put them in a baking-pan, cover with milk; add a little cream, and bake fifteen minutes.

SCALLOPED POTATOES NO.

1 Potatoes, medium size, 6. Milk sufficient to cover, mixed with tablespoonful of flour.

Crumbs.

Butter.

Salt.

Cut potatoes into even slices, put in a baking-pan, sprinkle with a little salt, and a few small pieces of butter.

Pour over the milk and flour mixture, and sprinkle the top with a layer of crumbs.

Cover and bake till potatoes are tender.

Remove the cover and brown lightly.

SCALLOPED POTATOES NO.

2 Cold, boiled potatoes, sliced.

Thin cream sauce.

Place in alternate layers in a pan and sprinkle the top with ground bread crumbs.

Bake until brown.

HASHED BROWNED POTATOES

Use cold, boiled potatoes or good left-over baked potatoes.

Pare and cut into three-quarter-inch dice or irregular pieces.

Put in a shallow baking-pan, sprinkle with salt, pour over sufficient cooking oil, season well, and prevent scorching.

Put into the oven, and when they begin to brown, stir continually till all are nicely browned.

NEW POTATOES AND CREAM

New potatoes.

Cream.

Salt.

Butter.

Parsley.

Wash and rub new potatoes with a coarse cloth or scrubbing brush; drop into boiling water and boil briskly till done, but no more.

Press the potato against the side of the kettle with a fork; if done, it will yield to gentle pressure.

In a saucepan have ready some butter and cream, hot but not boiling, a little green parsley, and salt.

Drain the potatoes, add the mixture, put over hot water a minute or two, and serve.

POTATOES A LA CREME

Cold, boiled potatoes, 2 cups.

Parsley, finely chopped.

Flour.

Milk.

Butter, 1 tablespoonful.

Salt.

Heat the milk and stir in the butter cut up in the flour.

Stir until smooth and thick.

Salt and add the potatoes, sliced, and a very little finely-chopped parsley.

Shake over the fire until the potatoes are heated through.

Pour into a deep dish and serve.

POTATOES A LA DELMONICO

Cut the potatoes with a vegetable cutter into small balls about the size of marbles.

Put them into stew-pan with plenty of butter and a good sprinkling of salt.

Keep the saucepan covered and shake occasionally until they are quite done, which will be in about an hour.

POTATO CROQUETTES (DELMONICO'S)

Cold, mashed potatoes, 2 cups.

Flour or cracker crumbs.

Salt.

Eggs, 2. Butter.

Cooking oil.

Season the potatoes with salt and butter.

Beat the whites of the eggs and work all together thoroughly.

Make into small balls slightly flattened.

Dip them into beaten yolks of eggs, roll in flour or cracker crumbs, and fry in hot oil.

STEWED SALSIFY OR VEGETABLE OYSTERS

Salsify, cut in ¼-inch slices, 1 quart.

Milk, 2 cups.

Butter, 1 tablespoonful.

Salt to taste.

Wash and scrape the salsify, slice, and put into cold water to prevent discoloring.

Cook in sufficient boiling water to cover.

When tender, drain, add the milk and butter, let simmer a few minutes, and serve.

ESCALLOPED VEGETABLE OYSTER

Sliced vegetable oyster, 3 cups.

Rich cream sauce.

Sifted bread crumbs.

Salt.

Wash, scrape, cut in thin slices, and put into plenty of cold water till ready to use, to prevent discoloration.

When ready to cook, boil in enough water to prevent scorching.

Salt when they begin to get tender.

Boil a few minutes longer, but do not let them get too salty.

Drain, or remove with a skimmer, putting a layer in a baking-pan, then a little rich cream sauce, then another layer of each.

Sprinkle the top with sifted bread crumbs, and bake a light brown.

MOCK OYSTERS

Corn, young and tender, 6 ears.

Flour, 3 tablespoonfuls.

Butter, 3 tablespoonfuls.

Eggs, 3. Oil.

Salt, 3 teaspoonfuls.

Grate the corn with a coarse grater into a deep dish; beat the whites and yolks separately, and add the corn, flour, butter, and salt.

Drop spoonfuls of this batter into a frying-pan with hot oil, and fry a light brown on both sides.

The corn must be young.

CELERY

Cut off all the roots and remove all the decayed and outside leaves.

Wash thoroughly, being careful to remove all specks and blemishes.

If the stalks are large, divide them lengthwise into two or three pieces and place root downward in a celery glass, which should be nearly filled with cold water.

STEWED CELERY

Celery hearts, 6. White sauce, 2 cups.

Cut the celery into half-inch lengths and cook in boiling, salted water.

When tender, drain and pour over this the sauce.

Heat well, and serve.

The liquid drained from the celery may be thickened, seasoned with a little butter, and used instead of the white sauce if preferred.

LENTILS (ORIENTAL STYLE)

Lentils, 1 cup.

Olive oil, 2 tablespoonfuls.

Salt, 1 level teaspoonful.

Boiled rice, 1 cup.

Onion, finely shredded, 1. Wash the lentils well, soak overnight, and drain.

Cook in boiling water till tender; drain again.

Put the olive oil in a saucepan, add the onion, and cook till the onion is soft, not brown.

Add the lentils and boiled rice, mix, stir over the fire till hot, add the salt, and serve hot.

LENTILS WITH ONIONS

Lentils, 1 cup.

Onions, 2. Butter.

Wash the lentils, put to cook in saucepan with plenty of cold water, and boil till tender; when soft, turn them into a fine colander, and drain thoroughly, saving the water they were cooked in.

Peel the onions, cut into thin slices, put in a flat stew-pan with a lump of butter, or a little olive oil, and fry.

Put the lentils in the onions and add salt to taste.

Moisten with a little of the broth drained from the lentils and allow them to simmer at the side of the fire.

Serve.

CREAMED CHESTNUTS

Boil or steam the chestnuts till tender.

Make a cream sauce of milk or cream, seasoned with butter, and slightly thickened with flour.

Pour this over the chestnuts; serve as a vegetable.

ASPARAGUS NO.

1 Asparagus, like potatoes, contains a bitter alkaloid, which is drawn into the water in cooking, and often imparts to it a very unpleasant flavor.

This may be remedied by blanching the asparagus in boiling water for four or five minutes.

Then drain, and add more hot water, and finish cooking.

ASPARAGUS NO.

2 Scrape the stalk ends of the asparagus or break off the tough lower stalks as far as they will snap.

Wash well, tie in bundles, and put into enough rapidly-boiling salted water to cover.

Allow a teaspoonful of salt to each quart of water; cook uncovered from twenty to thirty minutes, or till perfectly tender.

Drain, remove the string, spread with salt and butter, and serve immediately on toast.

The asparagus may be neatly arranged on hot toast and covered with white cream sauce, if preferred.

ASPARAGUS POMPADOUR

Wash the asparagus carefully, place in a saucepan of boiling salted water, and boil till done.

Take them out and cut into lengths of about two inches, and place on a cloth near the fire to dry.

Prepare a little sauce made of lemon juice, butter, yolk of an egg, and salt.

Place the asparagus on a dish, over which pour the sauce, and serve.

PEAS

The flavor of peas and the time required for cooking depend largely upon their freshness.

Very young peas will cook tender in twenty minutes, older peas sometimes requiring an hour or more.

A teaspoonful of finely minced parsley cooked with peas imparts to them a very delicious flavor.

STEWED ASPARAGUS

Break the tender parts of the asparagus into one-inch lengths and put into enough boiling water to cover.

Boil till tender; add sufficient rich milk or cream to make a gravy.

Thicken with flour, season with salt, let come to a boil, and serve.

ASPARAGUS WITH EGGS

Asparagus.

Cream, 2 tablespoonfuls.

Salt.

Eggs, 4. Butter, 1 tablespoonful.

Cut the tender tops from a bunch of asparagus, and boil about twenty minutes.

Then put into a baking-tin with butter and salt.

Beat the whites and yolks of the eggs separately, add the cream and pour this over the asparagus.

Bake until the eggs are set.

ASPARAGUS WITH GREEN PEAS

Asparagus, 2 cups.

Peas, 2 cups.

Salt.

Rich milk or cream.

Flour.

Break the tender parts of the asparagus into one-inch lengths and put with the peas into boiling water enough to cover.

Boil till tender;

add sufficient rich milk or cream to make a gravy.

Thicken with flour, season with salt, let come to a boil, and serve.

BAKED BEANS

Wash one and three-fourths cups of navy beans and put them into an earthen jar, covering immediately with one and three-fourths quarts of boiling water.

Add salt, cover, and put into the oven.

When they boil well, draw the jar to the edge of the oven, where they will just simmer.

Cook for twenty-four hours.

If they get too dry, add a little boiling water.

The beans will be nicely colored and have a rich flavor.

BAKED BEANS

Small white beans, 2 cups.

Protose, if desired.

Molasses, 1 teaspoonful.

Salt.

Clean the beans, soak in cold water one hour, season with salt and molasses.

Put into a covered jar with plenty of water; bake overnight in a slow oven.

When done, the beans should be whole, dry, and mealy, and of a rich brown color.

This can only be obtained by baking the beans several hours in a slow oven.

If desired, a little chopped protose may be added.

Serve the beans plain, or with brown bread.

PUREE OF BEANS

Follow the directions given for puree of peas.

BEANS STEWED

Wash the required quantity of navy, lima, kidney, or other beans, and put to cook in plenty of boiling water; boil till they are swollen, then put them where they will stew till cooked; season just before they finish cooking.

Never parboil beans.

BAKED BEANS WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Prepare the beans as for plain baked beans; put into the jars to bake;

cover with a mixture of strained stewed tomatoes and water in equal proportions; a little butter or olive oil may be added.

SUCCOTASH

Fresh shelled lima beans, 2 cups.

Sweet corn, 2 ears.

Cream, ½ cup.

Butter, size of an egg.

Salt.

Put beans in pot with cold water, rather more than will cover them.

Scrape the kernels from twelve ears of young sweet corn.

Put the cobs in with the peas, boiling from thirty to forty-five minutes.

Take out the cobs and put in the scraped corn.

Boil again for fifteen minutes;

then season with salt, butter and cream.

Serve hot.

ONIONS

Contrary to the opinion of many, the onion is not objectionable as an article of food.

Judiciously used it fills as important a place in cooking as salt or any other seasoning.

BAKED ONIONS

Onions, large, 6. Salt.

Crumbs.

Milk.

Butter.

Put onions into a saucepan of water, or water and milk mixed in equal proportions; add salt and boil till tender.

When done so that they can be easily mashed, work them up with a little butter into a paste.

Cover with bread crumbs and bake in a moderate oven.

STUFFED ONIONS

Peel the desired number of onions, being careful not to cut off the root end.

Take out the inside of the onion and fill the hole with a mixture of bread crumbs, beaten egg, and a little milk.

Season with salt and sage.

Bake in oven until brown.

SCRAMBLED TOMATOES

Tomatoes, 6. Eggs, 3. Butter.

Salt.

Remove the skins from six tomatoes and cut them up in a saucepan.

Add a little butter and salt.

When sufficiently boiled beat up eggs, and just before you serve turn them into the saucepan with the tomatoes, and stir one way for two minutes, allowing them time to get thoroughly done.

SPINACH

Trim the spinach and wash in three or four waters to remove the grit.

Cook in boiling water about twenty minutes, removing the scum.

Do not cover the vessel while cooking.

When tender, turn into a colander, drain, and press well.

Chop fine, put into a saucepan with butter and salt.

Set on the fire and cook till quite dry, stirring it all the time.

Turn into a vegetable dish, shape, and garnish with slices of hard-boiled eggs.

SUMMER SQUASH

Wash and cut in pieces.

Cook in the steamer, that it may be as dry as possible.

When done, let it stand and drain a few minutes, shaking it occasionally.

Mash and season with salt, butter, and a little cream.

WINTER SQUASH (HUBBARD)

_Mashed_: Cut the squash, pare, remove seeds, wash, and put into the steamer.

Cook until soft, remove and mash or press through a colander.